Guardians notes: Right-hander Slade Cecconi scratched from start with right groin tightness

CLEVELAND — After pitching well in his first two starts for the Guardians, right-hander Slade Cecconi was scheduled to make his third in the series finale against Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers this afternoon. That changed prior to Tuesday's game, when manager Stephen Vogt announced that Cecconi would be scratched from the outing with mild right groin tightness. Vogt said he would reveal Cecconi's replacement after the game but didn't seem overly concerned. With an off-day Thursday, it seems likely Cleveland would use the bullpen as an opener. "He came out of the game with mild groin tightness in Detroit (on Friday) and it just hasn't responded," Vogt said of Cecconi, who was acquired from Arizona in the Josh Naylor trade prior to the season. "It is trending in the right direction but just not in time to make his start (Wednesday). So we're going to push him to the other side of the off-day (Thursday)." Cecconi went 1-1 with a 3.27 ERA in his first two starts, striking out 14 batters over 11 innings. "He's thrown great twice," Vogt said. "He went through an injury, got his spring training cut short and did a nice rehab build up and we really liked the way he's throwing the ball. He's attacking the zone, going deep into games and we really like what we've seen from Slade. "That's why we're really happy that this is just going to be a little couple days off." Moving day Cleveland optioned left-hander Joey Cantillo to Triple-A Columbus prior to Tuesday's game, activating righty Hunter Gaddis from the bereavement list. With Ben Lively (right elbow injury) lost for the season, Vogt said Cantillo, who has been filling a relief role, is expected to join the Clippers' rotation to provide starting depth. "When we broke spring training, we needed Joey in the bullpen for where our roster was and now we feel like we're at a point where we want to get Joey back in the mix as a starting pitching option," Vogt said. "The fact that he's already built up to 40, 50 pitches, it shouldn't take long. "I've been really pleased with the way Joey's been throwing the last month and we think, we know he can be a help for us as a starting piece at some point." Cantillo has appeared in 21 games for Cleveland, posting a 3.81 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings. "We've seen it from Joey as a starter at times and we saw some very good outings out of the bullpen, both short-term and long," Vogt said. "I think for Joey, getting back on a really good routine of five-day structure with a bullpen, the learning experiences that he's had these first two months being in the bullpen, we really feel like this could be a really good opportunity for Joey. "He was excited about it. Obviously, not excited about going to Triple-A. No one ever is, but he wants to be a starter and we're really, really excited to see where this goes over the next few weeks." Back in there Carlos Santana returned to the lineup after a two-game absence with hamstring tightness, playing first base and batting fifth. Santana entered the night batting .235 with six home runs and 27 RBIs over 49 games. He went 9-for-29 with two homers and eight RBIs in five games on the recent road trip through Minnesota and Detroit and had reached base in 24 of his last 25 games through Monday. Switching spots Vogt likes the versatile Angel Martinez most in center field, which means Lane Thomas will move to right field on occasion moving forward. "We've already talked through that with Lane and with Angel," Vogt said. "There's going to be games coming up I'm sure, where that's going to be the alignment. It's just based on who's available that day and who we're facing." Martinez has been solid over the first two months, entering Tuesday with a .271 batting average, seven doubles, two homers and 17 RBIs in 39 games. He's played all three outfield positions, as well as second base. He can also play shortstop and third. Thomas, meanwhile, has struggled to find his footing all year, sustaining a wrist injury when he was hit by a pitch in the home opener, April 8, and missing a month. Last year's postseason hero was hitting .119 with a .305 OPS and three RBIs in 17 games through Monday. Thomas played mostly center for Cleveland (33 starts and 43 games) upon being acquired at last year's trade deadline from the Nationals. But he logged a handful of games in right (10 starts, 18 games), where he spent the majority of his time in Washington from 2021-24. Roundin' third Steven Kwan entered Tuesday leading all major league left fielders with eight defensive runs saved. Kwan (six) and the Guardians (16) led the majors in outfield assists through Monday. Cleveland entered Tuesday ranking second in the American League with 63 runs in the sixth inning or later since May 1. Chris Assenheimer at (440) 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him @CAwesomeheimer on X.