Guardians notes: Reliever Nic Enright optioned to minors to clear roster spot for Andrew Walters

CLEVELAND — The Nic Enright story will have to continue at Triple-A Columbus for now. The 28-year-old right-hander, who beat cancer to make his major league debut with the Guardians on Monday, was optioned to the minors to clear a roster spot for right-hander Andrew Walters. Enright made his second big-league appearance in Tuesday's 9-5 loss, allowing a three-run homer to Max Muncy in the ninth inning. Walters, 24, joined Cleveland late last season, pitching 8 2/3 scoreless innings (nine games) and allowing only a hit while striking out six. He appeared in four postseason games, allowing a run and striking out four in three innings. After posting a 1.50 ERA in 12 games and striking out 23 over 12 innings at Columbus, Walters made his season debut for the Guardians on Wednesday, allowing a run and striking out two. He sustained an injury in spring training and was on the IL for a month in the minors with elbow inflammation or would have been up before. "It's been a slow process, working through some things, learning more about myself and eventually working with the guys in order to get back here," Walters said. "I did something in my shoulder in spring training. I started pitching a lot (at Columbus). Couldn't handle the workload, so I had to tone it down a little bit. "I'm feeling great, top of my game right now. Early in the year, I would say, 'that happens.' I figured out a way to get better and I'm here now." "Andrew's healthy," manager Stephen Vogt said. "He is back throwing well, so we're excited to see him back in the big leagues. It's been a long couple of months for him, but he's been throwing really well and feeling good." Walters wore 63 for Cleveland last year, but has switched to No. 91 this season. "It's actually one of my uncle's college football numbers and I kind of like the way it looks on the back of a jersey," Walters said. "It's hard to get a low number, I can tell you that nowadays. But I like the way 91 looks and no pitcher really has it — kind of just set the tone with that one, first in franchise history." Lane Train Lane Thomas will be sidelined for an undisclosed amount of time with plantar fasciitis in his right foot. It comes after the outfielder missed a month with a wrist injury he sustained in the home opener, April 8. "Kind of just a rough run for Lane right now," Vogt said of Thomas, who is batting only .119 with a .169 on-base percentage and 22 strikeouts in 17 games during a contract year. "We're going to get it looked at today and we'll know more in the coming days. But yeah, just plantar fasciitis flared up pretty bad." Next up The Guardians are off today, continuing the homestand with a three-game series against the Angels that begins tonight at 7:10. Right-hander Luis Garcia (2-5, 4.73 ERA) will open the set for Cleveland, while righty Slade Cecconi (1-1, 3.27) will pitch Saturday (4:10 p.m.). Cecconi was scratched from his scheduled start Tuesday with mild groin tightness, but he threw a bullpen at Progressive Field prior to Wednesday's series finale against the Dodgers. RHP Gavin Williams (4-3, 4.27) will go for the Guardians on Sunday (1:40 p.m.). The Angels have yet to name starters for any of the three games. Roundin' third Catchers Bo Naylor and Austin Hedges (eight) had combined to throw out 14 attempted base stealers through Tuesday, accounting for the second-most in the majors this year. Hedges was tied for the second-most in the American League behind Toronto's Alejandro Kirk. Contact Chris Assenheimer at (440) 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him @CAwesomeheimer on X.