Cleveland Guardians Scratch Ace From Opening Day Start

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Eric W. Bolin | Last updated Mar 27, 2025 3:35 PM ET

The Cleveland Guardians have been staples in the Major League Baseball postseason for most of the last decade. Last year, a season in which the Guardians made the American League Championship Series, the bats and bullpen carried them. It's the rotation that has been a question

Cleveland's pitching staff is ranked the 23rd best in baseball, in The Athletic's preseason rankings. The number is expected to boost later in the summer, though, when former Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber returns from Tommy John surgery. He pitched in just two games last year before undergoing being lost for the season.

A far less concerning injury has now befalled the Guardians' best otherwise healthy pitcher.

Right-hander Tanner Bibee was scheduled to pitch on Opening Day against the Kansas City Royals, but manager Stephen Vogt scratched him Thursday as Bibee suffers from a bout of gastroenteritis.

"He wanted to go despite feeling like he has the last 36 hours, but it just wasn't the right thing to do," Vogt said. "You know, you don't know what if something goes wrong, if something happens to him."

Bibee could still pitch in the series, though Vogt said he would wait and see how things progress with the illness. Vogt informed Royals manager Matt Quertraro of the decision to scratch Bibee late Wednesday night.

Ben Lively, coming off the best season of his five-year career, will go, instead. Lively 13-10 with a 3.81 earned-run average and 1.245 WHIP in 151 innings last year.

Bibee would be Cleveland's No. 2 if Bieber were healthy. But as the de facto ace last year, he pitched well. Bibee finished 12-8 with a 3.47 ERA and 1.117 WHIP with 187 strikeouts in 173 2/3 innings. He signed a new five-year contract with Cleveland on Saturday reportedly worth $48 million.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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