The Guardians have reached an awkward point in their rotation, and Joey Cantillo is right in the middle of it.
Cantillo was a major part of Cleveland’s historic comeback last September, and he has still flashed real value in 2026. His April was especially strong, when he posted a 2.70 ERA that ranked among the best numbers in the club’s rotation.
But the last stretch has looked different. Over his two September starts, Cantillo has given up 12 hits, eight earned runs, and seven walks in only 7.2 innings. That kind of line puts a spotlight on a bigger question the Guardians now have to sort through as they chase one of the final Wild Card spots in the American League: should Cantillo keep starting, or is his best fit now in the bullpen?
There are reasons Cleveland can point to for the rough patch. Cantillo is in the final stretch of his first full season as a starter, and he has already gone past his previous career high in innings as a big leaguer. That workload matters, especially this late in the year.
Still, the Guardians have to deal with the reality in front of them. They need production, and they need it now.
If the team decides to move in another direction with its fifth starter, there are several paths available. Slade Cecconi shifted into a relief role after the Foster Griffin trade and has remained stretched out as a multi-innings option. Logan Allen, who was recently optioned back to Triple-A after Cleveland’s doubleheader earlier in the week, has already made two spot starts for the Guardians in 2026.
Ben Lively is another possibility. He has fully recovered from Tommy John surgery more than a year ago, and although he is not currently on the 40-man roster, he could be added back.
Then there is Austin Peterson, who made his big-league debut over the weekend. He worked out of the bullpen in that first MLB appearance, but he is a starter by trade. Peterson has put up a 4.52 ERA in 21 appearances, including 19 starts, at Triple-A this season.
Cleveland’s manager is not about to rush into a decision after one rough outing, but he did acknowledge that Cantillo has not been as sharp lately.
“Joey's been great for us. Joey's played a huge role in where we are today.
He's had a couple tough ones as of late. It's late in the year.
Innings are getting up there.”
In Other News...
Guardians Get A Huge Opening As Orioles Gamble Already Looks Shaky
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Cleveland, meanwhile, gets a cleaner look at the standings picture with the Orioles still sitting behind the Guardians and coming up next for a three-game series. Robert will not be part of that matchup, which strips some of the urgency from Baltimores latest gamble and leaves its roster decision hanging into the offseason. The Orioles still have to sort out his contract beyond this year, and the early signs suggest they may be headed toward a buyout rather than bringing him back on the club option. [Read more 🡒]
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His most visible work came later, when he led Boston to a playoff run in 1988 during a four-season managerial tenure. For Cleveland fans, his passing is a reminder of how many former players and baseball men passed through the organization before finding another chapter elsewhere, and how those connections can surface again only when a life in the game comes to an end. [Read more 🡒]
Patrick Bailey Used A Rare Trick To Spark Clevelands Walk-Off
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The key moment came in the 10th, when Cleveland found a way to stay ahead of a defensive gambit and keep the inning alive. Manager Stephen Vogt had the group ready for that kind of look, and Bailey delivered the kind of quick, disciplined answer that can make a prepared team look a step ahead. The result was another reminder that the Guardians are at their best when they can turn a small opening into a finishing run. [Read more 🡒]