Guardians' Ramirez starts vs. Tigers after injury scare

Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez. David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Guardians star Jose Ramirez starts Friday's game vs. Tigers after injury scare

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 5/20/22

The Cleveland Guardians suffered an embarrassing two-game midweek home sweep against the league-worst Cincinnati Reds but had much more important things to worry about after All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez fouled a ball off his right shin in the bottom of the eighth inning of Thursday's 4-2 loss to Cincinnati.

Following that defeat, Guardians manager Terry Francona told reporters that Ramirez would undergo X-rays and other tests on his shin. It appears everything came back clean, as Ramirez is in the lineup for Friday's game against the Detroit Tigers in downtown Cleveland.

Tigers coming to town. Rawr.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/K2YRrOBcaz
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) May 20, 2022

Francona is out for Friday's matchup due to what was called "a minor surgical procedure," and bench coach DeMarlo Hale is serving as acting manager through the evening. Hale spoke with reporters about Ramirez's availability:

#Guardians acting manager DeMarlo Hale said Jose Ramirez is a go. They'll see how long he can go tonight and if needed will pull him should his right shin start bothering him but all tests came back OK, including negative x-rays
— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) May 20, 2022

Francona is expected to return to work on Saturday.

Per ESPN stats, Ramirez began the afternoon third in all of MLB with 34 RBI this season. The 29-year-old is hitting .280 with eight home runs.

The 16-19 Guardians trail the first-place Minnesota Twins in the American League Central standings by 4.5 games, while last-place Detroit (13-25) is nine games back of Minnesota.

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