The final score on Tuesday night was not what Cleveland wanted, but buried inside a tough extra-innings loss was a pitching milestone that deserves its own conversation.
Joey Cantillo quietly joined some of the most celebrated names in Cleveland baseball history on Tuesday night at Busch Stadium, and the company he is now keeping should tell you everything about the kind of pitcher he has been over the last year.
Brady Hamilton shared the graphic on X that put it all in perspective.
“Some ELITE stuff out of Joey Cantillo lately,” Hamilton posted on X.
Some ELITE stuff out of Joey Cantillo lately…#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/y80HJGA1hZ
— Brady Hamilton (@BradyH_216) April 15, 2026
Corey Kluber holds the record with 13 straight from 2017 to 2018. Gaylord Perry put together 11 consecutive such starts in 1974. And now, sitting right alongside Perry with 11 straight starts allowing two runs or fewer spanning 2025 and 2026, is Cantillo. Bob Lemon, a Hall of Famer, sits just below him at 10 consecutive starts back in 1956.
Those are not just good pitchers. Those are franchise legends and Hall of Famers. The fact that Cantillo’s name appears on that list at all is remarkable. The fact that he is tied for second in franchise history is something that should be talked about far more loudly than it currently is.
Tuesday’s start against the Cardinals was not Cantillo’s cleanest outing. He allowed two home runs, matching a career high, while pitching six innings and giving up five hits and two walks. Cantillo still held the Cardinals to two earned runs in six innings and kept his team in a game they ultimately had a chance to win.
The 25 year old left hander has been one of the quietest success stories on this entire roster. While Gavin Williams has drawn national attention as the ace and Parker Messick has generated buzz as the future of the franchise, Cantillo has simply gone out every five days and done his job with consistency.
The Guardians entered 2026 knowing they needed their starting rotation to carry a heavy load through a brutal early schedule. Williams, Messick, and Cantillo have answered that challenge.
The loss in St. Louis on Tuesday night will be remembered for a ninth-inning error and a blown save. But Cantillo was the reason they were still in position to win the game because of his consistency.
NEXT: Jose Ramirez Made MLB History Against The Cardinals
