by The Cleveland Guardians will kick off a nine-day road trip on Tuesday with the National League Central Division-leading Milwaukee Brewers. Heading into the three-game stint with Milwaukee, Cleveland could potentially be missing at least three of its everyday starters.
The most discouraging injury for the Guardians is a left hamate bone fracture in third baseman Jose Ramirez’s hand.
Despite Ramirez not having the best start to a season(currently holding a slash line of .239/.339/.418), the absence of Cleveland’s captain and veteran morale leader could be a huge blow to team chemistry. Ramirez will likely be out through the All-Star break, meaning 2026 will be the first All-Star Game without baseball’s best third baseman in seven years.
Cleveland, currently tied with the upjumped Chicago White Sox for the division lead, may also be without Angel Martinez and Chase DeLauter due to foot and rib injuries. In the Guardians’ last contest, a 3-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers, Cleveland was down to its last position player and had to resort to putting Rhys Hoskins in left field for the first time since 2018.
However, the Guardians still proved they are more than alive in the American League over the weekend. Sunday’s game was postponed due to inclement weather, but Cleveland still took both games against the rival Detroit Tigers and moved to 6-0 against the team that defeated them last October.
On the bump for the Guardians will be Slade Cecconi on Tuesday, followed by the right-handed ace Gavin Williams on Wednesday and the promising left-handed Parker Messick on Thursday.
Both of Cecconi’s last two starts came against the New York Yankees. Both games resulted in losses for Cleveland, but it wasn’t Cecconi’s fault, as he allowed just three combined runs and struck out 11 batters across the pair of starts.
For the Brewers, former Guardian outfielder Jake Bauers is leading a strong Milwaukee offense with 13 home runs. Behind him, catcher William Contreras and Brice Turang make up the bulk of a lineup that features multiple position players in the top five of the All-Star voting ballot.
Milwaukee’s rotation is headlined by one of baseball’s best stories this year, right-hander Jacob Misiorowski. The Guardians won’t be facing the league’s owner of the best earned run average in this week’s series, and will instead face a couple of young arms that haven’t been able to get it going.
Toeing the mound for Milwaukee on Tuesday will be Robert Gasser, who has had issues with giving up home runs since his return to the major leagues. Gasser has given up 14 combined runs in his last four starts, all four of which were losing decisions for the California-born left-hander.
The picture doesn’t get any brighter for the Brewers on Wednesday, as starter Brandon Sproat has given up 38 runs to the tune of an ERA just shy of 6.
Although they’ll be facing the back half of Milwaukee’s rotation, this will be the most challenging team the Guardians will face in the nine-game road trip.
This is one of baseball’s strongest lineups so far this season, and the Brew Crew bullpen is decently talented. With so many injuries to the bulk of Cleveland’s lineup, a lineup that is already struggling in the run production department, the pitching staff will have to carry the load this week and beyond.
Tonight’s game will be slated for a 7:40 p.m. first pitch, as will Wednesday’s game. The series will conclude with a 2:10 p.m. first pitch on Thursday.
