Blue Jays' Nick Sandlin: Logs second save in majors
Rotowire
Sandlin earned his first save of the 2025 season in Wednesday's 2-1 extra-innings win against the Red Sox, striking out one batter in a scoreless 11th frame.
Sandlin got the call for the save opportunity in the bottom of the 11th inning after Jeff Hoffman tossed two scoreless frames. Sandlin was able to get the job done in just nine pitches (seven strikes) to earn his first save of 2025 and second in his major-league career. Across his first five outings of the season, Sandlin has given up one run on two hits and four walks while striking out six in five frames.
Manager John Schneider said Saturday that Sandlin will be a part of Toronto's Opening Day bullpen, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Sandlin has made five appearances in the Grapefruit League, surrendering two earned runs on five hits and three walks while striking out eight batters over five innings. He'll likely settle into a middle-relief role to start the year, though his ability to rack up strikeouts keeps the door open for a healthy amount of high-leverage opportunities.
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Blue Jays' Nick Sandlin: Seems set for bullpen job
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Sandlin walked one and struck out two in a scoreless inning during Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays.
The former Guardian was dealt to the Blue Jays in January and appears locked into a bullpen spot, albeit likely only in middle relief to begin the season. Sandlin has posted an 8:3 K:BB through five spring innings with a 3.60 ERA, but he's behind Yimi Garcia and Chad Green in the pecking order for setup work in front of closer Jeff Hoffman.
Blue Jays' Nick Sandlin: Avoids arbitration with Toronto
Rotowire
The Blue Jays and Sandlin avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.63 million contract Thursday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca report.
Acquired from the Guardians via trade in December, Sandlin was eligible for arbitration for the first time. He held a 3.75 ERA and 68:27 K:BB across 57.2 innings with Cleveland in 2024.
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Blue Jays' Nick Sandlin: Dealt to Blue Jays
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The Guardians traded Sandlin to the Blue Jays on Tuesday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Spencer Horwitz and Nick Mitchell were sent to the Guardians in return for Sandlin and Andres Gimenez. Sandlin departs Cleveland after playing for the Guardians for the first four seasons of his career, finishing his tenure with a 3.27 ERA across 195.1 innings, including a 3.75 ERA across 68 appearances in 2024.
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Guardians' Nick Sandlin: Working as opener Sunday
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Sandlin will serve as the Guardians' opening pitcher for Sunday's game against the Astros, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Sandlin will make his second start of the regular season Sunday, with Gavin Williams expected to serve in bulk relief. Sandlin's first start came Aug. 26 against the Royals, when he allowed two walks while striking out two batters in one scoreless inning. Sandlin has a 3.75 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 68:27 K:BB across 57.2 innings this season.
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Guardians' Nick Sandlin: Picks up eighth win
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Sandlin (8-0) allowed a hit and a walk while striking out two over 1.1 scoreless innings to earn the win over the White Sox on Wednesday.
The Guardians never trailed in the contest, but starter Matthew Boyd needed 95 pitches to get through 4.1 innings. Sandlin took over in the fifth and secured his first win since Aug. 12. Over his last 12 appearances, Sandlin has given up four runs across 10.1 innings with a 12:7 K:BB. He's now at a 3.78 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 63:25 K:BB while adding a save and eight holds over 52.1 innings as a middle reliever this year.
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Guardians' Nick Sandlin: Opening first game of twin bill
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Sandlin is scheduled to serve as the Guardians' opening pitcher for the first game of Monday's doubleheader against the Royals, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
The 27-year-old right-hander will be making his first career MLB start Monday, but because he hasn't been recorded more than five outs in any of his 57 appearances between the majors and Triple-A Columbus this season, he shouldn't be expected to work more than an inning or two. The Guardians are designating lefty Joey Cantillo as their 27th man for the twin bill, and he's expected to be recalled from Triple-A in advance of the early game to serve as a bulk reliever behind Sandlin.
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Guardians' Nick Sandlin: Collects seventh win
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Sandlin (7-0) allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning to earn the win Monday over the Cubs.
Sandlin also took a blown save after allowing an inherited runner to score, but the Guardians regained the lead in the bottom of the eighth to make him the pitcher of record. This was Sandlin's first win in nearly a month. He's been a little shaky with a 4.40 ERA and 1.60 WHIP over 14.1 innings since the start of July. For the year, he's at a 3.80 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 52:19 K:BB with a save and six holds through 42.2 innings.
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Guardians' Nick Sandlin: Nabs win Saturday
Rotowire
Sandlin (6-0) allowed a hit and struck out one over a scoreless inning to earn the win Saturday over the Rays.
Sandlin's been a little shaky since returning from a minimum stay on the injured list due to a back injury. This was just his third scoreless appearance in six outings since he was activated. The right-hander is now at a 3.74 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 37:15 K:BB with a save, four holds and two blown saves over 33.2 innings this season. Sandlin will likely remain in a middle-relief role until he can steady his performance.
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Guardians' Nick Sandlin: Returns from injured list
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The Guardians activated Sandlin (back) from the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Sandlin required just a minimum stay on the IL due to lower-back inflammation. He has a 3.49 ERA in 33 appearances this year and will return to a middle-relief role now that he's healthy.
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Guardians' Nick Sandlin: Sent out on rehab assignment
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Sandlin (back) has been sent to Triple-A Columbus to begin a rehab assignment.
Sandlin went on the 15-day injured list two weeks ago with lower-back inflammation but is ready to test things out in a game setting. Since he hasn't missed much time, Sandlin shouldn't require too many rehab outings before being activated.
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Guardians' Nick Sandlin: Shelved with back inflammation
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The Guardians placed Sandlin on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with lower back inflammation, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports.
Sandlin's move to the IL comes three days after he was lit up for three earned runs on three hits and two walks while failing to record an out in his relief appearance in Sunday's 7-6 loss to the Blue Jays. The Guardians called up right-hander Darren McCaughan from Triple-A Columbus to replace Sandlin in the bullpen.
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Guardians' Nick Sandlin: Secures win Sunday
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Sandlin (5-0) pitched a perfect inning to earn the win Sunday over the Marlins.
The Guardians took the lead in the seventh inning after Sandlin worked the sixth, making him the pitcher of record. While he's allowed multiple runs in two of his last nine outings, he hasn't been charged with a run in his other seven appearances in that span. Sandlin is at a 2.63 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 29:9 K:BB over 27.1 innings this season while adding a save, four holds and a blown save. The strength of the Guardians' bullpen has kept him from seeing more consistent high-leverage work, as he continues to see mostly middle-innings assignments.
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Guardians' Nick Sandlin: Working as opener Wednesday
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Sandlin will serve as the Guardians' opening pitcher for Wednesday's game against the Royals, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Logan Allen had been in line to start Wednesday's contest, but the Guardians will instead make him available out of the bullpen while Sandlin handles the first inning or two. The 27-year-old right-hander owns a 2.77 ERA and 0.77 WHIP through 26 innings on the season and will be making the first start of his professional career Wednesday.
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Guardians' Nick Sandlin: Notches fourth win
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Sandlin (4-0) walked one and struck out two without allowing a hit or a run over two-thirds of an inning to earn the win Tuesday over the Mets.
Starter Xzavion Curry went 4.1 innings, falling short of qualifying for the win. Sandlin stepped up to finish the fifth inning, working his way out of a bases-loaded jam. The right-hander has kept runs off the board in all but three of his 26 appearances, though he has given up multiple runs in each of those three missteps. He's still pitched to a rock-solid 2.35 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 27:7 K:BB with a save and three holds over 23 innings while filling a fireman role in the Guardians' bullpen.
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Guardians' Nick Sandlin: Collects third win
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Sandlin (3-0) allowed a hit and struck out one without walking a batter over 1.1 innings to earn the win Monday over the Tigers.
Sandlin is on a six-inning scoreless streak, during which he has permitted three baserunners (two hits, one hit batsman). The right-hander has been a go-to option for manager Stephen Vogt -- Sandlin is already up to 19 appearances this season, tied with teammates Emmanuel Clase and Scott Barlow for the major-league lead. Through 17.2 innings, Sandlin has pitched to a 2.04 ERA, 0.62 WHIP and 20:3 K:BB while adding a save and two holds. He's not a full-time high-leverage reliever, but he's been steady for a strong Guardians bullpen when called upon.
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Guardians' Nick Sandlin: Notches first career save
Rotowire
Sandlin picked up a save against Atlanta on Saturday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning of work.
Regular Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase pitched a scoreless ninth frame to send the game into extra innings, so Sandlin was handed the ball with the Guardians up two runs in the 11th. The right-hander didn't have any trouble getting through the heart of the Atlanta lineup, retiring Ronald Acuna, Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley in order on just 11 pitches. There's no arguing that this was an impressive performance by Sandlin, but with Clase locked in as one of the league's most secure closers, it's unlikely Sandlin gets many more save chances moving forward.
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