Pitchers and catchers report to Goodyear in just over a week, and one of the position groups with the most questions heading into spring training is the starting rotation. The Cleveland Guardians still have six viable starters on their roster and need to get that down to five by the time Opening Day rolls around.

Heading into spring training, here is my prediction for what the rotation could look like as the team heads out to take on the Seattle Mariners for the first series of the season at the end of March:

• Gavin Williams
• Tanner Bibee
• Joey Cantillo
• Slade Cecconi
• Logan Allen

Here are a few takeaways from this Opening Day rotation prediction:

Gavin Williams Will Be Guardians’ Opening Day Starter

Gavin Williams established himself as the ace of Cleveland’s rotation last season, which earned him the start in Game 1 of the ALWS. Unless some unforeseen circumstances occur, he’s the frontrunner to get the start on Opening Day. 

That’s not to say Tanner Bibee won’t be in that conversation as possibly being the one to take the ball for Cleveland's first game of 2026. He was one of the Guardians’ best pitchers last September. 

However, heading into spring training, Williams likely has the edge over Bibee, given how dominant he was in the second half of 2025.

Joey Cantillo’s Impending Breakout Season 

After logging a 1.55 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP in five starts in September, plus a season strikeout rate of 27 percent, Joey Cantillo is truly primed for a breakout season. 

Like the rest of the starting options, Cantillo must compete for a spot in the rotation, but his strong end to the 2025 season might give him a slight edge in the contest over the final three candidates. 

It’s also important to note that Cantillo is out of options, unlike the final three starting pitching options. Either Cantillo will be on the Guardians’ roster in some capacity, or his time with the team could be coming to an end, and the latter feels extremely unlikely.

The Fight For The Final Two Spots

The competition for the final two spots in Cleveland’s rotation will be a hard-fought battle, but ultimately, right now, Logan Allen and Salde Cecconi have the best chances of making the rotation heading into Opening Day.

Allen was quietly one of Cleveland’s most consistent starting pitchers last season, and Cecconi could also be in store to take a jump this season after a full winter in the Guardians organization. 

Obviously, that leaves Parker Messick as the odd man out. The rookie impressed through his first seven big-league starts in September, but he still has much to prove to jump ahead of the veterans and proven arms in Cleveland’s rotation. 

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