Projecting what the 2026 Cleveland Guardians starting rotation should look like

While the Guardians season is over, the future in Cleveland has never been brighter. Forget the hot stove drama; the Guardians already have locked up the biggest competitive advantage in baseball: a young and terrifyingly deep starting rotation.

While the rest of the league scrambles for veteran arms, Cleveland's staff is being built in-house and it is poised to dominate in 2026. The only question isn't who will pitch, but who will be left standing when the dust settles.

Heading into next season, three young guns are bona fide locks, setting a foundation of elite talent that rivals any rotation in the game.

The Guardians stable of starting pitching should set them up for success in 2026

The untouchable locks

Gavin Williams

It's clear that Williams is an ace in the making after he found his groove as the season went on. He went 7-2 across his last 15 starts with a sparkling 2.48 ERA and 93 strikeouts across 87 innings. He is ready to claim the top spot in the rotation.

Tanner Bibee

Despite an inconsistent year, Bibee proved his mettle when the lights were brightest. He put together a scorching finish, highlighted by a dominant September where he went 3-0 with a 1.30 ERA and 26 strikeouts over four starts. He allowed one run across 4 2/3 innings in his postseason start this year.

Parker Messick

The newest face to the rotation, Messick did nothing but perform after his call-up. While he only threw 39 2/3 innings this season, he went 3-1 with a 2.72 ERA and 38 strikeouts. He's not just a prospect anymore; he's a mainstay.

The final two options

The real excitement lies in the battle for the final two rotation spots which is a competition stacked with talent and potential.

Slade Cecconi

Acquired to solidify the rotation, Cecconi proved his durability and talent in 2025. His numbers speak to a reliable, mid-rotation arm: he went 7-7 with a 4.30 ERA, and 109 strikeouts over 132 innings in 23 starts this year after suffering an injury in spring training. Another offseason with the Guardians' renowned pitching development staff will only make him more effective.

Joey Cantillo

The southpaw showed his flexibility in 2025 by moving between the bullpen and the rotation. While he battled command issues, Cantillo showed brilliant flashes and a consistent knack for throwing strikeouts. His ability to adapt makes him an invaluable depth piece and a serious threat for one of the final rotation sports.

The wild cards

The organizational depth is staggering. Looming large are long-awaited talents like Daniel Espino, who is currently pitching in the Fall League, and Khal Stephen, the Guardians’ new top-rated pitching prospect acquired in the Shane Bieber deal, who is expected to debut in 2026

The Guardians' pitching factory is running at full capacity. The postseason showed that the team is not missing pitching; it's missing offense.

With a cost-controlled, young, and devastatingly deep rotation already established, the front office is free to dedicate its offseason resources, and payroll, to acquiring the elite bats needed to turn this pitching strength into a championship.