Ben Lively - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Loses roster spot Lively (elbow) was outrighted to Triple-A Columbus on Thursday and elected free agency, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Impact Lively was a fairly effective starter for Cleveland to begin the season, but he underwent elbow surgery in late May. He likely won't be able to retake a big-league mound until the middle of the 2026 season, so it may take him some time to find a new opportunity.

NOVEMBER 7 • ROTOWIRE

The Cleveland Guardians need to keep Joey Cantillo in their starting rotation The bottom of the Guardians’ starting rotation has been in flux for seemingly all of the 2025 MLB season. Ben Lively was building on his sol...

JULY 23 • AWAYBACKGONE.COM

Former IronPigs and Phillies: Where are they now? Ben Lively dealt another bad blow. Where are some of his former IronPigs and Phillies teammates, and others, in 2025?

JUNE 8 • MCALL.COM

Guardians pitcher Ben Lively has Tommy John surgery, expected to miss 12-18 months

Guardians pitcher Ben Lively had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow Wednesday morning

JUNE 4 • Associated Press

Shane Bieber's second rehab start on Thursday brings hope for Guardians' rotation

Shane Bieber will make his second rehab start on Thursday with the possibility of the 2020 American League Cy Young winner rejoining the Cleveland Guardians rotation by late June o...

JUNE 1 • Associated Press

Guardians acquire new 6-foot-4 pitcher after Ben Lively injury | Sporting News Cleveland added some pitching depth.

MAY 30 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Moved to 60-day IL The Guardians transferred Lively (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Thursday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Impact Lively has already been ruled out for the remainder of the season after undergoing UCL reconstruction surgery, so his move to the 60-day IL will simply act as a way to free up 40-man space for Matt Krook, who was claimed off waivers from the A's on Thursday.

MAY 29 • ROTOWIRE

Guardians injury news | Ben Lively needs surgery, Cleveland rotation loses reliable starter Ben Lively had a career year in 2024 and looked to be building on that in 2025. But elbow surgery will derail that progress, as his season i...

MAY 23 • BEACONJOURNAL.COM

Guardians' right-hander Ben Lively will have Tommy John surgery and miss rest of the season

Guardians pitcher Ben Lively will undergo Tommy John reconstruction surgery on his right elbow and will be sidelined for the rest of the season

MAY 23 • Associated Press

Set for season-ending elbow surgery Lively will undergo season-ending surgery to reconstruct his right elbow UCL and repair his flexor tendon.

Impact Lively and the Guardians made the decision to undergo the operation after receiving a second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister in Texas earlier this week. The surgery is likely to sideline him at least 12-to-16 month, but more details on a timetable should be available after the procedure. Lively, 33, is set to reach arbitration eligibility for the first time this offseason.

MAY 23 • ROTOWIRE

With Lively on IL, Cecconi states his case for Guardians

Ben Lively's right forearm strain is the first significant injury to hit the Cleveland Guardians' rotation

MAY 18 • Associated Press

Guardians' rotation faces first major test with Ben Lively on injured list Cleveland's pitching depth strategy faces an early challenge, turning spotlight to offseason trade acquisition.

MAY 15 • CLEVELAND.COM

Deadspin | Guardians place starting pitcher Ben Lively (forearm) on 15-day IL Deadspin | Guardians place starting pitcher Ben Lively (forearm) on 15-day IL

MAY 14 • DEADSPIN.COM

Guardians place right-hander Ben Lively on the 15-day injured list

Right-hander Ben Lively was placed on the 15-day injured list by the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday due to a strained right flexor tendon

MAY 13 • Associated Press

Lively goes on IL with right flexor tendon strain The Guardians placed starter Ben Lively (right flexor tendon strain) on the 15-day injured list and recalled right-hander Zak Kent from Trip...

MAY 13 • MLB.COM

Lands on IL with flexor strain The Guardians placed Lively on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a right flexor strain, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Impact Lively was forced from Monday's start versus the Brewers with what was called right forearm inflammation at the time, but subsequent testing has revealed a more serious injury. It's not clear at this point how long he might be sidelined, but it will undoubtedly be longer than a minimum stay on the IL. Kolby Allard threw three scoreless innings Monday after Lively exited and looks to be the most likely candidate to fill Livey's rotation spot in the short term.

MAY 13 • ROTOWIRE

Guardians looking for answers why Ben Lively's forearm has been sore for two straight starts Ben Lively will undergo testing Tuesday on his sore right forearm.

MAY 13 • CLEVELAND.COM

Guardians' starter Ben Lively exits after 3 innings due to right forearm inflammation

Guardians pitcher Ben Lively exited Monday night’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers after three innings due to right forearm inflammation

MAY 12 • Associated Press

Diagnosed with forearm inflammation Lively left Monday's start against the Brewers due to right forearm inflammation, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Impact Lively was forced to exit before the fourth inning of Monday's outing after experiencing discomfort when tossing his warmup pitches. The club will presumably monitor his status over the next few days and may elect to send him for further testing to determine whether a stint on the IL is necessary.

MAY 12 • ROTOWIRE

Exits start with undisclosed injury Lively departed Monday's start versus the Brewers after three innings with an undisclosed injury, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Impact Lively didn't suffer an obvious injury, but he threw a couple warmup pitches prior to the top of the fourth inning before walking off the field and into the clubhouse. The righty allowed one hit and two walks over three scoreless frames before being lifted. The Guardians should have more on Lively's status soon.

MAY 12 • ROTOWIRE

Cleveland Guardians, Milwaukee Brewers starting lineups for May 12, 2025: Game 41 Ben Lively and the Guardians take on Freddy Peralta and the Brewers at Progressive Field.

MAY 12 • CLEVELAND.COM

Nabs win in nightcap Lively (2-2) picked up the win in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Nationals, allowing one run on two hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out three.

Impact The Guardians scored nine runs in each end of the twin bill, but after falling 10-9 in the matinee, Lively made sure the fireworks would be more than enough offense in the nightcap. The right-hander had his shutout bid ended in the sixth inning on a Riley Adams solo shot, and he left the mound after just 63 pitches (39 strikes). Lively will take a 3.46 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 28:13 K:BB through 41.2 innings into his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home early next week against the Brewers.

MAY 7 • ROTOWIRE

Carlos Santana's 3-run homer helps Guardians beat Nationals 9-1 and split a doubleheader

Carlos Santana broke a scoreless tie with a three-run homer in the sixth inning and started a late onslaught by the Cleveland Guardians, who beat the Washington Nationals 9-1 to sp...

MAY 7 • Associated Press

Guardians-Nationals series opener postponed because of rain, twinbill set for Tuesday

The opener of a three-game series between the Cleveland Guardians and Washington Nationals has been postponed because of rain

MAY 5 • Associated Press

Solid in no-decision Lively did not factor into the decision in Thursday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Twins. He allowed five hits over 5.2 scoreless innings, striking out two.

Impact It's been an up-and-down start to the year for Lively. He's now held opponents scoreless in three of his seven starts, though he's allowed 15 runs over 19.2 innings in his other four outings. Overall, the 33-year-old Lively sports a 3.72 ERA with a 1.27 WHIP and 25:11 K:BB across 36.1 innings. He's currently in line to face the Nationals on the road in his next outing.

MAY 2 • ROTOWIRE

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