Jul. 23—Injuries to the starting rotation have taxed the Guardians’ bullpen to the point where Xzavion Curry, normally a reliever, was the starting pitcher July 23 in the series finale with the Philadelphia Phillies at Progressive Field. Curry made his first start of the season July 17 when he pitched three shutout innings against the Pirates.
Seven relievers followed Curry to the mound on July 23 in a game the Guardians lost, 8-5, in 10 innings to slip back under .500 at 49-50.
Left-handed reliever San Hentges was the losing pitcher July 14 in Texas (three earned runs in one-third of an inning) and on July 19 in Pittsburgh when he was charged with four earned runs in one-third of an inning. Hentges gave up two more runs on three hits in the 10-inning loss to Philadelphia.
Nick Sandlin gave up two home runs and three earned runs to the Phillies on July 21. But the Guardians hung on to win, 6-5. He gave up a run on two hits in the top of the sixth July 23 when the Phillies tied the game, 3-3.
Pitching coach Carl Willis gives an encouraging update on relief pitcher James Karinchak’s progress in Columbus before @CleGuardians host the Phillies on Sunday. First pitch set for 1:40 pm pic.twitter.com/SXNXnkEWCG
— Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) July 23, 2023
Trevor Stephan has blown six saves this season, most recently on July 16 when he was tagged for four runs in one-third of an inning in a loss to the Rangers. Stephan relieved Tim Herrin in the top of the 10th on July 23 and allowed two inherited runners to score. He was also charged with another run.
Meanwhile, right-handed reliever James Karinchak, who began the season with the Guardians, is toiling away with the Triple-A Columbus Clippers trying to work his way back to the Guardians. He still has work to do, Guardians pitching coach Carl Willis said.
“The results of late have been good,” Willis said. “We’ve seen a little bit of a pull back in velocity, a little bit of stuff — not quite where it was. But he’s getting a better feel for the strike zone. He’s getting in a much better place.”
Karinchak was demoted to Columbus on June 10 after giving up six home runs and walking 19 batters in 27 2/3 innings. He has appeared in 11 games with the Clippers and has two saves with a 2.38 ERA. He has 21 strikeouts in 11 1/3 innings.
Willis said Karinchak was sent to Columbus to work on “controlling counts, more than anything else, just from attacking the hitters standpoint. Just being a little more aggressive in the strike zone with both his pitches (fastball and curveball). And then a bit of a challenge with the running game, taking that time to focus on that as well.”
Teams are allowed to carry only 13 pitchers on their 26-man roster. Another reliever would have to be optioned to the minors, released or traded to open a roster spot for Karinchak. That is not in the team’s immediate plans, as worn out as the bullpen is.
“He’s getting close, but the need has to be there,” Willis said. “Here we are with another bullpen day, so you don’t know where we’ll be when we get through the day.”
The Guardians do not have a day off until Aug. 3.
—Willis offered an update on injured starter Triston McKenzie. McKenzie missed more than two months with a shoulder injury to start the season. He made two starts and was scheduled to start June 16, but he was scratched with elbow tightness and has been on the injured list ever since.
“Triston is getting closer,” Willis said. “I’m not sure of the exact date when he starts to throw again. That’s coming soon.
“I think we’re actually talking about whether he’s going to travel with us on this upcoming road trip (White Sox and Astros). There isn’t a specific date because we have to see. I think there’s another evaluation and then start the process of building him back up. We’re working towards getting him back when he is ready at some point, hopefully in September.”
Shane Bieber hasn’t pitched since July 9. He was placed on the injured list July 15 with elbow inflammation. Bieber is “a week or so away from picking up some weighted balls and getting the arm moving again,” Willis said.
Bieber is 5-6 and has a 3.77 ERA. He has one win since improving to 4-3 when the Guardians beat the Cardinals, 4-3, on May 26.