Cleveland’s Tyler Freeman Sidelined with Oblique Injury, Rookie Ángel Martínez Steps Up
In a surprise move, the Guardians’ utility player Tyler Freeman was removed from the AL Division Series roster ahead of Monday’s Game 2 against the Detroit Tigers due to an oblique injury sustained during a simulated game on Sunday. Freeman’s spot was filled by rookie Ángel Martínez, who showcased his versatility by playing six different positions in 43 games for the AL Central champions this season.
Manager Stephen Vogt revealed that Freeman strained his left oblique while facing Ben Lively during the team’s off-day practice at Progressive Field. Despite the setback, Vogt expressed sympathy for Freeman, who has been an integral part of the team’s success this year. “It’s been a tough couple of weeks for him, and he’s gone through a lot. We’ll keep him with us, but we had to make the roster move,” Vogt said.
Freeman’s absence will be felt, particularly against the Tigers, whom he has had success against this season, batting.385 with three RBIs in 12 games. He also had a strong record against Detroit’s ace Tarik Skubal, going 3 for 6 against him.
In other news, Vogt confirmed that Alex Cobb will take the mound for Game 3 in Detroit on Wednesday. Cobb, who was acquired from San Francisco in a July trade, finished the regular season on the injured list with a blister on his right middle finger.
Leave a Reply