Jo Adell (knee) returns to Guardians’ lineup

Adell drove in five runs over the last two days, and that brings his RBI total up to 79 on the season. He would need 21 more over the next 31 games to reach 100, but that’s not out of the question, especially since he’s stinging the baseball as of late.

Saying Adell got all of his homer off Gabriel Hughes is an understatement. It traveled an estimated 450 feet to center, and it had an exit velocity of 113.8 mph. That gives him 20 home runs on the season, and it might surprise you that he’s been able to drive in 77 runs despite not exactly playing for the best offenses in baseball. Adell is a very flawed player, but a flawed player who can knock the stuffing out of a baseball here and there.

That’s two straight days on the shelf for Adell after fouling a ball off his left knee. He’s considered day-to-day.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt told reporters Adell wasn’t available off the bench after being held out of Wednesday’s lineup. The 27-year-old slugging corner outfielder fouled a ball off his left knee in the early stages of Tuesday’s game where he went on to homer and drive in six runs afterwards. There should be some much-needed clarity on his status leading into Thursday’s series finale.

Adell’s homer came in the first, a couple of pitches after he fouled a pitch off his left knee and looked like he might need to leave the game. He did eventually depart in the eighth with the Guardians up seven, but one imagines he’ll be good to go Wednesday. Adell is just 10-for-46 since joining the Guardians, but with three homers and four doubles, he’s collected 11 RBI in 13 games. The homer tonight was his 19th overall.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt told reporters that DeLauter is feeling better after receiving treatment during Monday’s off-day. He added that an MRI on his left hamstring didn’t reveal any structural issues. It’s an encouraging update after the 24-year-old rookie made an early exit from Sunday’s game with mild hamstring tightness. All signs point to DeLauter managing to avoid a trip to the injured list and returning to Cleveland’s lineup at some point this week. It’ll be Jo Adell and Angel Martínez in the outfield corners on Tuesday evening.

The homer was a 428-footer off Kyle Finnegan. Adell has started six of seven games since joining the Guardians and gone 4-for-24 with a rather surprising five walks. He walked just 16 times in 456 plate appearances for the Angels.

Considering the Guardians now have Patrick Bailey on the big league roster, another defensive-first catcher isn’t really a priority, so moving Cozart for Adell seems like good business. The 27-year-old has taken a step back this year, hitting .239/.287/.395 with 16 home runs and 62 RBI in 111 games, but he gives the Guardians some thump in the middle of their order. Adell is also under team control for one more season.

Catcher Jacob Cozart is one player going the other way. Given the way the Angels are stocking up on Angels, maybe Martínez is also involved. The Guardians have paid for ignoring their outfield in recent years, and Adell’s right-handed power will add balance to their lineup. He figures to take over in right field, with Chase DeLauter spending more time at DH. Martinez figures to lose at-bats, unless he’s in the deal.

Adell highlighted a five-run first inning for the Angels with a two-run blast off Matthew Liberatore, a 110 mph laser at 405 feet. He then added a base hit to lead off the fourth. That’s back-to-back days with a home run for Adell and his 15th of the season while hitting .243/.289/.402 with 44 runs scored and 57 RBI across 419 plate appearances.