Chase DeLauter’s latest injury has hamstrung Guardians at worst possible time 

Last Friday, Chase DeLauter recorded two doubles, a walk and stolen base in the first game of the Guardians’ doubleheader sweep over the Tigers. 

We haven’t seen much of him since. 

After going 0-for-2 in the nightcap, DeLauter was pinch-hit for in the sixth inning after spraining his wrist on a swing in his previous at-bat. Although DeLauter hasn’t appeared in a game since he suffered that injury, the Guardians haven’t placed him on the injured list. 

For the past four days, manager Stephen Vogt has been forced to build his lineups while being a man down. Even if that’s less of a big deal now given the Guardians’ extra roster spot, this is the second time this year he’s been put in this spot while DeLauter deals with an injury. 

Even if his injury may not cause him to miss 10 days, we’re at a point where the long-term loss of placing him on the injured list would be worth the short-term win that would come with getting an additional roster spot. 

Chase DeLauter's injury means the Guardians have had to operate with one less roster spot

DeLauter’s injury came at perhaps the worst time considering he was in the midst of the best stretch of his career prior to getting hurt (.968 OPS since the start of August). He’s already set a career-high with 120 games played, and has a .294/.365/.548 slashline with 13 home runs and 60 RBI for the season. 

DeLauter’s also been able to largely stay healthy, which is a huge change compared to how things were in the minors. He only played in 138 games in the Guardians’ system, and only managed to get in 42 games last year before he made his big league debut during last year’s postseason. 

That history has been front of mind for the Guardians this season, as they’ve tried to work off days into his schedule while also moving him between designated hitter and right field. 

That hasn’t stopped him from getting hurt. 

In June, DeLauter missed 12 games after the Guardians placed him on the injured list due to a rib cage fracture that he sustained running into the wall. He also missed a series against the Giants at the end of August with a left hamstring tightness that lingered into their series against the Angels. 

But, unlike his June injury, the Guardians didn’t place him on the injured list in August, which put them in the same position they’re in now (albeit with one less roster spot than they have now). 

The good news for the Guardians is that DeLauter’s absence hasn’t hurt the Guardians’ offense too much. After getting shut out by the Tigers on Saturday (the first game DeLauter missed), they’ve gone 2-1 and have scored at least three runs in every game. 

While there’s always a chance DeLauter makes his return later today (Stephen Vogt said he’s doing better yesterday), Friday’s series opener against the Twins seems like a logical return given it’ll come after Thursday’s off day.

Whether the Guardians made the right decision to keep DeLauter off the injured list, we’ve passed the point where putting him on the injured list makes sense.

You can only backdate an IL placement by three days, so putting him on there now would mean DeLauter would miss next week’s pivotal series against the White Sox. 

The Guardians’ lineup is clearly at its best when DeLauter is in it, and it seems like he’s getting closer to being back. But it’s still worth wondering whether they made the right decision about how to handle his injury.

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