Guardians Struggle with MLB's New Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System

Manager Stephen Vogt encourages players to keep using the system despite early challenges.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 7:56pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game broken down into overlapping planes of color and shape, conveying the complexity and fragmentation of the new automated ball-strike challenge system.The Guardians' struggles with MLB's new automated ball-strike challenge system reflect the league's broader learning curve with this evolving technology.Cleveland Today

The Cleveland Guardians have struggled with the new Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge system in the early part of the 2026 MLB season, going just 2-for-12 in getting umpire calls overturned. However, manager Stephen Vogt is not overly concerned and is actually encouraging his players to keep using the system, believing it will help them learn how to use it more effectively over time.

Why it matters

The ABS Challenge system is a new technology introduced by MLB this season that allows pitchers, catchers, and hitters to challenge umpire calls. While some teams have quickly adapted, the Guardians have had difficulty maximizing the system so far. Vogt's approach of embracing the learning curve rather than avoiding the system could pay dividends as the Guardians look to improve their success rate with the new technology.

The details

Through the first few weeks of the season, the Guardians' batters are 1-for-7 and their catchers are 1-for-5 in getting calls overturned using the ABS Challenge system. This puts them last in MLB in successful challenges, well behind leaders like the Orioles (12-2) and Reds (9-4). Vogt acknowledges his team is still learning the intricacies of the system, but he is encouraging his players to keep using it, believing the more they practice, the better they will get.

  • The Guardians went into their home opener on Friday ranked last in MLB in successful ABS challenges.
  • Since lefty Erik Sabrowski returned from the injured list on June 27, 2025, he leads all MLB lefties (minimum 25 innings pitched) with 13.09 strikeouts per nine innings.

The players

Stephen Vogt

The manager of the Cleveland Guardians, who is encouraging his players to keep using the new Automated Ball-Strike Challenge system despite their early struggles with it.

Erik Sabrowski

A left-handed pitcher for the Guardians who has not allowed a run, hit, or walk in four appearances covering 3 2/3 innings this season, and who leads all MLB lefties (minimum 25 innings pitched) in strikeouts per nine innings since returning from the injured list in June 2025.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We're still learning all the different intricacies of the ABS. I think the human element of this is real. I think you don't want to be wrong. It's the last thing you're thinking about when you're at the plate is challenge or no challenge.”

— Stephen Vogt, Manager

“I don't know yet. It's just like the pitch clock. We need to learn how to use it.”

— Stephen Vogt, Manager

“We want to win as many challenges as we can. We don't care about our percentage. We need to continue to use it because you're going to learn how to get better at it by using it.”

— Stephen Vogt, Manager

What’s next

The Guardians will look to continue improving their success rate with the ABS Challenge system as the season progresses, with manager Stephen Vogt emphasizing the importance of his players continuing to use the new technology despite their early struggles.

The takeaway

The Guardians' challenges with the new Automated Ball-Strike Challenge system highlight the learning curve that teams across MLB are facing with this new technology. However, Vogt's approach of embracing the system and using it as a teaching moment could pay dividends for the Guardians as they work to master the intricacies of the ABS and improve their success rate over time.