3 weeks ago
- Guardians
- Published: May. 13, 2026, 2:28 p.m.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Manager Stephen Vogt shook up his lineup for Wednesday’s bid finale against nan Angels astatine Progressive Field.
It whitethorn person had thing to do pinch nan Guardians playing a time crippled aft a nighttime game. Or it whitethorn person had thing to do pinch nan Guardians playing their 13th crippled successful 13 days.
While that is speculation, Vogt’s lineup surely had thing to do pinch 2 of his champion hitters being successful prolonged slumps. Leadoff hitter Steven Kwan was fixed nan time off, while Jose Ramirez was moved from his accepted No. 3 spot to nan No. 2 spot.
Kwan, hitting .206 (32 for 155) successful 41 games, is successful a 12 for 76 (.158) skid since April 18. Vogt said he was giving Kwan nan time disconnected to brace pinch Thursday’s disconnected day.
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“When you’re an mundane subordinate anytime you get an disconnected day, it’s a bully time to move off, get your feet up and getting 2 days successful a statement tin beryllium really beneficial,” said Vogt.
Angel Martinez replaced Kwan successful nan leadoff spot connected Wednesday.
Ramirez, meanwhile, is hitting .210 (34 for 162) pinch six homers and 16 RBI. He has not homered since April 19, erstwhile he deed 2 homers against nan Orioles.
The switch-hitting Ramirez is hitting .178 (8 for 45) successful May. He entered Wednesday’s crippled without an other guidelines deed and conscionable 2 RBI successful nan past 10 games.
Vogt said he’s not concerned astir Ramirez, but added, “I deliberation there’s decidedly a small much plaything than we’ve seen successful nan past. I deliberation for Jose, he gets sounded otherwise than anybody other successful our lineup. At times I deliberation it benignant of makes him spell retired of nan area a small spot much (than usual).
“But he’s still taking his walks from clip to time. I conscionable don’t deliberation he’s gotten overmuch to drive. I mean, I deliberation pitchers are being very, very observant pinch him.”
Wednesday was nan first crippled successful which Ramirez has deed 2nd this season. Vogt tried utilizing Ramirez successful nan No. 2 spread past year, but nan research lasted only 29 games. Ramirez yet returned to nan No. 3 spot because that’s wherever he felt astir comfortable.
Vogt said he went pinch Martinez and Ramirez, some switch-hitters, astatine nan apical of nan lineup because it gave nan Guardians nan champion matchup against left-hander Reid Detmers, nan Angels starter.
The strategy worked arsenic Martinez opened nan crippled pinch nan first leadoff homer of his career. Ramirez followed pinch a walk, stole second, took 3rd connected an infield azygous and scored connected a grounder backmost to nan mound.
Vogt has been encouraged by Kwan’s caller at-bats.
“I deliberation we’ve seen immoderate really bully signs from Kwani during this 13-game stretch,” said Vogt. “He’s had a mates games wherever he’s gotten a mates hits and a mates walks. On Tuesday, his leadoff azygous was vintage Kwani, taking that splitter to near halfway field.
“Kwani is 1 of our champion players. We spell arsenic he goes.”
The moves
The Guardians selected nan statement of right-hander Codi Heuer and optioned right-hander Franco Aleman to Triple-A Columbus earlier Wednesday’s game.
Another move could beryllium adjacent astatine hand.
Shawn Armstrong (right groin) sounded 1 inning Tuesday nighttime for Double-A Akron successful his first rehab appearance. Vogt said nan Guardians will determine successful nan adjacent mates of days if Armstrong will beryllium activated aliases needs different rehab appearance.
Paul Hoynes, calved successful Cleveland, has been nan hit writer for nan Indians/Guardians since 1983. He attended Cathedral Latin High School successful Cleveland and received a publicity grade from Marquette University. He...
