Guardians Pick Kolby Allard: Key Signing for 2025 Season

In a strategic shuffle of their pitching staff, the Cleveland Guardians have made notable roster moves that could impact the team’s performance during a grueling stretch of games.

The organization has selected the contract of left-hander Kolby Allard from Triple-A Columbus, while simultaneously placing Erik Sabrowski on the 60-day injured list and optioning Zak Kent to Triple-A.

Additionally, Doug Nikhazy has joined the team as the 27th man for their doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox.

Kolby Allard: A Familiar Face Returns

Kolby Allard’s MLB journey comes full circle as he joins the Guardians under unique circumstances.

The 25-year-old left-hander signed a minor league deal with Cleveland in February after being outrighted by the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Phillies elected not to pay Allard’s projected $1.1 million arbitration salary for the 2025 season, making him a cost-effective pickup for the Guardians.

Allard’s 2024 Performance: A Mixed Bag

In 2024, Allard put together a mixed statistical resume, compiling a 5.00 ERA across 27 innings during his stint with Philadelphia.

While these numbers might not seem overly impressive at first glance, his underlying metrics paint a slightly brighter picture.

Allard recorded a 4.18 SIERA (Skill Interactive ERA), marking the second-best of his seven-year professional career.

His 19.7% strikeout rate and 6.8% walk rate demonstrate flashes of promise that the Guardians hope to harness in their pitching rotation.

Allard’s Role: Swingman with a Purpose

Versatility appears to be the key selling point for Cleveland when it comes to Allard’s addition to their roster.

With a career ERA of 5.99 over 272 innings split between multiple MLB teams, Allard has largely operated as a swingman—a valuable asset for teams needing innings distributed across various roles.

The Guardians are entering a challenging stretch of 13 games in 12 days, and Allard’s ability to step in as an innings-eater will be crucial to preserving the team’s pitching depth.

Roster Implications for Cleveland

One caveat to Allard’s arrival is his lack of minor league options.

To send Allard back down at any point, the Guardians would need to designate him for assignment and hope that he clears waivers.

This roster restriction may push Cleveland to be strategic in how they deploy the left-hander, using him effectively in spot starts or long relief situations as needed during their demanding schedule.

Guardians Lose Sabrowski to Long-Term Injury

While Allard fills a need, the Guardians face a setback with Erik Sabrowski being transferred to the 60-day injured list.

The left-hander, who began the season on the 15-day IL due to elbow inflammation, will now be unavailable until late May at the earliest.

Cleveland will miss Sabrowski’s potential contributions from the bullpen as they navigate a crucial part of their schedule.

Doug Nikhazy’s Call-Up: Depth for the Doubleheader

To shore up their rotation in the interim, Cleveland has called up Doug Nikhazy as the 27th man for their doubleheader against Boston.

While players called up as “extra men” for doubleheaders often don’t stick around beyond those games, Nikhazy could provide innings if Cleveland encounters any immediate pitching issues during their twin bill.

Key Takeaways

As Cleveland tackles their busy stretch of games, here are the key points worth following:

• Kolby Allard’s role: Can his versatility help stabilize the Guardians’ pitching staff?
• Roster restrictions: How will Cleveland manage Allard’s lack of minor league options?
• Sabrowski’s status: Can Cleveland find bullpen depth to offset the loss of the left-hander?
• Nikhazy’s call-up: Will he remain with the team beyond the doubleheader?

 
Here is the source article for this story: Guardians Select Kolby Allard