The Cleveland Guardians are undergoing some changes to their starting rotation as the 2025 season comes to a close. Sitting 3.5 games out of the AL wild card, the Guardians are expected to get back one of their starters later this season.
One of their rotation spots is open, as the team needs a starter for their matchup on Wednesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Pitching prospect Parker Messick is predicted to be the call-up, but later in the year, it could be John Means’ turn.
According to Zack Meisel of The Athletic, the Guardians, despite the open rotation spot, aren’t going to call up Means just yet. Instead, the Guardians are planning for Means to factor into the rotation come September.
How Means Can Impact Guardians in September
Means is a seven-year veteran who’s spent his entire big-league career with the Baltimore Orioles, and now, is with the Guardians franchise and is pitching in the minor leagues on rehab starts.
“Means is expected to make another rehab start this week and could stretch out to about 50 pitches.” Meisel writes. “He’ll be part of the equation in September.”
While there isn’t a concrete plan, Meisel’s report alludes to Means getting called up to the Guardians rotation for their September postseason push. While he still needs to have his rehab outings go well, Means is getting closer to a return to the Major Leagues.
The former Orioles pitcher was very strong for the team in his seven years there. Across 78 games, including 73 starts, Means had a 3.68 ERA and an All-Star appearance in 2019.
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But, in the three years from 2022 to 2024, Means only started 10 games. Though in those 10 games, he had an impressive 2.75 ERA and accumulated 1.6 WAR.
If he gets the call-up to the Guardians this season, he won’t have to pitch much in his return to the Majors. He could be a nice piece for a final postseason push to close out the regular season.
His rehab start was his first outing this season, and he threw 38 pitches in 1.1 innings pitched. It wasn’t a long outing, but it was the first step for the former Orioles All-Star to get back to the Major Leagues, this time, as a member of the Guardians organization.
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