Ben Lively exits game with thigh contusion, Guardians relieved

On Tuesday night, during a game against the Chicago White Sox, Ben Lively of the Cleveland Guardians left the field after being struck by a comebacker in the second inning. The incident occurred when a liner hit by Dominic Fletcher struck Lively on the outside of his right leg, causing him to fall to the ground. Fortunately, the team later confirmed that he sustained only a right thigh contusion, which he described as a bad charley horse. Despite the scare, Lively expressed optimism about his recovery, stating that he felt he would be able to make his next start. He did not undergo X-rays, and the team treated the injury with ice. Lively managed to walk the final steps into the dugout on his own, indicating that the injury was not as severe as it initially appeared. In the game, Lively had performed well, striking out two batters in his two innings of work. His performance contributed to the Guardians' 5-0 victory, maintaining their position as leaders in the AL Central. Manager Stephen Vogt noted that while Lively was sore, the examination results were reassuring, confirming that the injury was not serious. Lively's season has been notable, with a record of 11-9 and a 4.01 ERA over 26 starts, totaling 137 innings pitched. The Guardians are relieved that their pitcher avoided a major injury, allowing them to focus on their upcoming games without significant disruption to their rotation.