Arias left Friday's Cactus League game after being hit near his hand by a pitch, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Arias had a broken right-hand that sidelined him in 2022, and is expected to serve as a utility player all over the field for the Guardians in 2023. He immediately dropped to the ground after being hit, and looked to be in significant pain. There should be an update on his status before Saturday's contest.

Arias has hit .350 (14-for-40) with three doubles, three RBI, 10 runs scored and four stolen bases across 15 Cactus League games.

EDGE Analysis

Tyler Freeman was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday, paving the way for Arias to serve as the Guardians' main utility man off the bench. Arias' bat has certainly earned him the chance to start the season at the major-league level, and his contact-and-speed approach fit well with the team. The 23-year-old slashed .191/.321/.319 with three extra-base hits and a stolen base in a 16-game sample last season.

Arias will get some playing time in the outfield during spring training, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Arias is a natural shortstop, but Amed Rosario is likely to start there barring injury or an extended slump. Arias saw some time around the infield last season, and adding at least one corner outfield position could give him another path to playing time if the Guardians run into injury trouble. He hit just .191 and struck out 28.1 percent of the time over 57 plate appearances in the majors last season, so it's still possible he begins the year with Triple-A Columbus.

Arias will start at first base and bat seventh Sunday in Game 4 of the Guardians' American League Division Series matchup with the Yankees.

EDGE Analysis

After going 2-for-4 with a double a run scored in Saturday's 6-5 win in Game 3, Arias will stick in the starting nine against Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole as the Guardians take aim at a series-clinching victory. Arias appears to have overtaken Will Brennan for a spot in Cleveland's regular lineup versus right-handed pitching.

Arias is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Royals.

EDGE Analysis

Arias' streak of nine consecutive starts will come to an end in the regular-season finale while Cleveland rolls out the infield configuration that will likely be the norm for the postseason (Josh Naylor, Andres Gimenez, Amed Rosario and Jose Ramirez). While filling in at all four infield spots over the last nine games, Arias went 7-for-28 (.250 average) with three extra-base hits, seven walks and a stolen base.

Arias will start at shortstop and bat seventh in Monday's game against the Royals.

EDGE Analysis

With regular shortstop Amed Rosario getting the night off, Arias will step in and pick up his eighth consecutive start. He's seen work at all four infield spots during that stretch and has earned his playing time by slashing .238/.429/.476 with two extra-base hits, one stolen base and a 6:6 BB:K in those prior seven contests.

Arias went 1-for-3 with a solo home run Wednesday against the Rays.

EDGE Analysis

Arias took Tyler Glasnow yard in the third inning to tally the first home run of his big-league career. He has started only sporadically since being recalled Sept. 21, though he has spelled Andres Gimenez and Jose Ramirez as the team appears to be giving some of its regulars rest after clinching the AL Central on Sunday. Arias has only 34 career plate appearances at the big-league level, but he has managed two extra-base hits, five RBI and five runs scored in that span.

Arias went 1-for-3 with two walks, a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base in a 6-5 extra-innings loss Tuesday against Tampa Bay.

EDGE Analysis

Arias had an RBI single in the fourth and walked, stole a base and scored in the eighth. It was his first stolen base in the majors after swiping six in the minors this year. The 22-year-old was just 2-for-19 in his first two stints for Cleveland but has performed better since being recalled Sept. 25 and is 2-for-7 with three walks and three RBI in two games. With the Guardians having already clinched the division, Arias may get some playing time over the final week as the team rests its starters in advance of the postseason.

Arias went 1-for-4 with a triple, two RBI and one run scored in Sunday's 10-4 win over the Rangers.

EDGE Analysis

Arias got the start Sunday and capitalized with his first career triple, a shot to deep center in the sixth inning to put Cleveland up 6-2. While the big day is encouraging, Arias is more of a defensive specialist and should not be expected to receive regular at-bats. In 323 plate appearances in Triple-A this season, he had an 89 wRC+ with just five stolen bases.

Arias was recalled from Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Arias has had brief stints with the big-league club this year, and he hit .105 with two runs, an RBI, a walk and eight strikeouts over six games. He'll rejoin the Guardians after Ernie Clement was designated for assignment, but Arias will likely have to settle for a depth role.