For the Cleveland Guardians, it’s truly now or never.
So they’ve made a lineup decision with Chase DeLauter that reflects it.
Cleveland trails the best-of-three AL Wild Card series to the Detroit Tigers by a game to none. Detroit won on Tuesday behind a gem from Tarik Skubal.
On Wednesday, the Guardians have to win or their season will be over.
So they’ve slotted DeLauter in centerfield and batting seventh. He has never played in an MLB game. This will be his debut, one of just a handful of players to appear in his first MLB game in the postseason.
MORE: Tarik Skubal claims his crown as the best pitcher in MLB
Injuries have kept DeLauter from debuting in the majors before now.
He played just 39 games in 2024, and this season, it’s been just 42 games.
In July, DeLauter had surgery for a fractured hamate bone. He hasn’t played a game since appearing for Triple-A Columbus on July 12.
“Obviously, the injuries have unfortunately not gone my way,” DeLauter told MLB.com. “Really, though, it’s put the head down and go from there. … I’ve really learned how to just go day by day, and go from there, and just try to get my body right as best as I can and see what happens.”
In his minor league career, DeLauter has hit .302 with an .894 OPS. Now’s his chance to prove he can do it on the big stage. And the Guardians are going to need everything he’s got.
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