Guardians' McKenzie Sidelined At Least Two Weeks

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March 27, 2023

GOODYEAR, AZ — Cleveland Guardians right-hander Triston McKenzie will be sidelined for at least two weeks with a strained right arm the club announced Monday.

McKenzie experienced discomfort and left his start Sunday against the Cincinnati Reds after only one inning

. He underwent MRI imaging and Dr. Jason Genin evaluated him Monday.

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The examination confirmed a strain of his right teres major muscle.

McKenzie, expected to be the third starter in manager Terry Francona‘s rotation, will not throw for two weeks. He then will be reevaluated.

The length of his return to play could be up to eight weeks, according to the team.

Fourth and fifth starters Aaron Civale and Zach Plesac likely will move up in the rotation. Rookie Hunter Gaddis could get a spot start, depending on how much he is needed, as a possible long man in the bullpen in the first week or two of the season.

The Guardians could call back Xzavion Curry to fill out the staff. The rookie utilized an impressive fastball this spring before being sent to the minor league camp last week.

Diamondbacks 7, Guardians 6

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Cleveland’s bullpen blew a 6-0 lead in downtown Phoenix and lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks, 7-6, Monday night.

For the second time in five days, Guardians pitchers flirted with perfection. The roof did not cave in at Chase Field but it felt that way after Aaron Civale pitched perfectly.

Civale started and retired all 14 men he faced, striking out five. Trevor Stephan then fanned the only man he faced to close the fifth inning and Enyel De Los Santos worked a perfect sixth before Nick Sandlin gave up four hits and four runs in the seventh.

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Emmanuel Clase issued a walk and allowed an RBI double in the eighth that made it 6-5. The all-star closer hasn’t exactly struggled but has been far from his usual lights-out self this spring.

Minor-leaguer Jordan Jones came on with one runner on and promptly gave up a two-run homer on his first pitch to Jordan Lawlar. That made it 7-6, Diamondbacks.

It was the second time in five nights the Guardians began perfectly. Thursday in Scottsdale, Cal Quantrill retired 17 in a row before issuing a walk. Cleveland held the San Francisco Giants hitless into the seventh in a 10-0 rout. The Guardians had three homers and four-hit the Giants, 14-2.

Against Arizona, rookies and veterans chipped in. Andres Gimenez had two of Cleveland’s seven hits, Jose Ramirez tripled and Oscar Gonzalez doubled to help the Guardians to a 6-0 lead.