Guyer thriving since trade to Indians

CLEVELAND — There can be a lot of pressure heaped on the shoulders of a player acquired via trade by a postseason contender. When outfielder Brandon Guyer learned he was dealt to the Indians, he looked at things in a particular manner in order to alleviate any unnecessary stress.

“They already had a great team,” Guyer said. “So it’s not like I’ve got to come in here and be a savior or anything.”

Instead, Guyer just needed to continue thriving in what has become a specialized skill: hitting left-handed pitching. Acquired from Tampa Bay in exchange for a pair of Minor Leaguers prior to the Aug. 1 non-waiver Trade Deadline, Guyer has developed into one of baseball’s elite hitters against lefties, making him a great fit for Cleveland’s roster down the stretch.

Heading into Wednesday’s game, Guyer has lived up to his billing, hitting at a .429 (9-for-21) clip with three extra-base hits in 10 games for the Indians. On the year, the outfielder was batting .358 with a 1.107 OPS in 102 plate appearances against left-handers, improving his career showing to .288 (.862 OPS). On Friday, Guyer homered, collected three hits and knocked in five runs.

Among batters with at …

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