Joey Cantillo could be X-factor in Guardians' rotation in 2026

As we're about two weeks away from Opening Day for the Cleveland Guardians, the team's is slowly filling itself out ahead of the final cut down day. And, when it comes to the Guardians' rotation, there seems to be a sense of what the team could roll with heading into the 2026 season.

While everyone has Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams marked down at the top of the rotation in sharpie, they have another player in their ranks who should be considered a lock to hold down one of the rotation spots in 2026.

This player? Joey Cantillo, who could end up being a huge X-factor in the Guardians' rotation this coming season.

Joey Cantillo's arsenal could make him a key cog in the Guardians' rotation

While Cantillo won't blow anyone away with his fastball (it averages just 91.7 MPH), his mix of off-speed stuff and command could be what helps him turn into a force in the Guardians' rotation.

While his fastball isn't anything crazy, he was able to generate a ton of swing-and-miss thanks to his , Cantillo's offspeed run value sitting in the 84th percentile combined with being in the 99th percentile in extension, which measures how close a pitcher is to the plate when they release a pitch.

Along with being in the top percentile in extension, he was also in the 80th percentile in whiff rate (29.7%) and the 79th percentile in strikeout rate (29.7%).

If Cantillo dropped his four-seam rate a little bit (42%), he could incorporate his change (31%), curve (19%) and slider (9%) more to be even more deceptive for hitters at the plate.

Cantillo's changeup is an especially dangerous pitch, as batters managed to hit just .165 against it last season. Couple that with a new-look slider, and all of a sudden he has plenty of plus offerings to keep batters off balance.

If his nine strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings so far in spring training is any indication, Cantillo could going up a level in 2026.

Cantillo turned heads at the end of last season when he finished September with a 1.55 ERA with 28 strikeouts in five starts.

Overall, he last season with a 3.21 ERA in 95 1/3 innings despite moving between the bullpena and starting rotation. But he should be a mainstay in the rotation this season, and could be a solid No. 3 starter behind Bibee and Williams before the rotation flips over the final two starters.

It'll be interesting to see how Cantillo's season plays out given the Guardians' lack of MLB-ready starting pitching depth, but if he's able to carry his strong play over to the regular season then the Guardians could have one of baseball's best 1-2-3 punches at the top of their rotation.