Guardians Starter Who Was Struggling Is Turning A Corner

After allowing five runs in 5.1 innings on May 2, Cleveland Guardians starter Slade Cecconi had a 6.56 ERA. If he were on a team with better starting pitching depth, he probably would have been replaced in the rotation by now.

The Guardians, however, had little choice but to stick with Cecconi and let him work through his struggles. It took some patience, and he’s still not fully out of the woods, but he has improved considerably in his last three turns, including Monday’s win in Detroit against the Tigers.

After limiting the Tigers to two runs in 7.1 innings in their series opener, Cecconi lowered his ERA to 5.16. That’s still higher than it should be, but the number is trending down.

Over his last three starts, the right-hander has a 2.17 ERA, a sign that he could be hitting his stride after a rough start to the season. He isn’t always efficient, and he tends to put on many runners on base, but he is starting to pitch better and deserves credit for that.

“Cleveland #Guardians RHP Slade Cecconi picked up the win tonight allowing just two runs over 7.1 innings striking out four Tigers batters. Line – 7.1(IP) 5H 2R 2ER 2BB 4SO (96 Pitches 62 Strikes) Last three starts: – 16.2(IP) 16H 4ER 6BB 14SO 2.17 ERA.” Guardians Prospective wrote.

Cleveland #Guardians RHP Slade Cecconi picked up the win tonight allowing just two runs over 7.1 innings striking out four Tigers batters.

Line – 7.1(IP) 5H 2R 2ER 2BB 4SO

(96 Pitches 62 Strikes)

Last three starts:

– 16.2(IP) 16H 4ER 6BB 14SO 2.17 ERA#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/k1PHHnVzRb

— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) May 19, 2026

Had Cecconi kept pitching like a 6.00-ERA hurler, the Guardians would have had no choice but to find a way to replace him. They are a team with World Series aspirations, winners of six of their last seven games, and trying to compete with the best, and they can’t do that with a liability taking the ball every five days.

Fortunately for Cleveland, Cecconi is rising to the occasion and might have saved his rotation spot with his recent performance. Again, he still has a lot to prove, and rotation help remains high on the Guardians’ priority list before the trade deadline, but he has, at the very least, bought himself some time.

Cecconi might not have the ceiling of an ace, but he is probably better than what he has shown so far this year. After finishing with a passable 4.30 ERA last year, his goal entering 2026 was to improve that number. Despite the early-season inconsistency, he is still capable of doing that.

Cleveland is sure hoping he resembles the pitcher who has taken the hill in his last three starts, and not the one who was out there in his first seven.