The Cleveland Guardians have been very fortunate this season that they have been able to send out the same five starters in their rotation. Some have fared much better than others, but having a full group that manager Stephen Vogt can rely on is a benefit many other MLB teams do not have.
There have been some ups and downs along the way, which is to be expected from a team that has been hovering around the .500 mark all year. Now, the Guardians are facing a bit of a wrinkle.
According to Tom Withers, the Guardians are making pitching changes for this weekend’s games against the Cincinnati Reds, moving Joey Cantillo up a day and moving Gavin Williams’ scheduled start back a day.
“Guardians just announced starters switch. Cantillo will go [Saturday] and Williams on Sunday,” Withers wrote.
Guardians just announced starters switch. Cantillo will go tomorrow and Williams on Sunday.
— Tom Withers (@twithersCLE) May 16, 2026
It was immediately unclear what the need for the switch might be. It is able to be made because the Guardians had an off day on Thursday, which would keep Cantillo on his regular rest.
It may just be an attempt to give Williams an extra day off after he gave up a career-high 10 hits in his last outing against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday. The right-hander has also given up five runs in back-to-back starts, and he allowed six runs two starts before that. After his start on April 18, Williams’ ERA was 2.12. It has since risen to 3.74.
As for Cantillo, he has given up one run combined in his past two starts. On Monday, the left-hander threw six scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Angels, which gave him a 3-1 record and a 2.98 ERA on the season. The Guardians have won his past three starts and four of his past five.
In the series opener against the Reds on Friday, Tanner Bibee’s record fell to 0-6 in a 7-6 defeat. Cleveland has not won any of his past nine starts.
Hopefully, there is no injury concern for Williams and he will take advantage of the extra rest and return to his usual good form in the series finale.
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