The Cleveland Guardians want to play it safe with Erik Sabrowski as the pitcher lands on the injured list.
Just over 50 games into the 2026 MLB season, the Cleveland Guardians have avoided any major injuries to the key players on the roster, but that might’ve just changed.
Ahead of Cleveland’s series opener against the Washington Nationals, the Guardians announced they had placed LHP Erik Sabrowski on the 15-day injured list with what the team is calling elbow inflammation.
Manager Stephen Vogt explained the initial symptoms started early last week against Detroit when “he came off the mound [and] said his elbow was a little sore.”
“Obviously, he would’ve been down Thursday. Then, on Friday and Saturday, we didn’t need him. So, yesterday [Sunday] was the first day we were giving him an extra day. He just wasn’t feeling better,” explained Vogt.
As for the exact ailment, the team is still trying to sort it out and is waiting for test results to determine the extent of the injury.
“He got an MRI this morning. We don’t have the results back yet, but left elbow inflammation,” Vogt continued. “We’ll know tomorrow in regards to the MRI as far as the specifics.”
May 20, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Guardians pitcher Erik Sabrowski (62) delivers during the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn ImagesAnytime a pitcher starts complaining or reports elbow soreness, the worst-case scenario immediately jumps into everyone's mind. Sabrowski knows this feeling all too well throughout his baseball career.
The 28-year-old has undergone two Tommy John surgeries in the past, and Vogt even acknowledged that that reality was one of the reasons the team didn’t want to take any chances and just shut down Sabrowski until they could sort through the injury.
“It’s one of those things with Erik, especially his history, the right thing to do is to put him on the IL right now,” Vogt said.
For Sabrowski and the Guardians’ sake, hopefully this isn’t an injury that will keep the left-hander sidelined for any longer than it needs to.
Sabrowksi is in the middle of a phenomenal season and has earned a spot as the team’s go-to setup man in high-leverage situations, especially facing left-handed hitters.
In 25 outings, the left-hander owns a 1.71 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP with a strikeout rate of 47 percent and a whiff rate of 36 percent.
Based on Vogt’s comments, it sounds like the team is simply in a wait-and-see position with their pitcher.
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