[snabring03]

LEAGUE NEWS:
AL POTW: Aaron Judge, RF, NYY (.481, 5 HR, 13 RBI)
NL POTW: Seiya Suzuki, RF, CHC (.423, 1 HR, 4 RBI)

The Guardians rank #1 on the weekly power rankings! A red-hot start, but can it be maintained?

April 7th
Off day.

April 8th
White Sox 6, Guardians 3
WP: Jared Shuster (1-1, 10.80) LP: Tanner Bibel (1-1, 4.50) SV: Brandon Eissert (2, 2.84)
HR-
CWS: None
CLE: None

Not much to say, Bibee only went 5 innings allowing 4, and Elehuris Montero delivered a big 2 run double in the 8th of Cade Smith for insurance

April 9th
White Sox 14, Guardians 7
WP: Bryce Wilson (1-0, 5.73) LP: Ben Lively (1-1, 3.60)
HR-
CWS: Mike Tauchman (1), Josh Rojas (2), Luis Robert (2), Michael Taylor (2)
CLE: Kyle Manzardo (3)

Woof. Ben Lively goes just 4 innings allowing 3 runs before leaving the game with shoulder inflammation. Manzardo delivered a 3 run homer in the 5th to bring the Guardians within a run, but after that it was all sox. Tim Herrin and Hunter Gaddis get hit around in the late game, with Luis Robert hitting a grand slam in the 8th, and Michael Taylor adding a 3 run shot in the 9th

TRANSACTIONS
Ben Lively will miss about 3 months with his shoulder. Ugh. He's placed on the IL, and we call up Dylan Delucia, a 24 year old RHP (44 OVR/49 POT) who pitched to a 2.52 ERA in limited time with A+ Lake County in 2024. Nic Enright (47/47) will likely take the roster spot when he is taken off IL in about a week. Delucia will join the bullpen, and Joey Cantillo will take Lively's spot in the rotation.

C Bo Naylor is also off the IL and has been activated. Kody Huff has been optioned to AAA

April 10th
White Sox 2, Guardians 3
WP: Jakob Junis (2-0, 2.70) LP: Mike Clevinger (0-1, 9.45) SV: Emmanuel Clase (7, 0.00)
HR-
CWS: Miguel Vargas (2)
CLE: Carlos Santana (4)

The Guardians get their first home win of the year to avoid the sweep! Gavin Williams strikes out 10 and allows just 1 run on 5 hits, but only over 5 innings. Chicago held a 1-0 lead until the 7th, where the Guards rallied against Clevinger for 3 runs, capped off by Carlos Santana's go-ahead 2 run shot! Junis gave up a solo shot in the 8th, but Smith and Clase shut the door from there. Clase has yet to allow a run.

April 11th
Royals 3, Guardians 5
WP: Luis Ortiz (2-1, 3.00) LP: Michael Wacha (0-2, 4.82) SV: Emmanuel Clase (8, 0.00)
HR-
KC: Vinnie Pasquantino (4)
CLE: None

Luis Ortiz's only blemish was a solo shot to Pasquantino in the 2nd. He finished with 5 IP allowing just a run on 3 hits, but walking 3 and finishing with 107 pitches. Poor defense leads to things getting more interesting than they should have, but Clase shuts the door again.

April 12th
Royals 0, Guardians 1
WP: Cade Smith (1-0, 2.84) LP: Will Smith (0-1, 6.00)
HR-
KC: None
CLE: Lane Thomas (3)

Vince Velazquez and Angel Zerpa were going toe to toe in an epic clash, Zerpa ran into slightly more trouble over 5.2 IP but was able to work out of it. Velazquez finished with 6 shutout innings on 3 hits, 2 walks, and striking out 7. He has a 1.10 ERA to start the year! In the end, Lane Thomas took Will Smith deep in the bottom of the 8th for the lead, and Cade Smith, who got the final out of the 8th, stayed on to finish the game and give Cleveland their 3rd straight win!

TRANSACTION
RHP Slade Cecconi (44/47) has been activated off the IL and will slide into the bullpen. Logan Allen (39/39) has been optioned to AAA, he had a 9.00 ERA to start the year after struggling last year

April 13th
Royals 4, Guardians 9
WP: Hunter Gaddis (1-0, 4.70) LP: Cole Ragans (0-2, 8.71)
HR-
KC: Bobby Witt Jr. (4)
CLE: Gabriel Arias (2), Brayan Rocchio (1)

The Guardians, once down 4-1 in the game, used a little bit of long balls and a little but of small ball to sweep the Royals, who are now 0-6 against Cleveland and just 4-12 to start the year. Tanner Bibee was not his best today, allowing 4 runs over 5.2 IP. Arias got the scoring started for Cleveland with a solo shot, and the Guards used the 6th inning to HAMMER Ragans with a barrage of singles and doubles, claiming a 7-4 lead by the time the inning ended. Rocchio hit a 2 run shot in the 8th to add insurance!

LEAGUE NEWS:
Dodgers Superstar SP/DH Shohei Ohtani will miss 6-7 weeks with elbow inflammation. Ohtani had been off to a rough start, hitting just .159 with 1 home run

Team Record: 11-4