Shawn Armstrong

Active

Cleveland Guardians · RP

Age 366' 2" · 225 lbsThrows Right

#732 Current

FBaseball Overview

At 35 years old, this veteran right-hander operates as a relief pitcher for Cleveland, offering fantasy managers intrigue in a complementary bullpen role after posting a strong 2025 campaign with a 2.31 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, and nine saves. Early 2026 results show some regression with a 4.56 ERA and 1.39 WHIP through limited innings, signaling that durability and consistency remain concerns at this stage of his career. His strikeout production remains respectable at 26 K through 23.2 innings, but the elevated ERA and WHIP suggest he may not recapture last year's elite form. Fantasy managers should monitor his role closely—any shift toward full-time closer duties could unlock additional value, but his age and recent performance trends suggest a cautious approach rather than a primary closer or streamer pick.

News Updates

Armstrong to open Game 6 for Guardians
Shawn Armstrong was assigned to pitch as the opener for Cleveland in Game 6 of the ALCS against the Rays. The Guardians utilized Armstrong in the unconventional role as part of their pitching strategy.
Oct 21, 2026
Shawn Armstrong Tapped as Opener for Multiple ALCS Games
Cleveland Guardians pitcher Shawn Armstrong was assigned the opener role for both ALCS Games 4 and 6 against the Rays. The Guardians utilized this unconventional pitching strategy as part of their postseason game plan. Armstrong's assignments highlight the team's strategic approach to managing their pitching staff during the playoffs.
Oct 20, 2026
Armstrong Named Opener for Guardians in Game 4
Cleveland Guardians pitcher Shawn Armstrong was assigned the opener role for Game 4 of the ALCS against the Rays. The decision reflects Cleveland's strategic pitching deployment in a critical playoff game. Armstrong's opener usage provides fantasy value and indicates the team's confidence in his ability to set the tone early.
Oct 18, 2026

MLB Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2015	Cleveland Indians	8	0	0	0	0	2.25	0.88	11	8.0	2
2016	Cleveland Guardians	10	0	0	0	0	2.53	1.31	7	10.2	5
2017	Cleveland Guardians	21	0	1	0	0	4.38	1.34	20	24.2	10
2018	Seattle Mariners	14	0	0	1	1	1.23	0.82	15	14.2	3
2019	2 teams▼	55	0	1	1	4	5.74	1.64	63	58.0	29
2020	Baltimore Orioles	14	0	2	0	0	1.80	0.80	14	15.0	3
2021	2 teams▼	31	0	1	0	0	6.75	1.50	44	36.0	15
2022	2 teams▼	50	3	2	3	2	4.38	1.35	66	61.2	17
2023	Tampa Bay Rays	39	6	1	0	0	1.38	0.90	54	52.0	11
2024	3 teams▼	57	7	3	3	1	4.86	1.53	66	66.2	25
2025	Texas Rangers	71	2	4	3	9	2.31	0.81	74	74.0	20
2026	Cleveland Guardians	41	0	2	1	0	4.58	1.39	34	35.1	19
Career	Totals	411	18	17	12	17	3.88	1.24	468	456.2	159

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Minor League Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2011	Mahoning Valley Scrappers	1	0	0	0	0	0.00	0.50	2	2.0	0
2012	3 teams▼	45	0	2	3	4	1.60	1.20	78	67.2	37
2013	2 teams▼	33	0	2	3	0	4.14	1.51	48	37	21
2014	2 teams▼	49	0	6	2	15	2.41	1.16	72	56	22
2015	Columbus Clippers	46	0	1	2	16	2.36	1.27	80	49.2	26
2016	2 teams▼	49	0	3	1	9	1.76	1.10	77	51	29
2017	Columbus Clippers	28	0	1	1	10	3.07	1.30	36	29.1	11
2018	Tacoma Rainiers	49	0	2	5	15	1.77	1.14	82	56.0	26
2019	Tacoma Rainiers	2	1	0	0	0	0.00	1.00	3	2.0	0
2021	2 teams▼	29	0	3	4	2	2.90	1.19	41	31.0	8
2022	Durham Bulls	7	0	0	0	2	2.57	1.00	10	7.0	2
2023	Durham Bulls	7	0	1	0	0	2.00	0.44	8	9.0	2
2026	2 teams▼	6	1	1	0	0	6.35	1.24	8	5.2	1
Career	Totals	351	2	22	21	73	2.37	1.19	545	403.1	185

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Last Week / Last Month

Current season · MLB only

7 games

G	GS	IP	W-L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
7	0	5.2	0-0	0	4.76	1.41	6	3

30 games

G	GS	IP	W-L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
30	0	25.2	1-1	0	4.56	1.32	21	12

Game Log2026 MLB

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Advanced Stats2026 season · via Baseball Savant

Click for year to year changes

FB Velo93.6 mph

Avg Spin2343 rpm

Whiff %23.7%

K %22.1%

BB %12.3%

Hard Hit %35.4%

Barrel %7.1%

xERA4.21

xBA Against0.216

xSLG Against0.383

BA Against0.229

SLG Against0.366

What These Stats Mean

FB Velo — Average fastball velocity. Harder throwers generate more swings and misses, setting up every other pitch in their arsenal. Velocity is the foundation of strikeout upside.

Avg Spin — Average spin rate across all pitches. Higher spin creates more movement and makes pitches harder to square up — elite spinners run better strikeout and batting average against numbers.

Whiff % — Swings-and-misses per swing. The most direct measure of a pitcher's ability to miss bats and the best leading indicator of strikeout rate.

K % — Strikeout rate per batter faced. The core fantasy pitching stat — high K% means reliable strikeout totals that hold up even in shorter starts.

BB % — Walk rate per batter faced. The primary control metric. High BB% tanks ERA and WHIP and keeps baserunners on constantly. Elite starters typically run below 7%.

Hard Hit % — Percentage of batted balls hit 95 mph or harder against. Low hard-hit% means weak contact, protecting both ERA and the defense behind the pitcher.

Barrel % — Percentage of batted balls barreled against. The most direct home run predictor — low barrel% pitchers rarely give up long balls.

xERA — Expected ERA based on contact quality allowed, removing the effect of sequencing, luck, and defense. Better predictor of future ERA than ERA itself.

xBA Against — Expected batting average opponents should hit based on contact quality. A gap between xBA and actual BA indicates unsustainable luck in either direction.

xSLG Against — Expected slugging allowed based on contact quality. High xSLG against predicts future extra-base damage; low xSLG means the pitcher is genuinely suppressing power.

BA Against — Actual batting average opponents are hitting — a key WHIP component. Check xBA to see if the number is sustainable.

SLG Against — Actual slugging allowed. Captures hits, doubles, triples, and home runs — lower means the pitcher is limiting the power damage he gives up.

GB% — Ground ball rate. High GB% pitchers generate double plays, limit home runs, and keep the ball in the park — great for protecting ERA and WHIP ratios.

FB% — Fly ball rate. High FB% pitchers give up more air contact — dangerous when combined with high exit velocity, less so when contact is soft.

Loading player data...

Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2015

Cleveland Indians

2.25

0.88

8.0

2016

Cleveland Guardians

2.53

1.31

10.2

2017

Cleveland Guardians

4.38

1.34

24.2

2018

Seattle Mariners

1.23

0.82

14.2

2019

2 teams▼

5.74

1.64

58.0

2020

Baltimore Orioles

1.80

0.80

15.0

2021

2 teams▼

6.75

1.50

36.0

2022

2 teams▼

4.38

1.35

61.2

2023

Tampa Bay Rays

1.38

0.90

52.0

2024

3 teams▼

4.86

1.53

66.2

2025

Texas Rangers

2.31

0.81

74.0

2026

Cleveland Guardians

4.58

1.39

35.1

Career

Totals

411

3.88

1.24

468

456.2

159

Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2011

Mahoning Valley Scrappers

0.00

0.50

2.0

2012

3 teams▼

1.60

1.20

67.2

2013

2 teams▼

4.14

1.51

2014

2 teams▼

2.41

1.16

2015

Columbus Clippers

2.36

1.27

49.2

2016

2 teams▼

1.76

1.10

2017

Columbus Clippers

3.07

1.30

29.1

2018

Tacoma Rainiers

1.77

1.14

56.0

2019

Tacoma Rainiers

0.00

1.00

2.0

2021

2 teams▼

2.90

1.19

31.0

2022

Durham Bulls

2.57

1.00

7.0

2023

Durham Bulls

2.00

0.44

9.0

2026

2 teams▼

6.35

1.24

5.2

Career

Totals

351

2.37

1.19

545

403.1

185

W-L

ERA

WHIP

5.2

0-0

4.76

1.41

W-L

ERA

WHIP

25.2

1-1

4.56

1.32