If you’re looking for a reason to feel optimistic about the Cleveland Guardians’ starting rotation heading into 2026, look no further than Joey Cantillo.
The 25-year-old lefty didn’t just show flashes last season-he finished the year pitching like one of the best arms in the American League. After bouncing back from a midseason trip to the minors, Cantillo didn’t sulk.
He sharpened his game, stayed ready, and when the Guardians called his number again, he delivered. Big time.
From August 9 through the end of the regular season, Cantillo was nothing short of dominant. Over his final seven starts, he posted a 1.59 ERA-best in the American League during that stretch.
And that’s not just a surface-level stat. Dig a little deeper, and the metrics back it up: a 3.21 FIP (10th in the AL), .193 opponent batting average (also 10th), 1.01 WHIP (12th), and 1.0 fWAR (14th).
That’s not a guy just getting lucky with batted balls or riding a hot streak. That’s a pitcher executing with precision, missing barrels, and limiting damage.
For a Guardians team that’s been in flux since Shane Bieber’s absence, Cantillo’s emergence couldn’t have come at a better time. There’s no question Cleveland managed just fine without their former ace last season, but the hope was always that Bieber might return to anchor the staff. That chapter appears to be closed, and now the conversation shifts to who steps up.
Cantillo is making a strong case to be that guy.
Sure, it’s still early to crown him the rotation’s top dog, but what he showed down the stretch was more than just promise-it was poise, command, and the kind of stuff that plays at the top of a big-league rotation. And he wasn’t alone. Fellow rookie Parker Messick also proved he belongs, giving new manager Stephen Vogt a pair of young, fearless arms to build around.
This isn’t just about filling out the back end of a rotation. It’s about identifying potential building blocks, and Cantillo looks like one.
He’s got a deceptive delivery, a fastball that plays up, and a changeup that’s already giving hitters fits. And perhaps most importantly, he’s shown he can adjust, compete, and thrive when the lights are brightest.
So while Cleveland may still be on the lookout for extra depth-because let’s face it, no rotation ever survives a full season without needing reinforcements-they might already have a frontline answer in-house. Joey Cantillo isn’t just knocking on the door. He’s stepping through it, and he might just be here to stay.