Rookie Joey Cantillo could end up playing a vital role on the Cleveland Guardians’ postseason pitching staff.
But first, the left-hander looks to help the Guardians sweep this two-game home set from the in-state rival Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night.
Cantillo (2-3, 4.63 ERA), who turns 25 in December, has held his own in eight appearances since making his major league debut July 28. In three starts since being recalled from Triple-A Columbus, Cantillo has allowed three runs — two earned — with eight hits and four walks while striking out 22 in 16 1/3 innings to go 2-0.
He lasted 4 1/3 innings on Thursday against the Minnesota Twins, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks during the 3-2, 10-inning victory that clinched a playoff spot for the Guardians (91-67).
It was quite the moment for a youngster who likely wasn’t expected to be a major part of the Guardians’ plans when the season started. However, he could be in a key role on the staff for the postseason.
“It’s the best thing in the world,” Cantillo said of celebrating with a playoff team.
Cantillo, who will be making his first career appearance against Cincinnati, shouldn’t have too much pressure considering Cleveland clinched the American League Central Division title and secured a bye into the AL Division Series with its 6-1 victory over the Reds on Tuesday.
“It’s huge,” the Guardians’ Lane Thomas, who hit a two-run homer and had three RBIs on Tuesday, told the Bally Sports Cleveland. “(Just) build off that heading into the playoffs.”
Thomas has seven homers and 20 RBIs in 22 games this month. He’s a lifetime .280 batter with nine home runs and 26 RBIs in 34 games vs. Cincinnati.
Having dropped four of their past five games, the Reds (76-82) secured a losing season after finishing above .500 in three of the past four campaigns. Their defeat Tuesday was their first game since manager David Bell was fired Sunday, near the end of his sixth season in charge of the club.
“We’ve had our issues with certain players not playing to their capability, (but) I think when you look across the board, I thought we should have been better,” Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall said.
Cincinnati’s Spencer Steer hit .271 last season, but is at .229 after going 1-for-4 with an RBI on Tuesday. Meanwhile, teammate Elly De La Cruz is 0-for-8 in two games after going 10-for-26 in his previous six contests.
Acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers at the trade deadline, scheduled Reds starter Jakob Junis (4-0, 2.61 ERA) was pushed back one day after he was scratched Tuesday for personal reasons. Junis could play a prominent role for Cincinnati in 2025.
The right-hander has appeared in 13 games for the Reds. He has yielded just two earned runs, six hits and one walk and has struck out 17 over 20 innings during four starts. Junis is 3-9 with a 6.41 ERA in 18 career appearances (15 starts) against the Guardians.
Cleveland star Jose Ramirez has homered twice against Junis.
