For much of this season, the Cleveland Guardians haven’t struggled to put it all together when it comes to their starting rotation. While Gavin Williams and Parker Messick were excelling to begin the campaign, Tanner Bibee, Joey Cantillo and Slade Cecconi were trying to keep up.
That prevented the Guardians from putting together a long winning streak. However, the rotation also did just enough to prevent a long losing streak, which allowed the team to remain above .500 while figuring things out.
It all came together in the just-completed four-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers, which extended Cleveland’s winning streak to six games. It has also won nine of the past 10 and 12 of the past 15.
Analyst Al Pawlowski is pointing out that the Guardians’ starting pitchers have a masterclass in the Tigers series, with Cecconi, Messick, Bibee, and Cantillo combining to post a 1.73 ERA.
“In the Guardians’ 4-game sweep in Detroit, the starting pitchers surrendered a combined 5 earned runs,” Pawlowski posted.
In the Guardians’ 4-game sweep in Detroit, the starting pitchers surrendered a combined 5 earned runs.
— Al Pawlowski (@AlPawlowski) May 22, 2026
Interestingly, reliever Colin Holderman was credited with the win in two of the four games. But that was because the starters were able to keep them close until the Guardians’ resurgent offense was able to rally for victories.
Cecconi got things going at Comerica Park in the series opener, when he allowed two earned runs in 7.1 innings of an 8-2 win. It was his third straight good outing after his season ERA ballooned to 6.56, which led to conjecture about him possibly being removed from the rotation.
Messick followed by giving up two earned runs in 5.0 innings of a gritty 4-3 win that was locked down by closer Cade Smith. Messick has allowed two earned runs or fewer in eight of his 10 starts this season, and he could be on his way to his first All-Star Game selection.
The most impressive and encouraging start of the series was then made by Bibee, who allowed one earned run over 8.0 innings in a 3-2, 10-inning victory. Though he did not get the win, and his record on the season remains 0-6, it was Cleveland’s first victory in his past nine starts.
In the series finale, Cantillo did not allow an earned run over 5.2 innings in the 3-1 triumph, which sets up ace Williams to start the next series opener at the powerful Philadelphia Phillies on Friday.
NEXT: Tigers Manager Praises Guardians After Series Sweep
