Their trying to extend Kwan. Andre Knott appeared on ESPN Cleveland before the home opener and gave fans some optimism

I like Junis so far. Remember, he's got experience as a starter.

Too bad about Jones. I really had high hope for him.

Sure would like to see Brito get the call. He's doing very well in Columbus.

Manzardo with a no-doubter. 4 homers so far. Ramirez has 4. Maybe Manzardo can out-homer Ramirez this year.

The Cleveland Guardians acquired right-hander Cody Bolton from the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday for cash and optioned him to Triple-A Columbus. Who is this guy?

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I just hope he out homers Naylor!

Much better player than Josh Naylor ! He actually hits in the clutch.

I don't recall Naylor's splits, He certainly drove in plenty of runs, but when hitting behind Kwan and Ramirez that should not be difficult.

Guardians’ Gabriel Arias, Angel Martínez see preparation pay off with big plays on both sides of the ball

Updated: Apr. 12, 2025, 9:56 a.m.|Published: Apr. 12, 2025, 8:16 a.m.

By Joe Noga, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Gabriel Arias and Angel Martínez are embracing their roles for the Guardians and the work that goes into staying ready to help the team win any way they can.

Their preparation paid off Friday in a 7-0 win against the Royals that saw them collect three hits apiece and both make dazzling defensive plays to propel Cleveland to a victory.

Arias impressed manager Stephen Vogt with is glove work and with the quality of at-bats he put up against a tough left-hander in Kansas City’s Kris Bubic. His three-run home run in the fourth inning showcased a more mature approach at the plate that allowed him to tap into what he does best.

“He is one of the most talented players on the planet, we’ve all known that,” Vogt said. “To see him earning everyday at-bats and being able to impact us both defensively and offensively ... it’s been really fun to watch.”

Vogt said Arias’ ability to carry over his game plan into each at-bat lately has been what is most impressive about his hot start.

“He is staying within himself at the plate,” Vogt said. “He knows his strengths and he’s using them in this early part of the year.”

Arias also made an impact in the field, snagging a line drive off the bat of Michael Massey to start the fourth inning that came off the bat at 105.6 mph. Later, he robbed Massey of a bloop hit on a ball to shallow right that he caught with his back to the infield and threw to first base to double up Salvador Perez.

“To track that ball, catch it, but the whole time thinking ‘As soon as I catch this, I’m throwing the ball to first,’ it’s a big league play and very impressive,” Vogt said. “Gabby, more so than his play, just the way he’s been locked in and the way he’s been focused and it’s been really fun.”






Arias insists that his pregame routines have made a huge difference this season.

“All the work that we did, the approach the plan, the working with the machines and getting ready for the game, those are the keys to getting successful at-bats,” Arias said via Guardians interpreter Agustin Rivero.

He admitted that in the past he put pressure on himself to be perfect at every position he tried to play in the big leagues.

“I’ve been a little more focused on trying to earn the position and play well, that has facilitated a lot of things for me,” Arias said. “So I can just focus and go out there, do my best, have fun, enjoy the baseball that I know I can play.”

The same goes for Martínez, albeit in a much smaller sample size. Vogt said when he makes the lineup each night, he expects nine guys to go out and put up great at-bats.

“Tonight the bottom half of the order was outstanding, getting things going, driving people in,” Vogt said. “Obviously (Arias) with the big blow of the night, but Angel coming up with a bang. We saw it last year. He did the same when he got here. So, now it’s let’s keep it rolling, let’s keep it going.”

Martínez was not surprised at how quickly he saw results once he was put in the lineup.

“That’s the type of hitter I am and that’s the plan that we had in mind before the game, so that’s what I was trying to execute today,” he said.

Vogt said it is not easy for a utility player to keep himself ready to make plays like the one Martínez turned to end the game, sprinting in at full speed to make a diving catch and rob Drew Waters of potential extra bases.

“It’s always fun to see our guys make great plays like that,” Vogt said. “Angel works hard. When you’re a utility guy, you have to be ready for anything. He made some nice catches out there. There was a tough sky on some of those deep fly balls that he caught. We know the type of player Angel is and we’re excited that he’s here.”

Martínez said focusing on playing winning baseball has helped him stay prepared for any situation.

“Anything I can do to help the team win, that’s allowed me to prepare,” Martínez said. “Whatever the team needs me for is the best way to just focus on getting those little things that’s going to help the team win.”

CONDENSED GAME

https://www.mlb.com/video/condensed-gam ... nsed-games

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Ortiz is dealing !

A well played game until the ninth. Clase dangerously close to blowing a 5-run lead. What's up with Clase?

Luis Ortiz strikes out career-high 10 in Guardians’ 6-3 win over Royals

Updated: Apr. 12, 2025, 8:56 p.m.|Published: Apr. 12, 2025, 8:49 p.m.

By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — A gesture may not be worth a thousand words, but if anyone saw Luis Ortiz leave the mound at Progressive Field in the sixth inning Saturday night, there was no doubt what he was feeling.

Ortiz walked off the mound pounding his glove in glee and tipping his cap to the hometown crowd after striking out a career high 10 batters in the Guardians’ 6-3 win over the Royals.

The right-hander has been waiting for a start like this since the Guardians acquired him from Pittsburgh in December. He slogged his way through spring training and gave up seven runs in his first start of the regular season against San Diego on March 31.

His next start against the Angels was better, setting the stage for Saturday night.

“His stuff plays when he’s in the strike zone,” said manager Stephen Vogt before the game.

Play it did.

Ortiz (1-2, 6.06) allowed one run on one hit and two walks in 5 2/3 innings. He started the game throwing his fastball past the Royals low in the strike zone. By the fourth and fifth innings, he was getting them out high in the zone.

He has made two starts at Progressive Field. One of them came last year for the Pirates when he beat the Guardians and planted a seed in the Cleveland front office that this might be an arm to pursue in the offseason.

The second came Saturday. In those two starts, Ortiz allowed one earned run on two hits with 15 strikeouts.

The Guardians are 7-2 in their last nine games against the Royals. Gabriel Arias is one of the reasons.

He gave the Guardians a 3-1 lead with a two-out homer off Michael Lorenzen (1-2 , 3.71) in the sixth. On Friday, he hit a three-run homer in a 7-0 victory as part of a 3 for 4 game.

Arias has hit three homers this season. All of them have been against Kansas City.

The Guardians stretched the lead to 6-1 with three runs in the eighth. Angel Martinez, who made his 2025 debut with three hits on Friday, drove in two runs with a bases-loaded ground rule double to left center for a 5-1 lead. It was Martinez’s second hit of the night and his fifth since being recalled from Triple-A Columbus.

Arias, who walked in the inning, scored the third run on a wild pitch.

Ortiz opened the game by retiring 10 of 11 batters before running into Vinnie Pasquantino with one out in the fourth. Pasquantino sent a 1-2 pitch into the right field seats for a 1-0 lead.

It was the only hit and run Ortiz allowed in 5 2/3 innings.

The Guardians quickly worked their way back into the game.

Arias tied the score 1-1 with a two-out single off Lorenzen in the fourth. Jose Ramirez singled to start the inning, but was forced at second by Carlos Santana, who ran his way out of a double play.

Santana moved to second on a walk by Kyle Manzardo and took third on Nolan Jones’ fly ball to the track in center. Arias delivered him on a hard bouncer through the middle that second baseman Michael Massey somehow got a glove on.

The Guardians took a 2-1 lead in the fifth on Ramirez’s sacrifice fly. Bo Naylor and Brayan Rocchio opened the inning with consecutive singles, Naylor singling to right and Rocchio beating out an infield hit back to the mound.

Naylor took third on Steven Kwan’s grounder to second that forced Rocchio. Ramirez followed with a fly ball to center for his seventh RBI.

The only red flag in an otherwise good performance by the Guardians was struggling closer Emmanuel Clase laboring through the ninth by allowing two runs on four straight hits before getting three outs.

Next

RHP Ben Lively (0-1, 3.50) vs. LHP Cole Ragans (0-0, 2.81) Sunday at 1:40 p.m. CLEGuardians.TV, WTAM, WMMS and WARF will carry the game.

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CONDENSED GAME

https://www.mlb.com/video/condensed-gam ... nsed-games

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