It was a perfectly average week for the Guardians who went 4-4 over their last eight games, and after what they’ve put us through this season, that’s not something to complain about. Meanwhile, they gave us a few other moments to smile about.
Valera Gets the Call
There were many questions surrounding the Guardians leading up to September’s roster expansions. Who would they call up? How would they contribute? The answer to that first question was outfield prospect George Valera. Valera has been plagued by injury many times
since the Guardians acquired him in 2017, so Monday’s first plate appearance was long deserved. He took a four-pitch walk in his first at bat and later scored a run in Cleveland’s 6-4 loss. Manager Stephen Vogt says he plans to use Valera as a DH and pinch hitter until he feels the young player is ready for the outfield.
Means Still Finding Success
Since the Guardians acquired John Means prior to the 2025 season, he has been on the road to recovery from Tommy John surgery in June of 2024. He’s been making a few rehab starts at various levels of the Guardians’ farm system, and Sunday’s start in Triple-A Columbus marked his longest start yet. He threw four innings against the Louisville Bats where he gave up just one unearned run on two hits, and he struck out four hitters. While he will most likely make one more rehab start, he is definitely nearing a return. There has been no decision made on whether he will return to the majors as a bullpen pitcher or join the starting rotation as a sixth man, but if he can continue the success he’s found in these rehab starts, he will be a welcome addition no matter where he goes.
2026 Schedule Released
While there’s still (at least) a full month left in the 2025 season, a few fans have turned their sights to 2026 already. The team made it easier for them on Tuesday when they released the 2026 schedule. Some highlights include the season opener against the Mariners in Seattle on March 26th, with the home opener a week later against the Chicago Cubs on April 3rd. The team will be home versus the Washington Nationals on Memorial Day, and home versus the Chicago White Sox over the July 4th holiday weekend. There will be a good mix of both National and American League matchups throughout the season, with the last home game coming on September 20th versus the Athletics, and the regular season coming to a close on the 27th versus the Royals in Kansas City.
Honorable Mention – Fan Favorite Returns to Cleveland
If you follow me on Twitter (@baseballcontext), you know that I had an exciting weekend because my all-time favorite Cleveland player returned to the city. Former reliever Nick Wittgren spent the week in the Land with his family, chiefly because he attended an event put on by the 455 Club as a meet and greet with fans. Wittgren has been my favorite player since 2019 when we bonded over attending the same school, Purdue University. Since then, we’ve kept in touch online, and he has made a point to chat with me each time I’ve seen him at a game or team event since. However, the last time I was able to see him was at a Chicago Cubs versus Cleveland game in Chicago in 2021. Over the last four years, it’s been a whole lot of Instagram messages that have kept us in touch. So when I heard that he would be back in Cleveland for this event, I bought tickets faster than you can say “Guards Ball”. As I walked into the event, I heard someone shout my name. I turned around to see my favorite player walking towards me, and gave him the type of hug you’d also give to someone you haven’t seen in four years. The rest of the event included lunch, a Q&A, door prize raffles, and an autograph signing session. It was so nice to catch up with him and his family, and I will forever be grateful to them and their kindness to me and all other Cleveland fans. He continues to be (and always will be) my favorite player.
