CLEVELAND -- Manager Stephen Vogt described the Guardians’ position player mix as “pretty banged up” on Tuesday night. Wednesday did not provide much relief on that front.
The Guardians placed first baseman Rhys Hoskins on the 10-day injured list prior to Wednesday’s matchup with the Giants with lower back inflammation. Cleveland recalled David Fry from Triple-A Columbus in a corresponding move.
Fry was not in the Guardians’ starting lineup on Wednesday, nor was Jo Adell (left knee contusion) and Chase DeLauter (left hamstring tightness). Between those developments and the continued management of José Ramírez in his return from left hamate surgery, it’s been an interesting stretch for the skipper.
“I have a lot of pencils and erasers when it comes to making my lineups out,” Vogt quipped.
Here’s a rundown of Wednesday’s injury updates and roster maneuvering.
Hoskins to the IL
Vogt said Hoskins started to feel lower back tightness during the Guardians’ Aug. 7-9 series against the White Sox. He felt it during the Guardians’ 8-1 win on Tuesday and underwent an MRI exam on Wednesday. Vogt said the club was awaiting those results.
“He felt like he just wasn't himself, and so we felt like it was time for him to go on IL,” Vogt said.
Hoskins has slashed .179/.306/.376 with 13 doubles, 13 home runs, 38 RBIs and 47 walks with 100 strikeouts over 95 games this season. The 33-year-old, who’s in his first season with the Guardians after signing a Minor League deal in February, has been in a timeshare at first base with Trade Deadline acquisition Nathaniel Lowe.
Hoskins has taken the bulk of at-bats against lefties, and the left-handed-hitting Lowe has faced righties. Fry will slot in as a right-handed hitter at first. His versatility also gives the Guardians another option at third base and the outfield corners.
“We haven't had a whole lot of versatility on our roster the last few weeks,” Vogt said. “Unfortunate news on Rhys, obviously. We're hoping that this stint can get him back to feeling good for the home stretch. But good to have David and his versatility back.”
Fry returns
Fry spent the past few weeks with Triple-A Columbus; the Guardians optioned him to the Clippers alongside Kyle Manzardo after they acquired Adell and Lowe before the Deadline.
Fry sensed leading up to the Deadline he could be optioned if the Guardians made any moves. The 30-year-old logged a .182/.304/.336 slash line in 168 plate appearances over 71 games. The versatile third catcher’s last appearance behind the plate was May 26, and he was playing sparingly overall.
“Vogter and Chris [Antonetti] were super good about it, honestly,” Fry said. “They were just like, ‘You need to get back to being you. We want you back.’ You hear that, and you're just like, ‘I’ll go do what I can.’”
Fry played in eight games with the Clippers. He went 10-for-34 (.294) with six home runs, 18 RBIs and two walks with five strikeouts. He said there were some things with his swing that needed to be changed, and the best way to do that is with consistent at-bats. The option afforded him a place to get regular work in.
Fry didn’t go to Columbus with a poor attitude. He obviously didn’t want to get sent down. But he and his wife, Rebekah, had the mindset to enjoy the ride, whether he got back to the Majors this year or not.
“If we were there the [rest of the] year, then that's what's supposed to happen,” Fry said. “That's God's plan. But don’t make coming back the goal and be frustrated being stuck there. Like, let's enjoy it. We enjoyed it, and then obviously when you get told you're going back up to the big leagues, it’s obviously super exciting.”
Adell, DeLauter on the mend
Vogt said Adell was feeling better on Wednesday after the Guardians pulled him from Tuesday’s game in the eighth inning. His left knee swelled up “pretty bad” on Tuesday night after he fouled a pitch off himself in the first inning.
Adell nonetheless went 3-for-4 with a home run and a career-high six RBIs.
“He's feeling a lot better coming in today,” Vogt said. “He's going to see our docs pregame today. He's definitely trending better than he was last night.”
DeLauter (who exited Sunday’s 5-0 loss to the Padres after two innings due to his knee issue) went through baseball activities and took batting practice on Wednesday. He was unavailable Tuesday. In his and Adell’s case, Vogt said pregame the Guardians would have to “wait and see” on their availability.