Guardians hopeful Bibee (right shoulder) could make next start

SEATTLE -- The Guardians are taking things day by day with starter Tanner Bibee after he exited his Opening Day start against the Mariners on Thursday with right shoulder inflammation.

Bibee noted he was feeling better in the Guardians’ clubhouse ahead of Friday's game, and he went through a weighted ball program prior to first pitch. His next scheduled start is Tuesday against the Dodgers; the Guardians have initially listed their probable starter that night as TBD.

“He's doing much better today,” manager Stephen Vogt said pregame Friday. “Obviously, he was feeling it, but his exam was strong. He's feeling better today. So we're going to go day to day with his progression.

“The plan is -- obviously, if everything goes well -- he makes his next start. But it's very much a day-to-day update on how he's feeling.”

Bibee called to the Guardians’ dugout after he threw his final warmup pitch ahead of the bottom of the sixth inning Thursday. He noted after the Guardians’ 6-4 win that the issue was new and not something he experienced in Spring Training.

Vogt acknowledged the Guardians are talking through various hypotheticals in the event they do need to make a change with the rotation. The club wants to first make sure they give Bibee (who’s scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Saturday) every chance to make his next start, if he’s feeling able physically.

One of the Guardians’ options could include recalling lefty Logan Allen from Triple-A Columbus, though that would require Cleveland to make a roster move. The Guardians optioned Allen to the Clippers this past Saturday; he threw in Arizona this week and is set to join Columbus in the coming days.

The Guardians had six starters in the mix for their rotation this spring, but their rotation depth has grown precipitously thin. Austin Peterson suffered a right triceps strain on Feb. 24 that came with a return timetable of six to eight weeks. He would have otherwise been among the top depth starters for the big league team. Peterson finished 2025 with Columbus, and Cleveland added him to its 40-man roster in November.

The Guardians' rotation depth on their 40-man roster otherwise includes Yorman Gómez and Doug Nikhazy, both of whom are on the 40-man roster opened the season with Columbus. Another option could be Will Dion, who is not on the 40-man.

The Guardians also are also having Kolby Allard and Pedro Avila stretch out with the Clippers, given the state of their depth. Allard will stretch out to a point; the Guardians value his ability to pitch in a bevy of situations.

Whether Bibee is ready before Tuesday, the best scenario for the Guardians here is, of course, him returning to full strength.

“As of right now, Tanner's making his start on Tuesday,” Vogt said. “We'll see how the next few days go.”