Much-needed Guardians lineup update shows just how much front office nailed trade deadline

In the first two games of the Guardians series against the Rockies over the weekend, Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt did something that he’s rarely done this season: He used the same lineup two days in a row.

And both times it worked perfectly, as the Guardians picked up a 9-1 win on Friday night (the first time he used the lineup) that was followed by a 4-3 win on Saturday. 

Even if he got back to mixing and matching ways on Sunday, that back-to-back of using the same lineup marked a noteworthy change for Vogt, who is among baseball’s most aggressive managers when it comes to changing the lineup day-to-day. 

But a big part of the reason for that change was due to the presence of Jo Adell and Nathaniel Lowe, who profiled as platoon options when the Guardians traded for them, but have blossomed into everyday players since joining Cleveland. 

That may change as the Guardians get healthier and the final month gets closer, but it was still exciting to see the Guardians put together a dominant series using most of the same players. 

Jo Adell and Nathaniel Lowe have helped unlock the Guardians' lineup

The Guardians’ batting order that repeated in the first two games against the Rockies looked like this: 

LF Steven Kwan
RF Chase DeLauter
3B José Ramírez
DH Jo Adell
1B Nathaniel Lowe
SS Angel Genao
2B Travis Bazzana
C Patrick Bailey
CF Petey Halpin

Now, it’s worth pointing out that the Guardians faced off against a right-handed starter in both of those games (Tanner Gordon on Friday and Gabriel Hughes on Saturday), which likely contributed to some of that continuity. 

But Vogt showed that he’s willing to experiment when he gave Lowe the start against a left-handed pitcher last week, and this lineup was another example of that. 

Instead of rolling with Brayan Rocchio (who has struggled since the All-Star Break), Vogt started rookie Genao at shortstop in both games.

Halpin also started in both games, which were the final games he started amidst a stretch of being in the starting lineup four days in a row. Halpin has quietly become one of the more important players on Cleveland’s roster due to Cleveland’s (justified) aversion to playing Adell in center, and he provided Cleveland with solid defense while mashing a home run in Friday’s win. 

Halpin slid back to the bench on Sunday due to Steven Kwan playing in center, which put Angel Martínez in left field and Adell in right. Genao also slid over to third so Ramírez could get his customary day off on Sunday. Rocchio went back to shortstop and Austin Hedges moved behind the plate. 

The biggest things to watch with Cleveland’s lineup going forward are going to be how Vogt manages center field and first base. Although Halpin is a great defender, he’s had some serious struggles at the plate that could end up playing a huge part whenever the Guardians’ bats cool down again. 

He and Kwan are the only two players on Cleveland’s current roster who the front office seems to be comfortable putting in center, so that may be the Halpin show until further notice. 

The Guardians are also set to face off against three right-handed starters in their series against the Angels, which also helps. 

While it can be dangerous to extrapolate too much from a series against the lowly Rockies, there’s no denying the Guardians lineup did its job, thanks in large part to the two trade deadline acquisitions holding things down in the middle. 

That kind of consistency could end up being the thing that helps push the Guardians into the postseason. 

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow