Cleveland Guardians rookie pitcher shines once more.
With about two weeks left in the regular season, the Cleveland Guardians are grappling with uncertainty in their starting rotation due to injuries, prompting them to explore internal options like Joey Cantillo.
Cantillo stepped into the rotation last week after Alex Cobb was placed on the injured list with a blister. The rookie has made a strong impression during his recent appearances.
On Saturday, he started against the Tampa Bay Rays, pitching 5.0 innings, allowing only three hits, no runs, three walks, and striking out six batters. His changeup was particularly effective, generating seven swings and misses.
At just 24, Cantillo is starting to hit his stride with the major league team. This latest performance follows a near-perfect game against the Chicago White Sox, where he took a perfect game into the seventh inning and struck out a career-high ten batters.
Cantillo’s early major league career was challenging, facing top playoff teams in his first five starts, which made struggles almost inevitable. However, he is gaining confidence in himself and his pitches, aided by the catchers he’s worked with.
“We talked about confidence, and that’s crucial. I have great trust in all the catchers, especially [Austin Hedges],” he said.
The bond between a pitcher and catcher is vital, especially for Cantillo, who relies on off-speed and breaking pitches. Knowing that his catcher can effectively manage those pitches is key. On Saturday, he worked with Hedges, while Bo Naylor caught him earlier in the week. As he continues to build trust with his catchers, Cantillo’s performance is likely to improve.
