Cleveland Guardians fans got some welcome news heading into Sunday’s series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays. Steven Kwan is back in the lineup.
The Guardians confirmed that Kwan, who had been dealing with neck stiffness, is leading off and starting in center field for Sunday’s game at Rogers Centre. The issue appears to have been minor enough that a couple of days of rest was all Kwan needed to get back on the field.
“Last one, best one.”
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— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) April 26, 2026
Kwan did not start Friday’s game as manager Stephen Vogt gave him a scheduled rest day for his legs, and then on Saturday he was scratched from the lineup due to neck stiffness. The fact that he is back in the starting lineup just one day later is an encouraging sign that Cleveland dodged anything serious with their most established outfielder.
The Guardians dropped Saturday’s game 5-3 in a contest where defensive breakdowns and an inconsistent lineup cost them, and heading into the rubber match of the series with RHP Slade Cecconi on the mound, getting Kwan’s bat and glove back in the equation gives Cleveland a meaningful boost.
The neck stiffness itself is worth monitoring going forward. At 28 years old, Kwan is not at a stage in his career where these kinds of issues should be a major concern, but any time a player in the middle of a slump also picks up a physical ailment, it raises questions about whether the two things are connected. Hitting through discomfort is a reality in a 162-game season, but it can also compound the kind of mechanical issues that lead to prolonged offensive struggles.
Sunday’s lineup features Kwan leading off in center field, followed by Angel Martinez in left, Jose Ramirez as the DH, Rhys Hoskins at first base, David Fry in right field, Daniel Schneemann at third base, Juan Brito at second base, Austin Hedges behind the plate, and Brayan Rocchio at shortstop. Slade Cecconi gets the ball for Cleveland against LHP Patrick Corbin for Toronto.
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