Daniel Espino will take the ball with Cleveland’s season on the line Wednesday afternoon in Chicago, a long-awaited assignment for a pitcher who spent much of the past four years simply trying to get healthy enough to throw again. The 25-year-old right-hander has been named the Guardians’ Game 3 starter in the American League Division Series, with Cleveland down 2-0 to the White Sox and facing elimination.
Espino gets the first call in a must-win game
The Guardians will use Espino as an opener for the 4 p.m. ET game at Guaranteed Rate Field, broadcast on TBS, truTV, UniMas and HBO Max. How much of the game he handles remains unclear, but manager Stephen Vogt made one part of the plan plain: Espino starts.
“I’m excited about the chance to set the tone as the opener and go have fun,” Espino said. “There’s no hiding from where we are in the series. Still, whether we were ahead or behind, my job would be the same: go out and do my job.”
Vogt has resisted laying out the full pitching script beyond the opening assignment. Cleveland has several routes available behind Espino, and the manager intends to let the game dictate the next move.
- Left-hander Joey Cantillo is a possible bulk option after following Espino three times in September.
- Right-hander Tanner Bibee, Cleveland’s Opening Day starter, is also available.
- Lefty Foster Griffin, an All-Star acquired from Washington in August, could be used for length as well.
- The Guardians could deploy one of those pitchers or mix multiple long-relief options with their bullpen.
“We have three very good length options, plus a bullpen that has been excellent all season,” Vogt said. “We don’t know what comes after Daniel. We’ll let the game unfold.”
A long road back to the mound
Espino once ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 4 right-handed pitching prospect, armed with a fastball capable of reaching 100 mph. His climb stalled when right shoulder trouble led to two surgeries, the first in 2023. Between 2022 and 2025, he made only five Minor League appearances.
That stretch made his Major League debut on June 17 a major personal marker. His first postseason appearance followed quickly in Game 1 of this series, when he recorded two scoreless outs.
For Espino, though, the defining checkpoint came earlier. He said the biggest day of his career to this point was facing a live hitter at Cleveland’s Arizona complex in May 2025, after the second shoulder operation.
Vogt believes that history is part of what makes Espino a sound choice for this moment.
“In situations like this, you trust the person, and we’ve certainly seen the talent,” Vogt said. “After everything Daniel has dealt with, there isn’t much that can unsettle him. We’re thrilled he gets the ball tomorrow.”
September pairing offers Cleveland a blueprint
Espino’s late-season work in front of Cantillo came after Cantillo encountered command issues down the stretch. The arrangement produced strong overall results, even with one rough outing affecting Espino’s line.
| Pitcher | September role | Results in the Espino-Cantillo arrangement |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel Espino | Opener in three games | 4 innings, 3 runs, 2 hits, 1 home run, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts |
| Joey Cantillo | Followed Espino in three games | 15 scoreless innings, 4 hits, 4 walks, 17 strikeouts |
All three runs charged to Espino in that stretch came Sept. 18 against the Athletics. Cantillo, meanwhile, did not allow a run across his three appearances in the pairing.
The White Sox matchup game awaits
Chicago can shape its lineup around the possibility that Espino will be followed by a left-hander or by Bibee. Right-handed bats Tommy Pham and Randal Grichuk could be in the White Sox lineup with Cantillo or Griffin in mind. If their spots arrive after the first inning, Cleveland’s early pitching change could put manager Will Venable in a decision-making spot.
- If Bibee follows Espino, Venable must decide whether to leave Pham or Grichuk in against a right-hander.
- Chicago could instead turn to left-handed bench options Sam Antonacci or Andrew Benintendi.
- If the White Sox set up for Bibee, Cleveland could counter later by moving to Cantillo or Griffin.
That gives the Guardians flexibility, but the afternoon begins with Espino and the chance he has chased through rehab rooms, surgery recoveries and limited innings. He will be asked to give Cleveland an opening in the series before the club turns to the rest of its staff.
“You go out believing in your ability and trusting the work you’ve done,” Espino said. “I’m ready for this moment.”
