Guardians' Depth To Be Test Early In Regular Season

The Cleveland Guardians need to reconfigure their pitching staff after losing multiple pitchers to injury.

Injuries are expected throughout the course of spring training. But the news that the Cleveland Guardians received on Thursday completely changes the makeup of their pitching staff heading into Opening Day.

Gavin Williams is expected to start the regular season on the injured list. Trevor Stephan needs surgery putting his entire 2024 in jeopardy. It's unlikely James Karinchak will be ready in two. Sam Hentges is visiting a doctor to check on a swollen pinky. On top of that, Daniel Espino (fourth-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline) needs another surgery and won't pitch at all this season.

Needless to say, Cleveland's navigating all of this will be a challenge for the front office and rookie manager Stephen Vogt. The Guardians still seem confident they have the arms and talent to be successful.

"Like with the bullpen, we do feel that we have options with the rotation," said Chris Atonetti, President of Baseball Operations. "But our depth will definitely be tested. We're going to have to work through a way that not only fills the innings but fills them in a way that still allows us a chance to win games."

Antonetti did give a list of names for who could fill in as a starter while Williams is out, none of which are too surprising. These players include Ben Lively, Xzavion Curry, and Carlos Carrasco.

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Carlos Carrasco delivers a pitch in the first inning during a MLB spring training baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Ariz :: © Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Guardians suffered early injuries and underperformers early last season but still managed to find a way through it all. However, the difference this time around is Williams, Tanner Bibee, and Logan Allen (the pitchers who filled those vacancies last year) are permanent members of the rotation.

There isn't another set of young arms ready and waiting to make their big league debut. The Guardians are going to have to figure something else out.