Triston McKenzie's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Triston McKenzie has been optioned to Triple-A on Sunday. This news shouldn't shock anyone considering how poorly McKenzie has pitched lately. McKenzie has allowed 12 earned runs and issued 11 walks over his last three starts. This season, McKenzie holds a 5.11 ERA through 16 starts with the Guardians. The potential is certainly there for McKenzie but he still needs to work through some mechanical issues in the minor leagues. In a corresponding move, right-hander Gavin Williams has been reinstated from the injured list.

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Triston McKenzie submitted his best showing of the 2024 regular season in Wednesday's 3-2 extra-inning victory over the Houston Astros, fanning six hitters while surrendering two runs on five hits (one home run) and one walk over a season-high seven innings. It hasn't been a great start to the year for McKenzie, who missed most of last season due to injury, but he cruised through Houston's dangerous lineup in the first five innings. Kyle Tucker tagged him for a homer in the seventh, leaving McKenzie with a no-decision. The 26-year-old right-hander improved his ERA to 4.34 with a 1.48 WHIP and a troubling 24:18 K:BB over 29 innings (six starts) to begin the campaign. Monday's home start against the division-rival Detroit Tigers offers him a great chance to build on Wednesday's display. In seven career starts (43 IP) against Detroit, McKenzie has a 1.05 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, and 50:11 K:BB.

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Triston McKenzie is reportedly pitching through a torn ligament in his right elbow. Last year, a right teres major strain and elbow sprain limited McKenzie to just four starts (16 innings), and the hurler bypassed a potential Tommy John surgery in favor of rest and rehabilitation to heal his arm. His average fastball velocity (90.9 mph) ranks among baseball's worst to begin the 2024 season, and it's down from 92.4 mph during his injury-ruined 2023 campaign. It could explain the 26-year-old right-hander's struggles to begin the campaign, as McKenzie carries a 6.23 ERA (7.20 FIP), 1.76 WHIP, and a concerning 5:12 K:BB across 13 innings (three starts). A start at home on Friday in a favorable matchup versus the visiting Oakland Athletics could be just what the doctor ordered. In three career starts (18 1/3 IP) against the A's, McKenzie holds a 1.96 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 18:4 K:BB.

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Triston McKenzie fired 5 2/3 scoreless innings in Monday's 4-0 victory over the division-rival Chicago White Sox, allowing three hits but walking four with two strikeouts for his first win of the season. McKenzie labored through 3 1/3 innings and yielded four runs in his last time out against the Seattle Mariners, but he was far more effective on Monday. He still struggled with his control a bit, and an Andrew Benintendi single during the sixth inning would prevent him from finishing the frame. The 26-year-old right-hander is still searching for a rhythm after missing most of 2023 with an elbow injury, but he posted solid results in the spring and has given up four earned runs and six walks with four K's through nine regular-season innings. His next start is slated for Sunday in a difficult task versus the New York Yankees, but McKenzie did hurl seven one-hit innings the last time he met the Yankees back in 2022.

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Triston McKenzie took the loss on Monday, getting smacked around for five runs (four earned) on four hits and two walks with only two strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings. McKenzie struggled in this game, as he needed about 80 pitches to get into the fourth inning. McKenzie would end up being done in by Dominic Canzone's three-run homer in the second inning. McKenzie is in line for another start later this week against the Twins. Start him at your own risk, as McKenzie could struggle again against an excellent Twins lineup tied for the most home runs as a team in 2023.