CLEVELAND -- Colin Holderman has been the most steady member of the Guardians’ bullpen this season not named Cade Smith. Suffice to say, seeing him walk off the mound with trainer Chad Wolfe on Saturday mid-outing was a concern.
Holderman exited the Guardians’ 6-1 win over the Padres at Progressive Field with two outs in the seventh inning after throwing a first-pitch sweeper for a ball to Luis Campusano. Manager Stephen Vogt said postgame Holderman exited due to right wrist inflammation.
“He probably could have pitched through it, but I didn't like the look on his face,” Vogt said. “Obviously we got him out of there at the right time, so we're hoping it's a day-to-day thing.”
That would be a best-case scenario for Holderman. The 30-year-old was on the injured list for about six weeks last season with what he has said was De Quervain's syndrome, which he described earlier this season as chronic inflammation that ran up his thumb and through his wrist.
Holderman said earlier this season getting past that issue was a major key to the success he has had on the mound this season. He entered Saturday with a 2.42 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP in 48 1/3 innings over 48 appearances this season.
Holderman allowed multiple runs in two of his previous four outings. It was not immediately clear whether the wrist issue played into that.
Holderman’s offering to Campusano cut sharply down and away and got past catcher Patrick Bailey. It caught the attention of the Guardians’ dugout, and Wolfe went out to the mound with Vogt and pitching coach Carl Willis to check on Holderman.
Holderman threw a few warmup pitches, conferred with the staff, and then walked off the field.