MINNEAPOLIS -- There was good news for Tanner Bibee and the Guardians’ jumbled starting rotation. The new was not so good for left-hander Sam Hentges.
Bibee was cleared to start against the Twins on Sunday in the conclusion of this key four-game series between the top two teams in the AL Central. Bibee has not started a game since July 29 in Detroit when he went six plus innings against the Tigers, but developed a sore right shoulder.
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He threw a bullpen session on Thursday and felt good on Friday when the Guards opened the four-game series with a day-night doubleheader.
“Right now, we intend for Tanner to start for us on Sunday,” said manager Stephen Vogt.
Hentges has been rehabbing a sore left shoulder while on the injured list since July 11.
“He came out of his game on Wednesday (with Class AAA Columbus) not feeling great,” said Vogt.
Hentges traveled with the Guardians to Minneapolis, but Vogt indicated he’ll return to Cleveland and be examined by the team’s medical staff.
“There’s nothing crazy, but he says he just feels a little off,” said Vogt.
Hentges opened the season on the IL with an injury to the middle finger of his pitching hand.
Left-hander Matthew Boyd is with the Guardians in Minneapolis as well. On Wednesday he threw six scoreless innings, retiring the first 17 batters he faced against St. Paul while pitching for Columbus in a rehab start as he recovers from Tommy John surgery on his left elbow. That should put Boyd in line to join the rotation sometime next week.
The Guardians came into this series with an unsettled rotation. But before the start of Friday’s doubleheader they named rookie lefty Joey Cantillo as the starter for Game 1, while right-hander Alex Cobb will make his Cleveland debut on Friday night in the second game.
Right-hander Gavin Williams will start Saturday followed by Bibee on Sunday.
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