Guardians shift Slade Cecconi to bullpen

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt confirmed that Slade Cecconi will move to the bullpen with Tanner Bibee starting in his place on Wednesday. Griffin came over from the Nationals in a five-player swap at the trade deadline earlier this week. The 31-year-old southpaw has posted a strong 3.06 ERA and 116/30 K/BB ratio across 129 innings in his return to the majors after three seasons pitching overseas in Japan.

Cecconi was handed a 4-0 lead in the top of the first, but he gave it away in another short outing. He finishes July having allowed 21 runs — 15 earned — in 17 innings over four starts, taking his overall ERA from 4.18 to 4.78. The Guardians could consider sending him to the pen and giving Logan Allen another try.

It’ll be made up as a split doubleheader on Tuesday instead. Monday’s original starters Chase Burns and Slade Cecconi will presumably beb pushed back to take the ball at some point during the twin bill.

Cecconi was greeted rudely by Trevor Larnach who hit a lead-off home run off him. From there he didn’t pitch particularly well, but his defense didn’t do him many favors either. Kyle Manzardo made an error at first base in the second inning that didn’t lead to any runs. Then, shortstop Brayan Rocchio made a throwing error in the fourth that led to a big inning. Alan Roden reached base on the error, scored a few batters later on an infield single, and then Brooks Lee hit a three-run homer with two outs. Thus, four unearned runs on Cecconi’s line. Oddly enough, Roden was at the plate for both of those errors and another one later on! Nevertheless, Cecconi has had a poor season with a 4.60 ERA across 103 2/3 innings this season and could lose his spot in this rotation should the Guardians make an upgrade at starting pitcher before the trade deadline.

Cecconi cruised through the first three innings allowing just two base runners and was only at 46 pitches entering the third. Then, he allowed singles to the first three batters he faced in the fourth, walked in a run with the bases loaded, and let two more runs score via a sacrifice fly and another single. He was pulled after that two-out hit and it felt like the right decision given how much hard contact he allowed that inning. This wound up as a poor result when it felt like he was turning the corner and he’ll head into the All-Star break with a 4.55 ERA, 77 strikeouts, and 31 walks through 99 innings.

Cecconi struck out three batters on the night while issuing one base on balls. He cruised through the first four innings unscathed, but the White Sox got him for three runs in the fifth, including a two-run double by Kyle Teel. Things got worse when he returned for the sixth, as he served up a two-run blast to Chase Meidroth before exiting. Cecconi got six whiffs on 100 offerings on the night, posting a CSW of 23 percent. He’ll carry a 4.44 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and a 73/30 K/BB ratio (95 1/3 innings) into his final start of the first half on Wednesday against the Twins in Minneapolis.

Cecconi gave up three hits, walked two and struck out four. He improved to 4-6 with the win. Cecconi has quietly been excellent in June. He entered the month with a 5.25 ERA, but has a microscopic 1.88 ERA in five starts in June. Cecconi has a 4.25 xFIP and an 18 percent strikeout percentage this year, showing his true talent likely lies somewhere in the middle. While managers have enjoyed great results with Cecconi lately, he doesn’t have real staying power in fantasy lineups. He’s lined up to face the White Sox at home next week.

Cecconi earned a quality start despite the defeat, striking out one and walking two. He allowed a solo home run to Yordan Alvarez in the first inning but otherwise limited the damage. The former Diamondback will remain an uninspiring fantasy start next time out, at home versus Seattle.

Cecconi allowed three hits, walked two and struck out four in another solid showing. The Guardians don’t let him complete six innings very often, so he has just three quality starts, and they don’t score for him very often, so he has only three wins. However, he’s started June with a 2.34 ERA in three starts, all of them no-decisions. He’ll face the Astros next.

Cecconi matched his season high in strikeouts. He gave up 10 hard-hit balls, but just one proved to be a problem; Spencer Jones hit a two-run homer in the second after a Jazz Chisholm Jr. walk to start the inning. It went as a third straight no-decision for Cecconi, who remains 3-5 with a 4.83 ERA. He’s due for a two-start week with road outings in Milwaukee and Houston next week. We wouldn’t recommend streaming him, though.