Hedges will start at catcher and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Rangers.

EDGE Analysis

With top backstop Bo Naylor getting the afternoon off with a lefty (Cody Bradford) on the mound for the Rangers, Hedges will get the nod behind the dish. Hedges, who is hitting .152 over 105 at-bats this season, will likely continue to see limited usage down the stretch while Naylor is healthy.

Hedges will start at catcher and bat ninth in Tuesday's game against the Tigers.

EDGE Analysis

Hedges is part of the lineup for just the second time in eight games, with his inclusion being the result of top backstop Bo Naylor getting rest in a day game after a night game. The Guardians value Hedges' pitch-framing skills and ability to control the run game, but he's a well-below-average performer at the plate, even by the standards of backup catchers. He enters Tuesday's contest with a .157 average and four extra-base hits over 90 plate appearances on the season.

Hedges went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 10-3 loss to the Royals.

EDGE Analysis

Hedges has hit safely in his last three games, going 3-for-8 in that span. The backup catcher has had a tough time seeing steady action with Bo Naylor and David Fry both ahead of him on the depth chart. Hedges is at a .154/.188/.246 slash line with one home run, two steals, nine RBI and six runs scored over 69 plate appearances. He should not be expected to produce much offense even on the rare occasions he's in the lineup.

Hedges will start at catcher and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

With the lefty-hitting Bo Naylor hitting the bench with southpaw Nick Lodolo taking the hill for the Reds, Hedges will get a turn behind the plate. Hedges will be making his 19th start of the season and has provided most of his value on the defensive end, as he enters Wednesday's contest with an ugly .130/.158/.204 slash line.

Hedges went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run Saturday in a 7-1 victory versus the Angels.

EDGE Analysis

Hedges put the Guardians on the board in the second inning, plating two runs with a blast to left field. The long ball was the veteran catcher's first of the season and just his fourth hit overall through 31 plate appearances. Both Hedges and fellow backstop Bo Naylor (who played DH on Saturday) have struggled mightily in the early part of the campaign, though each went deep Saturday as the duo combined to drive in six of Cleveland's seven runs.

Hedges went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Athletics.

EDGE Analysis

Hedges has played in just seven of the Guardians' first 21 contests. He's shared backup duties at catcher with David Fry when Bo Naylor is not playing. Hedges is hitting .120 with three RBI, one runs scored, one double and a stolen base over 26 plate appearances, which includes 10 strikeouts and no walks. As a defensive catcher, it's no surprise Hedges is not adding much with the bat.

Hedges is not in the Guardians' lineup for Friday's contest against the Athletics.

EDGE Analysis

Hedges drew the start at catcher for Opening Day, and he finished 1-for-4 with one run, one RBI and one strikeout. Lefty Bo Naylor will be behind home plate Friday and bat seventh with the Athletics starting right-hander Ross Stripling.

Hedges (undisclosed) will start at catcher and bat seventh in Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

Hedges was scratched ahead of Monday's game against the Dodgers after colliding with a teammate prior to the contest, but the Guardians removed him from the lineup only as a precautionary matter. With the veteran backstop apparently feeling fine two days later, he'll step back in behind the plate. Hedges is expected to serve as the Guardians' No. 2 catcher this season, with most of his starts likely to come against left-handed pitching when the lefty-hitting Bo Naylor gets days off.

Hedges was scratched from the lineup for Monday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers after colliding with a teammate during a pregame workout, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The team relays that Hedges was scratched out of "an abundance of caution," so expect him to be fine in a day or two. David Fry will shift to catcher and Deyvison De Los Santos has entered the lineup at designated hitter.

Hedges has gone 2-for-8 with a home run, a double, two RBI and three strikeouts over four Cactus League games.

EDGE Analysis

Hedges is not guaranteed to open the season as the Guardians' backup catcher despite his $4 million salary for 2024. David Fry, who can also play first base and corner outfield, could be in line for the backup catcher role -- or offer the Guardians the choice to carry three natural backstops. Among the team's catching crew, Hedges offers the least offensive upside, as he hasn't hit better than .184 in any of the past five seasons. Bo Naylor (back) is penciled in as the Guardians' starter behind the dish.