Naylor has chosen not to play for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic so as to not risk aggravating his surgically repaired right ankle, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

EDGE Analysis

Naylor had surgery on the ankle back in 2021 and aggravated it during that postseason. He also dealt with some lingering soreness in the ankle during the 2022 campaign. While the 25-year-old feels healthy now and is having a normal offseason, he's "still trying to make sure I'm fully recovered for this season" and has decided playing in the WBC is too risky. Naylor posted career highs with 20 home runs and a .771 OPS last season.

Naylor signed a one-year, $3.35 million contract with the Guardians on Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Naylor popped a career-high 20 home runs and posted a .771 OPS in 2022 to earn a raise. He can't hit lefties at all and figures to be on the bench against them most days in 2023, but Naylor does enough damage versus righties to produce mixed-league value in deeper leagues.

Naylor went 2-for-4 with a double, three RBI and one run scored in Wednesday's win over the Royals.

EDGE Analysis

Naylor provided a big lift for Cleveland, driving in three of their nine runs on the day. Two of those RBI came via a two-run double in the first inning to put the Guardians up 2-1, and the third came via an RBI single in the eighth. Naylor had his ups and downs this season, but his season-long line held up at a respectable .256/.319/.452 over 498 plate appearances.

Naylor is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Royals.

EDGE Analysis

Naylor has only started against a lefty once in the last three weeks, and he heads to the bench here with southpaw Daniel Lynch on the mound for Kansas City. Owen Miller gets the start at first base, hitting sixth.

Naylor is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Royals.

EDGE Analysis

After starting the past three games while going 3-for-11 with a home run and three RBI, Naylor will take a seat Monday. The Guardians are likely just building in some extra rest for Naylor in advance of the postseason, when he's expected to be a mainstay in the Cleveland lineup.

Naylor went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run in Sunday's 7-5 win over the Royals.

EDGE Analysis

Naylor went yard in the second inning, and his homer gave the Guardians enough offense to withstand the Royals' pushback over the rest of the contest. Over his last eight games, Naylor's gone 6-for-30 (.200) with a homer, four RBI, three doubles and three runs scored. The 25-year-old's small slump has dropped his slash line to .254/.316/.449 with 20 long balls, 76 RBI, 46 runs scored, six stolen bases and 27 doubles in 121 games overall, and he's still seeing the majority of playing time at first base.

Naylor isn't in the lineup Thursday against the Rays.

EDGE Analysis

Naylor will head to the bench for the second time in the last four games with left-hander Jeffrey Springs starting for Tampa Bay. Gabriel Arias is taking over at first base and batting seventh.

Naylor is not in Sunday's lineup against the Rangers.

EDGE Analysis

He will head to the bench with southpaw Cole Ragans toeing the rubber for Texas. Naylor is hitting .364 with two home runs and a stolen base over his last six games.

Naylor went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, an RBI, a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 6-3 win over the Rangers.

EDGE Analysis

Naylor has a five-game hitting streak, during which he's gone 8-for-18 with two home runs, three doubles and seven RBI. The first baseman is up to six steals this year while slashing .261/.323/.457 with 19 homers, 73 RBI and 44 runs scored through 115 contests.

Naylor went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 8-2 victory over the White Sox.

EDGE Analysis

Naylor homered off righty reliever Jose Ruiz with one out in the seventh to build the Guardians' lead to 8-1. The first baseman has struggled to find hits in his last 10 games, turning in a .189 average over 37 at-bats; however, the 25-year-old has two home runs, six RBI and six walks during that same span.