Guardians Bullpen Is Close To Getting Much-Needed Boost

With a 3.98 ERA, the Cleveland Guardians’ bullpen is firmly in the middle of the pack, ranking 16th in baseball. The unit has been hit with a few unexpected blows, such as Hunter Gaddis’ injury and inconsistency, and Cade Smith’s early-season woes, which are now in the rearview mirror.

Of course, Shawn Armstrong’s groin injury didn’t help matters. Signed to a one-year, $5.5 million deal to be one of the main setup men in front of Smith, the right-hander posted a 2.31 ERA last year with the Texas Rangers that suggested he could fulfill that role.

The start of his Guardians career wasn’t all that impressive, though, with a 4.22 ERA in 10.2 innings before going down with a groin strain on April 26. Now that he is a couple of weeks removed from that, he is all set to begin a rehab assignment.

“Shawn Armstrong will begin a rehab assignment on Tuesday with Akron. One inning, 20-25 pitches,” Guardians insider Tim Stebbins said.

Shawn Armstrong will begin a rehab assignment on Tuesday with Akron. One inning, 20-25 pitches.

— Tim Stebbins (@tim_stebbins) May 11, 2026

If he makes it through the outing unscathed, the team might want to give him a day of rest before potentially testing his ability to pitch in consecutive games. That could be the last step before activation, although the team hasn’t outlined a plan for him, or at least not publicly.

In any case, Armstrong could potentially return to the active roster this week if all goes well. Perhaps his early-season performance wasn’t exactly great, but his 2025 numbers and his career 3.83 ERA suggest better days could be ahead if the Guardians and fans are patient.

If he wants to return to his 2025 version, Armstrong will need to keep the walks in check. After walking just 2.43 hitters per nine innings last year, he was at 5.91 per nine in the first 10.2 innings he pitched before hitting the injured list. He had also been surprisingly homer-prone, allowing 1.69 long balls per nine prior to the injury.

To show its best version, Cleveland needs Armstrong to return to form. The unit recently welcomed rookie Franco Aleman, but Armstrong certainly belongs in the best Guardians’ bullpen.

Armstrong will need to perform to keep his roster spot over the course of the entire season, but his contract alone will give him some leeway.