Guardians Executive Names 3 Internal Solutions For Pitching Needs

The Cleveland Guardians have a talented rotation, with Parker Messick sporting a beautiful 2.40 ERA and Gavin Williams a 3.20 mark before his start against the New York Yankees on Monday. Joey Cantillo was actually solid before hitting a wall in recent games, but both Tanner Bibee and Slade Cecconi are starting to turn their seasons around.

Generally speaking, the unit is in good shape. Depth, however, is an entirely different matter.

Should something happen to one of those five men, Cleveland should be worried because of its lack of reliable starting pitching depth. With Daniel Espino converted to a reliever, only Logan Allen stands between a full crisis should injuries strike.

This is why analysts say that the Guardians need to go to the starting pitching market before the deadline. People in the organization, however, believe that they have reliable internal solutions if such a scenario were to present itself.

“Eric Bidner, the Guardians’ assistant general manager, talked about three arms that could help the Guardians if they need help in the rotation. Bidner, with the team in Arlington, named lefty Logan Allen, who has already made one appearance with the Guardians this season, and right-handers Austin Peterson and Yorman Gomez,” team insider Paul Hoynes wrote.

Allen posted a 4.25 ERA last year for the Guardians but boasts a rather mediocre 4.94 ERA in 47.1 frames in Triple-A this year, although he has been pitching better in recent games and carries a 0.00 ERA in four MLB innings in long relief.

Peterson opened the year on the injured list with a right triceps strain, but is healthy now and has a 4.34 ERA in 29 innings in Columbus. He is a 26-year-old righty whose stuff won’t wow you, but knows how to pitch. The problem is that he’s unproven at the highest level.

Gomez, who recently endured a shoulder strain, has pitched just 3.2 innings this season in the Complex League. He does have a big fastball, even if his secondaries remain a work in progress. He hasn’t pitched above Double-A yet, though, so considering him as a rotation option for Cleveland right now might not be a wise strategy.

If anything, Bidner’s list of options reinforces the thesis that the Guardians need to add starting pitching at the deadline. Not doing that would represent a big risk.