I might be wrong: Schneeman took 16 pitches, swung 3 times. One of three was a homerun.

CONDENSED GAME

https://www.mlb.com/video/condensed-gam ... nsed-games

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Infielder’s small-ball start catches manager by surprise: Guardians breakfast today

Published: Mar. 31, 2025, 5:31 a.m.

By Joe Noga, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Gabriel Arias surprised the Kansas City infield when he laid down a perfect bunt base hit in the fourth inning of Sunday’s 6-2 win for the Guardians at Kauffman Stadium.

It was just the third bunt base hit of Arias’ brief major league career.

Prior to Sunday, he had not laid down a bunt since the 2023 season when he was 1-for-4 on bunt attempts, according to Fangraphs.com. He was successful on one of his two attempts on 2022.

So, it was completely reasonable for Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia to be playing back with the right-handed hitting 25 year old at the plate.

Arias had driven in a run with a sacrifice fly to right field in the second inning, and with one out and nobody aboard, not a soul in the park figured the Venezuela native wasn’t swinging for the fences. Including Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt.

“I did not see the bunt coming,” Vogt admitted. “But that’s just the dynamic player he is.”

Arias’ sixth inning drive off the face of the fountains in right field for a solo home run against KC’s Chris Stratton was a little more expected, though.

He finished the three-game series against the Royals with three hits, including a double and two RBI. He left town slashing .375/.333/.875 with a 1.208 OPS and just two strikeouts in nine plate appearances.

But it was his mature approach throughout the series that caught his manager’s eye.

“He hit a ball to right that most lefties can’t,” Vogt said. “He’s got the tools, he’s got the power, he’s got the ability, and it’s going to be really fun watching him put it together.”

Breakfast and trivia

Overslept. Running out the door this morning. Only have time to grab a banana and a Diet Coke. Don’t tell mom. Here’s some trivia, and hoping you make it to the office on time:

On Sunday, the Guardians won a series-deciding game on the road, snapping a run of three straight road rubber game losses. When was the last time Cleveland won a rubber game on the road, and who was the opponent?

Next

Monday: Guardians vs. Padres at PetCo Park, 9:40 p.m. RHP Luis Ortiz (0-0, 0.00) vs. LHP Kyle Hart (0-0, 0.00). CleGuardians.TV, WTAM/1100 AM, WMMS/100.7 FM, Guardians Radio Network.

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Guardians Young Slugger Is Blossoming Right Before Our Eyes

March 31, 2025

By Andres Chavez

The Cleveland Guardians were able to win their first series of the season against the Kansas City Royals on the road.

They enjoyed solid starting pitching in the three-game set, and while the bullpen wasn’t perfect, it was also an important factor behind the two wins.

The offense was surprisingly good, scoring 16 times in the first three games, a little over five runs on average.

Much of that offense was supplied by an unexpected force: designated hitter Kyle Manzardo.

The fact he is raking at the moment is no surprise if you have followed his evolution as a player and as a hitter over the last two years.

However, the surprising part is that he has been carrying the Guardians’ offense on his back.

The numbers speak for themselves.

“Cleveland #Guardians (1B/DH) Kyle Manzardo first three games of the 2025 season. 5-11 3R 1(2B) 1(3B) 2HR 6RBI 3BB 2SO. AVG) .455, OBP) .571, SLG) 1.273, OPS) 1.844,” Guardians Prospective posted on X.

During his first MLB stint last year, which started in early May, he couldn’t hit lefties and posted a .571 OPS overall that got him demoted again in mid-June.

Then, he returned in the second half and hit .270 (17-for-63) with a .873 OPS and five round-trippers in 23 games.

When he returned, he was a completely different player and showed it in the stretch run and the postseason.

Now, with a full offseason to prepare, he is looking like a legit middle-of-the-order asset.

It’s still ridiculously early, but Manzardo is looking like he could enjoy a breakout campaign in Cleveland.

He is hitting lefties and righties, showing composure and patience at the plate.

In other words, the game has slowed down for him and he is now able to inflict damage against pitchers of both hands and in any situation.

The Guardians have themselves a keeper in Manzardo.

Padres host the Guardians, with a 4-0 record and a curious starting pitcher: Kyle Hart a 32 year old whose major league career consists of 4 ineffective games for the Red Sox in Covid-2020 season. at least in part due to injuries to several projected starters. He was 13-3 2.69 ERA in Korea last summer. He has a full career with 1200 plus innings. He' a lefty so Noel will be in the lineup tonight. Opposite of Jones, he swings at most everything; an interesting platoon

TONIGHT'S LINEUP NOEL/RODRIGUEZ HITTING BACK TO BACK
JOSE BACK IN THE LINEUP

https://www.mlb.com/gameday/guardians-v ... 99/preview

SD 4-0 Tough lineup. If Ortiz gets through the first two inning, I think he might have a quality start.

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Noel and JRod back to back! a combined 0-6,

Jose apparently is healthy, although he didn't triple so missed a cycle

And Ortiz was precisely as ineffective as he was in spring training. No command of his pitches at all. 9 hits and 4 walks in 4 2/3 innings. Based on what he did last year for Pittsburgh there's a skill level there that we hope he can reach again.
[I won't mention that Giminez is hitting cleanup for the BlueJays and has responded with 3 homeruns.]

McKenzie two shutout innings of relief, one hit and the inevitable one walk

One positive Noel is making contact more often. Hardest hit ball last night was Noel plus he threw out a runner at 2nd base.

civ ollilavad wrote: Tue Apr 01, 2025 9:43 am
[I won't mention that Giminez is hitting cleanup for the BlueJays and has responded with 3 homeruns.]

civ - on the other hand I am not complaining about what Schnee and Arias are doing - with still Brito or Bazzana in the wings.

Like you said, if Ortiz can simply replicate what he did last year it's a win. Yesterday's game was still March!

Plus Giminez and Josh Naylor money allowed for Bieber to return.

Great point Rusty. If his recovery continues without sebacks we should have 3 top notch starters for more than 1/2 the season. Lively is a perfect No. 5. maybe Allen will work out; perhaps Ortiz;

It would be great for Giminez if he can return to a solid offensive contributor; add that to his magnificent fielder and he would be perennial all star

I could do with not watching Bo Naylor batting. His plan has to be he has no plan.

This is known as 2nd base without Giminez

Xander Bogaerts, with the infield playing in, sent a bouncer to second baseman Gabriel Arias, who couldn’t decide what to do with the ball. He was going to throw home, but dropped the ball. Then he looked to third before finally throwing late to first. Tatis scored and Machado went to third.

n the eighth inning, third baseman Jose Ramirez made a diving stop on a grounder by Jason Heyward, but his throw to second was offline because no one was on the bag.

Arias is on very thin ice right now. The only way Arias stays on the roster is if he hits his way on. He seems to lose focus on defense. He also bobbled a ground ball but his strong arm got him out of trouble.

Bo Naylor is terrible ! Seems to lack any baseball aptitude, Bring up anyone that is smarter and can at least put the ball in play.