The Cleveland Guardians will kick off their 2026 Cactus League action on Saturday in an abnormal fashion.
The team will start Spring Training games with a split-squad matchup: half the roster will stay at their home ballpark to face the Cincinnati Reds, while the rest of the team hits the road to take on the Milwaukee Brewers. (Both games will start at 3:10 PM EST.)
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The Cactus League opener is just a few days away, and the coaching staff still has a lot to figure out, but what they do know is that Joey Cantillo and Logan Allen will be the starting pitchers in those two games.
However, who starts for Goodyear against the Reds and who takes the mound against the Brewers still needs to be determined as of Tuesday.
What Vogt did stress to not read too much into Allen and Cantillo getting the starts in the first two spring games.
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“There’s a number of things that can go into it,” explained Vogt. “Carl [Willis] is staying here [in Goodyear], so who Carl wants to see versus, you know, service time or – I mean, a number of decisions. I wouldn’t read into who goes where. We have not made that final decision yet, but it really is just those two are pitching on Saturday.”
Mar 3, 2024; Mesa, Arizona, USA; Cleveland Guardians pitcher Logan Allen (41) throws against the Chicago Cubs in the first inning at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Looking at this decision from a wider lens, it does make sense that the two lefties are the ones to start 2026 with the ball in their hands.
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Vogt noted that Cantillo is the pitcher who has been in Arizona the longest, getting ramped up, so he’s likely the most stretched out.
As for Allen, the team likely wants to see as much as they can from him before he departs from camp to join Team Panama for the World Baseball Classic.
Even with Cantillo seemingly stretched out and Allen prepping for the WBC, it’d be shocking to see either pitcher throw more than a couple of innings this early on in the spring.
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Also, as Vogt says, don’t read too much into who pitches against which team; it’s just as important not to read too much into each pitcher’s box score after their start, either.
It’s early, but it’ll still be exciting to see each pitcher take the mound and have baseball back.
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