Guardians Star Gets First Start Of The Season

The Cleveland Guardians will open an important series against the New York Yankees on Tuesday.

The Guards will see it as another chance to take some revenge for last year’s American League Championship Series.

The Yanks won that matchup four games to one.

In that lone victory, All-Star David Fry had one of the biggest moments of his career.

After Jhonkensy Noel tied the score in the bottom of the ninth in Game 3 at Progressive Field, Fry sent everyone home happy with a walk-off blast in the bottom of the tenth.

Cleveland lost the next two and dropped the series, but that moment was unforgettable for Fry.

A few days after that, Fry underwent Tommy John surgery, which delayed his 2025 debut.

That debut, after several months of rehab, occurred on Sunday against the Los Angeles Angels as a pinch-hitter.

Now, after the day off, the Guardians’ jack-of-all-trades is ready to make his first start of the season.

“Guardians’ Tuesday lineup in New York: LF Kwan, CF Martínez, 3B Ramírez, DH Fry (first start of season), 1B Santana, SS Arias, 2B Wilson, C Naylor, RF Noel. SP Bibee,” team insider Tim Stebbins posted on X.

Guardians’ Tuesday lineup in New York:

LF Kwan
CF Martínez
3B Ramírez
DH Fry (first start of season)
1B Santana
SS Arias
2B Wilson
C Naylor
RF Noel

SP Bibee

— Tim Stebbins (@tim_stebbins) June 3, 2025

Not only did Stephen Vogt trust Fry’s health enough to give him his first starting assignment, but he also made him his cleanup hitter.

That’s how much confidence the organization has in the underrated utilityman.

Fry, an All-Star last year, could take some time to fully regain his strength, range of movement, and offensive stroke.

If that happens, the lineup would be a lot deeper and more potent.

After all, it might not have looked like it, but Fry did post a 129 wRC+ last year in his breakout campaign.