Guardians' rotation due for shakeup after Cantillo's short start?

CLEVELAND -- The Guardians’ rotation may be close to seeing some changes, and Saturday night was another example of why changes are needed.

This was a tough situation for Joey Cantillo to be thrown into. He was facing one of the best offenses in the Majors in just his second career start. Although it started off strong, it ended in a 7-4 Guardians loss at Progressive Field.

Cantillo, whom MLB Pipeline ranks as Cleveland's No. 9 prospect, kept the Orioles off the board through the first three innings, but once he saw hitters a second time, the wheels started to fall off the cart. Cantillo’s pitch count jumped to 88 in the fifth inning, prompting him to be pulled before recording an out. He ended his day having given up three runs on six hits in four-plus innings.

“Joey had some good stuff,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “High pitch count. Kind of lost his command. One of the things we’ve seen now both games with Joey, he’s getting ahead 0-1, 0-2 and then kind of letting them get back into the count and getting to 3-2 and having a tough time putting them away.”

These are expected growing pains for any young rookie. That’s why it’s difficult to throw him into a critical part of the season, as the Guardians look to run away with the division over the next few weeks before potentially making a postseason run. This is the time to turn to the starter the Guardians traded for before Tuesday’s Trade Deadline -- assuming he’s ready.

Alex Cobb seemed determined to make sure he only needed one last rehab start to get through the plethora of injuries he’s dealt with this year, which included hip surgery recovery, right shoulder irritation and, most recently, a blister. He made his seventh rehab start (first with Cleveland) for Triple-A Columbus on Saturday night and allowed one run on three hits in 4 2/3 innings and threw 69 pitches.

So, what happens now?

The Guardians are going to have to evaluate Cobb and make sure that he recovers well enough to be thrown into a big league rotation in five days, but this is an arm the team is going to need sooner rather than later. Cleveland has been plagued by short starts all season long. It entered the day receiving the fifth fewest innings from its rotation of all 30 clubs (553 2/3). The Guardians need innings to save their bullpen, which has been their biggest asset all season long, to make sure the group stays fresh for critical games down the stretch.

The first step is getting Cobb into the rotation. Tanner Bibee (assuming he gets the green light to make his start on Monday after dealing with right shoulder tightness this week), Gavin Williams and Ben Lively are locks to stay in the rotation. Cantillo and Carlos Carrasco are question marks.

The Guardians have a doubleheader on Friday. That means Cantillo, who could be the 27th man, and Cobb would be ready to handle both of those games, assuming Cobb is cleared to start. Then the veteran hurler could remain in the rotation moving forward.

The next move will come down to Matthew Boyd, who is working his way back from Tommy John surgery and is nearing the end of his rehab assignment. Soon, he may be replacing Carrasco in the Guardians’ rotation. With all of this, Cleveland hopes to get two more arms to eat up more innings than Carrasco and whoever has filled the fifth starter spot this season.

What the Guardians have learned, though, is that the stuff is there for Cantillo, even if it’s not the time to utilize him just yet. It certainly didn’t help that an odd play like a ball getting stuck in first baseman Josh Naylor’s glove led to a run scoring. And later, after Cantillo was removed, the score became more lopsided when right fielder Jhonkensy Noel fell while trying to catch a fly ball and another two runs crossed the plate.

The Guardians have seen through the high stakes Cantillo has been put in and have learned that the future is bright whenever it is his turn to take the ball every five days. Cleveland just has another need to fill in the meantime.

“I see a guy that doesn’t get rattled, doesn’t get shaken, he’s ready to make every pitch and he’s competitive,” Vogt said. “I like when he’s on the mound. I feel good. For him, he’s got the stuff, just hasn’t gotten deep into a game.”