The Cleveland Guardians rotation isn’t exactly the most consistent in baseball.
If consistency is the main topic, you can highlight Jose Ramirez, or the Guardians’ bullpen for that matter.
The rotation? Not so much.
This isn’t to say the unit doesn’t have a high ceiling, because it does, especially when Shane Bieber returns.
However, it can be very erratic and unreliable.
You can argue that all but one Cleveland starter has had at least a rough patch or two in 2025.
You might be shocked when you hear who the exception to this rule is: Ben Lively.
Bruce Drennan sure made his feelings towards the underrated Guardians’ righty very clear.
“Lively, once again like last year has been very reliable,” Drennan said.
Ben Lively is straight RELIABLE! Bruce and Ryan discuss #Guardians starting rotation and how good Ben Lively has been. #GuardBall
"His stuff might not WOW you but you talk about consistent."
Presented by Mentor Nissan https://t.co/eSUO035ZYI #mentornissan pic.twitter.com/9uDKSfTuAd
— Bruce Drennan Show (@Bruce_Drennan) May 10, 2025
Lively, who posted a 3.81 ERA in 151 frames last year in his first season with the Guardians, is now sporting a 3.46 mark this year, in 41.2 innings.
In the 2025 campaign, he is yet to pitch more than six frames in a start, but his innings low is also relatively high at 4.1.
He still hasn’t conceded more than four runs in any of his outings, and he has four different starts with one or zero earned runs.
Lively won’t throw his fastball faster than 91 mph but boasts excellent command and a deep arsenal that includes a sinker, a sweeper, a cutter, a changeup, a curveball, and a slider in addition to his heater.
He will produce steady numbers while throwing the kitchen sink and showing above-average command, not to mention clever sequencing.
Lively is far from an ace but is exactly the kind of pitcher the Guardians need right now.
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