The Cleveland Guardians have a crucial four-game series with the Kansas City Royals this week, which could either give the Royals the division lead or make their path to the playoffs near impossible. The series starts with a doubleheader on Monday, and the organization recalled Joey Cantillo to be the 27th man.
Cantillo made his major league debut earlier in the year and has made four starts this season (against the Philadelphia Phillies, Baltimore Orioles, Minnesota Twins, and New York Yankees) and has an 8.47 ERA and a 1.76 WHIP over 17.0 innings pitched. Joey has certainly looked well at times this season, but has also struggled with his command. It's also important to note that all four teams Cantillo has faced in his first four starts are all currently in the playoff picture.
Stephen Vogt said prior to the game that Cantillo will be available out of the bullpen in game one but will not be starting for the team. That honor will go to Nick Sandlin, who will be used as the team's opener for the first game of the doubleheader.
Appearing as a reliever is not something foreign to Cantillo as he's come out of the bullpen multiple times throughout his minor league career before. Vogt was clear before the game that their goal was all about how to best get through 18 innings when making these pitching decisions. He went on to say that Sandlin would typically see the top part of the order anyway, so it just made sense to start him there.
The Guardians know that lefties Joey Cantillo and Logan Allen will be pitching for them in Monday’s split doubleheader against the Royals, but they are not quite ready to reveal when they will take the mound. With Alex Cobb on the injured list nursing a split fingernail on his pitching hand, the Guardians need two starters for Monday’s double dip. The 1:10 p.m. game is a rescheduled contest from a rainout on June 5 and will be followed by a 6:40 p.m. nightcap.
After the Guards’ 4-2 win over Texas on Sunday, manager Stephen Vogt said right-hander Nick Sandlin (7-0, 3.88) would be used as an opener in Game 1 Monday. It will be Sandlin’s first start as a professional, but it’s unclear who will relieve him as the “bulk” reliever -- Cantillo or Allen. Cantillo, however, pitched in that role earlier in that season at Class AAA Columbus.
President of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said Cantillo would be added as the 27th man for the doubleheader and the club intends to recall Allen, which will necessitate a roster move. “We’re not quite sure how we’re going to deploy our pitching tomorrow,” Antonetti said. “That’s a bit up in the air. Some of it will be dependent upon how we get through (Sunday’s) game.”
Cantillo has made four starts in the big leagues and has gone 0-4 with a 8.47 ERA. He was on the mound in New York on Tuesday when Aaron Judge and Juan Soto took him deep in an 8-1 loss to the Yankees. Allen was optioned after a July 6 start against the Giants. He returned for a spot start on Aug. 5 against Arizona. Allen is 3-1 with a 4.55 ERA in six starts at Columbus. He went 8-4 with a 5.56 ERA in 19 starts with the Guards this year. In four career starts against Kansas City, Allen is 0-3 with a 5.50 ERA.
Antonetti said Cobb was scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Sunday. Depending on the results of that session, he could throw live batting practice later on in the week. Carlos Carrsco, sidelined since August 8 with a hip strain, is also in line for a live batting practice session around mid-week. Sam Hentges, on the 60-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation, will seek a third opinion from Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles.
Antonetti said the Guardians are continuing to pore over their roster in anticipation of September call-ups and that he has had several conversations about potential additions to the roster. “I expect we will add one position player and one pitcher,” Antonetti said. Exactly who that will be, could be dependent upon a lot of other things. We haven’t finalized that.” He said making a roster move before September is always a possibility, but after the call-up date, teams have the benefit of adding players without having to subtract someone. “So, that’s a little bit of a different calculus,” Antonetti said.
Antonetti was asked about the following position players:
The Guardians recalled Cantillo from Triple-A Columbus prior to Monday's doubleheader with the Royals. Cantillo is expected to pitch in the first game of the twin bill, likely serving as a bulk reliever once opening pitcher Nick Sandlin exits the contest after working an inning or two. The Guardians had previously deployed Cantillo as a traditional starter in each of his prior four outings with the big club, but the lefty submitted an 8.47 ERA and 1.76 WHIP over 17 innings across those contests. Cantillo is expected to be returned to Columbus following the twin bill.
The Guardians still haven’t named their starters for Monday’s doubleheader against the Royals, but at least one candidate has been taken off the list. Triston McKenzie started for Class AAA Columbus on Friday against Indianapolis. McKenzie (2-3, 5.80) took the loss in his eighth start for the Clippers.
Cantillo will be recalled from Triple-A Columbus on Monday and is expected to work in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Nick Sandlin in the first game of the Guardians' doubleheader with the Royals, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports. Cantillo had started in each of his previous four appearances with the big club, but manager Stephen Vogt will have the young lefty work behind an opener with the hope of generating better results. The 24-year-old had been roughed up over his four starts with Cleveland, recording an 8.47 ERA and 1.76 WHIP while striking out 14 and issuing nine walks over 17 innings. He's likely to be returned to Columbus following the twin bill.
Sandlin is scheduled to serve as the Guardians' opening pitcher for the first game of Monday's doubleheader with the Royals, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports. The 27-year-old right-hander will be making his first career MLB start Monday, but because he hasn't been recorded more than five outs in any of his 57 appearances between the majors and Triple-A Columbus this season, he shouldn't be expected to work more than an inning or two. The Guardians are designated lefty Joey Cantillo as their 27th man for the twin bill, and he's expected to be recalled from Triple-A in advance of the early game to serve as a bulk reliever behind Sandlin.
Cantillo will be called up from Triple-A Columbus to serve as the 27th man for Monday's doubleheader against the Royals, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports. The Guardians have yet to officially announce their pitching plans for the twin bill, but Cantillo and Logan Allen will both be called up from Triple-A and should start the two contests in some order. Cantillo was demoted to Triple-A Columbus on Thursday, but he can make a quick return to the majors because he's being designated as the 27th man. The 24-year-old has struggled in his first taste of the big leagues this year with an 8.47 ERA, 1.76 WHIP and 14:9 K:BB over 17 innings.
Allen will be called up from Triple-A Columbus to start one game of Monday's doubleheader against the Royals, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports. Cleveland hasn't officially announced its starters for the twin bill, but Allen and Joey Cantillo appear set to take the hill in some order. Allen has made 19 starts for the Guardians this season and has a 5.56 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 78:37 K:BB across 92.1 innings.
