Just when the Cleveland Guardians were getting some value from starting pitcher Slade Cecconi, fate threw a wrench into their plans.
Cecconi, the main piece the Guards got back in their offseason trade involving Josh Naylor, came out of his recent start nursing a minor injury.
As a result, the team is taking a cautious approach and giving him a couple of extra days to heal up before he takes the mound again.
“Slade Cecconi will be scratched from his start tomorrow with tightness in the groin,” team insider Chris Assenheimer posted on X.
Slade Cecconi will be scratched from his start tomorrow with tightness in groin
— Chris AssenheimerC-T (@CAwesomeheimer) May 27, 2025
The groin issue is considered mild by the organization, so the initial plan is to give him Wednesday and Thursday off and revisit the situation on Friday, as the Guards start a new series against the Los Angeles Angels.
The most likely scenario, if he is feeling better, involves Cecconi taking the ball immediately after the off day to face the Angels on Friday.
#Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said Slade Cecconi is scratched from his start tomorrow with tightness in groin but should be back on the mound after the off day
— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) May 27, 2025
After suffering a significant oblique strain during spring training play, his regular season debut was delayed until May.
He was worth the wait, though, with a 3.27 ERA in three starts.
His two walks and 14 strikeouts in 11 innings are a perfect reflection of his upside.
It’s why the Guardians were willing to part with Naylor: Cecconi, even if people didn’t see it at the time, is brimming with upside and has multiple years of control.
The organization hopes the groin injury doesn’t become something major and allows him to return this week, as they can’t afford another injury to their rotation after losing Ben Lively.
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