Dream Guardians rotation to harness momentum from last year’s strong finish

Last year the Guardians made a miraculous run toward the postseason thanks to a strong showing from their six-man pitching rotation. 

While the Guardians still have some questions they need to answer about the depth of their pitching staff, all six of the pitchers who finished the year in the rotation are still on Cleveland’s roster, so they have no shortage of options to consider for their 2026 rotation. 

Here are the five players we think should make up that rotation when the Guardians head to Seattle to open the season. 

RHP Tanner Bibee

Earlier this year, the Guardians showed their faith in Bibee by inking him to a five-year, $48 million contract extension that bought out all of his arbitration years. And while his season got off to a bit of a rough start, he allowed just four earned runs across his final four starts of the year in a span that was highlighted by a shutout against the White Sox. 

Bibee’s been a staple at the front of the Guardians’ pitching staff since he made his debut at the beginning of 2023, and he’s going to enter 2026 as the clear alpha at the front of the staff.