Civale allowed three runs on five hits and a walk while striking out four over 3.2 innings in Friday's Cactus League loss to the Reds.
Civale has given up six runs over 9.2 innings across four spring starts, but he's also posted a respectable 11:3 K:BB. Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports Civale was able to stay in Friday's game after taking a liner off of his right foot, so that shouldn't be a concern going forward. He posted a career-worst 4.92 ERA over 20 starts (97 innings) in 2022, but there's been no indication that he's at risk of losing his place in the rotation yet, though he will be at the back end of the starting list for the Guardians.
Guardians' Aaron Civale: Inks deal with Cleveland for 2023
Rotowire
Civale agreed to a one-year, $2.6 million contract with the Guardians on Friday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Civale had a 4.92 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 98:22 K:BB across 97 innings during 2022, and he missed significant time due to glute, wrist and forearm injuries. He had a 3.86 FIP and could be a rebound candidate if he can stay healthy in 2023.
Civale is scheduled to start Tuesday in Game 5 of the Guardians' American League Division Series matchup with the Yankees, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports.
Before Game 5 was postponed Monday, Civale had been in line to start, but the Guardians didn't immediately lock him into taking the hill after inclement weather pushed the elimination game back a day. Even though ace Shane Bieber is available Tuesday on three days' rest, the Guardians will choose to keep him in the bullpen and instead stick with the plan to have Civale start. Civale hasn't pitched in any of the Guardians' six postseason games to date, but he tossed a gem in the regular-season finale Oct. 5, striking out a season-high nine batters while allowing two earned runs on five hits and one walk over six frames.
Guardians' Aaron Civale: Start postponed due to rain
Rotowire
Civale won't make his scheduled start Monday in Game 5 of the ALDS against the Yankees, as the game has been postponed due to inclement weather.
Civale was set to start the decisive Game 5, but with the contest now pushed to Tuesday, it's unclear if Cleveland will change pitching plans. The team may consider starting Shane Bieber on three days rest and using Civale in a relief role if necessary, but they won't announce a decision until Tuesday, per Laura Albanese of Newsday.
Guardians' Aaron Civale: Relief option to begin ALDS
Rotowire
Civale is on the Guardians' ALDS roster versus the Yankees and will be in the bullpen for Game 1, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
Civale's length wasn't needed in the wild card round, but he figures to see action in this series against New York. The 27-year-old has no big-league relief appearances but could be called upon If Cal Quantrill struggles early in Game 1. With low-velocity and a 4.92 regular-season ERA, however, pitching Civale at Yankee Stadium would be a risky move. It's also possible the righty starts a game later in the series.
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Guardians' Aaron Civale: Left off wild-card roster
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Civale did not make the Guardians' final 26-man roster for their AL Wild Card Series with the Rays, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Civale will begin the postseason as a member of the Guardians' taxi squad as the team opted to leave him off their Wild Card roster. He wrapped up the regular season with a 4.92 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over 20 starts and will be an additional depth option for Cleveland's rotation moving forward.
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Guardians' Aaron Civale: Second straight quality start
Rotowire
Civale (5-6) earned the win Wednesday, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk over six innings with nine strikeouts against the Royals.
Civale was sharp against Kansas City on Wednesday, with the only damage coming from two solo home runs. The quality start was his second in a row, and the nine strikeouts on the day were his second-highest total of the season. In 43 innings in the second half, Civale managed a 3.35 ERA with 46 strikeouts, painting a much better story than his season-long 4.92 ERA and 5-6 record would indicate.
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Guardians' Aaron Civale: Yields three runs
Rotowire
Civale (4-6) allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits through six innings Friday, striking out five and earning a win over Kansas City.
The 27-year-old served up a two-run homer to Drew Waters in the third inning and a solo shot to Michael Massey in the fifth. Civale has given up two or fewer earned runs in eight of his last nine starts, posting a 3.00 ERA during that stretch. He'll carry a 5.04 ERA into his projected home matchup with the Royals next week to close out his season.
Civale (3-6) earned the win against the Rangers on Sunday, allowing two runs on three hits with seven strikeouts and no walks over five innings.
In his second start since returning from the injured list, Civale worked his pitch count up to 75 on his way to his third win of the season. He fanned seven batters on the day for the fourth time this season and did not walk a batter for the first time since Aug. 10. He will take a 5.19 ERA into his next start, which is tentatively scheduled for this weekend against Kansas City.
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Guardians' Aaron Civale: Goes five innings in return
Rotowire
Civale (forearm) allowed two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out two over five-plus innings in a no-decision versus the White Sox on Tuesday.
Civale missed over three weeks with forearm inflammation, but he was able to throw 69 pitches (40 strikes) in his return. He faltered in the sixth inning, when he was charged with both of the runs on his line, though it was an otherwise solid start for the right-hander He's had few of those in 2022 with a 5.29 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 77:21 K:BB through 80 innings across 17 starts. Civale is projected for a road start in Texas this weekend if he checks out fine after Tuesday's outing.
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Guardians' Aaron Civale: Activated ahead of Tuesday's start
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Civale (forearm) was activated from the 15-day injured list prior to his start Tuesday against the White Sox.
He has missed the whole month due to forearm inflammation and wasn't especially sharp in his lone rehab outing Sept. 15, in which he gave up four earned runs on seven hits while striking out five in 2.2 innings. Civale may not go deep enough to qualify for the win in this first start back unless he is efficient with his pitches.
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Guardians' Aaron Civale: Starting Tuesday vs. White Sox
Rotowire
Civale (forearm) will start Tuesday's game against the White Sox, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Despite giving up four earned runs on seven hits, including two home runs, in 2.2 innings in Thursday's rehab start, Civale is apparently ready to rejoin the big-league rotation. Five of his eight outs came via strikeout in that lone rehab appearance. He could potentially make two starts next week if Cleveland goes with a five-man rotation, with a second one coming next Sunday in Texas, but it seems likely he'll face some sort of workload restriction in at least his first outing back.
