The Guardians could soon have another veteran arm back in the mix as the stretch run intensifies. Right-hander Ben Lively is set to make his fourth rehab start on Sunday, taking the mound for High A Lake County in a road matchup at Lansing as he continues working his way back from a right forearm strain that has sidelined him since May of last year. For a pitching staff that has already been reshaped significantly by trade deadline additions, the potential return of a familiar arm adds another layer of depth to Cleveland’s plans down the stretch.
Guardians Prospective shared word of the upcoming outing as Lively’s rehab assignment continues to progress.
“Cleveland #Guardians RHP Ben Lively will make his 4th rehab start for High-A Lake County Sunday at Lansing,” Guardians Prospective wrote.
Cleveland #Guardians RHP Ben Lively will make his 4th rehab start for High-A Lake County Sunday at Lansing.#GuardsBall
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) August 9, 2026
Lively signed a minor league deal with Cleveland back in February after being outrighted off the roster the previous November, giving the Guardians a low-cost, familiar option to develop as depth. His path back has been a long one, dating to a forearm injury suffered in May of 2025 that eventually forced a transfer to the 60-day injured list. The 34 year old spent two seasons in Cleveland’s rotation before that setback, posting a combined 3.68 ERA and 1.232 WHIP across 38 appearances in 2024 and 2025, numbers that made him a reliable back end starter when healthy.
A fourth rehab outing typically signals a pitcher is nearing the final stages of a return, and for the Guardians, adding a proven arm with big league track record could offer real value as the club navigates a demanding schedule through the rest of the season. Cleveland has already leaned on a mix of new deadline additions and internal call ups to patch its pitching staff in recent weeks, and a healthy Lively would give manager Stephen Vogt another established option to turn to.
With the American League Central race as tight as it has been all season, every bit of pitching depth matters. If Lively continues to build up his workload without setback, the Guardians could have another familiar face rejoining the staff in the very near future, just as the stretch drive begins to take full shape.
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