Lively (0-1) took the loss Wednesday, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk with seven strikeouts over five innings against Boston.
Although Lively was impressive in his first start of the campaign, he wasn't as good as Tanner Houck, who pitched a complete-game shutout. Lively ran into a bit of trouble in the third and fourth innings, bringing in Pablo Reyes on a balk in the third before surrendering a solo homer to Connor Wong in the fourth. With Gavin Williams (elbow) set to miss at least one more trip around the rotation, Lively should receive some opportunities to build on Wednesday's performance. His first chance to do so is tentatively set to come Tuesday in a rematch with the Red Sox.
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Guardians' Ben Lively: Activated ahead of start
Rotowire
The Guardians reinstated Lively (illness) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday versus the Red Sox in Boston.
Cleveland moved reliever Eli Morgan (shoulder) to the 15-day IL in a corresponding move to make room for Lively, who will be making his Guardians debut Wednesday. Lively got stretched out to 5.1 innings and 55 pitches in his second and final rehab start with Triple-A Columbus last week, so he could have some minor workload restrictions in place in his return from the IL. With Shane Bieber (elbow) out for the season and Xzavion Curry getting optioned to Triple-A following a spot start Monday, Lively could be in line to make multiple turns through the Cleveland rotation until Gavin Williams (elbow) is ready to return from the IL.
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Guardians' Ben Lively: Confirmed to start Wednesday
Rotowire
The Guardians plan to reinstate Lively (illness) from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday's game in Boston, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
The season-ending injury to Shane Bieber (elbow), along with a doubleheader with the Yankees on Saturday, opened up two spots in Cleveland's temporary six-man rotation, and Xzavion Curry (illness) -- who will be activated from the IL to start Monday -- and Lively will be called upon to fill the voids. The Guardians are expected to condense their rotation to five men by the end of the week, however, so how Curry and Lively perform against the Red Sox will likely determine which of the two remains in a starting role moving forward. Lively wrapped up his two-start rehab assignment at Triple-A Columbus by covering 5.1 innings and 55 pitches this past Tuesday, so he should face only light workload restrictions in Boston for what will be his season debut with the big club.
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Guardians' Ben Lively: Begins rehab assignment
Rotowire
Lively (illness) allowed a hit and struck out three without walking a batter over three scoreless innings in his rehab start versus Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.
Lively began the season on the 15-day injured list, but he was solid in his first rehab appearance. The right-hander was in contention for a rotation spot during spring training prior to coming down with a respiratory virus. It's unclear what his role will be with the major-league team once he's activated -- that will likely depend on Carlos Carrasco's performance as the Guardians' fifth starter and the timeline for the return of Gavin Williams (elbow).
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Guardians' Ben Lively: Heads to IL with illness
Rotowire
The Guardians placed Lively on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a viral illness.
Lively and Xzavion Curry are opening the season on the shelf due to a respiratory virus that made its way around the Cleveland clubhouse during spring training, according to MLB.com. Lively shouldn't need much longer than the minimum 15 days to regain his conditioning and get ramped back up, and he'll likely be ticketed for a long-relief role once available. He could become a rotation option down the road if Carlos Carrasco or Logan Allen struggle.
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Guardians' Ben Lively: No clarity on role yet
Rotowire
Lively has allowed three runs on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts over 4.2 innings across two Cactus League appearances.
Lively signed a major-league contract with the Guardians in December, but his role is still up in the air. He's started one of his two appearances this spring, but the results aren't there to justify a spot in the rotation. Carlos Carrasco, who is in camp on a non-roster invitee deal, has pitched to a 3.38 ERA over eight innings this spring and may have the inside track for a starting job if Gavin Williams continues to be bothered by elbow discomfort. Lively could end up as a long reliever or lose his place on the 40-man roster if the Guardians can't find a spot for him.
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Guardians' Ben Lively: Gets MLB deal from Guardians
Rotowire
Lively signed a one-year, $750,000 contract with the Guardians on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old right-hander receives a major-league deal from Cleveland after collecting a 5.38 ERA and 79:25 K:BB over 88.2 innings with the Reds in 2023. Currently, there wouldn't appear to be room for Lively in the Guardians' rotation. However, it's possible a spot could open up if the club winds up trading Shane Bieber or someone else. More likely, perhaps, is that Lively operates as a long reliever or swingman.
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Ben Lively: Hits free agency
Rotowire
Lively elected to become a free agent Tuesday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Lively was removed from the Reds' 40-man roster last month after struggling to a 5.38 ERA over 88.2 innings (12 starts, seven relief appearances) during the 2023 campaign. The 31-year-old right-hander may have to settle for a minor-league contract on the open market this winter.
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Reds' Ben Lively: Needed for bulk relief
Rotowire
Lively allowed five runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out four over four relief innings in Tuesday's 7-0 loss to the Twins.
The plan Tuesday was not to need Lively for that many innings or at all, per Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Reds manager David Bell scripted a bullpen game and had the ability for relievers to cover the entire game instead of turning to Lively. The manager had four relievers open the game, but the plan went awry when Cincinnati fell behind early and had a lifeless offense. Bell said he plans to manage the final two weeks as if it were the playoffs, which could mean shorter outings for starters and multiple relievers.
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Reds' Ben Lively: Allows three runs in bulk relief
Rotowire
Lively allowed three runs on four hits over 4.1 innings against the Tigers on Thursday. He struck out four and did not issue any walks.
Lively set down the Tigers in order after relieving Sam Moll to open the third inning but immediately ran into trouble in the fourth, yielding three consecutive hits -- including a two-run home run to Akil Baddoo. The right-hander hit another snag in the seventh, surrendering a leadoff single while also allowing a batter to reach due to a throwing error. It wasn't a great outing for Lively in his return from the COVID-19 injured list, and he's now allowed at least three runs in each of his last three appearances dating back to Aug. 1. He's also given up at least one home run in six consecutive outings.
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Reds' Ben Lively: Could be activated Saturday
Rotowire
Lively (pectoral) could be activated from the 15-day injured list Saturday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Lively has rejoined the Reds in Arizona rather than making another rehab start. He could start Saturday's game, but a piggyback situation with Brett Kennedy also seems to be on the table. Lively has been out since early August with a right pectoral strain.
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Reds' Ben Lively: Makes rehab start Friday
Rotowire
Lively (pectoral) allowed four runs on four hits and one walk while striking out six over five innings for Triple-A Louisville on Friday.
Lively allowed a pair of home runs, but the pitch count (76) and innings were most important. He had been scheduled to throw 85 pitches in his first rehab start Sunday but only tossed 32 (19 strikes) after allowing six runs in two-thirds of an inning. This could be Lively's final rehab outing, per MLB.com, but Cincinnati manager David Bell wants to see how the right-hander feels Saturday before making any decision.
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Reds' Ben Lively: Yanked early
Rotowire
Lively (pectoral) allowed six runs on six hits and one walk over two-thirds of an inning in a rehab start for Triple-A Louisville on Sunday.
Lively began a rehab assignment and was pulled after just 32 pitches. The right-hander had been scheduled to throw 85 pitches, per Annie Sabo of Bally Sports Cincinnati. Prior to the start, there was talk of Lively coming back to the Reds following Sunday's outing, but the short pitch count (and results) likely extends his time away from the majors.
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Reds' Ben Lively: Heads to Louisville for rehab
Rotowire
Lively (pectoral) was sent to Triple-A Louisville on Sunday to begin a rehab assignment.
Lively is eligible to return rom the 15-day injured list Aug. 17, but the Reds are off that day, so the first game he could start would be Aug. 18 against Toronto. If Lively pitches in Sunday's game for Louisville, that would line him up to return Aug. 18 for a start on normal rest. Lively gave up 13 earned runs in his most recent start before going on the IL, and he had a 3.24 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 21 strikeouts in 25 innings in the five starts prior to that blowup outing.
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Reds' Ben Lively: Sharp in loss
Rotowire
Lively (4-6) took the loss Wednesday, allowing two runs on eight hits over 6.2 innings against the Brewers. He struck out three without issuing a walk.
Lively held Milwaukee off the board for six innings until Tyrone Taylor snapped a scoreless tie in the seventh with a two-run homer, sticking the right-hander with the loss. The 31-year-old Lively has been solid of late, pitching to a 3.23 ERA over his last six outings (30.2 innings), although he's earned just one win in that span. His ERA is down to 3.76 with a 1.21 WHIP and 62:17 K:BB across 11 starts (67 innings) this season. Lively's next start is tentatively lined up for next week against the Cubs.
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Reds' Ben Lively: Activated for Sunday's start
Rotowire
Lively (pectoral) was activated from the 15-day injured list for his start against the Brewers on Sunday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
The 31-year-old landed on the injured list with a pectoral strain after his last start June 20, and he'll rejoin Cincinnati's rotation for the final game before the All-Star break. Lively didn't embark on a rehab assignment, so he could have a limited workload in his first start back. The right-hander has been a solid back-end starter so far this season with a 4.11 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 45:13 K:BB across 46 innings.
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Reds' Ben Lively: On track for Sunday
Rotowire
Lively (pectoral) appears lined up to return from the 15-day injured list to start Sunday against the Brewers, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Brett Kennedy was optioned to Triple-A Louisville on Thursday after starting Tuesday versus the Nationals, so the Reds have an open rotation spot. Lively will apparently be allowed to skip a minor-league rehab assignment as he makes a swift return from the right pectoral strain that sent him to the injured list June 24.
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Reds' Ben Lively: Could return before break
Rotowire
Lively (pectoral) could return from the injured list and make a start before the All-Star break, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Lively landed on the injured list Saturday (retroactive to June 21) with a right pectoral strain, though he doesn't appear to be facing an extended absence. Lively holds a 4.11 ERA and 1.26 WHIP through 46 innings this season and is eligible to return July 6 -- four days before the All-Star break.
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Reds' Ben Lively: Lasts just four innings Tuesday
Rotowire
Lively allowed two runs on three hits and four walks while striking out four in four innings Tuesday against the Rockies. He did not factor into the decision.
Lively needed 80 pitches to get through four innings and only tossed 45 strikes in the effort. Tuesday was his shortest start since entering the rotation and his four walks were a season high. He allowed home runs in the first and fourth innings, which marks the fourth time in seven starts he's let up multiple long balls. Lively has still maintained respectable numbers overall, registering a 4.11 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 45:13 K:BB in 46 innings so far. He'll look to get back in the win column versus the Orioles next week.
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Reds' Ben Lively: Earns fourth win
Rotowire
Lively (4-4) earned the win Wednesday, allowing two runs on 10 hits over 5.2 innings in a 7-4 victory over Kansas City. He struck out four and didn't record a walk.
Lively had surrendered five home runs and 12 total runs over his past two starts, so Wednesday's bounce-back outing was certainly a step in the right direction. He's made eight appearances this year (six starts) and holds a 4.07 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. The right-hander's 41:9 K:BB through 42 innings stands out, so if he can avoid giving up the long ball, Lively could have solid fantasy value moving forward, especially while Graham Ashcraft (calf) and Nick Lodolo (lower leg) are on the injured list.
