Cleveland Guardians outfielder Chase DeLauter got off to a blazing start in his first full season following his MLB Debut last postseason.
The 24-year-old hit four home runs in Cleveland's first three games against the Seattle Mariners. Through May 6, DeLauter was slashing an impressive .308/.391/.550 with six home runs and 23 RBI.
However, his next 32 games were a different story. Over that span, DeLauter slashed .217/.280/.267 with one home run and 11 RBI. On June 17, he landed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to June 14, due to a right rib cage fracture. DeLauter suffered the injury on June 13 after crashing into the wall while attempting to make a catch against the Detroit Tigers.
Fortunately, DeLauter missed just 11 games and returned to the Guardians on June 28. Since then, DeLauter has showcased his high potential and emerged as Cleveland's most reliable hitter.
Across 12 games since coming off the injured list, DeLauter is slashing a scorching .373/.396/.627 with three home runs and 11 RBIs. He has recorded a hit in all but one game and has multiple hits in seven contests.
Although Cleveland is just 6-6 since DeLauter returned, their 4-7 record during his absence reflects just how important he has become to the Guardians' lineup.
Cleveland is already without star third baseman José Ramírez, who suffered a left hamate fracture in the same game DeLauter sustained his injury. Ramírez has not played since June 13. Although he has begun hitting off a tee, the Guardians are unlikely to rush their face of the franchise back into the lineup.
In the meantime, Cleveland will continue to count on its young lineup, led by DeLauter, to try to create separation from the Chicago White Sox atop the American League Central.
Yet the Guardians' offense has struggled mightily over the last four weeks. Since June 16, Cleveland has hit just .214 as a team. That mark ranks ahead of only the Mariners (.205). During that span, the Guardians also rank 28th in on-base percentage (.283), slugging percentage (.354), and runs scored (87).
DeLauter has done his part when healthy. However, the outfield remains a weak spot for Cleveland. Steven Kwan has massively underperformed in 2026, slashing .221/.331/.276 with one home run and 14 RBI over 87 games. His struggles have dropped him to the No. 9 spot in the lineup.
Those question marks in the outfield could prompt Cleveland to pursue reinforcements ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline. Nonetheless, even if the Guardians acquire outfield help, DeLauter will remain one of the club's most important players.
It is asking a lot of a 24-year-old to anchor an offense. However, for a Guardians team whose star is sidelined and in need of consistency, DeLauter is Cleveland's best option at the moment. His recent hot stretch has only reinforced that.
The Guardians (49-46) enter Saturday tied with the White Sox (48-45) for the AL Central lead. Cleveland will look to clinch a series win against the Miami Marlins on Saturday at 4:10 pm ET.
