The Guardians announced Monday that they’ve placed right-hander Aaron Civale on the 15-day injured list due to a strained left oblique and selected the contract of right-hander Peyton Battenfield from Triple-A Columbus. Righty Triston McKenzie was moved from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL in order to open a spot on the 40-man roster for Battenfield. That doesn’t change the projected return date for McKenzie, it should be noted; the “60-day” term of his IL stint begins with his original IL placement and is not reset upon being transferred from the 15-day IL to the 60-day.
Civale, 27, was excellent in his first start of the season, tossing seven shutout frames against Seattle. The Mariners got their revenge over the weekend, however, tagging Civale for four runs on nine hits and a walk through 5 2/3 innings. Civale didn’t depart that start with an injury, but it seems something was amiss physically for the righty during that outing. This will be his fourth stint on the injured list dating back to Opening Day 2022, as he missed time last season due to glute, wrist and forearm injuries.
Those injuries cost Civale roughly 12 starts last season, limiting him to 97 innings and likely contributing to his lackluster 4.92 ERA on the season. Across parts of three prior campaigns, he’d given Cleveland a combined 3.76 ERA in 256 innings, stepping up to seemingly seize a long-term spot in the team’s rotation. The early signs in 2022 were promising, as Civale’s fastball had crept up nearly a mile per hour on average, but he’ll now be shelved for a yet-to-be announced period of time.
With Civale joining McKenzie on the injured list, the Guards are now down two of their top five starters. They’ll look to Shane Bieber, Cal Quantrill, Zach Plesac and Hunter Gaddis to hold down the first four spots in the rotation, with Battenfield and long reliever Xzavion Curry the favorites to step into Civale’s now-vacated spot on the staff.
The 25-year-old Battenfield, acquired from the Rays in a trade sending Jordan Luplow back to Tampa Bay, has made 29 starts in Triple-A across the past two seasons, logging a combined 3.63 ERA with a 16.9% strikeout rate and 8.8% walk rate. Battenfield isn’t a hard thrower, sitting in the low 90s with his fastball, but he leans on a wide variety of secondary offerings, keeping hitters off balance with a deep five-pitch repertoire.
Hate to see Civale hurt but was relieved the Yankees wouldn’t have to face him. Then I saw he was scheduled to go against Schmidt and realized it never really mattered.
Looks like the season is going to be a war of attrition as far as pitching goes
Indians are now employing a triple threat.
They’re going to pitch Battenfield.
The Indians know that Love is a Battenfield.
I wish Peyton the best, but was really hoping to see bibie or Allen. I really want Gavin Williams up, and I think he will force his way into the rotation at some point.
Williams is still a ways out to be honest, he isn’t on the 40 man roster currently. Bibee, Allen, Curry, Battlenfield, Pilkington, Morris are more who you will see this year.
If Cody Morris is healthy he can be legit.
All fine prospects but it seems very unlikely you’ll see any of them this early in the season. Unless something major happens, it seems like they will roll with the guys currently on the roster.
I bet you’ll see Bibee real soon. Keep him down a little bit longer so he doesn’t finish in that top 3 ROY voting….
I bet they’ll keep him down because he had less than 80 IP at AA and isn’t on the 40 man roster.
I think you’ll see Cantillo before the rest of them. He and Espinoza need to be added to the 40-man by the end of they year.
I could see one or more of Plesac/Quant/Civale on the move this year as they make room for Bibee, Allen, Williams etc.
The Indians pump those guys out all the time. It’s about the time in their lifecycle to bring up the next wave and sell off the current.