3 questions with Bieber landing on IL

This story was excerpted from Mandy Bell’s Guardians Beat e-newsletter. To learn the complete e-newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it repeatedly in your inbox.

We don’t know too many different particulars simply but. The Guardians have been hoping that Bieber would have the ability to get in with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister on Saturday, however the appointment was pushed to Sunday earlier than the workforce departs for Pittsburgh. No matter what Dr. Meister says, the Guardians knew that Bieber would want at the least a handful extra days off earlier than he’d get again into the combo. An IL stint made essentially the most sense.

However now it’s a ready recreation. Will Bieber solely miss what would’ve been his two scheduled begins on this IL timeframe? Will he need to miss extra? We are able to’t fairly reply these questions. However we will attempt to reply three others.

1. Will we see Joey Cantillo?

The Guardians referred to as up 17 rookies in 2022. They turned to guys similar to Gavin Williams and Tanner Bibee, who didn’t have a lot Triple-A expertise underneath their belts, this 12 months. It is not far-fetched to marvel in the event that they’ll do it once more. Nevertheless it doesn’t seem to be Cantillo, Cleveland’s No. 14 prospectcan be within the combine within the rapid future.

Cantillo owned a 1.85 ERA in six begins with Double-A Akron and was rapidly promoted to Triple-A Columbus. Since becoming a member of the Clippers, he’s pitched to a 4.10 ERA in 9 video games (seven begins) with a 1.44 WHIP. On this 12 months’s Futures Recreation in Seattle, Cantillo tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings with one stroll and two strikeouts.

“He’s a extremely attention-grabbing man,” Guardians supervisor Terry Francona mentioned on Saturday. “His velocity form of spiked up. He’s nonetheless not refined to the purpose the place he’s throwing loads of pitches. Attempting to get to the place he’s not at 80 pitches after 4. However there’s a ton to love.

“It doesn’t imply we don’t love him. I feel you may see one in all today he’s a reasonably good pitcher. It is simply nonetheless engaged on form of attacking the zone and never being 3-2 on all people.”

2. Bullpen recreation Monday, however then what?

OK, so Cantillo isn’t the reply. The Guardians are adamant about sticking to a bullpen recreation on Monday, assuming the bullpen doesn’t get utterly exhausted in Sunday’s collection finale in opposition to the Rangers at Globe Life Discipline. However Bieber has to overlook at the least yet one more begin whereas he’s down for the minimal of 15 days.

If the Guardians want one other starter, it wouldn’t be stunning to see Hunter Gaddis again within the massive leagues, although he hasn’t gone 5 or extra innings since Could 22. If Bieber is down for some time, it’ll be arduous for Cal Quantrill to attempt to tempo himself to get again from his proper shoulder irritation. He’s began throwing bullpen classes already and can be anxious to get again to assist his workforce. However the Guardians are attempting to ensure they don’t rush him again once more.

3. What’s the Deadline technique now?

If Bieber isn’t pitching, it’s arduous to think about a world wherein he’d be dealt earlier than the Commerce Deadline on Aug. 1. Groups aren’t going to need to danger bringing on a starter coping with elbow troubles as they’re making an attempt to make a playoff push.

If the Guardians study that Bieber can be down for an prolonged time period, perhaps it could put extra stress on them to pursue a starter who may also help eat innings, and reduce the burden on the younger arms, than attempting to amass a bat (though a bat can also be wanted).

The Guardians normally try to purchase by promoting on the Commerce Deadline. Bieber was the right candidate to maneuver with a purpose to get rapid and future assist in return. If he’s now not drawing curiosity from different golf equipment, Cleveland could not have that one big-ticket transfer to make that may assist the roster in 2023 and past. Now, the entrance workplace could need to rethink what to do within the subsequent couple weeks.