Guardians Baseball Insider

It was a week of change for Cleveland’s organization, as the trade deadline brought trades of outfielders Eddie Rosario and Jordan Luplow and second baseman Cesar Hernandez. In the wake of Hernandez’s departure, Cleveland recalled Owen Miller who will get a shot to play everyday in the infield. Miller was not playing all that well at the time of his call-up, at least compared to the beginning of the season when he was hitting over .400 when he was first promoted to the big leagues. Not to worry, Cleveland has no shortage of middle infield prospects who may get a chance to shine before the season is over. Gabriel Arias and Andres Gimenez both had outstanding weeks at the plate, and both look more ready for the big stage as each game passes.

If Miller, Arias and Gimenez are not exciting enough, Richie Palacios was promoted to the Clippers this week from the Double-A Akron RubberDucks, and got off to a hot start. Palacios played second and went 2-4 with two RBI in his first game for the Clippers on Saturday (and Sunday, as the game was suspended due to rain). On Sunday, Palacios played center field and went 1-3 with a stolen base. After not playing in 2020 and being injured for most of 2019, Palacios is putting together a really good season. Here’s hoping he continues to hit in Triple-A.

This week also saw strong starts from pitchers Eli Morgan and Logan Allen. Both have struggled during their respective stints in Cleveland this season, so it was encouraging to see them pitch well against Nashville this week. Shane Bieber and Aaron Civale will not be back anytime soon for Cleveland, so chances are Morgan and Allen will both be called on again to assist the big league club before season’s end.

Day by Day

Tuesday, July 27: L 4-3 – W: Hardy, L: Moss, S: Barker

Wednesday, July – W 6-2 – W: Allen, L: Lindblom

Thursday, July 29: L 6-4 – W: Jankins, L: Fillmyer, S: Milner

Friday, July 30: L 10-5 – W: Bettinger, L: Peacock

Saturday, July 31 (susp., finished on Sunday, August 1): W 6-0 – W: Moss, L: Ashby

Sunday, August 1: W 2-0 – W: Godley, L: File, S: Perez

Player of the Week

INF Gabriel Arias -10-25, 2 HR, 4 2B, 3 R, 6 RBI, BB, 4 SO

Gabriel Arias has been outstanding throughout the month of July, and he continued to excel this week against Nashville. Arias had three multi-hit games against the Sounds, including a 3-4 performance with two doubles in Sunday night’s finale. His power is really starting to show, as this week he hit his eighth and ninth homers, and also has 14 doubles on the season. Who knows how Cleveland will give at-bats to all of their up and coming infielders but Arias was thought to have the best power stroke of all of them. He continues to develop it against Triple-A pitching at only 21 years old. Arias’ defense also continues to shine: this week he played three games at third, two at shortstop and one at DH. He is now hitting .280 with an .808 OPS, and he has earned his second IBI Player of the Week accolade in the last three weeks.

Who’s Hot

INF Andres Gimenez – 11-27, 2 2B, 4 R, 2 RBI, SB, BB, 8 SO

Owen Miller got the call-up when second baseman Hernandez was traded to the Chicago White Sox this week, but some thought Gmenez would get the call because he has outplayed Miller as of late. Gimenez’s bat stayed hot this week, and he hit in every game of the series and had three multi-games against the Sounds. Like Arias, Gimenez continued to show off his defensive versatility. Gimenez played four games at short, a game at second, and one at DH. Part of the reason – in addition to cutting salary – that Cleveland made the moves it did at the deadline is to give its younger players a chance to log some major league innings. This likely means that Gimenez will get the call before long, especially if he keeps hitting the way he has been lately. Gimenez is now hitting .284 with an .837 OPS this season.

C Wilson Ramos – 6-14, 2 HR, 2B, 2 R, 5 RBI, 2 SO

Ramos was signed to a minor league deal by Cleveland on July 6, and all he has done is hit since arriving in Columbus. He had two home runs and a double at the plate this week, and is now hitting .317 for the Clippers. Both of Cleveland’s catchers are currently healthy, but it is hard to imagine that room won’t be made on the 40-man roster for Ramos if either Roberto Perez or Austin Hedges miss time during the second half of the season.

SP Logan Allen – 5.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 4 SO, W

Allen put in his third solid start in a row this week, earning the win on Wednesday and giving up no runs over 5.0 IP. It has been a season of ups and downs for Allen, and if he can continue to string together decent starts it will be the most promising sign for Allen since spring training.

Who’s Not

1B Trenton Brooks – 3-20, 2B, 3 R, 4 BB, 5 SO

After getting off to a hot start upon his promotion to Triple-A, Brooks came back down to earth and has been pedestrian at best for the Clippers lately. This week hits were hard to come by for Brooks against the Sounds. Brooks did work four walks and hit a double, but this was not his best week at the plate. Manager Andy Tracy has consistently played Brooks at first base, and Connor Marabell is the only other player on the roster at the moment with any real first base experience. So Brooks will continue to get plenty of chances to succeed in the second half of the season.

P Brad Peacock – .2 IP, 4 H, 7 ER, BB, SO

Peacock was signed to a minor league deal mid-season to give Cleveland some depth after its rash of injuries to the starting rotation. But Peacock has failed to impress in his short time with the Clippers. In his start this week Peacock failed to get out of the first inning, allowing seven runs over .2 IP. With the influx of pitching to Cleveland’s organization recently, including two Double-A pitchers acquired at the trade deadline and two more activated from the IL, one has to wonder how much longer Peacock’s leash will be with the Clippers.

Transactions

P Alex Young claimed off waivers from Arizona Diamondbacks on July 26 and assigned to Clippers.

RP Juan Mota assigned to Clippers from AA Akron RubberDucks on July 28.

RP Cam Hill activated from IL and optioned to Clippers.

OF Jordan Luplow (assigned to Clippers on rehab assignment) traded to Tampa Rays on July 30.

RP DJ Johnson traded to Tampa Rays on July 30.

INF Owen Miller recalled to Cleveland on July 30.

INF Richie Palacios assigned to Clippers from Akron on July 30.

C Mike Rivera assigned to Clippers from Akron on July 30.

RP Justin Garza recalled to Cleveland on July 31.

Up Next:

The Clippers begin a two-week homestand at Huntington Park starting on Tuesday August 3. On that date, the team opens with a six-game homestand against Kansas City’s Triple-A affiliate, the Omaha Storm Chasers.

Tuesday, 8/3 – first pitch 7:05 p.m.

Wednesday, 8/4 – first pitch 7:05 p.m.

Thursday, 8/5 – first pitch 7:05 p.m.

Friday, 8/6 – first pitch 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, 8/7 – first pitch 7:05 p.m.

Sunday, 8/8 – first pitch 4:05 p.m.