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 has continued his normal between-starts throwing program since his early departure from the Guardians' 6-4 win over the Mariners on Thursday. He went through a weighted-ball program on Friday and threw a 26-pitch bullpen on Saturday, and reported he felt good afterward on Sunday, when he played catch.
Manager Stephen Vogt noted Friday that the plan, if everything goes well, is for Bibee to make his next scheduled start, which is slated for Tuesday against the Dodgers. The next step is seeing how Bibee feels after his catch play on Sunday.
"Everything's been trending really well," Vogt said before Sunday's series finale in Seattle. "Obviously we'll get an update after he plays catch, but it's the normal progression in-between starts."
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’ win that the issue was new and not something he experienced in Spring Training.
Vogt acknowledged Friday 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 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 on March 21; he threw in Arizona this week and was set to join Columbus in the days following.
The Guardians had six starters in the mix for their rotation this spring, but their rotation depth has grown precipitously thin since then. 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 opened the season with Columbus. Another option could be Will Dion, who is not on the 40-man.
The Guardians 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 or not Bibee is ready before Tuesday, the best scenario for the Guardians here is, of course, him returning to full strength.