BALTIMORE -- The day-to-day nature of Chase DeLauter's right wrist sprain carried into Tuesday, as the Guardians rookie outfielder was out of the starting lineup for the fourth consecutive game.
"[He's doing] better,” manager Stephen Vogt said pregame. “He had a better day yesterday. Hoping for a better one today. Very much still day to day. We're optimistic he can be back in there soon. … He’s trending really well. Just not quite over the hump yet."
It was unclear if DeLauter could be available off the bench for Tuesday’s matchup against the Orioles. The Guardians wanted to assess where DeLauter was physically after he completed his pregame work.
DeLauter swung a bat for the second straight day and went through some conditioning work on Tuesday. He also took fly balls pregame Monday. Vogt noted that while the 24-year-old feels the wrist issue while hitting and fielding, the former is where he feels it most.
DeLauter started both halves of the Guardians’ doubleheader against the Tigers on Friday, in right field in Game 1 and as the DH in Game 2. He sprained his wrist in the third inning of the nightcap, and felt the issue when he struck out swinging on a changeup from lefty Andrew Sears on the inner half of the plate.
Travis Bazzana pinch-hit for DeLauter in the sixth inning.
Vogt has maintained that this is a day-to-day situation for DeLauter, who was first out of the lineup on Saturday. If the Guardians placed DeLauter on the 10-day IL, they could backdate his stint by three days. But that would mean he would have to remain on the IL for at least a week.
DeLauter remaining active indicates the Guardians don’t expect him to need an extended absence. But this has clearly been a process.
“It's not like he just felt some soreness,” Vogt said Tuesday. “It's been a couple days. There's something real there, so we have to make sure that we don't bring him back too soon and make it worse. Obviously, we all want Chase to be in the lineup every day. He wants to be in the lineup.
“But we have to do what's best for him and for our team, and that's making sure that he's ready to go by the time he comes back.”
The Guardians (73-72) entered Tuesday with a one-game lead over the Blue Jays (72-73) for the final American League Wild Card spot, while also sitting three games behind the AL Central-leading White Sox (75-68). DeLauter has been a major reason why; he has been Cleveland’s most consistent hitter this season.
DeLauter, who’s a contender in a loaded AL Rookie of the Year Award race, has slashed .294/.365/.458 with 28 doubles, 13 home runs, 60 RBIs, 51 walks and 74 strikeouts. He’s played 120 games, which is his professional career high after he dealt with myriad injury setbacks in the Minor Leagues.
The Guardians have kept DeLauter’s workload front of mind since they opened Spring Training in February, and the club has been mindful of him physically all season. They operated with caution when he had left hamstring tightness last month. DeLauter was out of the starting lineup for the series against the Giants and Angels; he pinch-hit in the final two games in Anaheim.
Ensuring DeLauter is healthy for the Guardians’ final push toward securing a postseason spot, and any playoff run thereafter, is a top priority.