Ever since losing ace to Tommy John surgery early in the season, the Guardians have employed something of a patchwork starting staff. In atypical fashion, Cleveland has succeeded this season not nece sarily because of its strong rotation but rather in spite of its starting pitching; Jordyn Adams Jersey Guardians starters rank 24th in the majors with a collective 4.49 ERA in 2024. Over the past 30 days, Cleveland starters have a 4.74 ERA. Thanks to an elite bullpen and productive offense, however, Clevelands 66-42 record stands as the best mark in Major League Baseball. Unfortunately for the Guards, theres more ominous news on the starting pitching front. Right-hander , who leads the team in both starts (22) and innings pitched (121 1/3), will have his next start pushed back due to tightne s in his right shoulder, . Right now, theres no indication that a stint on the injured list is in the offing, but any delay due to shoulder or elbow problems are cause for at least some concern with pitchers. Bibee, in particular, has been vital to Clevelands succe s. Hes not only the staff leader in terms of workload, hes been the most consistent and most effective arm on the staff in 2024. Journeyman has a narrow edge in ERA (3.42 to Bibees 3.48), but Bibee sports the better strikeout and walk rates and has been far more effective at keeping the ball in the yard. Of last years three vaunted top prospects who made the jump to the majors in short succe sion, Bibee is the only one who has taken another step forward in 2024. Fellow righty has spent most of the season on the injured list and only just returned last month. Left-hander was optioned to Triple-A Columbus earlier this summer after posting a 5.67 ERA and yielding 1.85 HR/9 through 87 1/3 innings. The Guardians can hope theres help on the horizon. Trade acquisition has been out all season due to recovery from winter hip surgery and some setbacks that occurred along the way. Hes nearly done with a rehab a signment, however. His next and likely final rehab appearance will come tomorrow in Columbus, . Cobb, 36, is in the final season of a contract originally signed with the Giants in the 2021-22 offseason. San Francisco picked up a $10MM club option on him, but his return from that hip procedure has taken longer than anticipated due to a shoulder flare-up and some blister troubles. Hes been quite sharp when healthy over the past three seasons, logging a 3.79 ERA, 22.8% strikeout rate and 6.9% walk rate in 394 1/3 innings between the Angels (2021) and Giants (2022-23). If Cobb can produce anywhere near that level in Cleveland, hell be a boon for a starting staff that has lacked a steadily productive veteran all season. While Cobb was the only trade acquisition for Cleveland, hes not the only midseason addition to the staff. Cleveland signed former Tigers and Giants southpaw to a big league deal earlier in the summer as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery. Boyd, 33, isnt far from a potential debut himself. Hes now made four rehab starts, most recently to sing 3 2/3 innings with Columbus just yesterday. Boyd breezed through five innings on 64 pitches in Double-A during his third rehab stint and needed 63 pitches to get through yesterdays 3 2/3 frames in Triple-A. Hes now pitched at three levels in Clevelands system and carries a pristine 1.15 ERA and 20-to-2 K/BB ratio in 15 2/3 innings. Reid Detmers Jersey