The rotation is actually one of the strongest areas on the Cleveland Guardians’ roster. The numbers and the eye test both prove it, and the league recognizes it. However, depth is always important, and the team just doesn’t have too much of it.
If something were to happen to Parker Messick, Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams, Joey Cantillo or Slade Cecconi, the Guardians would be in trouble. Logan Allen, who will start Saturday night’s game, is a nice backend option, but they need more.
Enter Ben Lively. The veteran righty, who has been a serviceable Guardian in 2024 and 2025, required Tommy John surgery in June of 2025.
Lively signed a two-year deal with the Guardians in the offseason, knowing that he would rehab for most, if not all, of 2026. Well, according to manager Stephen Vogt, there is good news on that front: his rehab is going very well.
Vogt said that Lively flew back to Arizona on Saturday after throwing a live batting practice session on Friday.
“Yeah, he’s in his live BP progression, which is really good news. You know, he’s been up around 93-95 (mph). So it’s really good… it was great to see Ben, first of all. I mean, he’s such a big part of who we are, but he’s getting healthy, starting his live BP progression. He wants to pitch. I mean, it’s no secret. But obviously, we need to be smart, and we want him to pitch for another 7 years, not just get back to help us this year,” Vogt said before Game 1 of the doubleheader on Saturday.
(Via #Guardians audio) Stephen Vogt said that Ben Lively flew back to Arizona today after throwing a live BP yesterday as he recovers from Tommy John surgery:
“Yeah, he's in his live BP progression, which is really good news. You know, he's been up around 93-95 So it's really…
— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) July 18, 2026
At the time of the surgery, Lively was expected to miss 12-14 months, which gives him a chance to return in September if all goes well. The Guardians, however, want to be smart with his rehab and try to avoid any setbacks. They want to have him as soon as possible, but they want to have him in one piece.
That’s exactly what Vogt wanted to say. The team needs to be smart and not force or rush anything with Lively, who put up a 3.81 ERA in 2024 and a 3.22 mark last year before succumbing to the injury.
Lively, when healthy, is an excellent depth starter with proven experience at the highest level. He isn’t quite there yet health-wise, though, and while live batting practice sessions usually mean the pitcher is not that far off from playing in rehab games, he will likely need a few of those just to stretch out and get him up to speed.
Can he be ready in time to return this year? We shall find out in a few months.
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