Left-handed pitcher Joey Cantillo’s next start for the Cleveland Guardians will depend on the condition of a blister on veteran right-hander Alex Cobb’s right hand. Cantillo put on a strong performance Monday night, retiring 20 straight White Sox batters before allowing a hit in the seventh inning. The Guardians are awaiting Cobb’s recovery before confirming Cantillo’s next start against the Rays.
Cobb has been dealing with his blister by throwing weighted balls to stay prepared, but the frustration of the lingering injury is affecting both Cobb and the team’s rotation. The Guardians opted to call up Cantillo from Class AAA Columbus to start in place of Cobb on Monday, leading to reliever Scott Barlow being designated for assignment.
Barlow’s departure from the bullpen came as a tough decision for the team, as he had been a respected presence in the clubhouse. Despite struggling post-All-Star break, Barlow had performed well throughout the season. Other bullpen options like Eli Morgan and Erik Sabrowski have been stepping up in key moments, but losing Barlow was still a difficult blow for the team.
Apart from on-field battles, the Guardians are showing support for Venezuela, with players like Andres Gimenez, Brayan Rocchio, and Pedro Avila displaying messages on their game caps in solidarity with the opposition party in their home country.
In terms of performance, the Guardians have struggled with runners in scoring position in recent games, relying on solid pitching and power hitting to secure wins. Despite their struggles, the team has managed to maintain a positive record on their current road trip. In a recent win over the White Sox, the Guardians showcased their speed, stealing five bases in a single game, with catcher Bo Naylor making a notable impact with both his base running and home run.
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