Lively (7-4) took the loss against the Royals on Thursday, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk over six innings while striking out five.
Lively was sharp for most of the contest and didn't allow a runner to reach second until the fifth inning when Nick Loftin walked, then advanced on a steal. Unfortunately for the right-hander, his luck would run out in the following frame after he surrendered back-to-back triples to open things up, which eventually led to two runs coming home for Kansas City. It marked Lively's first quality start this month and he's now allowed two or fewer runs in six of his last seven outings. However, he's now lost two of his last three starts after previously winning five straight.
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Guardians' Ben Lively: Earns seventh win
Rotowire
Lively (7-3) allowed two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out four over 5.2 innings to earn the win over the Blue Jays on Saturday.
Lively bounced back from his shortest start of the year by getting back into the win column. He hasn't struck out more than five batters in any of his last five outings, but he's generally been good at limiting damage, as he's given up two or fewer runs in nine of his 12 starts. The right-hander is at a 3.03 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 56:20 K:BB through 65.1 innings this season, though he's also been tagged for 10 home runs, including two in Saturday's start. Lively is projected to make his next appearance at Kansas City.
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Guardians' Ben Lively: Roughed up in loss
Rotowire
Lively (6-3) took the loss Sunday against Toronto, yielding four earned runs on six hits and three walks in four innings. He struck out four.
Lively pitched for the first time in eight days after leaving his most recent start with tightness after 65 pitches. He surrendered a two-run home run to Ernie Clement in the second inning, his first home run allowed since May 26. The four earned runs are a season worst for the 32-year-old, who had notched wins in each of his previous five starts. Despite Sunday's rough outing, Lively has pitched well for Cleveland this season, logging a 3.02 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP and a 52:18 K:BB across 59.2 innings pitched. He is currently scheduled for a rematch against Toronto next weekend.
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Guardians' Ben Lively: Should make next start
Rotowire
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said Tuesday that Lively (undisclosed) has checked out fine and is expected to make his next turn through the rotation, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
The 32-year-old experienced some unspecified tightness during his start in Miami over the weekend, which resulted in him being lifted after five scoreless innings. Lively hasn't had any issues over the past couple days, putting him on track to start this weekend in Toronto. Cleveland should confirm its pitching plans later in the week.
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Guardians' Ben Lively: Gets checked for undisclosed injury
Rotowire
Lively returned to Cleveland on Monday to undergo further medical exams for an undisclosed injury, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports.
The injury presumably stems from Lively's most recent start in Miami on Saturday, when he was lifted from the game after throwing 65 pitches over five shutout innings. Per the Associated Press, manager Stephen Vogt said that Lively experienced some tightness after sitting for an extended period in the top of the fifth inning, when the Guardians erupted for six runs. Vogt didn't expound any further beyond that, but the fact that Lively temporarily left the Guardians to get examined more closely suggests that his early exit wasn't merely precautionary. The Guardians have off days Monday and Thursday and can get by with a shortened rotation for a bit if they choose, so Lively may not be in line to pitch during this weekend's series in Toronto even if he doesn't require a stay on the injured list. Lively has been a pleasant surprise for the Guardians and fantasy managers alike, as he's won each of his last five starts while ringing up a 2.54 ERA and 1.02 WHIP over 28.1 innings.
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Guardians' Ben Lively: Solid in fourth straight win
Rotowire
Lively (5-2) earned the win against the Nationals on Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk with four strikeouts over 5.2 innings.
Lively fired three scoreless frames before allowing two runs in the fourth inning, and he left the game just shy of a quality start after allowing a two-out single to Lane Thomas in the sixth. This was Lively's fourth win in as many games, and he has not allowed more than three runs in any of his nine starts this season. Lively will take a 2.84 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 47:15 K:BB into a road matchup against the Marlins next weekend.
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Guardians' Ben Lively: Fans seven in victory
Rotowire
Lively (3-2) earned the win over the Mets on Monday, allowing one run on six hits and no walks while striking out seven batters over 5.2 innings.
The only run Lively allowed in the outing came via a Tomas Nido solo homer in the third inning. Lively was otherwise excellent, matching a season high with seven punchouts and falling one out shy of recording a quality start. The right-hander is in the midst of the best season of his career, posting a 2.84 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 38:12 K:BB over 38 innings. Prior to this season Lively owned a 5.05 ERA across 208.2 career frames.
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Guardians' Ben Lively: Hangs tough but takes loss
Rotowire
Lively (1-2) took the loss against the White Sox on Thursday, allowing three runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out two batters over 5.2 innings.
It appeared Lively could be in for a short outing after giving up three runs on five hits (including three doubles) and a walk over his first two frames, but the right-hander recovered to go 5.2 innings without giving up another run. The three runs were a season high, which speaks to how well Lively has pitched through five appearances on the season. He holds a 2.63 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 26:9 K:BB across 27.1 innings.
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Guardians' Ben Lively: Yields one run in no-decision
Rotowire
Lively didn't factor into the decision Sunday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks against Atlanta. He struck out five.
Lively has yet to allow more than two runs in a start this season. However, he's gone deeper than five innings in only one of his three appearances. He was pulled at 88 pitches (53 strikes) Sunday and didn't give up a home run for the first time all year. In 15.2 innings, Lively owns a 2.30 ERA with a 10.9 K/9, a massive improvement from his 5.38 ERA and 8.0 K/9 from 2023. He's projected for a start against the Angels on Saturday.
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Guardians' Ben Lively: Sharp in no-decision
Rotowire
Lively did not factor into the decision Tuesday against the Red Sox, allowing one run on five hits while striking out seven over 6.1 innings.
Lively held Boston off the board until Wilyer Abreu's solo home run in the seventh inning, though Cleveland couldn't break through against Tanner Houck until the bottom half of the frame, leaving Lively with a no-decision. The 32-year-old right-hander's pitched well in his first two starts this year, both coming against the Red Sox. Lively's allowed three runs through 11.1 innings while posting an impressive 14:1 K:BB. He should get at least one more start before Gavin Williams (elbow) is able to rejoin the rotation -- Lively's currently slated for a tough road matchup in Atlanta on Sunday.
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Guardians' Ben Lively: Activated ahead of start
Rotowire
The Guardians reinstated Lively (illness) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday versus the Red Sox in Boston.
Cleveland moved reliever Eli Morgan (shoulder) to the 15-day IL in a corresponding move to make room for Lively, who will be making his Guardians debut Wednesday. Lively got stretched out to 5.1 innings and 55 pitches in his second and final rehab start with Triple-A Columbus last week, so he could have some minor workload restrictions in place in his return from the IL. With Shane Bieber (elbow) out for the season and Xzavion Curry getting optioned to Triple-A following a spot start Monday, Lively could be in line to make multiple turns through the Cleveland rotation until Gavin Williams (elbow) is ready to return from the IL.
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Guardians' Ben Lively: Confirmed to start Wednesday
Rotowire
The Guardians plan to reinstate Lively (illness) from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday's game in Boston, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
The season-ending injury to Shane Bieber (elbow), along with a doubleheader with the Yankees on Saturday, opened up two spots in Cleveland's temporary six-man rotation, and Xzavion Curry (illness) -- who will be activated from the IL to start Monday -- and Lively will be called upon to fill the voids. The Guardians are expected to condense their rotation to five men by the end of the week, however, so how Curry and Lively perform against the Red Sox will likely determine which of the two remains in a starting role moving forward. Lively wrapped up his two-start rehab assignment at Triple-A Columbus by covering 5.1 innings and 55 pitches this past Tuesday, so he should face only light workload restrictions in Boston for what will be his season debut with the big club.
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Guardians' Ben Lively: Begins rehab assignment
Rotowire
Lively (illness) allowed a hit and struck out three without walking a batter over three scoreless innings in his rehab start versus Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.
Lively began the season on the 15-day injured list, but he was solid in his first rehab appearance. The right-hander was in contention for a rotation spot during spring training prior to coming down with a respiratory virus. It's unclear what his role will be with the major-league team once he's activated -- that will likely depend on Carlos Carrasco's performance as the Guardians' fifth starter and the timeline for the return of Gavin Williams (elbow).
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Guardians' Ben Lively: Heads to IL with illness
Rotowire
The Guardians placed Lively on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a viral illness.
Lively and Xzavion Curry are opening the season on the shelf due to a respiratory virus that made its way around the Cleveland clubhouse during spring training, according to MLB.com. Lively shouldn't need much longer than the minimum 15 days to regain his conditioning and get ramped back up, and he'll likely be ticketed for a long-relief role once available. He could become a rotation option down the road if Carlos Carrasco or Logan Allen struggle.
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Guardians' Ben Lively: Gets MLB deal from Guardians
Rotowire
Lively signed a one-year, $750,000 contract with the Guardians on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old right-hander receives a major-league deal from Cleveland after collecting a 5.38 ERA and 79:25 K:BB over 88.2 innings with the Reds in 2023. Currently, there wouldn't appear to be room for Lively in the Guardians' rotation. However, it's possible a spot could open up if the club winds up trading Shane Bieber or someone else. More likely, perhaps, is that Lively operates as a long reliever or swingman.
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Ben Lively: Hits free agency
Rotowire
Lively elected to become a free agent Tuesday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Lively was removed from the Reds' 40-man roster last month after struggling to a 5.38 ERA over 88.2 innings (12 starts, seven relief appearances) during the 2023 campaign. The 31-year-old right-hander may have to settle for a minor-league contract on the open market this winter.
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Reds' Ben Lively: Allows three runs in bulk relief
Rotowire
Lively allowed three runs on four hits over 4.1 innings against the Tigers on Thursday. He struck out four and did not issue any walks.
Lively set down the Tigers in order after relieving Sam Moll to open the third inning but immediately ran into trouble in the fourth, yielding three consecutive hits -- including a two-run home run to Akil Baddoo. The right-hander hit another snag in the seventh, surrendering a leadoff single while also allowing a batter to reach due to a throwing error. It wasn't a great outing for Lively in his return from the COVID-19 injured list, and he's now allowed at least three runs in each of his last three appearances dating back to Aug. 1. He's also given up at least one home run in six consecutive outings.
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Reds' Ben Lively: Could be activated Saturday
Rotowire
Lively (pectoral) could be activated from the 15-day injured list Saturday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Lively has rejoined the Reds in Arizona rather than making another rehab start. He could start Saturday's game, but a piggyback situation with Brett Kennedy also seems to be on the table. Lively has been out since early August with a right pectoral strain.
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Reds' Ben Lively: Makes rehab start Friday
Rotowire
Lively (pectoral) allowed four runs on four hits and one walk while striking out six over five innings for Triple-A Louisville on Friday.
Lively allowed a pair of home runs, but the pitch count (76) and innings were most important. He had been scheduled to throw 85 pitches in his first rehab start Sunday but only tossed 32 (19 strikes) after allowing six runs in two-thirds of an inning. This could be Lively's final rehab outing, per MLB.com, but Cincinnati manager David Bell wants to see how the right-hander feels Saturday before making any decision.
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Reds' Ben Lively: Yanked early
Rotowire
Lively (pectoral) allowed six runs on six hits and one walk over two-thirds of an inning in a rehab start for Triple-A Louisville on Sunday.
Lively began a rehab assignment and was pulled after just 32 pitches. The right-hander had been scheduled to throw 85 pitches, per Annie Sabo of Bally Sports Cincinnati. Prior to the start, there was talk of Lively coming back to the Reds following Sunday's outing, but the short pitch count (and results) likely extends his time away from the majors.
