Guardians Name Starting Pitcher For First 2024 Cactus League Game
Tomorrow, the Cleveland Guardians will begin their 2024 Cactus League spring schedule with a matchup against the Cincinnati Reds.
With their first spring training game of the year just one day away, Cleveland has revealed who their starting pitcher will be for their 2024 Cactus League opener.
On Friday, the Guardians announced on X that longtime fan favorite Carlos Carrasco will start against the Reds tomorrow.
After being traded to the New York Mets before the 2021 season, this will be the 36-year-old’s first appearance for Cleveland since September 30, 2020, when he started Game 2 of the team’s 2020 AL Wild Card Series against the New York Yankees.
Feb 22, 2024; Goodyear, AZ, USA; Cleveland Guardians player Carlos Carrasco poses for a photo during Media Day at the Cleveland Guardians Spring Training Facility.
© Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
This will also be Carrasco’s first spring training appearance for the Guardians since March 3, 2020, when he made a start against the Los Angeles Angels. He pitched two innings, allowing three hits, two earned runs, throwing 11 total pitches (10 strikes).
Cleveland signed Carrasco to a minor league deal earlier this offseason with an invite to Major League Spring Training. He now gets an immediate opportunity to make a strong first impression for the 2024 season.
Carrasco made 20 starts for the Mets last season, going 3-8 with a 6.80 ERA, 66 strikeouts, a 1.70 WHIP, and a .310 opposing batting average.
During his 11 seasons with the Guardians from 2009 through 2020, the right-hander threw 1,305 strikeouts, which are the fourth-most in team history, while winning 88 games and recording a 1.20 WHIP.
Cleveland fans can see Carrasco pitch for the Guardians again tomorrow afternoon at 3:05 p.m.
