CLEVELAND -- The Guardians’ starting lineup was down two key contributors Tuesday, for one of Cleveland’s most important games of the season.
Chase DeLauter (right wrist soreness) and Angel Martínez (right flank inflammation) each were out of the lineup for the second game of the crucial three-game series against the American League Central-leading White Sox.
“We’re very day to day with both Chase and Angel,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said pregame Tuesday.
It’s tough timing for Cleveland (76-75), which entered Tuesday 1 1/2 games behind Chicago (77-73) in the Central. The final two games of this series aren’t season-breakers -- the Guardians have possession of the final AL Wild Card spot -- but a series loss could swing the division race too far in the wrong direction.
DeLauter felt the wrist issue on a swing in his final at-bat of Monday’s 7-3 loss to the White Sox, when he grounded out in the eighth inning. Vogt said the 24-year-old came in Tuesday “more sore than he has been” during this stretch of managing his wrist issue.
DeLauter sprained his wrist in Game 2 of a doubleheader against the Tigers on Sept. 4. He didn’t go on the injured list, but missed the ensuing four games as his status remained in a day-to-day cycle. He returned to action for Wednesday’s 9-5 loss to the Orioles, belting a two-run homer in his first at-bat, but went 1-for-14 the past four games.
Vogt noted last week the Guardians didn’t feel this was not an injured list situation. While there’s no telling whether that would have alleviated the issue, it clearly has persisted.
DeLauter has had a strong rookie season, slashing .289/.362/.453 with 28 doubles (most on the Guardians), 14 home runs, 62 RBIs and 55 walks with 76 strikeouts over 125 games. That’s the most he’s played at any professional level after dealing with injury setbacks in the Minors.
As for Martínez, Vogt said the Guardians think they “avoided something major” after he exited Monday’s loss after seven innings. He appeared in discomfort after a swing and miss during a strikeout in the seventh. It didn’t sound like he would be available on Tuesday.
Martínez has a .248/.285/.443 slash line with 15 home runs and 53 RBIs in 106 games this season. His .728 OPS is a 100-point improvement from 2025.
“We’ll see how he feels tomorrow,” Vogt said.
The Guardians have been managing a few bumps and bruises during this stretch run. They have continually kept an eye on José Ramírez’s workload since he returned from left hamate surgery in July. At this point in the calendar, there’s a lot of calculus at play.
The Guardians need their guys on the field for as many games as possible. They also can’t risk anything by pushing the issue. A 10-day IL stint also means at least a one-week absence; teams can backdate that move by three days. That may mean a player misses more games than potentially needed at the most important time of year.
There is a constant balance at play.
“At the end of the day, we’ve got to do what's right for the player and have them as close to 100 percent for as many games as possible,” Vogt said. “Sometimes that means making uncomfortable decisions and holding guys out because we need to do what's right for them, and for them to be as close to their best as they can be for as many games as we have left.”