Guardians' Aaron Civale: Records seven Ks in rehab start
Rotowire
Civale (oblique) permitted four earned runs on six hits and three walks and struck out seven over 4.2 innings in his rehab start for Triple-A Columbus on Sunday.
In what was the third and perhaps final start of his minor-league rehab assignment, Civale tossed 88 pitches (54 strikes) while working into the fifth inning. Though Civale wasn't as efficient as he had been over his prior two rehab outings, his ability to approach 90 pitches suggests he's ready to return from the 15-day injured list, perhaps as soon as Friday in Minnesota. The Guardians will likely clear a spot in the rotation for Civale by optioning Hunter Gaddis to Triple-A, but the team will have a tougher decision to make once Triston McKenzie (shoulder) comes off the 60-day IL as soon as Sunday or early next week. Young hurlers Logan Allen and Tanner Bibee have both made strong cases for permanent starting roles, and the Guardians could have to expand to a six-man rotation to make room for both pitchers as well as Civale and McKenzie.
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Guardians' Aaron Civale: Getting another rehab start
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Civale (oblique) is slated to make his third rehab start for Triple-A Columbus on Sunday, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Even though Civale was able to get stretched out to 69 pitches in his latest rehab start Tuesday, the Guardians want to have him make one more tune-up outing in the minors before bringing him back from the 15-day injured list, where he's resided since April 10. With Triston McKenzie (shoulder) potentially making his final rehab start Tuesday, the Guardians will soon have some tough decisions to make with the rotation. Hunter Gaddis -- who is starting Sunday versus St. Louis -- will almost certainly lose his spot once either Civale or McKenzie is activated, but unless the Guardians move to a six-man rotation, one of the two high-performing rookie starters -- Tanner Bibee or Logan Allen -- could lose his spot to make room for the two veterans. Assuming Civale navigates his upcoming minor-league outing smoothly, he could be cleared to join the big-league rotation as soon as Friday in Minnesota.
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Guardians' Aaron Civale: Strikes out five in rehab start
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Civale (oblique) made his second rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Columbus, covering 3.1 innings and striking out five while allowing two runs on five hits and one walk.
While Civale recorded only one more out than he did in his first rehab start last Thursday, the right-hander pushed his pitch count up from 34 to 69. Though Civale likely needs one more outing before he'll be ready to handle a normal starter's workload, the Guardians could still bring him back from the 15-day injured list for his next start, even if he's on somewhat of a limited pitch count. Civale could be activated as soon as Sunday, when he would step into the rotation spot occupied by Hunter Gaddis for the series finale with St. Louis.
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Guardians' Aaron Civale: Sharp in rehab outing
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Civale (oblique) threw three scoreless innings while allowing two hits and no walks with four strikeouts in a rehab outing with Triple-A Columbus on Thursday.
Civale made his first rehab appearance and threw 34 pitches. Though he was sharp, his limited pitch count likely means that he'll need another outing or two before being activated. Civale has been sidelined since April 7 with the oblique strain and will immediately slot back into the Guardians' rotation when healthy.
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Guardians' Aaron Civale: Pitches sim game
Rotowire
Civale (oblique) was scheduled for a simulated game Saturday.
The Guardians haven't provided an update on Civale's status since he threw a live bullpen session May 9 at the team's spring training complex. Assuming the sim game went well, he could soon be cleared for a rehab assignment some time this week. Since he's been out for over a month, there's a strong chance he could need multiple rehab starts.
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Guardians' Aaron Civale: Ready for live work
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Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said that Civale (oblique) will throw a live batting practice session at the organization's facility in Arizona on Tuesday, Joe Noga of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
If Civale's injured left oblique responds well to the live throwing session, Antonetti noted that the right-hander could be cleared for a simulated game at extended spring training by the end of next weekend. Civale has been on the shelf for just under a month with the injury, so he may need at least two rehab outings to get fully stretched back out for starting duty before the Guardians bring him back from the 15-day injured list. He appears to be tracking toward a return from the IL in late May or early June.
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Guardians' Aaron Civale: Tosses bullpen session
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Civale (oblique) completed a bullpen session Wednesday, MLB.com reports.
The side session marked the first time that Civale has taken part in mound work since he suffered a left oblique strain in his April 7 start against the Mariners. The Guardians noted that Civale felt well physically coming out of the session, and he'll be re-evaluated Friday before the team determines his next steps. Though he's now nearly a month removed from suffering the injury, Civale is without a clear timeline for a return, though Mandy Bell of MLB.com notes that Civale is behind fellow starting pitcher Triston McKenzie (shoulder) in their respective rehab programs. McKenzie isn't eligible to come off the IL until May 29, so Civale likely isn't likely to return until at least early June.
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Guardians' Aaron Civale: Lands on IL with oblique strain
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Civale was placed on the 15-day injured list by the Guardians on Monday with a left oblique strain, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
It's not clear whether Civale tweaked his oblique during his last start on Friday or during a between-starts bullpen session, but either way he's going to be out of commission for a few weeks. Peyton Battenfield has taken his spot on the roster and could be an option to replace Civale in the rotation. Another option would be for Cleveland to insert long reliever Xzavion Curry into the rotation.
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Guardians' Aaron Civale: Takes loss after faltering late
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Civale (1-1) took the loss Friday, allowing four runs on nine hits and one walk over 5.2 innings in a 5-3 loss against the Mariners. He struck out five.
Civale cruised through four shutout frames before getting tagged for two runs in the fifth and allowing a game-tying, two-out RBI double to J.P. Crawford in the sixth. Across his first two starts, Civale has pitched 12.2 innings and given up four runs while posting a modest 8:2 K:BB.
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Guardians' Aaron Civale: Dominates in first start
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Civale (1-0) earned the win over Seattle on Saturday, pitching seven scoreless innings during which he allowed two hits and one walk while striking out three batters.
In his 2023 debut, Civale largely silenced Seattle's bats, allowing just a pair of singles and a walk while preventing the Mariners from putting multiple runners on base in any inning. The right-hander didn't have overpowering stuff -- he notched just five swinging strikes and three punchouts -- but he consistently got ahead in counts, throwing 17 of 23 first pitches for a strike. Civale is trying to bounce back from last season, when he posted a career-worst 4.92 ERA, and he's off to a strong start with Saturday's performance.
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Guardians' Aaron Civale: Struggling in spring
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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.
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Guardians' Aaron Civale: Inks deal with Cleveland for 2023
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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.
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Guardians' Aaron Civale: Gets nod for Game 5
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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.
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Guardians' Aaron Civale: Start postponed due to rain
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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.
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Guardians' Aaron Civale: Relief option to begin ALDS
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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.
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Guardians' Aaron Civale: Fans seven in win
Rotowire
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
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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.
