Cleveland Guardians Lose Another Starting Pitcher: Aaron Civale to IL

Not even two weeks into the regular season, the Cleveland Guardians have already lost two of their mainstays in their pitching rotation.

Days before Opening Day, the club placed 2022 breakout star Triston McKenzie on the Injured List with a shoulder injury. Monday, his teammate Aaron Civale joined him on the IL, after sustaining an oblique strain, The Athletic's Zack Meisel reports.

Aaron Civale to the injured list with an oblique strain.

Triston McKenzie shifted to the 60-day IL (he can return as soon as May 29) https://t.co/mSdGg9KY3Y
— Zack Meisel (@ZackMeisel) April 10, 2023

With Civale hitting the IL, Peyton Battenfield receives a call-up to the show, and will likely be making his Major League debut very soon.

Battenfield, age 25, was drafted by the Houston Astros in the ninth round of the MLB Draft out of Oklahoma State University. Battenfield logged a 3.63 ERA in 28 starts in Triple-A in 2022.

Rookie Hunter Gaddis has filled McKenzie's place in the rotation to open the season. Through two starts, Gaddis has a 3.72 ERA, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks over 9.2 innings pitched.

Civale has gotten off to a strong start to begin the season, after logging a 4.92 ERA in 20 starts in 2022. Through his first two starts of 2023, Civale has allowed just four runs on 11 hits and two walks across 12.2 innings pitched, good for a 2.84 ERA and 1.03 WHIP.

Civale last pitched Friday and was scheduled to start Wednesday's game against the New York Yankees at Progressive Field. The Guardians have not named a starter in his place, at this time.

In a corresponding roster move, McKenzie was moved to the 60-day Injured List. The soonest he will be eligible to return to the club's active roster will be May 29.

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