A Vogt of confidence for Pedro Avila: Guardians takeaways

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Right-hander Pedro Avila has done the dirty work all season long for the Guardians, and everybody — including manager Stephen Vogt — has taken notice.

Since joining the club April 17 from the Padres in exchange for cash considerations, Avila has played an instrumental role in sustaining Cleveland’s bullpen success. Saturday’s 7-0 loss to San Diego was no different. Avila worked 1 1/3 innings, allowing a hit and striking out two.

But more importantly, Avila covered innings to preserve his fellow relievers in a game that eventually got out of hand with Dylan Cease limiting Cleveland to just one hit.

Manager Stephen Vogt said Avila has been tremendous for the team when pitching in length.

“When our starter hasn’t gone long, he’s been able to bridge us to the back end,” Vogt said. “He’s been able to piggyback a couple of times. Whatever we ask him to do he’s doing it, and he’s just coming in and attacking.”

Vogt said when Avila first arrived in Cleveland his strike throwing was not as consistent, but the 27-year-old made some adjustments with pitching coach Carl Willis and bullpen coach Brad Goldberg as well as the rest of the pitching group.

“Just the consistency at which he’s throwing right now, I couldn’t be more happy for Pedro,” Vogt said. “He’s been a huge, huge part of our bullpen.”

Vogt compared Avila to Jesse Chavez, a former teammate in Oakland and Atlanta who was both a starter and reliever, who pitched in leverage situations and in length, and tool the ball no matter what the score of the game was.

“It doesn’t matter the game situation, it doesn’t matter who’s coming up,” Vogt said. “You take the ball and you make your pitches. You’re going to earn more leverage, you’re going to earn more opportunities in different roles. And that’s what Pedro’s done.”

Vogt said it is a common theme among the pitchers in Cleveland’s bullpen this season. He said the guys in the ‘pen are true professionals that are willing to do whatever it takes to help the team.

“Sometimes helping the team is pitching three innings in a game where we’re getting beat,” Vogt said. “We have eight guys out there that are willing to do that. I mean, our closer (Emmanuel Clase) is willing to throw in games we’re down eight and he wants to pitch. I think when that guy’s setting that standard, everybody else falls in line.”

Boyd report

Lefty Matthew Boyd had a strong first rehab start for Double-A Akron on Sunday, tossing four innings and allowing one run on four hits while striking out five. Boyd, coming off reconstructive elbow surgery last June, signed with Cleveland late last month with a goal of pitching in the big leagues by August.

He told reporters Sunday his arm felt good after throwing 52 pitches, including 41 for strikes and topping out at 94 mph with his fastball. When asked if he had a timetable for returning to the major league mound, he deferred.

“I’m lucky I don’t have to make those decisions,” Boyd said. “I’m putting a lot of trust in the training staff and the process of building up pitch count and whatnot and those things. It’s a process and they’re the ones handling it. But all in all, I feel very good about my stuff and the way it’s coming out and the way we’re attacking hitters.”