Guardians notes: Manager Stephen Vogt starts rookie Chase DeLauter in center for Game 2

CLEVELAND — Manager Stephen Vogt rolled the dice Wednesday, starting Chase DeLauter in center field to make his major league debut in a postseason elimination game. DeLauter became the sixth player in major league history, and the first in franchise history, to play his first game in the playoffs. "We pushed the envelope all year. Why stop now?" Vogt said prior to the Guardians' 6-1 win in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series against Detroit. "It's taking a shot. He's one of our best players that we have in the organization. He's who we feel like is going to give us the best opportunity to win this game starting in center field. He just needs to go out there and have fun and be himself." "It made me look back to see all the different players who have done it, these guys that debuted in the playoffs before," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. "It's kind of a great baseball lesson for all of us. It's rare to do it in the playoffs like this. "We spent a lot of time on him with our players who have played against him, our advance team. It doesn't surprise me, given the quality of prospect that he is. Pretty remarkable note, I guess, to know that someone's making their debut in the biggest game of the year." Vogt told DeLauter during Monday's workout at Progressive Field that he had made the postseason roster, and that it was a possibility he would be in the lineup for Game 2. DeLauter found out he was starting for certain when the manager sent out the lineup Tuesday night. "I didn't sleep very well, so I was excited to get here this morning. When I get out there, I'm just gonna embrace it," he said prior to the game. DeLauter's natural position is right field, but he played center in a handful of games for Double-A Akron in 2024. He did not play center for Triple-A Columbus this season. He dropped a fly ball in the first inning. DeLauter, who turns 24 next week, is not on the roster for his defense, though. "Offense has been a struggle for us, and we're looking to generate some more offense," Vogt said. "Chase has played a lot of center field. He's been a very good outfielder. He's been a very good hitter. We feel like this is the right move to do." DeLauter's debut would have come sooner had it not been for injuries that have plagued him since he was drafted in the first round (16th overall) in 2022. He missed time this year with a sports hernia and wrist fracture and hasn't played in a minor league game since July 11, but Vogt said DeLauter has been participating in baseball activities at the team's spring training facility in Goodyear, Arizona. "We've been waiting all year for him to be healthy to come help us win games. It just hasn't happened," Vogt said. "There were various times he was very close (to promotion), but things kept popping up. He's healthy now. Chase is ready. You can see it on his face how good of a player he is, and we're going to roll with it." Vogt rolled with two other rookies in the Game 2 lineup, starting C.J. Kayfus at first base and George Valera in right field. Valera homered. "We play who's here," Vogt said. "We've had a number of things lead to different people being here at different times. We've had injuries. We've had other things that have created roster space. The way we do it here is when you're here, you play. And it's worked for us, and it's going to continue to be the way we do things." No-fault zone Vogt stuck up for Jose Ramirez, who was caught in a rundown between third and home to ruin a potential rally in the ninth inning of Tuesday's 2-1 loss. "He 100 percent did the right thing. He was 100 percent going on contact," Vogt said. "You have your best baserunner at third and your last real chance to score a run on anything other than a hit … we've done it all year. We go on contact with one out. It was no different there." Ramirez is in a bit of a home run drought, failing to go deep in his last 10 games after Wednesday while hitting only two homers since Sept. 10. "No one is throwing him anything to hit out of the yard. That's what we're seeing down the stretch," Vogt said. "They're being super cautious with Jose. Everybody is going to be. He's (still) making things happen. Jose's power swing is there. He hasn't gotten the pitch to drive out of the yard in quite some time. Jose makes triples happen on singles, and he's the best player on the planet." Kwan song Leadoff man Steven Kwan hasn't been getting on base much lately. He entered Wednesday with one hit over his last five games (1-for-19), then went 1-for-4 with a run. "He's had a rough five-game stretch," Vogt said before the game. "Kwanny is one game away from getting on track. It's been a kind of up-and-down second half for Kwanny. "When Kwanny gets going, we get going. It's not that it's all on him. But for me right now, he's chasing up a little bit. Got to get the ball a little lower in the zone and get it going. He's well aware of that, but it's easier said than done." Kwan hit .285 with a .345 on-base percentage in the first half, then hit .254 with a .310 on-base percentage after the All-Star break. Roundin' third Kyle Manzardo entered Wednesday with hits in each of his last five postseason games, dating back to Game 2 of the ALCS at Yankee Stadium. He went 0-for-4 Wednesday. … Former Cleveland player Yan Gomes (2013-18) threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Lonnie Chisenhall (2011-18) had the honor for Game 1 on Tuesday. Contact Chris Assenheimer at (440) 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him on X @CAwesomeheimer.