Angel Martinez's hot start is making it impossible for the Cleveland Guardians to leave him out of the lineup

To say that Cleveland Guardians outfielder Angel Martinez is enjoying a hot start to his 2025 season would be an understatement. The 23-year-old switch-hitter has been on an absolute tear and has clearly contributed to the Guardians' 3-1 record in games he started.

Initially getting an opportunity due to regular center fielder Lane Thomas dealing with a wrist injury after getting hit by a pitch, Martinez is doing everything he can to make the most of it. Martinez has multiple hits in three of the four games played, including two three-hit games. With performances like this one, it has become increasingly hard for Guardians manager Stephen Vogt to keep him out of the lineup. In fact, it has become impossible, as Martinez will start his fifth straight game.

There is more to having Martinez on a regular basis than just his own performance. There are several other players in Cleveland's lineup who are not producing right now, and when it comes to who should and who shouldn't play, Martinez doing what others can't at the moment makes this a very easy decision.

To be blunt, Cleveland needs offensive production from outfielders not named Steven Kwan, as the trio of Thomas, Nolan Jones, and Jhonkensy Noel have struggled to get going. Martinez has a vastly different offensive profile than those three, and even though he lacks their power potential, his ability to hit for a better average should help even out the offense and give the lineup a little more length.

The Guardians have to keep Martinez in the lineup as long as he keeps hitting. Cleveland cannot rely on two players (Kwan and Jose Ramirez) to be the primary offensive contributors every single game. Someone else on this team needs to step up, and right now, that is Martinez. Being a moderately successful player with a bat in his hands would be an upgrade over most of Cleveland's lineup right now, and as long as that description applies to his performance, it is best to expect Martinez to see action in some capacity more often than not.