CLEVELAND -- Steven Kwan was out of the Guardians’ lineup on Saturday and did not play for a second straight game due to a nagging right wrist issue, but he and the Guardians are optimistic about his road ahead.
Kwan noted he’s feeling better since he received an injection in his wrist on Wednesday. The 27-year-old took swings and went through outfield drills before Saturday's 8-2 loss to the Athletics at Progressive Field.
"It feels good,” Kwan said of his wrist. “I got the shot. It’s been recovering well. Happy with the progression of it so far, so I'm cautiously optimistic about it.”
The impression right now is that Kwan’s absence won’t require a stint on the injured list, with manager Stephen Vogt noting that Kwan’s status is day to day.
"I don't think this is an IL case at all. He’s feeling better each day,” Vogt said Saturday. “Today's a big day and [Sunday is] a big day. Every day is a big day. We’ve got to see how he feels day to day.”
Kwan has been dealing with the wrist issue for an extended stretch; on Saturday he called back to a stolen-base attempt when the Guardians hosted the Dodgers at Progressive Field in May. On May 27, he dove headfirst attempting to swipe second with two outs in the third inning, on a 2-2 pitch in which Bo Naylor was called out on strikes.
The stolen-base attempt still played out, and Kwan’s wrist got caught under his body during his slide. He started vs. Los Angeles the next day but exited early with right wrist inflammation.
"I came in, folded over and then it just kind of dragged along,” Kwan said. “I felt like it was weird, that game and it’s just been kind of lingering ever since. It's been getting better at certain times and something will happen and it'll get worse. It’s been lingering for a little bit.”
Kwan nevertheless was able to start 92 of the Guardians’ first 95 games this season while getting treatment on his wrist, but it flared up when he took a big swing during the Guardians’ series against the Astros last week.
"I think that's when we were just like, ‘Yeah, I think we need to just get the shot and be done with it,’ Kwan said. “Especially if we're going to have a strong second half. I want to make sure I'm 100 percent for that run.”
Kwan played in the All-Star Game before he got the shot; he earned his second career nod as a player-elected reserve. Vogt noted on Friday that the Guardians encouraged him to play, while knowing the possibility that Kwan would need to receive the injection on Wednesday.
"I talked to [the Guardians]. Obviously, I want to play with the best in the world, and they fully supported me on that, which I really appreciated,” Kwan said. “I wanted to be responsible about it. Just played in the game, didn't do any BP. I just stood out there for the shagging stuff but didn't try to go too crazy with it.
“Just tried to get in the game and play what I could.”
The Guardians knocked off the A’s on Friday, 8-6, in the series opener with a nine-hit attack that included seven extra-base knocks. Cleveland was held to two runs on three hits on Saturday; all the offense came on a two-run homer by José Ramírez off Luis Severino in the third inning.
The Guardians had won seven of their past eight games entering Saturday while averaging 6.13 runs per game over that stretch. It came on the heels of Cleveland’s 10-game losing streak.
“We've had a great stretch here,” Vogt said. “I'm not going to get too upset over one game, but we just have to continue to work. Continue to work to have good at-bats every single night.”