The Cleveland Guardians have been able to take advantage of using just five starting pitchers for all of their games this season. With very few exceptions, that means when your turn comes up, you pitch, followed by the next guy, and so on.
Even though the Guardians have played almost the same number of games at home and on the road so far, it hasn’t worked out that way for their starting pitchers. In fact, after facing the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Thursday afternoon, Cleveland’s Slade Cecconi has pitched in more road games than any starter in the majors this season.
For his part, Cecconi said he sees a silver lining in those grueling road assignments, believing that they will better prepare him for the rest of the season and his potential playoff assignments.
“Is that real? Heck yeah. I’ve pitched a lot of road games. I’ve pitched a lot of cold games. I’ve pitched a lot of rain games. I’ve fought a lot of adversity, and that is only going to make me better as a pitcher in the long run. Everybody wants to be in first place. Everybody wants to lead the division, but we want to play our best baseball in September, October, when it’s really time to go. All these experiences, it’s going to make me better because when it matters the most, the situation is just going to be second nature. I love the fact that that’s the situation I’m in,” Cecconi said.
No pitcher in baseball has made more road starts (9) than Slade Cecconi so far this year.
His response: “heck yeah”
But in the long run, he feels pitching in adverse situations can only make him better: “because when it matters the most, the situation is just going to be… pic.twitter.com/dJz0bQ6GnO
— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) June 4, 2026
After taking two of three from the Yankees, the Guardians have played 33 road games and 31 home games this season. However, Cecconi has made nine of his 13 starts on the road.
In those nine road games, Cecconi is 3-4 with a 5.21 ERA. He has given up 53 hits with 17 walks and 36 strikeouts in 48.1 innings.
In the four home games, the right-hander is 0-1 with a 4.19 ERA. He has allowed 23 hits and four walks with 18 strikeouts in 19.1 innings.
For the season, that makes him 3-5 with a 4.92 ERA. He has provided consistency in the rotation, which includes Gavin Williams, Parker Messick, Tanner Bibee and Joey Cantillo.
Interestingly, Cecconi has made eight of his 13 starts in day games. That means he has started almost half of the 18 day games Cleveland has played this season.
To their considerable credit, the Guardians have the most road wins in the American League this season, 19, tied with the Yankees and Athletics, and well ahead of their AL Central rivals. The Chicago White Sox are next in the division with 13 road wins.
So, if Cleveland can improve just a bit on its 17-14 record at Progressive Field, the playoffs and those big games Cecconi is talking about should be well within reach.
NEXT: Guardians Urged To Address Key Roster Concern In Trade Deadline
