Aug 31, 2026 8:40 PM

The Cleveland Guardians have multiple options when rosters expand on Tuesday.

The Cleveland Guardians will have a little more flexibility starting on Tuesday as MLB’s roster expands from 26 players to 28 players on the first day of September.

The question now is, who from the Guardians’ Triple-A team will be on their way to Cleveland to join the big-league roster?

Here are three potential candidates as Cleveland gets ready for September call-ups.

Daniel Schneemann

Chris Antonetti didn’t share which position player would be called up, but he did make it clear over the weekend that whoever does get recalled likely won’t see everyday at-bats. That said, the team still wants whoever that player is to find a way to impact the game and complement the current team.

That description perfectly sums up what Daniel Schneemann could provide the Guardians in a limited role, making him a prime candidate to join the team on Tuesday.

Schneemann still has the ability to play just about every position in the field at a high level. Before being optioned at the end of July, he made appearances at all three outfield positions, third base, shortstop, and second base, while still sitting in the 92nd percentile in outs above average and the 79th percentile in fielding run value.

He would easily complement the current group by subbing in late in games as a defensive replacement or as a pinch runner.

Schneemann has also started to see an uptick in offensive production with the Clippers. In 25 games, he owns a .326/.457/.533 slash line. Those numbers could also be a rationale for the front office to get him back up with the big-league team.

Everyone wants to see Ralphy Velazquez make his MLB debut or Kahlil Watson get another chance, but based on Antonetti’s comments, Schneemann feels like the most likely choice.

Apr 5, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Daniel Schneemann (10) fields a ground ball in the third inning against the Chicago Cubs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn ImagesApr 5, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Daniel Schneemann (10) fields a ground ball in the third inning against the Chicago Cubs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images

France Aleman

The clue Antonetti gave about which pitcher might be called up was that it’ll likely be a reliever.

Aleman has had some ups and downs at the big-league level this season, but he’s still done enough to warrant the extra spot in the bullpen.

Overall, the 26-year-old owns a 3.38 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP with a strikeout rate of 26.8 percent in 18 appearances with the Guardians. Given that Aleman has an ERA just about one run lower at Triple-A, there’s no reason to keep him down in the minor leagues any longer.

There’s an argument to be made for Daniel Espino to get this spot, too. However, he still hasn’t pitched more than one inning at Triple-A, while Aleman has done it four times at the MLB level.

Given where Cleveland’s bullpen is at, Stephen Vogt may value a reliever that can pitch multiple innings, which would be Aleman.

Slade Cecconi

Another option that can’t be forgotten about is the Guardians using the extra roster spot to activate Slade Cecconi off the injured list. He’s nearing a return and has thrown about 100 pitches in two rehab starts.

Before Cecconi landed on the IL, Cleveland moved him into a bullpen role. If the Guardians feel they need another long-relief option, Tuesday could be the perfect time to get Cecconi back into the mix.

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