August 5, 2023

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

The Cleveland Guardians have placed first baseman Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) on the 10-day injured list with an oblique strain.

The move is retroactive to August 1.

Naylor has not played for the Guardians since Monday, but the injury had been bothering him prior to that.

Mandy Bell, of MLB.com, reported that Naylor has been given a three-to-six week time table to recover from the injury, but the slugger will be checked weekly.

It’s a tough break for Naylor who was enjoying his best major league season. In 96 games with the Guardians in 2023, he is batting .306 (fourth in the American League) and has tied his career-best with 79 RBIs (third in the American League).

He also has 110 hits - including 15 home runs and 25 doubles - and his .500 slugging percentage is tied with Jose Ramirez for the best on the Guardians.

A former Ontario Blue Jay and Junior National Team member, the 26-year-old Naylor, who’s in his fifth major league season, had been particularly productive over the past couple of months.

In 24 games in June, he had a .373/.393/.530 slash line and had two home runs and 18 RBIs.

He followed that up with 31 hits - including five home runs - in July.

Though the Guardians are 54-56 season, they sit just 2.5 games back of the Minnesota Twins, who lead the American League Central division.