Cleveland Guardians

Triston McKenzie took the mound for the Guardians and delivered a solid performance, albeit in a losing effort, as he allowed one earned run on four hits and three walks while striking out five over 6 2/3 innings in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the White Sox.

Fantasy Impact: Despite his commendable outing, McKenzie's season-long metrics, including a 3.54 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP, suggest a pitcher who is somewhat reliable but struggles with consistency, particularly in controlling the strike zone as evidenced by his 1.46 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His 7.7 K/9 rate this season also points to a moderate strikeout ability, which limits his upside in fantasy formats that heavily reward strikeouts. Moving forward, fantasy managers should view McKenzie as a potential streaming option against weaker lineups, rather than a must-start pitcher.

Josh Naylor went 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI in the Guardians' 3-1 loss to the White Sox.

Fantasy Impact: His solo shot provided the only run for Cleveland, highlighting his ability to contribute power to the lineup. Despite the loss, Naylor's performance this season has been solid, maintaining a .275 batting average with 11 homers and 30 RBI over 38 games. His power metrics, evidenced by a .382 wOBA, suggest he remains a valuable asset in fantasy lineups, particularly in formats that reward extra-base hits and RBIs. However, his relatively high strikeout rate and low BABIP indicate potential volatility in his batting average, so fantasy managers should monitor his performance closely but appreciate his power contributions.

Bo Naylor is back in the lineup for the Cleveland Guardians against the Chicago White Sox Saturday. (Source: Cleveland Guardians on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Naylor returns after sitting out against a left-handed starting pitcher Friday night, starting behind the plate at catcher and batting seventh against the White Sox Saturday.

Kyle Manzardo returns to the lineup for the Cleveland Guardians against the Chicago White Sox Saturday. (Source: Cleveland Guardians on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Manzardo is back after taking a seat on the bench against left-handed pitching Friday night, occupying the designated hitter spot and batting eighth Saturday against the White Sox.

Carlos Carrasco endured another challenging outing, absorbing a loss as the Cleveland Guardians fell 6-3 to the Chicago White Sox on Friday.

Fantasy Impact: Carrasco allowed three earned runs on six hits and struck out five over seven innings, without issuing a walk. Despite a decent control shown by not walking any batters, his season-long issues persisted, reflected in his elevated 5.36 ERA and 1.49 WHIP through eight starts. His strikeout rate remains lower than ideal at 6.9 K/9, which doesn't help fantasy managers looking for high strikeout totals. The lack of dominant outings this season and a concerning 5.46 FIP suggest that Carrasco might not be a reliable option in fantasy lineups, especially in shallower leagues or those that heavily penalize earned runs.

Tyler Freeman went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in the Guardians' 6-3 loss to the White Sox.

Fantasy Impact: This performance, while a bright spot, underscores Freeman's ongoing struggles at the plate this season, as evidenced by his .193 batting average through 34 games. His power numbers are modest with four home runs, but his overall production has been underwhelming with a low .280 wOBA and .205 BABIP. Fantasy managers should view Freeman as a risky play, primarily useful in deeper leagues or as a speculative bench option, hoping for an uptick in performance as the season progresses.

Jose Ramirez went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in the Guardians' 6-3 loss to the White Sox.

Fantasy Impact: Despite the defeat, Ramirez's performance was a bright spot, showcasing his power with a crucial home run that contributed to his season tally. This game nudges his batting average slightly upward, but it remains a modest .245 over 38 games. His consistent RBI production, now at 33, keeps him relevant in fantasy formats, especially those that reward power and production metrics. However, his low BABIP of .221 suggests some bad luck this season, potentially indicating room for improvement as the season progresses. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on any uptick in his batting average, which could signal a return to his higher career norms.

Austin Hedges is in the starting lineup for the Guardians Friday.

Fantasy Impact: Hedges will start behind the plate and hit ninth against the White Sox. The veteran is hitting .156, with one home run, and seven RBI this season.

Ben Lively gave up three runs on eight hits, three walks and two strikeouts in Thursday's 3-2 loss to the White Sox.

Fantasy Impact: He allowed three earned runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out only two over 5.2 innings. This performance slightly tarnishes what has been a solid season for Lively, who leaves the game with a still impressive 2.63 ERA and a decent 1.21 WHIP. His inability to suppress hits in this outing, combined with a lower strikeout total, could raise concerns about his consistency moving forward. Fantasy managers should monitor his next few starts closely to see if this game was a minor blip or a sign of underlying issues that could affect his fantasy value.

The Guardians have moved Gavin Williams (elbow) to the 60-day IL. (Source: Tom Withers on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Williams was moved to clear a 40-man roster after the team acquired Darren McCaughan from the Marlins. There is still no timetable for his return.

Tanner Bibee had a rough outing, allowing four earned runs on five hits while striking out five over four innings in the Guardians' 5-4 victory over the Tigers on Wednesday.

Fantasy Impact: Despite his struggles, Bibee managed to avoid issuing any walks, which is a small silver lining in an otherwise cloudy performance. His season ERA has now ballooned to 4.91, and his WHIP stands at 1.36, which are concerning metrics for fantasy managers. However, his solid strikeout rate of 9.8 K/9 continues to provide some value. Given the volatility in his performances, Bibee remains a risky play in fantasy lineups, particularly in shallower leagues or those sensitive to ERA and WHIP impacts.

David Fry went 1-for-4 in the Guardians' 5-4 win over the Tigers, contributing a home run, one RBI, and scoring twice.

Fantasy Impact: This performance underscores Fry's solid start to the season, maintaining a .316 batting average through 23 games. His ability to connect for power, as evidenced by his second homer of the year, adds valuable depth to fantasy rosters, especially from the catcher position. While his strikeout rate sits at a concerning 0.233, his consistent hitting and decent on-base skills, highlighted by a .395 wOBA, suggest he could be a worthwhile option in deeper leagues or as a second catcher in two-catcher formats. Fry's contributions in runs scored and occasional power make him a player to watch, particularly if he maintains his high BABIP of .400.

Gabriel Arias is in the Guardians lineup on Wednesday against the Tigers.

Fantasy Impact: Arias is starting at third base and hitting No. 7 in the lineup. He is hitting .239 with eight RBI and three steals so far this season.

Emmanuel Clase delivered a pristine inning to secure a save in the Guardians' narrow 2-1 victory over the Tigers.

Fantasy Impact: He threw nine pitches, striking out one without allowing any hits or walks. This performance underscores Clase's dominance as a closer this season, boasting a stellar 0.49 ERA and a 0.71 WHIP through 19 appearances. Clase's consistency in save situations, now with 11 saves, solidifies his role as a top-tier closer in all fantasy formats.

Kwan was officially placed on the 10-day IL Monday with a left hamstring strain. (Source: GuardsInsider on X)

Fantasy Impact: Kwan was placed on the IL with a lingering hamstring strain that he suffered in Saturday's game against the Angels. The Gaurdians called up Kyle Manzardo, who should find himself in an everyday role with Kwan on the shelf.

Sam Hentges (finger) was activated from the IL Monday. (Source: Guardians Insider on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Hentges has spent the entire 2024 season on the injured list with left middle finger inflammation. Peter Strzelecki was sent to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

Andres Gimenez went 1-for-4 in the Guardians' 4-1 victory over the Angels.

Fantasy Impact: Despite the team's win, Gimenez's individual performance was underwhelming, contributing just a single and scoring one of the team's four runs. His season batting average now sits at .262, which is decent but not particularly eye-catching for fantasy managers. Gimenez's limited power numbers and moderate speed (only 4 stolen bases in 32 games) make him a fringe option in standard fantasy leagues. His low walk rate (.049) combined with a modest strikeout rate (.147) suggests a need for improvement in plate discipline to boost his fantasy relevance. Overall, unless he can find a way to consistently contribute across multiple categories, Gimenez remains a situational play based on matchups rather than a must-start.

Estevan Florial is in the Guardians lineup on Sunday.

Fantasy Impact: With Steven Kwan (hamstring) sidelined, Florial is leading off for Cleveland and serving as the designated hitter.

Ramon Laureano went 1-for-3 with a home run, a walk, an RBI, and a run scored as the Cleveland Guardians trounced the Los Angeles Angels 7-1.

Fantasy Impact: This performance, highlighted by his first home run of the season, offers a glimmer of hope for fantasy managers who have been enduring his sluggish start to the season. Despite the home run, Laureano's batting average remains a paltry .161 through 22 games, which is a significant concern. His high strikeout rate of .348 combined with a low BABIP of .250 suggests he's been both unlucky and underperforming. Fantasy managers should remain cautious, as it will take more than one good game to prove he's turned a corner. However, his power-speed potential remains, making him a high-risk, high-reward option in deeper leagues.

Guardians RP Tyler Beede was designated for assignment Friday. (Source: Mandy Bell on X)

Fantasy Impact: Beede has an 8.36 ERA over 13 relief appearances for Cleveland this year. The 30-year-old was shelled in his last outing against Houston, giving up 5 runs in less than one inning. The Guardians have called up Peter Strzelecki from Triple-A to fill the roster spot.