The Cleveland Guardians continue to rely on Colin Holderman in high-leverage situations.
It feels like every year the Cleveland Guardians take a pitcher who is overlooked, underachieving, or coming off an injury, and help get them back up to speed and put together a bounce-back campaign.
For the 2026 season, the pitcher who fits that mold is Colin Holderman.
The Guardians signed Holderman as a free agent over the offseason, and didn’t know exactly what to expect coming off a 2025 season where he was dealing with an injury that clearly affected his performance on the mound.
However, Holderman is blossoming into one of the best surprises for the Guardians this season, even after being optioned two games into the 2026 season. After the Guardians brought him back up to the big-league level, they continue to watch his role evolve with Cleveland, in the best way possible.
“He’s pitched himself into being a leverage guy,” explained Vogt ahead of Saturday’s game.
“When he came up, he was here to provide length and kind of pitching down games, and he could still both do both those things… Collin’s really put himself on the map. been a great pivot role. been a great fireman. And he's gotten some big leverage outs.”
May 20, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Guardians pitcher Colin Holderman (35) delivers during the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn ImagesHolderman has covered 20.2 innings in 16 games for the Guardians so far this season. In those outings, he owns a 1.31 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, and a strikeout rate of 29.9 percent, ranking in the 89th percentile.
The right-hander has faced five batters in high-leverage situations; he’s yet to allow a base runner and struck out three of those hitters he’s faced. Holderman also has two holds on his season resume, too.
Yes, Holderman has pitched himself into a high-leverage role for the Guardians and continues to prove his skipper right. That said, Cleveland has also needed Holderman to step up in some big situations, considering where the bullpen stands right now.
This group has been heavily taxed over the last month and is even dealing with an injury to one of their key setup arms. Erik Sabrowski emerged as one of the top high-leverage arms in Cleveland’s bullpen this season, but he’ll be out for the foreseeable future, meaning Holderman will continue to get time in late and close games.
Holderman becoming a top high-leverage option for the Guardians is just more evidence of Cleveland’s pitching program and the team’s blueprint for winning games.
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