Shawn Armstrong comes off the injured list as the Cleveland Guardians look to lock up a playoff spot.
As the Cleveland Guardians are on the precipice of punching their ticket to the playoffs and setting their sights on October baseball, every boost will help them in their dreams of winning the World Series.
Cleveland did get a lift on Wednesday ahead of the second game of its series against the Boston Red Sox, as the Guardians made a pair of roster moves that
Shawn Armstrong Activated Off 60-Day Injured List
The veteran presence in Cleveland’s bullpen is back, as the Guardians have activated Shawn Armstrong off the 60-day injured list.
Armstrong was initially sidelined on July 15 after sustaining a calf strain during an awkward play in which Armstrong was running to back up home plate after a ball was put into play. He was initially placed on the 15-day IL, but was later transferred to the 60-day IL to open a spot on the 40-man roster.
Armstrong has made four rehab appearances as he works his way back from this calf injury. In them, he’s thrown 3.2 innings and has given up three earned runs with five strikeouts.
Perhaps more important than the stats, Chris Antonetti mentioned over the weekend that Armstrong felt good in his last rehab outing and was on track to be activated soon. Now, he’s back with the big-league team.
Overall, Armstrong’s addition during the 2026 season hasn’t gone as planned for the Guardians. Coming off a stellar season in 2025, the 36-year-old has a 4.91 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP in 38 games this year.
At one point earlier in the year, Armstrong was considered a potential high-leverage option for Cleveland; now his addition will provide a solid veteran presence to a bullpen group that’s preparing for another postseason run.
Mar 28, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Cleveland Guardians reliever Shawn Armstrong (43) delivers a pitch during the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn ImagesConnor Brogdon Designated For Assignment
With Armstrong being activated off the 60-day injured list, Cleveland had to make room for him on both the 40-man and MLB roster.
The corresponding transaction designated Connor Brogdon for assignment. It’s the second time the Guardians have DFA’d Brogdon during the 2026 campaign.
Cleveland gave the veteran pitcher another opportunity on September 13. His final appearance with the Guardians came on September 14, when the right-hander gave up one hit and struck out one batter in two-thirds of an inning.
The Guardians signed Connor Brogdon to a free agent deal over the offseason, and the experiment has been far from a success. He owns a 5.06 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP over 16 outings.
