The Cleveland Guardians, currently struggling offensively, received a major boost as star third baseman José Ramírez is set to return for Saturday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Ramírez missed Friday’s series opener after being hit in the forearm by a 95-mph pitch from Kevin Gausman during Thursday’s game against the Blue Jays. Though he initially stayed in the game, he exited after the inning and was sidelined for the next matchup.
His absence was felt deeply, as the Guardians endured back-to-back shutout losses—6-0 to Toronto and 5-0 to St. Louis—managing just three hits combined in both games. Cardinals pitcher Sonny Gray threw a complete-game one-hit shutout on Friday. With Cleveland having dropped three of its last four games and being outscored 25-11 in that stretch, Ramírez’s return to the lineup is critical.
The six-time All-Star will resume his usual role at third base and bat third. Even after missing games, he continues to lead the Guardians in nearly every major offensive category, including batting average, home runs, RBIs, and total bases. If Cleveland is to revive its playoff hopes, Ramírez’s presence will be essential.
