Guardians Insider Names Potential Options To Replace Injured Starter

The Cleveland Guardians won an impressive game on Monday night, 5-0 against the Milwaukee Brewers.

The bullpen had to figure out how to solve six innings, as starter Ben Lively was removed with forearm inflammation after completing three frames.

Not only did they manage to overcome the situation, but they also did it without allowing a single run.

Now, however, the Guardians need to think ahead.

An official, more definitive diagnosis will surely come on Tuesday or Wednesday, but the team is likely looking at an injured list stint for Lively.

The hope is that it isn’t too long, but forearm injuries have a wide array of outcomes.

The team, therefore, needs to think about a replacement, at least for the short term.

Team insider Guardians Prospective listed the available options to slot in Cleveland’s rotation.

“If Cleveland #Guardians RHP Ben Lively (Right Forearm) is headed to the IL the team might opt to have a bullpen arm up from Columbus until his next start comes up then recall a starter. Possible starting options…. 40-man: RHP Slade Cecconi, LHP Doug Nikhazy. Non 40-man: LHP Parker Messick, LHP Ryan Webb, LHP Will Dion, RHP Vince Velasquez,” he wrote.

If Cleveland #Guardians RHP Ben Lively (Right Forearm) is headed to the IL the team might opt to have a bullpen arm up from Columbus until his next start comes up then recall a starter.

Possible starting options….

40-man

RHP Slade Cecconi
LHP Doug Nikhazy

Non 40-man

LHP…

— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) May 13, 2025

It would be easier for the Guardians to give Lively’s turn, if he ends up going on the injured list, to one of the two starters on the 40-man roster currently not in the majors: Cecconi or Nikhazy.

Cecconi has a 4.85 ERA in 13 innings in Triple-A Columbus as he builds up arm strength after a spring injury.

He threw 5.2 innings in his last start and is ready for a full workload.

Nikhazy has an 18.00 ERA in three MLB frames this year and a 4.68 ERA in 25 innings in Columbus.

There is also a chance the organization goes with Velasquez or Messick, who has been impressive in Triple-A this year.

Time will tell, and all possibilities are open since there is still no word on how much time Lively will miss.