Karinchak refused an outrighted assignment by the Guardians, opting for free agency instead. He was limited to just seven rehab appearances in 2024 due to a shoulder issue but was pitching in games at the end of the season. Karinchak boasts a 36.3 percent strikeout rate but also a 14.1 percent walk rate over parts of five major-league seasons.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Rehabbing at Triple-A
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Karinchak (shoulder) began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Columbus on Sept. 6 and has struck out seven batters over 4.2 innings across five appearances while giving up two earned runs on two hits and five walks.
Karinchak has been on the injured list all season after reporting shoulder fatigue in spring training and being slow to recover from the issue and return to form. While working out at the Guardians' facility in Arizona in August, Karinchak seemed to turn a corner with his rehab program and was given the green light to report to Triple-A earlier this month. His results have been uneven thus far, but manager Stephen Vogt hasn't dismissed the possibility of Karinchak being an option out of the big-league bullpen before the regular season ends Sept. 29, per MLB.com.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: May not pitch in 2024
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Karinchak (shoulder) has been working out at Cleveland's spring training facility in Arizona, but he may not pitch for the Guardians before the end of the season, MLB.com reports.
With a 3.10 ERA and 22.2 K-BB% in 174 career relief appearances over five seasons in the majors, Karinchak has often been a dominant bullpen arm when available, but shoulder problems cost him a large chunk of the 2022 campaign and cropped up again in spring training. Though the Guardians have classified his injury as fatigue rather than something more severe, Karinchak has made minimal progress since being cleared to resume a throwing program March 11. According to the report, the quality and shape of the right-hander's pitches have degraded, and the team has thus far been unwilling to send him out on a minor-league rehab assignment. Karinchak will continue to work with the staff in Arizona in hopes of regaining his form.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Goes on 60-day IL
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The Guardians placed Karinchak on the 60-day injured list Thursday with right shoulder inflammation.
According to MLB.com, Karinchak reported to camp dealing with right shoulder fatigue, but he made enough progress to get clearance to begin a throwing program March 11. The Guardians' decision to have Karinchak open the season on the 60-day IL perhaps signals that his throwing sessions aren't going as well as hoped, as he won't be eligible to make his 2024 debut until late May. Karinchak will likely continue to build back up at the Guardians' spring training facility in Arizona over the next few weeks before potentially heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Initiates throwing program
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Karinchak (shoulder) has been cleared to begin a throwing progression Monday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Karinchak had been shut down from throwing all spring after he had been experiencing right shoulder fatigue prior to reporting to camp. Since he's projected to serve as a one-inning reliever for Cleveland once healthy, Karinchak won't require as extensive of a ramp-up program as a starting pitcher, but with Opening Day approximately two and a half weeks away, the right-hander may not be ready to go by the time the Guardians open the regular season. Provided that he navigates his throwing program free of setbacks, Karinchak should be in store for only a brief stint on the IL to begin the season if the Guardians opt not to include him on the Opening Day roster.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Experiencing shoulder fatigue
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Karinchak is behind schedule due to right shoulder fatigue, MLB.com reports.
Karinchak came into camp with the issue and will be held out of workouts for a few days. His availability for Opening Day doesn't seem to be in jeopardy, however.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Agrees to terms for 2024
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Karinchak signed a one-year, $1.9 million contract with the Guardians on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Karinchak walked 28 batters across 39 innings in 2023, but he still managed a solid 3.23 ERA with 52 strikeouts. While Emmanuel Clase is almost certainly locked into the closer role in Cleveland, Karinchak could be a decent source of holds.
Karinchak (2-5) allowed a run on two hits and struck out one over two-thirds of an inning to take the loss Tuesday versus the Reds.
Karinchak had posted 3.2 scoreless innings over his first four appearances back in the majors before faltering in the fifth inning Tuesday. The right-hander is now at a 3.29 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 52:25 K:BB with 13 holds and two blown saves over 38.1 innings this season. Karinchak is mostly seeing low-leverage work to finish the campaign.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Returns to majors
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Karinchak was recalled from Triple-A Columbus on Monday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
Karinchak holds a 3.44 ERA with 46 strikeouts over 34 innings with the Guardians this season, though he's also walked 23 batters. He'll probably be used in middle relief over the final two weeks of the season.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Optioned to Triple-A
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Karinchak was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Saturday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
Lucas Giolito will take Karinchak's place on the active roster. Karinchak had a 1.42 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and eight strikeouts in 6.1 innings over six appearances since being recalled Aug. 18.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: To be recalled Friday
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Karinchak is expected to be recalled Friday from Triple-A Columbus, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Karinchak has struggled to a 5.12 ERA in 19.1 innings at the Triple-A level since the Guardians demoted him in early June, but he's needed as a replacement for Michael Kelly (back), who will head to the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Optioned to Triple-A
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Karinchak was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Saturday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
Karinchak's 32 appearances are tied for the league lead, and while he hasn't been as dominant this season, his 3.90 ERA is still a solid mark. His demotion may not be performance-related, however, as the Guardians may simply be looking to bring in some fresh arms. Karinchak has options remaining and has pitched on five of the last seven days, so he was unlikely to be an option for the next game or two. Tim Herrin was called up to take Karinchak's place in the bullpen.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Picks up win
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Karinchak (2-4) earned the win over the Twins on Sunday after tossing a scoreless sixth inning. He allowed a hit and struck out two.
Karinchak was the first name called out of the bullpen after Triston McKenzie's day was done following five dominant frames. He allowed a leadoff single but was able to get through the inning unscathed. The 29-year-old has not allowed a run over his last seven outings and has picked up two holds and a win over that span. For the year, Karinchak owns a 3.86 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 36:16 K:BB and has 11 holds over 25.2 innings.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Snags first win
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Karinchak (1-4) retired the only batter he faced to earn the win Sunday over the Angels.
The Angels tied the game at 1-1 in the eighth inning when Gio Urshela hit into a fielder's choice against Tanner Bibee. Karinchak then stepped in and got Mike Trout to fly out as a pinch hitter to end the inning before Cleveland pulled ahead for good on Josh Naylor's three-run home run in the bottom half of the frame. Karinchak has strung together five scoreless appearances spanning 3.1 innings. It's been a rocky start to 2023 for the right-handed reliever, who has a 4.82 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 25:12 K:BB with nine holds and a blown save over 18.2 innings.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Handed fourth loss
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Karinchak (0-4) allowed a run on two hits and a walk with one strikeout in 1.1 innings, taking the loss and a blown save Tuesday versus the Yankees.
Karinchak relieved starter Tanner Bibee with one out in the sixth inning and promptly allowed an inherited runner to score on Anthony Rizzo's single. Willie Calhoun added a one-out solo home run in the seventh, putting the Yankees ahead and saddling Karinchak with his fourth loss in 16 appearances. The right-handed reliever has given up six runs over 7.1 innings in his last seven appearances, and he now has a poor 5.87 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 19:7 K:BB through 15.1 innings overall. To make matters worse, Karinchak's got a 6.89 FIP and .212 BABIP, which suggests that he's not a victim of bad luck here. He may be at risk of losing a high-leverage role once Sam Hentges (shoulder) is ready to return.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Takes third loss
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Karinchak (0-3) allowed a run on one hit over one inning, taking the loss in Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader versus the Tigers.
Karinchak got the last out of the eighth inning and two more outs in the ninth before giving up a walkoff solo shot to Kerry Carpenter. Prior to Tuesday, Karinchak had a five-inning scoreless streak that made it seem like he'd gotten his earlier struggles out of the way. He has a 5.00 ERA and 1.11 WHIP through nine innings, though his 15:3 K:BB is an encouraging component of an otherwise lackluster line.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Takes second loss
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Karinchak (0-2) allowed a run on a hit and a walk with one strikeout over two-thirds of an inning, taking the loss against the Athletics on Tuesday.
It's been a less-than-stellar start to the season for Karinchak, who has racked up two losses and two holds through four appearances. He walked the leadoff batter in the ninth inning Tuesday, then allowed a walkoff single to Tony Kemp after getting two outs. Karinchak has had some issues with walks, posting a 5:3 K:BB over three innings so far. The Guardians' bullpen has been a strength dating back to last season, so Karinchak could move down the hierarchy if he can't get his early struggles under control quickly.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Charged with loss in opener
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Karinchak (0-1) allowed three runs on a hit, a walk and a hit batsman in one-third of an inning, taking the loss Thursday versus the Mariners.
Karinchak was rattled early by a pitch-clock violation, and he then plunked Kolten Wong before Ty France took him deep in the eighth inning. After an uneven spring that saw Karinchak post a 12:5 K:BB and a 4.66 ERA over 9.2 innings, it's a little concerning to see him struggle in a high-leverage situation. The right-hander had a 2.08 ERA over 39 innings last season, but he also carried a 4.8 BB/9, which is something he'll need to get in check to continue to have success as a setup man. With the Guardians locking up Trevor Stephan on a four-year deal Wednesday, Karinchak's place as a setup man is far from guaranteed.
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Guardians' James Karinchak: Clean outing Tuesday
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Karinchak struck out one over 1.1 scoreless innings in Tuesday's Cactus League loss to the Dodgers.
Karinchak has covered 7.1 innings this spring, though he's allowed five home runs, five hits and five walks with nine strikeouts. There shouldn't be too much concern for his performance this spring, as long as he can leave his uneven pitching in Arizona when the Guardians begin the campaign. Karinchak should serve in a high-leverage role as a setup man to Emmanuel Clase.
