Cal Quantrill solid in rehab start for RubberDucks

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Cal Quantrill is making his way back from the injured list. As a part of that process, Quantrill made a rehab start for Double-A Akron Sunday. This was after his original rehab start date of Friday was changed.

It was only 5 innings of work for Quantrill, but it was a solid outing for the 28-year old right-hander. Quantrill allowed just three hits and walked one batter while striking out three others for the RubberDucks. This was the first appearance in Double-A for Quantrill since 2018 as a member of the San Diego Padres organization. In fact, it was the first minor league outing for the veteran pitcher dating back to the 2019 season.

It has been an up and down season for Quantrill in 2023, with relatively inconsistent performances all year. Seven of Quantrill's 11 starts have been more than serviceable, allowing three runs or less. The other four are a completely different story altogether. Those outings saw Quantrill give up four runs or more, including six and eight in his last two starts. Giving up 14 runs in 8.1 innings is hardly an acceptable level of pitching and it was clear that something was not right.

The Guardians placed Quantrill on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation after giving up eight runs on eight hits and two wlaks to the Balitmore Orioles. With a rehab start now in the books, it may not be too long before he makes his return to the big league club. Cleveland is still down a starter with Triston McKenzie also on the injured list, but their rotation is not in dire need of a starter. The Guardians have seen the debuts of Tanner Bibee, Logan Allen, and Gavin Williams this season, with all appearing to be mainstays of Cleveland's rotation moving forward. This trio of rookie pitchers in addition to Shane Bieber and Aaron Civale has the Guardians rotation pretty full at the moment. Perhaps Quantrill transitions into a relief role, providing some much needed depth to the Guardians bullpen. That is if Cleveland continues to roll with the current rotation configuration and does not send a rookie back to the minors.