The Guardians are set to promote left-hander Joey Cantillo to the major league roster, according to Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com. Hoynes reports that Cantillo is expected to start Sunday’s game against the Phillies, facing off against lefty Kolby Allard. The corresponding roster move to accommodate Cantillo has not yet been announced.
Cantillo, 24, was a 16th-round pick by the Padres in the 2017 draft and was traded to Cleveland during the shortened 2020 season as part of the deal that sent Mike Clevinger to San Diego. After the 2022 season, the Guardians added Cantillo to their 40-man roster in preparation for the Rule 5 draft, though he has yet to make his major league debut after reaching Triple-A for the first time last year. The left-hander struggled in his initial Triple-A experience, posting a 4.64 ERA with a 26.1% strikeout rate over 95 innings, primarily due to a high 12.9% walk rate.
Cantillo aimed to overcome those struggles in 2024, but a hamstring strain at the end of spring training sidelined him for the first two months of the season. Despite the delayed start, Cantillo has performed well in his return to Triple-A, recording an excellent 2.79 ERA over 29 innings in eight appearances (seven starts) while striking out an impressive 30.2% of batters.
However, his walk rate has worsened to 14.7%, which could pose challenges for his major league future if he cannot improve his control.
For now, Cantillo is set to start against the Phillies. It is unclear if he will stay in the club’s rotation or return to Triple-A after this spot start. With both Triston McKenzie and Logan Allen already optioned to the minors due to underperformance, the Guardians have limited options for their rotation behind Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams, Ben Lively, and Carlos Carrasco. Cantillo might receive an extended opportunity in the rotation, especially if the team does not acquire another starter before the July 30 trade deadline.
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