Guardians notes: Shortstop Gabriel Arias has delivered in the clutch

CLEVELAND — Gabriel Arias' season numbers through Wednesday — .236 batting average, nine home runs, 43 RBIs and a .683 OPS over 93 games — don't impress, but a digger deep reveals that the shortstop has been the Guardians' best hitter when it counts. Arias entered Thursday's series finale against the Marlins batting .348 (23-for-66) with four homers, 37 RBIs and an OPS of 1.031 with runners in scoring position. His batting average ranked ninth in the American League through Wednesday. In the most clutch stat of the game — runners in scoring position with two outs — Arias was hitting .333 (12-for-36) with two homers, 19 RBIs and a 1.011 OPS. "I think it varies for different people," manager Stephen Vogt explained. "A lot of times when you have runners in scoring position, you have a task and I think a lot of times, especially with younger, less experienced hitters, when they have an actual task or goal that's right in front of them, it gives them more clarity on what that at-bat looks like. I think you see that with a lot of hitters. They lock in better at certain times. "Gabby's just been phenomenal with runners in scoring position. I think it's because he knows what his job is in that moment." Arias, who was out of minor league options, has risen to the occasion in a season that was viewed as his last opportunity with the organization. He entered Thursday with hits in 13 of his last 14 games. What's it Means? Vogt said veteran left-hander John Means came through his latest bullpen session without an issue and will start Friday and pitch three innings for Class A Lake County. Means, who underwent Tommy John surgery in 2022 and '24, has been limited to 10 starts over the past three years, last pitching in the majors May 22. He was an All-Star in 2019 with Baltimore, where he spent his entire career after the Orioles drafted him in 2014. Means spent the first part of his rehab in Arizona. He cleared a major hurdle last weekend when he pitched two innings at the Guardians spring training complex in Goodyear. Bouncing back Steven Kwan ended his slump in a big way Wednesday night, hitting a leadoff homer after going 2-for-18 with four strikeouts over the final four games of Cleveland's latest six-game road trip and 0-for-4 in the series opener against Miami on Tuesday. "Kwany, obviously the last road trip, wasn't himself," Vogt said. "For him to be able to get on time and get a fastball in the air to right field, that could be the one swing that kind of gets you locked back in. "We go when Kwany goes. It was just good to see him kind of release the pressure there." Making the most With the Guardians losing big late to the Marlins on Wednesday night, Vogt employed catcher Austin Hedges to pitch and first baseman Carlos Santana to play third. "We knew we were going to go to Hedgie in the ninth if the score stayed that way (in the eighth)," Vogt said. "So I just asked him, 'Hey Los, do you want to play third if we bring Hedgie in to pitch?' And he got a smile on his face and said, 'Yeah.' "You don't want to lose ever, but when you're in a game like that, 'Let's have some fun. Let's end the night on a fun note.' Hedgie saved the bullpen an inning and Los, 'You want to go play some third?' He's been taking ground balls, getting his work in on his off days. So you ask somebody like that to do it, you don't tell them." Hedges has made seven career pitching appearances since 2023, allowing three runs and nine hits while posting a 3.52 ERA with two strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings. Santana, a catcher at the beginning of his career, made his first appearance at third since 2018. He played 26 games there in 2014 and 19 seven years ago. With the DH unavailable at Wrigley Field, the versatile veteran was employed by manager Terry Francona to start Game 3 of the 2016 World Series in left field. Next up The Guardians continue interleague play at Progressive Field with a three-game series against the Braves that begins tonight at 7:10. Left-hander Joey Cantillo (3-2, 4.11ERA) pitches Game 1 against RHP Hurston Waldrep (2-0, 1.54), while RHP Slade Cecconi (5-5, 4.11) goes for Cleveland on Saturday night (7:10) against LHP Joey Wentz (3-3, 5.03). LHP Logan Allen (7-9, 3.94) starts the series finale Sunday at 1:40 p.m. while Atlanta counters with RHP Erick Fedde (4-12, 5.40). Roundin' third Kyle Manzardo has reached base in 17 of his last 20 games through Wednesday, batting .344 (22-for-64) with six homers, 16 RBIs and 1.106 OPS over the span. Brayan Rocchio entered Thursday with hits in 10 of his last 11 games, batting .324 (12-for-37) with two doubles and five RBIs during the stretch. Contact Chris Assenheimer at (440) 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him on X @CAwesomeheimer.