Guardians notes: Rookies Petey Halpin, George Valera contributing at crucial point in season

CLEVELAND — Rookie outfielders Petey Halpin and George Valera haven't just been taking up locker spots as September call-ups. They're being asked to contribute for the Guardians at the most important point of the season. Halpin, 23, was called up from Triple-A Columbus and made his major league debut Saturday in Minnesota, getting his first hit and scoring twice in an 8-0 victory. He had already played in four games through Tuesday, collecting hits in two of them. "Petey's brought a ton of energy to us," manager Stephen Vogt said of the third-round draft pick in 2022. "Just gets his first start, sparks the rally that ends up winning the game for us, and comes off the bench (Tuesday night) and brings some energy with a little infield single (in the eighth inning). You get dropped in the middle of a pennant race … it's pretty cool to make your major league debut in that time. "But I think that's one of the hardest things about making your debut this time of year is we don't have time to see what Petey can do. We don't have time to ease him in. The position that we were put in by having him here — this has been two very unfortunate injuries (to outfielders Lane Thomas and Nolan Jones) for us — but we've got people ready to go and that's the next-guy-up mentality we've had all year." The same goes for Valera, who has been with the Guardians for the duration of their spectacular September run after being promoted on the first day of the month to make his MLB debut. He had played in 12 games through Tuesday, collecting hits in three of his last four. "George really controls the at-bat well," Vogt said of the oft-injured top prospect. "We've seen the power. When he barrels it, it's hit hard, but to me it's the plate discipline, the ability to take a walk, not a whole lot of chase." Valera, 24, was put in an unenviable spot Tuesday night when he was brought in to finish David Fry's at-bat against reigning Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal with two strikes in the sixth inning after Skubal hit Fry. "He comes in to finish the at-bat and fights Tarik Skubal for three pitches," Vogt said. "For anybody who's come off the bench in a 2-2 count cold, it's real easy to just go up there and wave at the first pitch and hope it's there. He managed that at-bat well and it took a perfect pitch away to punch him out. I've been really, really pleased with George's at-bat quality." Crunch time Starting pitching has fueled Cleveland's impressive late-season push, but productive hitting with runners in scoring position has provided an assist. The Guardians entered Wednesday ranked second in the American League and third in the majors with a .323 average with runners in scoring position in September. "That's been our Achilles' heel and it's been our strength. To me, hitting with runners in scoring position is relaxing," Vogt said. "It's about relaxing, taking what the pitcher gives you and finding a way to get on base. And our guys have been doing that really well. "The pressure's on the pitcher with runners in scoring position. They have to make pitches. I really like the way our guys have slowed the game down with runners in scoring position and have executed." The Guardians led the majors with 40 runs with two outs over their last 18 games through Tuesday. They were hitting .313 with runners in scoring position and two outs, which ranked second in the majors. Day by day Utility man Daniel Schneemann said the Guardians used a simple approach when confronted with the task of chasing down the Tigers in the Central Division race. Cleveland came from 15½ games down to tying Detroit atop the standings after Tuesday's come-from-behind victory. "I think we understood the position we were in," Schneemann said. "We knew we were going to have to win a lot of games, but I think we were just trying to take it one game at a time." Roundin' third The Guardians entered Wednesday with a 35-15 record against Central Division opponents, accounting for the best record within the division in the majors. It is the second time Cleveland has won 35 or more of their first 50 divisional games and first since it qualified for the World Series in 1995 (36-14). … Bo Naylor is the first Cleveland catcher to record RBIs in six straight games since Victor Martinez in 2007 (seven). … Thursday, 6:40 p.m., Guardians TV; WOBL 1320-AM and 107.7-FM, WTAM 1100-AM, WMMS 100.7-FM. Messick (3-0, 2.08) vs. TBA. Contact Chris Assenheimer at (440) 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him on X @CAwesomeheimer.