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The Cleveland Guardians acquired right-hander Slade Cecconi in the offseason trade that sent Josh Naylor to the Arizona Diamondbacks but have yet to see what the pitcher can do for them.

That will change Saturday evening when Cecconi makes his Cleveland debut in the middle contest of the three-game Ohio Cup series against the Reds in Cincinnati. The Reds captured the opener 5-4 on Friday.

Cecconi started the season on the injured list with a left oblique strain suffered in spring training. His availability for the Guardians comes at an opportune time because starter Ben Lively went on the injured list this week with a flexor strain.

In 27 career appearances (17 starts) for Arizona, Cecconi has a 2-8 record and a 6.06 ERA. He isn’t a strikeout pitcher, with 84 over 104 innings.

The Diamondbacks selected him in the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft out the University of Miami.

Cecconi has made three career starts against Cincinnati and has an 0-1 record and a 4.32 ERA, giving up eight runs on 13 hits over 16 2/3 innings, with 10 strikeouts.

The 25-year-old Cecconi is lucky he has third baseman Jose Ramirez on his side and won’t have to oppose him. A six-time All-Star, Ramirez is having a stellar May, hitting .362 — significantly higher than the .260 he hit in April.

Ramirez is riding a 10-game hitting streak and has homers in three consecutive games. He is 14-for-36 during the streak.

“I never worry about Hosey. He’s always gonna get it going,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said. “Even when he’s not hitting all over the place, he’s getting on base, making things happen. So you just sit back and watch and enjoy the show.”

Cincinnati rookie right-hander Chase Petty, who is off to a rocky start in the majors, should get to watch at least the first at-bat for Ramirez. The Reds plan to start left-hander Brent Suter (1-0, 2.08 ERA), with Petty getting the bulk of the innings after Suter.

Suter is 1-0 with a 1.86 ERA against the Guardians in four career appearances (one start).

Petty (0-2, 21.94) was selected in the first round of the 2021 draft by the Twins out of high school in New Jersey and traded to the Reds in 2022 in the deal that sent pitcher Sonny Gray to Minnesota. Petty made his major league debut against the St. Louis Cardinals on April 30, giving up nine earned runs in 2 1/3 innings in a 9-1 defeat.

He was sent back to Triple-A Louisville after that start and called up again Sunday to face the Houston Astros. This time, he gave up four earned runs on six hits and six walks in three innings in a 6-0 loss.

“Too many walks,” Petty said post-game. “Too many free bags. That’s all it is. You can’t walk six guys. I am going to work on it in my bullpen this week and just work off of that.”

The Reds’ offense is led by shortstop Elly De La Cruz, who has eight home runs, 31 RBIs and 46 hits, all team highs.

Los Angeles Dodgers transplant Gavin Lux is producing for Cincinnati, as he is hitting .297 and has a .386 OBP.

–Field Level Media