With spring training heading into its final stages, it’s time for MLB teams to ramp up the competitiveness to get properly prepared for the regular season. For the Cleveland Guardians, that could be most important for its starting pitchers, with spots in the five-man rotation still up for grabs.
There are six pitchers vying for those jobs, so every outing from here on out will have added importance. Longtime pitching coach Carl Willis recognizes this, and he wants his hurlers to, too.
Insider Paul Hoynes recently relayed a clear message Willis sent to his staff ahead of the season, which was “it’s time to compete.”
“Carl Willis had told the pitchers it’s time to compete,” Hoynes said. “The time for working on stuff is kind of fading into the background now. Let’s go out and compete. And the rotation was listening.”
Early in spring training, pitchers tend to emphasize working on things to see if new adjustments will be successful against hitters, rather than just using what they know already works. But, as Opening Day gets closer, it becomes more important for them to be on top of their game with their best stuff.
Using either approach, the Guardians’ starters have been quite successful in the 18 spring games so far. Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee, Slade Cecconi, Parker Messick, and Logan Allen all have an ERA under 3.60 in their combined 13 starts.
Only Joey Cantillo has struggled, with an ERA of 7.84 in his four starts. However, he is likely to have a role on the staff regardless, as he is out of minor league options and would have to clear waivers to be demoted.
He could go back to the bullpen, which is where he began last season before being sent down to stretch out as a starter and getting recalled. Messick, who has been adding a cutter to his repertoire, has the best ERA (1.93) so far, but after making his MLB debut last August, he could return to Triple-A until a need for an additional starter arises.
With just 13 spring games remaining on the schedule, Willis and manager Stephen Vogt will be watching the starting pitchers carefully, with some crucial decisions on the horizon.
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