Key Guardians offseason addition entering crucial stretch after IL reinstatement

While the Cleveland Guardians’ bullpen isn’t at the same level that it was last season when it finished the year with a dominant performance, they’ve finally started to find their footing after a sluggish start to the season. 

And they gained another huge arm into the fold on Monday when Shawn Armstong returned from the injured list after spending three weeks on the shelf with a groin strain. 

But Armstrong’s return isn’t the obvious win that it may have seemed like prior to the start of the season thanks to the 4.22 ERA he posted in 10 2/3 innings before suffering his injury. 

Armstrong should immediately slot into the Guardians’ high-leverage equation alongside Cade Smith and Hunter Gaddis, but he’s going to need to hit the ground running if he wants to keep that spot. 

Armstrong’s injury opened up the door for lefty reliever Erik Sabrowski, who has posted a 1.83 ERA in 19 2/3 innings. But there will still be a world where he and Armstrong coexist together thanks to Armstrong pitching from the right side. 

The Guardians need Shawn Armstrong to hit the ground running

If anything, Armstrong should slot into the right-handed fireman role that was occupied by Matt Festa. Festa’s a valuable (and divisive) reliever in the Guardians’ bullpen, but Armstong is clearly a better option to be called upon when a big out is needed. 

The Guardians’ bullpen has posted an MLB-leading 2.69 ERA across the last calendar month (90 1/3 innings), and the addition of Armstong (theoretically) makes them better. 

That said, they used Armstong’s open roster spot in the best way possible. When Armstong was first placed on the injured list, the Guardians replaced him on their roster with Colin Holderman, who has posted a 0.68 ERA in 13 1/3 innings since getting recalled. 

Once Holderman became irreplaceable, they DFA’d Connor Brogdon to make room for promising rookie Franco Aleman, who ate some innings during the Guardians’ stretch of 13 innings in 13 days before being replaced by Codi Heuer. 

Heuer then made his Guardians debut by eating the final two innings of the Guardians’ big win over the Reds on Sunday before being replaced by Armstong. That’s roster management at its finest. 

But adding Armstrong removes a bit of the flexibility the Guardians had in using Aleman/Heuer since he’s out of options and is a clear bullpen staple after the Guardians spent $5.5 million on him in the offseason. 

That’s a clear tradeoff the Guardians will clearly take since Armstrong’s a proven reliever compared to more potential-based options like Aleman and Heuer. 

The vibes are clearly high in the Guardians’ bullpen, and Armstrong clearly has the talent needed to keep those vibes going so long as he’s able to pitch better than he did prior to going on the IL.

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