Cleveland Guardians

Steven Kwan is back in the lineup for the Cleveland Guardians against the Oakland Athletics Friday. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Kwan returns after sitting out for general rest Thursday, batting leadoff and starting in left field against the Athletics Friday.

Sam Hentges (finger) is slated to begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Akron Friday. (Source: Tom Withers on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Hentges recently began facing live hitters for the first time since landing on the IL with a finger injury. The team has not stated how many rehab outings the reliever will make before being activated.

Emmanuel Clase delivered a flawless performance, securing a save in the Guardians' narrow 5-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

Fantasy Impact: He tossed 11 pitches in a clean inning, allowing no hits or walks and striking out one batter. This outing lowers his ERA to an impressive 1.00 and marks his fifth save of the season. Despite a couple of hiccups earlier with two blown saves, Clase's ability to bounce back in high-pressure situations should keep him firmly in the closer role. Fantasy managers should continue to deploy him with confidence, expecting more save opportunities as he appears to have a solid grip on late-game duties for Cleveland.

Carlos Carrasco earned a win Thursday, allowing two earned runs on four hits and three walks while striking out five over 5.2 innings as the Guardians edged out the Red Sox 5-4.

Fantasy Impact: This performance brings his season ERA to a respectable 3.44 and his WHIP to 1.53, though his control issues continue to inflate his walk totals, impacting his WHIP and K/BB ratio, which sits at a less-than-ideal 1.33. Despite these struggles, Carrasco's ability to limit damage and secure wins has kept him relevant in fantasy circles, especially in leagues that value innings and strikeouts. However, fantasy managers should remain cautious, as his high WHIP and low K/BB ratio could lead to more volatile outings.

Triston McKenzie is reportedly pitching through a torn ligament in his elbow. (Source: The Athletic)

Fantasy Impact: McKenzie has posted a 6.23 ERA across 13 innings so far this season. His velocity has been down across his three starts which has been the biggest concern for him moving forward. This appears to be something that will be an issue the rest of the season.

The Guardians added Pedro Avila to the active roster. (Source: Guardians Prospective on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Avila was traded to Cleveland earlier in the week. He'll add some depth to the bullpen for the Guardians.

The Guardians optioned Wes Parsons to Triple-A Columbus. (Source: Guardians Prospective on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Parsons will be sent back down after being called up for the doubleheader.

Ben Lively delivered a solid performance but couldn't avoid the loss in Wednesday's 2-0 defeat to the Red Sox.

Fantasy Impact: He allowed two earned runs on three hits and one walk while striking out seven over five innings. Despite the loss, Lively's outing was a promising display of control and strikeout ability, maintaining a strong start to the season with a 3.60 ERA and a 0.80 WHIP. His high strikeout rate (12.6 K/9) and favorable WHIP are encouraging signs for fantasy managers, suggesting potential for high fantasy value if he can sustain these metrics.

Tanner Bibee delivered a decent performance, allowing just one earned run on five hits and two walks while striking out three over five innings in Tuesday's victory over the Red Sox.

Fantasy Impact: Bibee's season-long metrics, including a 4.82 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP, suggest volatility, but his performance in this game showed signs of stability. A high BABIP (.359) indicates he may be experiencing some bad luck on balls in play, which could improve. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on his strikeout rates and WHIP for signs of sustainable improvement or further inconsistency.

Andres Gimenez went 0-for-4 in the Guardians' 6-0 win over the Red Sox and failed to contribute offensively.

Fantasy Impact: Despite yesterday's performance, Gimenez is off to a solid start to the season including a .323 wOBA and a .315 BABIP. Fantasy managers should be starting him in all formats.

Xzavion Curry delivered a stellar performance, tossing five scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and one walk, striking out three in a 6-0 victory over the Red Sox.

Fantasy Impact: This outing was a display of efficiency and control, as evidenced by his low pitch count and minimal baserunners. Fantasy managers should monitor his role in the Guardians' rotation and consider him a viable option, especially in deeper leagues or as a streaming choice against favorable matchups.

Will Brennan went 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBI in the Guardians' 6-0 win over the Red Sox.

Fantasy Impact: This performance marked Brennan's first home run of the season, bringing a much-needed boost to his modest .225 batting average. Despite the slow start to the season, this game could be a turning point for Brennan.

Estevan Florial is in the starting lineup for the Guardians Monday.

Fantasy Impact: Florial will play right field and bat seventh against the Red Sox. Florial appears to be earning more at-bats with Will Brennan in the midst of an early season slump.

Ramon Laureano is not in the starting lineup for the Guardians Monday.

Fantasy Impact: Laureano will get a day of rest to kick off the week. The Guardians will turn to Estevan Florial to start in right field against the Red Sox.

Jose Ramirez went 2-for-5 with a home run on Sunday against the Yankees.

Fantasy Impact: Ramirez hit his third home run on the season in the third inning. He is hitting .246 so far in the middle of the Guardians lineup.

Logan Allen allowed four runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings on Sunday against the Yankees.

Fantasy Impact: It was a decent outing for Allen who now boasts a 5.06 ERA so far this season. He is scheduled to face Oakland next.

Friday’s game between the Guardians and Yankees has been postponed due to inclement weather. (Source: Guardians on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: The game is scheduled to be made up on Saturday as part of a split doubleheader. Fantasy managers should expect the teams to announce their starters for Saturday soon.

Bo Naylor emerged as a key contributor for the Cleveland Guardians, driving in three runs to help secure a 7-6 victory.

Fantasy Impact: Naylor's performance, highlighted by a crucial home run, not only provided the necessary offensive spark but also hinted at a potential turnaround for the young catcher. Despite a sluggish start to the season, with a batting average lingering at .194 through nine games, Naylor's ability to connect when it counts, increasing his RBI tally to 5 and home runs to 2, offers a glimmer of hope for fantasy managers.

In a thrilling 7-6 victory over the Chicago White Sox, Josh Naylor's bat was a key component for the Cleveland Guardians, further cementing his status as a valuable fantasy asset.

Fantasy Impact: Naylor's performance, which included a home run, a double, two RBIs, and crossing the plate twice himself, was a showcase of his power-hitting capabilities. With a season batting average now standing at an impressive .333 through 11 games, alongside a robust .423 wOBA, Naylor is proving to be an indispensable part of fantasy lineups. His ability to consistently drive in runs, evidenced by his 9 RBIs and 3 home runs so far, combined with his low strikeout rate of 0.083, makes him a reliable source of fantasy points.

The Guardians transferred Shane Bieber to the 60-day injured list. (Source: Tom Withers on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Bieber will miss the rest of the season as he has to undergo Tommy John surgery. He is set to be a free agent this offseason.