Entering the 2024 season, Shane Bieber and Triston McKenzie were the Guards’ expected 1-2 punch in the rotation.
On talent and track record, those two were supposed to carry most of the rotation responsibilities.
It’s funny how thinks work out sometimes: what would you say if we told you that they accumulated 87.2 innings between the two and the Guardians still made it all the way to the AL Championship Series?
It’s hard to believe, but it’s true: Bieber blew out his elbow and McKenzie, well, he is pitching with ligament damage on his elbow too.
McKenzie opted against going under the knife and spent the majority of the season battling control issues in Triple-A.
In 75.2 MLB frames, he posted a 5.12 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP.
He walked 48 and struck out 74 batters in the majors.
His 5.23 ERA in Triple-A wasn’t much better, and he had lots of issues finding the strike zone at both leves.
This is a pitcher who posted a 2.96 ERA in 191.1 innings back in 2022.
That was just two years ago.
It wasn’t too long ago when he was seen as one of the top young starters in MLB.
One of the Guardians’ top offseason priorities should be working with him to see if he can bounce back to some extent.
There is a lot of work to do, and there is a chance that all he needs is get that elbow surgery.
However, if there is something to salvage, the off-season represents the perfect time to work on it and give it one last try.
NEXT: Numbers So Far Show Guardians Made The Right Call With No. 1 Pick
