Cleveland Guardians battle injuries as midseason slump deepens

The Cleveland Guardians entered the midway point of the 2024 season with a 42‑39 record, ranking fifth in the league with a 3.73 ERA among their starters. Rookie right‑hander Parker Messick has been a bright spot, posting a 2.67 ERA and approaching a historic no‑hitters milestone.

The club’s recent struggle includes losing the American League Central lead and scoring only one run in two of its last three games. Key injuries have further hampered the lineup: third‑baseman Jose Ramirez will miss five to seven weeks with a left hamate fracture, outfielder Angel Martínez faces at least a month out after a foot fracture, and outfielder Chase DeLauter is sidelined with a right rib‑cage fracture but could return by late June or early July, providing a hoped‑for boost ahead of a homestand against the Seattle Mariners.