Colin Holderman’s injury could negate Guardians biggest stretch run advantage

While not much has gone right for the Guardians as of late, there’s no need to quit on the season just yet. Not only are they just 1 1/2 games back from a Wild Card spot, but they boast a stellar bullpen that gives them an advantage late in every game that they’re leading. 

But that bullpen may have taken a hit over the weekend when Colin Holderman left the Guardians’ game on Saturday with what the team called right wrist inflammation. 

Although the Guardians don’t seem super concerned about Holderman’s injury, any concern around a key reliever at this point in the season is always going to gain a bit more attention given the importance of every game as the season winds down. 

And Holderman’s become more than just a key reliever; he’s one of the main cogs in a Cleveland bullpen that can go toe-to-toe with any relief unit in baseball. 

Colin Holderman's injury changes the equation at the back of the Guardians' bullpen

After shaking off a rough start to the season, Holderman has provided the Guardians with some great ROI on the one-year, $1.5 million contract he signed with them in the offseason. He’s gone from afterthought to longman to high-leverage killer, and currently has a 2.39 ERAin 48 innings to go along with one save. 

Not bad for a guy who was initially demoted before the Guardians had even finished their season-opening road trip. Holderman ended up returning at the end of April and got some work as a long relief option, but his stuff ended up being so good that Stephen Vogt pushed him into a high-leverage role alongside Cade Smith and Hunter Gaddis. 

And he’s largely been unhittable as of late. In fact, he’s allowed a run in just four of his last 19 appearances (although two of those four of those outings have featured multiple runs). 

That could now be on hold thanks to his latest injury. Holderman’s injury is also a bit scary given he missed six weeks last year with a thumb injury that he described to MLB.com’s Tim Stebbins as “De Quervain's syndrome.” 

While Holderman ended up appearing in 24 games with the Pirates last season, he had a 7.01 ERA and was a largely ineffective pitcher.

Luckily, president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti told Stebbins and other reporters that Holderman feels this year’s injury is different.  

Holderman’s injury would be another blow to a bullpen that currently has Shawn Armstrong and Slade Cecconi on the injured list. 

The Guardians have had to cycle through a variety of options at the end of their bullpen since Cecconi went on the IL, with the latest one being Logan Allen, who was recalled in place of Franco Aleman. 

I could also free up some space for prospect Daniel Espino, who has all the skill in the world but has only managed to throw six big league innings this season.

Still, none of those options would be able to replace what Holderman has brought to the bullpen. Quite a difference from the start of the season.

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