Cleveland Guardians Lose Big Part of Their Bullpen, Opening Day Availability in Doubt

The 28-year-old righty is a huge part of the bullpen bridge that leads to ace closer Emmanuel Clase. He made 71 appearances a season ago, pitching to a 4.06 ERA and striking out 75 hitters in 68.2 innings. As a result of that timeline, he may not be ready for Opening Day.

He's set to enter his fifth major league season with the New York Yankees and Guardians, having arrived in Cleveland for 2021. 

Stephan is not the only key bullpen member to be dealing with an injury right now: James Karinchak is nursing a shoulder problem and doesn't have an immediate timetable for return.

It's a tumultuous first year in the dugout already for new manager Stephen Vogt, who is replacing the recently-retired Terry Francona.

The saving grace for the Guardians in all of this is that the Central figures to be mediocre again in 2024. Therefore, it might be easier to withstand some of this injury-season issue stuff. The Minnesota Twins won the division a year ago but lost All-Star Sonny Gray in free agency, as well as slugger Jorge Polanco to a trade.

The Detroit Tigers have young talent but have constant issues with health, while the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox each lost more than 100 games a season ago.