Joey Cantillo Is Untouchable at Progressive Field and the Angels Are About to Find Out

The Cleveland Guardians are rolling out Joey Cantillo on Monday night, and if you've been paying attention to his numbers at home, you know exactly why this matters. The 26-year-old left-hander is 1-0 with a 2.87 ERA in three home starts this season. In his last time out, he threw five innings of one-run ball against Kansas City on Wednesday, giving up just three hits in a 3-1 win. The Angels are walking into Progressive Field cold, and they haven't even named their starter yet.

Cantillo's Home Field Advantage Is Real

Cantillo's overall record sits at 2-1 with a 3.43 ERA, but here's the thing: he's a completely different pitcher when he's pitching at home. The kid has one previous appearance against Los Angeles under his belt from last season, when he worked 2 1/3 innings in relief without allowing a hit and struck out two batters. The Guardians are nine games into their homestand and they're banking on that home success to continue carrying them.

Cleveland Needs to Keep Momentum Against a Struggling LA Lineup

The Guardians opened their homestand by taking two of three from Minnesota but dropped Sunday's game 5-4 to the Twins. Still, there were bright spots. Jose Ramirez stole his 16th base of the season, second in the majors. Steven Kwan laid down a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt that set up a seventh-inning run. The offense showed patience too, drawing six walks across the game. Bench coach Tony Arnerich, who filled in for manager Stephen Vogt due to illness, emphasized the positives. "At the end of the day, we are trying to go 162 games and have a good season," Arnerich said. "All the little things we do, if we can continue to compile and do them well, when you add them up, hopefully they lead to good things."

The Guardians sit at .500 but hold a one-game lead in the American League Central. The Angels just salvaged the finale of their series against Toronto with a 6-1 win Sunday, with Jo Adell launching two solo home runs, including a 449-footer. Adell is hitting .273 with a team-best 44 hits and six homers on the season. Both teams are 3-3 in their last six games, so this three-game series shapes up as a crucial early-season test. First pitch Monday night at Progressive Field.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.