Ben Lively has won 16 games since breaking into the Major Leagues as a starting pitcher with the Phillies in 2017. Half of that total has been with the Guardians this season. Lively on July 4 improved to 8-4 when he pitched six strong innings in the Guardians’ 8-4 win over the White Sox at Progressive Field. The Guardians improved to 54-31 and won the series with the White Sox, two games to one. The Guardians signed Lively, 32, to a free agent contract on Dec. 12 of last year for the bargain price of $750,000. It was not the kind of news that made a reporter on his way to the mall for Christmas shopping do a U-turn on Route 20 in heavy traffic so he could race home, open his laptop and bang out a story. Ben Lively had reason to smile after he improved to 8-4 by helping the #Guardians beat the White Sox, 8-4. pic.twitter.com/wNAIPLy5Qz — Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) July 4, 2024 Lively was a mere 4-7 with the Reds last year, and before that hadn’t pitched in the Majors since 2019 when he appeared in one game with the Royals. In between his time in Kansas City and Cincinnati, he pitched three seasons for the Samsung Lions of the Korean Baseball Organization. Lively, with a 3.14 ERA, has been the most reliable starter on a Guardians team desperately seeking stability in its starting rotation. That certainly was not the expectation when the Guardians reported to Goodyear, Ariz., for spring training in February. “I could have been here for two weeks,” Lively said after beating the White Sox. “When I first signed it was going to be a long relief role and then of course I’ve always been a starter here and there and just getting that opportunity. Just step on the gas. That’s the only thing, I think — one speed and let’s go. “I mean, it’s just the way it goes. I just figured a couple of fastball locations out and had a couple of good games. I just don’t want to look back. Of course, you always fear that rough one, but just foot down.” Lively didn’t even break camp with the Guardians. He was stricken with a viral infection during spring training and began the season on the 15-day injured list. He was activated on April 17, started against the Red Sox in Boston, and gave up two runs over five innings in a 2-0 loss. Even though Lively was tagged with the loss in his Cleveland debut, the performance was a sign of what was to come. The start against the White Sox on Independence Day was his 14th of the season. He has given up more than three earned runs only one time  (four in a 6-3 loss to the Blue Jays on June 16). Lively has been on Major League rosters, demoted to the minors, designated for assignment and found a job pitching in Korea. After his stint with the Reds last year, he was removed from the 40-man roster and outrighted to Cincinnati’s Triple-A affiliate in Louisville on Oct. 18. Lively elected to become a free agent instead and was out of work until the Guardians threw him a life preserver. “I feel like, in a lot of ways, Ben’s been the most stable part of our rotation all year,” manager Stephen Vogt said after the game. “His story is so incredible. Up, down, up, down, up, down, go overseas, come back and he’s gotten a chance to be in a rotation and he’s taken it and run with it. “The consistency with which he attacks every game; he’s filling up the zone. He’s not afraid. We feel really good every time Ben takes the ball and it is so fun to watch.” Lively does not overpower hitters. His four-seam fastball hit 89 mph in the July 4 game. He even joked afterward about being jealous of the pitchers who can throw 100 mph. The biggest difference between earlier in his career and what he is doing now is his confidence. He has control over his breaking pitches and pinpoints his fastball when he does throw it. “I think just leaving the sense of doubt out of my pitches,” he said when asked if he is doing anything better now. “You’re always worried about throwing a certain breaking ball on a certain hitter. But I feel like all of that’s been eliminated from my game plan. Just kind of throwing everything with conviction, throwing everything as hard as I can, even though it’s not that hard, but still throw it hard.” The Guardians are now 11-1-1 in series played at Progressive Field in 2024. They are 19-7-2 overall in series played. PHOTOS: Guardians vs. White Sox, July 4, 2024