Joey Cantillo did not hide from accountability after a difficult start against Pittsburgh on Sunday, taking ownership for his role in a series-ending 7-1 loss that dropped Cleveland to 1-2 since the All-Star break. Cantillo struck out seven over five innings but was tagged for four earned runs on seven hits, unable to match Pirates ace Paul Skenes, who allowed just one run over seven innings in the win. The Guardians had hoped to open the second half by taking the series, and instead found themselves searching for answers after dropping two of three at Progressive Field. Speaking with reporters afterward, Cantillo offered a level-headed breakdown of what went wrong and where he needs to be sharper going forward.
Cantillo acknowledged that his stuff felt good overall but pointed to a handful of specific pitches that made the difference in the outcome.
“Felt pretty good. Obviously, probably a series that it sucks that we didn’t come out on top, want to start off the second half winning a series. Ball didn’t go our way a few times today. There was a few times that I just gotta be a little bit sharper and do a better job of making better pitches early on. Just a few pitches here and there, gotta be a little sharper. But it is what it is. We’ll learn from it, and we’ll be alright,” Cantillo said.
"We'll learn from it."#Guardians Joey Cantillo breaks down his day vs. the Pirates#GuardsBall @WEWS pic.twitter.com/jmZUhNzAQc
— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) July 20, 2026
Cantillo elaborated that he wanted to start the second half by helping Cleveland win the series, and admitted that a few of his pitches simply did not go the way he wanted early in the game. Cantillo’s outing came during a series that also featured uncharacteristic mistakes on the bases from Cleveland’s lineup, adding to a frustrating return from the break for a team that had won four straight games before it.
Cleveland will look to bounce back quickly as it opens a four-game series against the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field on Monday night, giving Cantillo and the rest of the pitching staff a chance to move past Sunday’s result. With the Guardians now sitting a game behind the White Sox in the division, every start carries added weight as the second half unfolds. Cantillo’s willingness to own his mistakes and refocus quickly is exactly the kind of response Cleveland will need from its rotation as the stretch run intensifies.
NEXT: Stephen Vogt Addresses Guardians' Growing Pains
