Joey Cantillo thriving after Guardians use opener in his outings

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Joey Cantillo thriving after Guardians use opener in his outings

Ryan Lewis, Akron Beacon Journal · Akron Beacon Journal

Sun, Sep 20, 2026 ·

3 min read

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CLEVELAND — Sometimes, the right answer is the simplest option. It's a lesson Joey Cantillo is gladly learning right now.

Cantillo has put together an up-and-down 2026 season . It's included some tremendously effective stretches, though they haven't often lasted very long. Recently, he began to struggle with his command, and the walks began to pile up.

Over five recent starts , Cantillo issued 21 walks in 24⅓ innings. He posted a 4.44 ERA during that time, so it wasn't a total disaster, but the free passes were eliminating any chance of progress.

Sep 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Cade Smith (36) delivers a pitch in the ninth inning against the Athletics at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; The Cleveland Guardians celebrate a win over the Athletics at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio (4) reacts after he was tagged out by Athletics second baseman Donovan Walton (29) while attempting to steal second base in the eighth inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Home plate umpire Junior Valentine (25) calls a third strike during a game between the Athletics and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Athletics relief pitcher Seth Johnson (52) delivers a pitch in the sixth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) hits a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Athletics at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Fans react to a foul ball in the sixth inning of a game between the Athletics and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Athletics left fielder Zack Gelof (20) reacts after striking out in the sixth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Athletics left fielder Zack Gelof (20) hits a three-run home run in the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Hot dog mascots race between innings of a game between the Athletics and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians second baseman Travis Bazzana (37) celebrates his solo home run in the fifth inning against the Athletics at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Athletics relief pitcher Scott Blewett (49) delivers a pitch in the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) steals second base beside Athletics second baseman Michael Stefanic (17) in the fourth inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) hits an RBI single in the fourth inning against the Athletics at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio (4) hits a two-run double in the fourth inning against the Athletics at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians catcher Patrick Bailey (16) walks on the field in the first inning against the Athletics at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians center fielder Petey Halpin (0) scores in the fourth inning against the Athletics at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians center fielder Petey Halpin (0) runs the bases in the fourth inning against the Athletics at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians second baseman Travis Bazzana (37) turns a double play in the fourth inning against the Athletics at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Athletics third baseman Tommy White (47) stands on the field in the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Joey Cantillo (54) delivers a pitch in the second inning against the Athletics at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Athletics shortstop Alika Williams (12) turns a double play beside Cleveland Guardians designated hitter Jo Adell (7) in the first inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Progressive insurance commercial character Flo reacts after throwing out the first pitch before a game between the Athletics and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Progressive insurance commercial character Flo throws out the first pitch before a game between the Athletics and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Athletics left fielder Zack Gelof (20) watches as center fielder Henry Bolte (33) makes a catch in the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Athletics starting pitcher Mason Barnett (63) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Athletics left fielder Zack Gelof (20) celebrates his three-run home run in the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Daniel Espino (41) follows through on a pitch in the first inning against the Athletics at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

That's when Occam's razor — the scientific precept that, all things being equal, the simplest explanation is usually the right one — made its way into the Guardians clubhouse.

The Guardians opted to start using an opener for Cantillo, someone who can throw an inning or two before he enters the game. The idea is to effectively put him into a reliever's mindset, where he can attack hitters rather than being worried about pitching as deep into games. Forget some of the many mechanical adjustment and instead focus on the goal of throwing strikes.

"Baseball players are human, and when you go through a full season of ups and downs and ins and outs, you think as a hitter, if I move my hands just one inch higher, that's going to help me stay on the ball," said manager Stephen Vogt , using it as an example. "Or if I'm pitching, maybe if I do just this little thing and make this slight adjustment, whether it's physical or mental … and that leads to a week of going in the wrong direction.

"And then sometimes you say, 'You know what? I'm just going to throw the ball.' … Then you get some success and it gets you back on track because, over the course of 162 [games], you can think yourself into some crazy thoughts."

Cleveland Guardians left-hander Joey Cantillo throws a pitch against the Athletics on Sept. 18, 2026, in Cleveland.

Joey Cantillo stats

The results since the Guardians had Cantillo make his shift have been substantial. In his two appearances while using an opener: 10 innings, 13 strikeouts, three hits — and, most important — only two walks with zero runs allowed.

"I think it's just kind of a change of scenery, just to mix things up because the talent's there, the ability's there," catcher Austin Hedges said. "I think it just helped him focus on what makes him great, which is getting [strikes], getting ahead of guys, throwing all of his shapes."

In a key win over the Athletics Sept. 18, which gave the Guardians the lead in the American League Central race, Cantillo was electric, allowing only three baserunners and striking out five in six scoreless innings. It might have been the best version of him the Guardians have received in some time.

And with the playoffs — which could include a number of different ways Cantillo could be utilized — potentially around the corner for the Guardians, effectiveness in any form is the most important element.

It's still unclear how the Guardians might set up the final week of the regular season as they look to secure a playoff spot.

"That's two very good outings coming in behind an opener, and we don't know how things are going to shake out," Vogt said. "We're going to get through the weekend, see where we're at, and then kind of know what we're going to do the next time around."

Ryan Lewis covers the Guardians for the Beacon Journal. He can be reached at rlewis1@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Joey Cantillo thriving after Guardians use opener in his outings

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Joey Cantillo thriving after Guardians use opener in his outings

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