CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Guardians’ center fielder Lane Thomas is making progress towards returning to action, as manager Stephen Vogt announced on Friday. After struggling with a bruised right wrist that kept him sidelined for 17 days since April 8, Thomas is now pain-free and preparing to potentially embark on a rehab assignment.
Vogt noted that Thomas is focused on regaining his strength before taking the next steps with Cleveland’s medical team. “He just feels like he needs to get his strength back,” Vogt said, expressing hope that if Thomas continues to improve this weekend, he could begin playing again next week.
As the Guardians gear up for their series against the Philadelphia Phillies, Vogt confirmed that right-hander Luis Ortiz will take the mound for Sunday night’s game. Ortiz is coming off a strong performance and has an impressive 2-0 record with a 0.69 ERA in his career against Philadelphia. His counterpart, Ben Lively, has previous experience with the Phillies and contributed to the team’s success in a recent game against them.
Cleveland’s offensive performance has been impressive lately, particularly in late-game situations. The team scored 31 of their 39 runs against Toronto and Washington in the sixth inning or later, highlighted by an eight-run sixth inning on Wednesday, which is their highest-scoring inning this season. This performance marked a historic moment for the Guardians, as it was the first time since June 2006 they achieved such late-inning scoring consistency.
Credit is also due to the Guardians’ hitters for their patience at the plate; they are tied for the major league lead in walks since May 1, boasting an 11.7% walk rate that places them second in MLB for the season. This disciplined approach has helped elevate their on-base percentage to .348, ranking them fourth in the majors. Players like Steven Kwan and Carlos Santana have been particularly effective at the plate, reflecting Vogt’s emphasis on plate discipline.
As the Guardians continue to build momentum, both Thomas’s potential return and the team’s recent offensive prowess provide a hopeful outlook for the remainder of the season. If they keep harnessing their ability to produce runs late in games, they could find themselves competing strongly in the league.