Guardians Announce Lineup For Sunday’s Finale In Kansas City

The Cleveland Guardians won the season opener on Thursday against the Kansas City Royals before letting a shocking game slip away on Saturday.

Their season record is currently 1-1, so they are going to the field on Sunday with one mission: take the finale against a division rival to start off their 2025 campaign with a series win.

They will want to do it for their teammate Jose Ramirez, who will not be in the lineup as he nurses a right wrist sprain.

“No José Ramírez in today’s Guardians lineup: LF Kwan, CF Thomas, DH Manzardo, 1B Santana, RF Jones, C Naylor, 3B Arias, 2B Schneemann, SS Rocchio, SP Bibee,” Guardians insider Tim Stebbins posted on X.

No José Ramírez in today’s Guardians lineup:

LF Kwan
CF Thomas
DH Manzardo
1B Santana
RF Jones
C Naylor
3B Arias
2B Schneemann
SS Rocchio

SP Bibee

— Tim Stebbins (@tim_stebbins) March 30, 2025

Gabriel Arias is taking Ramirez’s third base on Sunday while center fielder Lane Thomas is hitting second, where J-Ram has been this year.

Replacing a guy who has enough power and speed to flirt with a 40-40 season is no easy task, especially one who posted a .872 OPS last year.

The Guards will have to move on without the heart and soul of their roster, at least for a couple of games.

How long will Ramirez be out of the lineup? It remains a mystery and probably depends on how he feels in the upcoming days.

There is also a chance he will undergo some tests and imaging, even if the team hasn’t announced he will get those.

Right now, it doesn’t sound like a terribly long absence, but it’s best to wait for an official press release by the Guardians discussing the matter and providing details.

It could be a one-game absence, just as it could result in an injured list stint.

Stay tuned.