Means nearing return, makes 4th rehab start

CLEVELAND -- John Means spun his longest rehab start yet in his comeback from June 2024 Tommy John surgery on Sunday, when the Guardians lefty toed the rubber for Triple-A Columbus against the Louisville Bats at Louisville Slugger Field.

Making the fourth start on his Minor League rehab assignment, Means tossed four innings and allowed one unearned run on two hits and two walks while striking out four. He threw 58 pitches, including 37 strikes.

The lone run off Means crossed the plate in the third, when he committed a throwing error on an infield single, on a comebacker to the mound. His throw to first trickled into foul territory in shallow right field, allowing a runner to score from first.

Means (whom Cleveland signed to a one-year deal with a club option for 2026 on Feb. 19) appears to be getting close to a return to the Majors, considering the uptick he has had in his volume to this point. Given that he has maxed out at 61 pitches (on Tuesday with Columbus), he would figure to be in line to make at least one more rehab start.

The Guardians’ starting rotation currently includes Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams, Slade Cecconi, Logan Allen and Parker Messick. Active rosters will expand to 28 players on Monday, allowing teams to carry a 14th pitcher on their active roster in September.

When asked Tuesday if the Guardians have considered going to a six-man rotation, if and when Means is ready to be activated, manager Stephen Vogt noted how the priority, first and foremost, is the lefty getting through the rehab process.

A six-man rotation is at least something Cleveland’s brass has discussed in its overall planning for September. Of note, the Guardians on Friday began a stretch of 17 games in 17 days. Their next off-day is scheduled for Sept. 15. They then have a stretch of seven games in six days.

“This would be my first experience with a six-man rotation if we did go down that road,” Vogt said Tuesday. “We've talked about it, but there's nothing set in stone. It can be really positive, given how young our pitching staff is and the amount of innings [they have thrown]. It could also not be great because now they're pitching on seven, eight days of rest.

“There's pros and cons. We're talking through all the different options that we can use, especially with this 17-game stretch coming up, and then seven games in six days right after it. We're talking through all the different options, but none of them have grown legs yet.”

Williams (143 2/3), Cecconi (102) and Allen (134 1/3) have all set a new career high in innings pitched at the big league level this season.

Means, 32, has made 10 starts in the Majors since 2022, when he underwent his first Tommy John surgery procedure. The 2019 All-Star has a career 3.68 ERA in 78 games (including 73 starts) over seven seasons, all of which he spent with the Orioles.