The Cleveland Guardians have managed to avoid double-digit losses at home, largely due to Stephen Vogt’s adept decision-making benefiting the AL Central-leading team. Once again, they executed a move to address their pitching challenges after a successful stretch against the Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals. What was the latest adjustment? It involved Triston McKenzie and Gavin Williams before their upcoming series against the struggling Chicago White Sox.
In a significant decision by Stephen Vogt, Triston McKenzie has been demoted to the minors following a tough season with the Guardians, as reported by ESPN. He will now head to Triple-A Columbus to regain his form. While McKenzie was once a dependable ace for the Guardians, his recent outings, notably against the Royals, fell short. He managed just 2 1/3 innings, failing to provide the stability needed, which Vogt found untenable. The demotion to Columbus was also influenced by the demoralizing 10-3 loss to the Royals.
Throughout Vogt’s tenure, McKenzie struggled with a 5.11 ERA and a 3-5 record over 16 starts, yielding 19 home runs in 75 2/3 innings. His performance has been below expectations, prompting the move to Columbus in hopes of a resurgence.
Stepping into McKenzie’s role is Gavin Williams, recently activated from the injured list after recovering from a preseason elbow injury. Despite his lack of action this season, Williams will be on a pitch count initially. His return is timely for the Guardians, who are looking to him for support, particularly following the loss to the Royals. Williams showed promise as a rookie in 2023, posting a 3.29 ERA and a 3-5 record in 16 appearances before his injury.
Following their setback against the Royals, the Guardians are counting on Williams to contribute against the White Sox and provide the momentum needed to finish the season strongly. With a comfortable lead in the AL Central, currently 6.5 games ahead of the second-place Minnesota Twins, the Guardians are hopeful that Williams and the returning Matthew Cook can bolster their pitching staff.
