The Cleveland Guardians’ pitching staff has exceeded expectations so far this year. Considering how bad the offense has been in recent games, it takes some excellent play from the arms, particularly those in the rotation, to keep the team competitive.
It’s fair to say, however, that Guardians’ starters have had to shoulder a heavy burden this season. Because of the unproductive offense and the inconsistent bullpen, the members of the rotation have to be nearly flawless every night to have a chance to get some wins.
On top of that, they have had to pitch a lot in 2026. A lot. Don’t look now, but the accumulation of innings might start to affect their performance and, possibly, their health down the stretch.
“The rotation pitched the second-most innings in the American League,” Cleveland.com’s Paul Hoynes noted. “And if you go by the way they pitched against the White Sox, you know, they might be getting tired because they’ve used the same five guys over and over and over again.”
When talking about the Guardians’ deadline needs, most people say that offense and bullpen are the most pressing ones. That’s probably true, but the team can’t turn its back on the rotation.
Parker Messick’s career-high in innings came last year, with 138.1 between Triple-A and the majors. He is at 106 now, so he could approach 180 by late September. That’s a lot, especially considering that he’ll be needed in the postseason if Cleveland makes it that far.
Gavin Williams already pitched 167.2 frames in 2024, and his body is well-equipped for a large workload. Is his arm, though? It’s a fair question.
Tanner Bibee has surpassed 170 innings in each of the last two seasons, but Joey Cantillo pitched just 116.2 innings in 2025 between the minors and the majors, and he’s already at 96. Slade Cecconi is at 99 frames in 2026, getting close to the 132 he pitched last campaign.
If the Guardians want to preserve the health and effectiveness of their arms, getting another depth starter and bullpen help is a must. With another capable arm in the rotation, they could implement a six-man staff, put one of them in long relief, use a piggyback arrangement, and more.
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