Cleveland Guardians rookie Chase DeLauter has appeared in three house video games in his younger profession, two of them throughout the 2025 American League wild-card sequence, when he made his main league debut.
The fourth look will happen Saturday night time when the Chicago Cubs proceed their three-game set in Cleveland.
Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga (0-1, 7.20 ERA) will oppose Guardians right-hander Slade Cecconi (0-1, 12.46).
DeLauter moved right into a tie for the main league lead with 5 house runs, belting a two-run shot and singling house one other run because the Guardians received 4-1 of their house opener Friday.
Earlier than all 4 of his plate appearances, the sellout crowd of 36,396 loudly sang alongside together with his walk-up track, “Take Me Dwelling, Nation Roads” by John Denver.
“It is superior listening to that from the primary time; I get chills each at-bat,” stated DeLauter, who grew up in West Virginia, the place the track is about. “A variety of gamers have a look at it like, ‘Is that walk-up going to catch on?’ So I really like that the group is actual concerned in it right here.”
DeLauter had three hits to boost his common to .346 and his three RBIs gave him eight, together with a 1.293 OPS. He missed Cleveland’s earlier sport after fouling a ball off his surgically repaired left foot Tuesday in a sport on the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The 6-foot-3, 235-pounder nearly brought about one other harm after touching the plate on his homer, excitedly body-checking teammate Steven Kwan in celebration. Kwan was momentarily surprised earlier than smiling.
“It is unbelievable what he is doing,” Guardians supervisor Stephen Vogt stated. “Chase is snug, he isn’t massive eyed, and he is doing an exceptional job for us. It is a actually enjoyable begin for him this yr.”
Cecconi spent two years with the Arizona Diamondbacks however has not confronted the Cubs. He was rocked for six runs in 4 1/3 innings on the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, hitting two batters.
Imanaga beat the visiting Guardians on July 2, 2025, giving up three runs in 5 1/3 innings. He’s 1-0 with a 5.23 ERA in two profession begins towards Cleveland, permitting 5 homers in 10 1/3 innings.
The 32-year-old from Japan made his season debut towards the Washington Nationals on Sunday, taking the loss with 5 innings of four-run ball. Imanaga struck out seven over 82 pitches.
Chicago’s rotation grew to become a priority for supervisor Craig Counsell when starter Cade Horton threw solely 17 pitches Friday earlier than leaving with proper forearm discomfort. Horton is 12-4 in his first 24 begins within the majors.
“Any time you are taking a pitcher out of the sport within the second inning, you are involved,” Counsell stated. “He’ll in all probability get imaging and that is regarding, as nicely. It may be an (injured record) stint, however let’s get extra info earlier than we get too far.”
Profession starter Colin Rea labored 3 1/3 innings of one-run ball following Horton and is the probably candidate to imagine his spot within the rotation. The righty started the season within the bullpen with the Cubs overflowing with arms.
That’s not the case with Horton sidelined till at the very least mid-April.
“We’ll see what occurs, however I feel we have got the depth to deal with these innings,” stated Rea, who has the Cubs’ solely save this yr. “I’ve carried out it previously, and we have got some guys constructed up for depth in Triple-A. I simply hope it is nothing too critical with Cade.”
–Area Stage Media
