On Wednesday, MLB.com Guardians beat reporter Tim Stebbins held an “Ask Me Anything” on Reddit with Guardians fans at r/ClevelandGuardians. This mailbag features questions and answers from the AMA, the full version of which can be read here.
Questions and responses have been lightly edited for clarity.
When can we expect to see Shane Bieber back on the mound for the Guardians?
How does the week of June 30 sound? If all continues to go well, he's on track for right around then, give or take a few days. Pitchers get 30 days on a rehab assignment, and Bieber’s clock started this past Saturday. If he stays on his assignment for the full 30 days, we could see him debut at Wrigley Field against the Cubs during the July 1-3 series. (Side note: A potential Bieber vs. Matthew Boyd game would be fun.)
The Guardians aren't predetermining how many rehab starts Bieber will make because, obviously, the biggest key here is how he's feeling. He'll work three innings and around 50 pitches in his start on Friday with Double-A Akron, and from there will progress to four innings for at least one start. They’ll look to continue adding volume with each outing, in terms of innings and pitches, to the point where Bieber builds up to at least five innings and 85 pitches.
I know it's still early in this hire, but thus far, what impact has the hiring of Corey Kluber had on the pitching staff?
Kluber noted after his hiring last month that the process for him had to begin with getting to know the players. He didn't play with any of them, and he didn't want to just jump in and start tossing advice around without having much of a relationship with a guy. He wanted to learn about how they pitch and how they're wired first. He also didn't want to come in and step on anybody's toes.
I did find this insight from pitching coach Carl Willis in May, after Kluber’s hiring, interesting: "He’s talked with Gavin [Williams] to this point. I know that specifically. I think he's talked to others as well. But I know he has talked to Gavin in terms of repertoire and, again, that frustration of maybe not being quite who you think you are just yet, and having some patience and how to attack those things."
Kluber said one of his initial impressions about Williams is how eager he is to learn and get better, and combined with his talent has a high ceiling. Williams has had some ups and downs this season, but the ability clearly is there, and he's been working to find the right mix of pitches. Kluber worked tremendously to become the pitcher we all know him as, so I wouldn't be surprised if he has any wisdom for Williams and others on that front.
Has [manager Stephen] Vogt given any real indication or plan for how he plans to tackle 1B/DH now that [David] Fry is back up?
It will be similar to the second half of 2024, when Fry was mostly a DH due to his elbow issue. He will start at DH against lefties and get some occasional starts there vs. righties, and he’ll pinch-hit. We saw how this figures to play out for the immediate future the past two games. Carlos Santana started at first on Tuesday vs. the Yankees, Fry DH'd vs. lefty Carlos Rodón and [Kyle] Manzardo was out of the starting lineup. Manzardo pinch-hit for Fry in the ninth inning vs. righty Devin Williams.
Santana is the primary first baseman (43 starts this season) and has been one of the Guardians’ hottest hitters. He's going to continue getting the majority of the reps. As we saw Sunday, on days Santana needs rest, he can still DH while Manzardo plays first. Between the three, as Vogt said, you get creative to find at-bats for each guy.
Who's the next starter to come up that hasn't made his MLB debut?
That conversation has to start with Parker Messick with Triple-A Columbus. Messick has been having a great season for the Clippers (2.64 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 47 2/3 innings over 10 starts) and has also pitched well at every Minor League level since Cleveland drafted him in the second round in 2022. That part is as key to this as any, because there's of course a jump in competition once you get to Triple-A, facing hitters who often have big league experience.
Now, I can't tell you when we may see Messick, because the opportunity has to A) be there and B) it has to be the right time in his development. With Bieber getting close to his return and Joey Cantillo stretching out to come back to Cleveland as a starter, the Guardians have some rotation depth to work with. But things can obviously change in a moment's notice.