Cleveland Guardians rookie Chase DeLauter has appeared in three residence video games in his younger profession, two of them in the course of 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 residence runs, belting a two-run shot and singling residence one other run because the Guardians received 4-1 of their residence opener Friday.
Earlier than all 4 of his plate appearances, the sellout crowd of 36,396 loudly sang alongside along 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 ready. “Plenty of gamers take a look at it like, ‘Is that walk-up going to catch on?’ So I like that the gang is actual concerned in it right here.”
DeLauter had three hits to lift his common to .346 and his three RBIs gave him eight, together with a 1.293 OPS. He missed Cleveland’s earlier recreation after fouling a ball off his surgically repaired left foot Tuesday in a recreation on the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The 6-foot-3, 235-pounder virtually induced 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 unimaginable what he is doing,” Guardians supervisor Stephen Vogt stated. “Chase is comfy, he is not large eyed, and he is doing an exceptional job for us. It is a actually enjoyable begin for him this 12 months.”
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 in opposition to Cleveland, permitting 5 homers in 10 1/3 innings.
The 32-year-old from Japan made his season debut in opposition to 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 turned 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’re 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 effectively. It’ll be an (injured listing) 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 not less than mid-April.
“We’ll see what occurs, however I feel we have the depth to deal with these innings,” stated Rea, who has the Cubs’ solely save this 12 months. “I’ve completed it prior to now, and we have some guys constructed up for depth in Triple-A. I simply hope it is nothing too severe with Cade.”
–Discipline Degree Media
