CLEVELAND -- Colin Holderman's effort to rejoin the Guardians’ postseason push hit a snag on Thursday, when the 30-year-old reliever’s right wrist issue forced him to exit his rehab outing with Triple-A Columbus.
Thursday was Holderman’s first rehab appearance since he landed on the 15-day injured list with right wrist inflammation on Sept. 4. He entered in the eighth inning, hit a batter and issued two walks, and he felt discomfort in his wrist while throwing a four-seam fastball.
After a mound visit with manager Andy Tracy, pitching coach Nick Wittgren and a trainer, Holderman walked off the mound hanging his head.
“We're going to gather information today and tomorrow to see what the next steps are,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said prior to Friday’s game against the Athletics at Progressive Field. “But obviously, it’s not good when you're in a rehab outing and you're feeling pain. Before we can really identify what's going on, we just have to see how he feels today and tomorrow.”
Holderman noted this week the plan called for him to make a pair of rehab appearances with Columbus and then rejoin the Guardians’ bullpen. Thursday’s development complicates things, both from a physical standpoint and timeline-wise.
Cleveland entered Friday with nine games remaining in the regular season. Ideally, Holderman would have built some positive momentum with Columbus before rejoining the relief corps during the most important time of year.
Even in a best-case scenario, Holderman will face a tight window to make his return before the regular season ends. The Triple-A season ending on Sunday also is a complicated wrinkle, though the Guardians have a plan built in already. They will have a group of guys in Triple-A staying ready for potential postseason action in a “Stay Hot” camp.
“So there'll be ways for us to get work in for guys,” Vogt said.
Including Holderman, assuming this is a short setback.
Holderman has been reliable as the “fireman” in the Guardians’ bullpen this season. Vogt has called his number in myriad situations, from a tight spot in immediate relief of a starting pitcher to high-leverage moments in the seventh and eighth innings. He has logged a 2.73 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP in 52 2/3 innings over 54 appearances, which includes a 2.08 ERA in 47 2/3 innings over his first 47 appearances.
Holderman exited his 48th outing of the season on Aug. 14 against the Padres, due to wrist inflammation.
Holderman has dealt with this wrist issue the past few seasons dating to 2023, and he spent six weeks on the injured list in ‘24 because of it. He noted earlier this month he intends to undergo a “small procedure” this offseason to address it for good.
Armstrong set for one more outing with Columbus
Reliever Shawn Armstrong will make one more rehab appearance with Columbus this weekend, Vogt said on Friday. He is working back from a left calf strain, which landed him on the injured list on July 25.
Armstrong is not eligible to be activated until Wednesday, because the Guardians transferred him to the 60-day IL on Aug. 3. They could still be working through their plans with the 36-year-old. Vogt said, “Army's got one more [rehab outing] over the weekend, and then, obviously, he could be activated mid-next week.”
In three appearances with the Clippers, Armstrong has allowed four runs on five hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. He allowed two runs on one hit over two-thirds of an inning on Thursday on 20 pitches (13 strikes). His four-seamer averaged 91.8 mph; his season average in the Majors is 93.5 mph.
The Guardians signed Armstrong to a one-year, $5.5 million deal in December. The veteran right-hander has a 4.91 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP in 33 innings over 38 appearances this season.