Gabriel Arias delivered a four-hit performance Wednesday, contributing significantly to the Guardians' 8-6 win over the Nationals. The outing, which included a double and a run scored, marked his third multi-hit game in his last four starts.
Playing second base and batting fifth, Arias's recent surge has boosted his season slash line to .287/.339/.452. The 25-year-old infielder has now recorded four homers, two steals, 16 runs batted in and 19 runs scored over 35 contests this season.
The strong showing followed his go-ahead single in the top of the seventh inning on Tuesday, helping secure another win against the Nationals. Video of his go-ahead hit shows the bases-loaded single to left field gave Cleveland a 7-6 advantage.
Arias's improved production at the plate comes as the Guardians have sought consistency at the second spot in their batting order. Manager Stephen Vogt has used multiple players in the role early in the season as the team's collective production from that position has struggled.
Recent analysis on potential lineup changes has highlighted Gabriel Arias as a potential candidate to settle into the second spot. His adjustments to minimize whiff and groundball issues and leverage his raw power have been noted.
Maintaining a walk rate around 7 percent, along with his speed, positions him as a credible option for the role, although maintaining plate discipline will remain a factor. His newfound confidence at the plate has become apparent.
While other players like Kyle Manzardo, Bo Naylor, and Daniel Schneemann have also been discussed as possibilities for the second spot, Arias's recent performance places him firmly in consideration as the Guardians continue to evaluate their optimal lineup configuration.
