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CLEVELAND -- After Joey Cantillo tossed three innings of one-run ball in Monday’s 7-2 loss to the Dodgers, the Guardians informed him they were optioning him to Triple-A Columbus. But that revelation came with a caveat: Cantillo will stretch out as a starter with the Clippers.
“He's competed very well. We told him last night -- he didn't earn a demotion,” pitching coach Carl Willis said Tuesday. “But we feel like he's competed to this point here in the season where he can be an option for us to start.”
Cantillo will stretch out with Columbus after spending the first 8 1/2 weeks of the season as a long reliever. Cleveland doesn’t expect that process to take long, as Cantillo is already built up to a 40- to 50-pitch workload. He threw 42 pitches Monday vs. Los Angeles.
Cantillo made eight starts with Cleveland last season, including his July 28 MLB debut, and was in the mix for the Guardians’ fifth starter spot this spring. He made the Opening Day roster as a reliever, as Cleveland wanted extra coverage as its starters built up their pitch count. Calculus evolved as the season went on.
The Guardians’ rotation has dealt with inconsistency this season and entered Tuesday with a 4.16 ERA (21st in the Majors) and 270 2/3 innings (24th). The group lost its most consistent starter, Ben Lively, to season-ending Tommy John surgery last week.
Shane Bieber doesn’t figure to make his season debut until July, and John Means is further down the line in his rehab. Both are rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Doug Nikhazy (Cleveland’s No. 21 prospect) is the only depth option in Triple-A who’s on the 40-man roster.
“When we broke Spring Training, we needed Joey in the bullpen for where our roster was,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “And now we feel like we're at a point where we want to get Joey back in the mix as a starting pitching option.”
Vogt said he’s pleased with how Cantillo has been throwing. He has a 3.81 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP in 28 1/3 innings over 21 appearances this season. He features a four-seam fastball (41 percent), changeup (36.9), curveball (14.1) and slider (7.9). Opponents have hit just .154 against Cantillo’s curve, and the Guardians feel he can up its usage.
Cleveland wants to see more consistency with Cantillo’s fastball (strike-throwing and location) and slider improvement. Willis described that as the slider’s shape, spin, spin axis and spin volume, which can come from a grip change. It’s hard to do that on the fly in the big leagues.
“If he improves his slider, it somewhat protects the fastball and makes things more difficult, particularly to a left-handed hitter,” Willis said. “I think, ideally, it's the improvement of the fastball command and seeing more power with that fastball that he shows at times, but then at other times he doesn’t. And then if we can improve that slider, he's got a full repertoire, and he's got two plus pitches with the curveball and changeup.”
The Guardians are looking forward to seeing what Cantillo will do with his opportunity.
“He was excited about it,” Vogt said. “Obviously, not excited about going to Triple-A; no one ever is. But he wants to be a starter, and he had some really good reflections on his time in the bullpen these last two months. We're really, really excited to see where this goes over the next few weeks."
Tim Stebbins covers the Guardians for MLB.com.