The Cleveland Guardians need to accumulate wins if they want to have a chance to make the playoffs at this point. They are 60-65 before taking the field on Tuesday and have multiple teams ahead of them in the quest for a Wild Card spot.
To do that, they need to be as healthy as possible, and that’s currently not the case. Rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter had to leave on Sunday with mild left hamstring tightness, and reliever Colin Holderman left Saturday’s game with a trainer, too.
Additionally, the Guardians have been without starting pitcher Slade Cecconi since August 6. He is currently on the injured list with an arm injury.
Before the series opener against the San Francisco Giants, the Guardians, through manager Stephen Vogt, offered an update on their trio of injured players. It’s mostly filled with good news.
“Chase DeLauter is feeling better today. Stephen Vogt said he got treatment Monday, and an MRI showed nothing alarming. Hopes it remains a day-to-day thing,” MLB.com’s Tim Stebbins said. Additionally, the skipper said that Cecconi threw a bullpen session over the past few days, will throw another one, and is then expected to embark on a rehab assignment.
Chase DeLauter is feeling better today. Stephen Vogt said he got treatment Monday and an MRI showed nothing alarming.
Hopes remains it’s a day to day thing.
— Tim Stebbins (@tim_stebbins) August 18, 2026
As for Holderman, he played catch on Monday, per Stebbins, and was set to get on the mound. He is making progress and is still considered day-to-day.
Other injury updates from today:
-Cecconi threw a bullpen over past few days. Set to throw another and then expected to go on a rehab assignment.
-Holderman played catch on Monday and was set to get off a mound today. Remains day to day. He's feeling better.
— Tim Stebbins (@tim_stebbins) August 18, 2026
DeLauter has been one of the best and most productive players on the Guardians this year, with a .285/.358/.442 line, 13 home runs, 57 RBI, and a 127 wRC+ in his rookie campaign. He has already been placed on the injured list once this year with a small rib fracture in June, but is expected to avoid that fate this time unless something changes.
Both Cecconi and Holderman appear to be close, too, but the former will likely need a bit more time. He was replaced in the rotation by deadline acquisition Foster Griffin.
The Guardians are a much better team with these three players healthy and in form, particularly DeLauter. The hope is that all of them will be available for selection in a matter of days, not weeks.
NEXT: Analyst Raises Serious Concerns About Guardians' Offense
