Guardians rookie pitchers impress, try to keep team's playoff hopes alive
After winning the American League Central in 2022 with a 92-70 record, the Cleveland Guardians entered 2023 with hopes to repeat. But with 37 games remaining for the club, they trail the Minnesota Twins by six games for the division lead and have watched their playoff chances grow slimmer by the day.
Opening the season with a starting rotation of Shane Bieber, Triston McKenzie, Aaron Civale, Cal Quantrill and Zach Plesac, the chances for a postseason run looked promising. But with Bieber, McKenzie and Quantrill battling injuries, Civale getting dealt at the trade deadline and Plesac demoted to Triple-A, the rotation is filled with fresh faces.
Headlining the new additions are rookie pitchers Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee and Logan Allen. Combining to pitch 276.2 innings with 275 strikeouts and a 3.12 ERA, the rookie trio is proving to be a potential nightmare for years to come in the AL Central.
The highest-rated prospect of the three, Williams, spent less than two seasons in the minor leagues before getting his promotion to the majors. The 24-year-old right-hander dominated across four levels in the minors posting a 9-6 record with a 2.10 ERA, striking out 230 batters in 175.1 innings pitched from 2022-23.
Now in the majors, Williams has continued the high level of play he has shown since being drafted in 2021. With 11 starts under his belt, he has a 3.02 ERA with 63 strikeouts over 59.2 innings while never looking outmatched on the mound.
Another member of the Guardians 2021 draft class that has shot through the minors, Bibee was 10-2 with a 2.13 ERA across 148 minor league innings while striking out 186 batters.
Making only three starts in the minors in 2023 before getting called up, Bibee has had a hold on a spot in the rotation since his arrival. In 20 starts for the Guardians, he has a 9-3 record with a 3.01 ERA and 112 strikeouts over 113.2 innings pitched.
The only left-handed pitcher of the three, Logan Allen, had a dominant debut season in the minor leagues in 2021 but struggled to repeat that success in 2022. But with injuries and positive results early at Triple-A, he was called upon to make his debut this season.
He has responded by looking like another key member of the rotation, going 6-6 with a 3.31 ERA over 103.1 innings pitched in his 19 starts.
If they miss out on the playoffs in 2023, fans should at least take solace in the fact that the future of the Guardians' pitching staff looks bright.
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