The 2024 MLB season hasn’t been great for the Guardians pitcher Logan Allen. After giving a stellar performance against the Giants, Allen was still demoted to the Triple-A Columbus on July 7. He was lifted from the team after throwing 93 pitches in 4 ⅓ innings. In his game against San Francisco, Allen walked four Giants batters and made nine total strikeouts. Still, having a high 2024 season ERA of 5.67 was one of the crucial factors he was sent to the Minor leagues. 

Moving towards the minors, Allen’s record of 2-0 in three starts with an ERA of 3.86 was still mediocre. However, the 25-year-old Cleveland Guardians pitcher was a part of the rotation against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Being the opening pitcher for the Guardians, Logan gave back-to-back runs along with two homers. In response, he got a double play but survived a major injury scare that could have proved fatal to the 25-year-old Guardians pitcher. 

Logan Allen’s injury scare moment in Guardians vs. Diamondbacks game

For Allen, the first innings have mostly not been kind in his big league career. Adding to his woes, Monday night might have been disastrous for Allen. Something unusual happened in the Cleveland Guardians’ 7-6 loss to the Diamondbacks in the 10th inning. Logan was struck in the side of his head after batter Randall Grichuk smashed a line drive off his bat. Luckily, the ball deflected off his hand before it completely smacked his head. 

Later, Allen went down on one knee for a few moments until manager Stephen Vogt and head athletic trainer Jeff Desjardins came to see him. After a few minutes of trying practice pitches, Allen stayed in the game but didn’t pitch thereafter. Eventually, he survived a fatal injury and ended the first innings with a 2-0 deficit for the Guardians. Entering an MLB game after almost a month and not performing well, Allen’s past records reflected his Monday’s play. 

Before Monday’s game, he had an 8-4 record in 18 starts, followed by 100 hits allowed in his 87 ⅓ innings. On the contrary, aside from his high-pitched ERA, he still had 76 strikeouts with 35 walks, making his 2024 MLB season a mixed bag of highs and lows. However, now that he is back with the Guardians, his presence might be crucial for Cleveland’s faltering pitching struggles. 

Allen’s return could pivot Guardian’s perennial pitching struggles

Aside from Allen struggling in pitching, Guardian’s pitching has been below par in the 2024 MLB season. Only two of Cleveland’s pitchers had an ERA of less than three in June. Also, with their star pitcher, Shane Bieber, getting injured, the team sank into a muddle of pitching woes. Shane Beiber will undergo Tommy John Surgery and is set to miss the remainder of the 2024 MLB season. 

Looking for reinforcements and not having starting pitchers, Logan Allen was brought into Sunday’s lineup. Not performing to his standards against the Diamondbacks, the 25-year-old had a great past record to his name. Entering the 2023 season as the 85th prospect, he pitched at an ERA of 3.81 in his 125.1 innings during his rookie campaign. Perhaps, with the Guardians struggling for a starting pitcher, this could be the right time for Allen to prove his worth. Also, looking at two of the best teams in the American League, the Yankees and Orioles have good starting pitchers.

While the Yankees have the veteran Gerrit Cole, Oriole’s Grayson Rodriguez, with an ERA of 3.86, is one of the reasons the Orioles are the leader of the AL East. Altogether, Cleveland might have the third-best record in the American League. But based on their starting pitcher numbers, it’s far behind the table toppers Orioles and Yankees. What’s next? Logan Allen might need to rediscover his 2023 form to resolve the team’s starting pitching woes. And give the Guardians an outside chance to win the World Series since 1948.