Wednesday, July 16

Welcome back to the Guardians Beat newsletter. My name is Tim Stebbins, and this is my first season covering Cleveland for MLB.com.

CLEVELAND -- After Joey Cantillo tossed three innings of one-run ball in Monday’s 7-2 loss to the Dodgers, the Guardians informed him they were optioning him to Triple-A Columbus. But that revelation came with a caveat: Cantillo will stretch out as a starter with the Clippers.

“He's competed very well. We told him last night -- he didn't earn a demotion,” pitching coach Carl Willis said Tuesday. “But we feel like he's competed to this point here in the season where he can be an option for us to start.”

Cantillo will stretch out with Columbus after spending the first 8 1/2 weeks of the season as a long reliever. Cleveland doesn’t expect that process to take long, as Cantillo is already built up to a 40- to 50-pitch workload. He threw 42 pitches Monday vs. Los Angeles.

Cantillo made eight starts with Cleveland last season, including his July 28 MLB debut, and was in the mix for the Guardians’ fifth starter spot this spring. He made the Opening Day roster as a reliever, as Cleveland wanted extra coverage as its starters built up their pitch count. Calculus evolved as the season went on.

The Guardians’ rotation has dealt with inconsistency this season and entered Tuesday with a 4.16 ERA (21st in the Majors) and 270 2/3 innings (24th). The group lost its most consistent starter, Ben Lively, to season-ending Tommy John surgery last week. 

Shane Bieber doesn’t figure to make his season debut until July, and John Means is further down the line in his rehab. Both are rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Doug Nikhazy (Cleveland’s No. 21 prospect) is the only depth option in Triple-A who’s on the 40-man roster.

“When we broke Spring Training, we needed Joey in the bullpen for where our roster was,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “And now we feel like we're at a point where we want to get Joey back in the mix as a starting pitching option.”

Vogt said he’s pleased with how Cantillo has been throwing. He has a 3.81 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP in 28 1/3 innings over 21 appearances this season. He features a four-seam fastball (41 percent), changeup (36.9), curveball (14.1) and slider (7.9). Opponents have hit just .154 against Cantillo’s curve, and the Guardians feel he can up its usage.

Cleveland wants to see more consistency with Cantillo’s fastball (strike-throwing and location) and slider improvement. Willis described that as the slider’s shape, spin, spin axis and spin volume, which can come from a grip change. It’s hard to do that on the fly in the big leagues.

“If he improves his slider, it somewhat protects the fastball and makes things more difficult, particularly to a left-handed hitter,” Willis said. “I think, ideally, it's the improvement of the fastball command and seeing more power with that fastball that he shows at times, but then at other times he doesn’t. And then if we can improve that slider, he's got a full repertoire, and he's got two plus pitches with the curveball and changeup.”

The Guardians are looking forward to seeing what Cantillo will do with his opportunity.

“He was excited about it,” Vogt said. “Obviously, not excited about going to Triple-A; no one ever is. But he wants to be a starter, and he had some really good reflections on his time in the bullpen these last two months. We're really, really excited to see where this goes over the next few weeks."

When Nic Enright got to Detroit on Saturday after the Guardians promoted him from Triple-A Columbus, he had a No. 59 jersey awaiting in his locker. Cleveland assigned Enright the number, which has a strong level of symbolism to it. 

Shortly after Enright was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in December 2022, Carlos Carrasco connected with him to offer his support. Carrasco (who wore No. 59 with Cleveland from 2009-20 and in ’24) was diagnosed with leukemia in ‘19, and he overcame it to return to pitch that September.

Enright’s mother-in-law pointed out the number connection to Enright's wife, Erin, following his promotion, which came during Comerica Park’s “Strike Out Cancer Weekend.” 

“Between wearing the same number as him,” Enright said, “him being there for me when I was initially diagnosed just over 2 1/2 years ago on top of it, being in Detroit for Strike Out Cancer Weekend, it's not a coincidence, I feel like.”

Limited Ballpark Passes for June are available. For $54 (including all fees), you’ll get a standing-room-only ticket to each Guardians home game next month. Standing-room-only sections at Progressive Field include The Corner Bar, the Left Field and Right Field Drink Rails, the Home Run Porch, Heritage Plaza and the Terrace Garden and Terrace Hall.

Next month, the Guardians will host the Astros (June 6-8), Reds (June 9-11), Blue Jays (June 24-26) and Cardinals (June 27-29). More information on the Ballpark Pass is available here.

• José Ramírez continued his march up the franchise leaderboards while extending his career-best hitting streak. Read more >>

• Ramírez is in the pole position at third base in MLB.com’s third All-MLB poll of the year. Read more >>

• Shane Bieber is slated for his first game action this weekend in his comeback from Tommy John surgery. Read more >>

“I'm super happy with how [Sunday] went and everything, but the goal isn't to just debut. The goal is to come up here, take the ball every time my name is called, do everything I can to help this team win games. That's been my goal at every level that I've been at, and it’s just carrying over that same mindset. Having a day like [Sunday] where I felt like I belonged and I felt like I am and my stuff is more than good enough, a day like [Sunday] just helped propel me forward." -- Enright on making his Major League debut on Sunday

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