Starting pitchers these days just don’t go as long as they used to do 40, 25, or even 10 years ago.
It’s not criticism, it’s a reality, and given the increasing effort and velocity they are required to show in the modern game, it’s completely understandable.
Still, a solid starter should give his team, at the very least, five innings per outing.
That’s the ideal: more, of course, is preferred, especially if it comes paired with effectiveness.
But all managers ask from their starters these days is a minimum of five innings per outing.
With that in mind, the Cleveland Guardians have had a star performer this year.
No, it’s probably not any of the options you are thinking of.
Logan Allen, usually seen as a backend starter, has accumulated 12 consecutive starts with at least five innings pitched.
He reached that number on Tuesday, giving the Guardians five innings of three runs (two earned) against the Miami Marlins.
“Logan Allen has done his job turning things over to the pen!” the Carlos Baerga Show’s official X account posted on Wednesday.
Logan Allen has done his job turning things over to the pen! #GuardsBall
How would you rank our starting pitchers for a playoff series? @AlwaysPositiveJ
presented by @BathroomsUSA https://t.co/FvdEQxhSaA pic.twitter.com/gCkNoa1lQT
— Carlos Baerga Show (@BaergaShow) August 13, 2025
He has, indeed, done everything the manager and the organization have asked of him.
While his 92 strikeouts in 118.2 innings of work are definitely not sexy, his ability to give at least the minimum length expected from him is crucial to keep the bullpen fresh.
To make things better, he has also offered a strong 3.94 ERA, which makes him an elite fourth or fifth starter.
At this point, Allen is who he is.
He is not an ace and probably not even a mid-rotation stalwart.
He takes the ball and competes every five days, giving his team five or six innings with two or three runs.
That’s gold.
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