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Cleveland, Ohio – Ben Lively, the right-handed pitcher, will be returning to the Guardians ahead of their upcoming two-game series against the Reds on Tuesday evening at Great American Ball Park.
Following Sunday’s victory over the Marlins in Miami, Lively departed the team and traveled to Cleveland for assessment by the medical staff. Despite securing his fifth consecutive win on Saturday night, he exited the game after completing just five innings with 65 pitches thrown.
The Guardians have announced that they will provide an update on Lively’s condition before Tuesday’s matchup.
During Saturday’s game, both Manager Stephen Vogt and Lively expressed that he experienced tightness in both his upper and lower body, coinciding with the Guardians’ explosive six-run fifth inning, during which Lively remained in the dugout for a prolonged 31 minutes without pitching. Although he pitched the bottom of the fifth to secure the 8-0 victory, the tightness persisted, leading to his removal from the game.
Lively has notably been one of the Guardians’ most dependable starters this season, boasting a record of 6-2 with an impressive 2.59 ERA across 10 starts. His recent success follows his signing with Cleveland during the offseason.
Despite the Guardians’ strong 42-22 record, concerns have lingered over their rotation since the start of the season. The loss of Shane Bieber due to a right elbow injury requiring Tommy John surgery after just two starts has been a significant setback. Additionally, Gavin Williams, a former No. 1 pick and anticipated starter, has yet to make his major league debut due to an elbow injury. Furthermore, lefty Joey Cantillo, intended as a depth option, suffered a right hamstring strain late in spring training and has only recently begun a rehab assignment.
Given the potential severity of Lively’s injury at 32 years old, there is heightened concern about the stability of the Guardians’ rotation.