Scouting Report: Ivan Armstrong

Summary

Shawn Armstrong, 35-year-old veteran reliever for the Cleveland Guardians, is recovering from a right groin strain sustained in late April. He was placed on the 15-day IL after the injury occurred while warming up before a game against Toronto. Armstrong began his rehab assignment with Double-A Akron on May 12, 2026, with a planned one inning and 20-25 pitches. Before the injury, he posted a 1-0 record with a 4.22 ERA and 1.406 WHIP over 10.2 innings with 13 strikeouts. His performance showed inconsistency with three poor outings accounting for most runs allowed, but he was dominant in nine other relief appearances. The Guardians signed him to a one-year deal to provide veteran depth and high-leverage relief options. His career metrics over 12 seasons show a 3.83 ERA with 447 strikeouts, and advanced metrics from last season ranked him among the best relievers in baseball.