The Cleveland Guardians have relied heavily on their pitching staff to win games this season and they are right in the thick of the AL Central race despite the disappointing offense, which has been ravaged by injuries of late. Regardless, they’re in a much better position than they were at this point last season, and with a couple of moves ahead of the trade deadline, they have an opportunity to make a legitimate push for that elusive World Series.
Young talent has blossomed all throughout the roster and kept the team afloat, and there is no area where that youth is more prevalent than in the starting rotation. Gavin Williams and Parker Messick have blossomed into borderline aces, Joey Cantillo has been reliable since Opening Day, and Slade Cecconi and Tanner Bibee have turned things around after rough starts. Collectively, they have also done something quite remarkable over the first half of the season.
ESPN’s Paul Hembekides recently appeared on Buster Olney’s BBTN podcast and shouted out the Guardians for an incredible feat. He pointed out that 301 different pitchers have started a game this season, but the Guardians have been fortunate enough to have only needed to rely on the aforementioned five starters.
“301 different pitchers have started a game this season. Only 5 of them are Guardians. They’re one of the few organizations that hasn’t caught the velo-at-all-costs fever, keeping their starters healthy while supercharging their bullpen,” said Hembekides.
301 different pitchers have started a game this season. Only 5 of them are Guardians.
They're one of the few organizations that hasn't caught the velo-at-all-costs fever, keeping their starters healthy while supercharging their bullpen. https://t.co/7AtV1TAEWO pic.twitter.com/s69jDAW4hm— Paul Hembekides (Hembo) (@PaulHembo) July 10, 2026
It’s going to be interesting to see if other teams over the next five to ten years start backing off the notion that every pitcher needs to throw as hard as possible all the time. The old-fashioned workhorse is a thing of the past and finesse pitchers are a dying art as well since velocity and spin rate are prioritized over all else.
The Guardians are one of very few teams along with the Seattle Mariners that are bucking the trend. Cleveland’s five starters don’t throw consistently in the upper 90s, and neither do Seattle’s. It’s not a coincidence that both teams have largely relied on the same starting rotation over the past couple of years without seeing their core guys blow out their elbows and shoulders.
Hopefully, the Guardians can keep those same five starters throughout the rest of the year and make a few deadline moves to make a playoff push.
NEXT: Guardians' Hottest Hitter Isn't Cooling Off Anytime Soon
