The Guardians have only played a handful of spring training games, but the bullpen is already a bit beat up.

The team announced Wednesday that reliever Trevor Stephan, a key part to the bullpen the last few seasons, will be shut down from throwing for three weeks after sustaining bruising in his pitching elbow.

Stephan had experienced a gradual onset of elbow soreness after a high intensity throwing session. He underwent an MRI Monday, which revealed body edema (bruising, in other words) in his elbow.

Stephan will be re-examined after a three-week period (around March 20) to determine his readiness to initiate a throwing program. It opens the door for a strong possibility that Stephan will open the 2024 season on the injured list, though that determination has not yet been made. At best, Stephan will have roughly a week to begin throwing and get ready for major league games.

James Karinchak was also dealing with shoulder fatigue early in camp, possibly putting him behind the other relievers at the team's complex in Goodyear, Ariz.

Who might step up in the Guardians bullpen if Trevor Stephen begins 2024 season on injured list?

If Stephan isn't ready to return by Opening Day (March 28 in Oakland), it would open up a third spot in the bullpen to begin the season.

The first five spots should be locked up, barring another injury, with a group that includes Emmanuel Clase, Scott Barlow, Sam Hentges, Nick Sandlin and Eli Morgan.

Stephan's absence would, specifically, open up some high-leverage opportunities late in games along with Clase and Barlow.

Karinchak would have a clear path to one of the three open spots, but it's dependent on two ifs: whether he's pitching well this spring (particularly with his command) and whether he's healthy and ready to go after being behind due to shoulder fatigue.

Cade Smith, 24, could take advantage of the extra available roster spot. Smith posted a 4.65 ERA in Triple-A last season, but he also missed a ton of bats. He had the highest K/9 rate in the Guardians' minor league system at 13.64. He's also already on the 40-man roster.

It might also help Carlos Carrasco make the Opening Day roster. The plan for him, as it is with a few others, is to stretch him out as a starting pitcher and then begin to make determinations on roles later this spring.

Pitching coach Carl Willis said that as far as he's concerned, this early in camp, Carrasco is with Cleveland to contend for a spot in the starting rotation. But barring an injury or a spring slate that simply runs off the rails, the rotation should be set with Shane Bieber, Triston McKenzie and the three sophomores — Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams and Logan Allen.

Carrasco surprised even himself with how hard he was throwing early in camp after working with Driveline in Scottsdale, Ariz. this offseason (Shane Bieber did the same and came away with some interesting feedback, particularly with his curveball). At 37, Carrasco's best bet to open the season in the majors is in the Guardians' bullpen, which now likely has an extra spot available.

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Xzavion Curry and Ben Lively are in similar boats as Carrasco.

Tim Herrin, as another left-handed reliever who is already on the 40-man roster, could also be an option to add a second southpaw along with Hentges. But he'll also need to pitch his way onto the roster.

Possible Major League Baseball rule change: League considering reducing maximum number of relievers to 12 for 2025 season

Teams across baseball will carry 13 pitchers — meaning five starters and eight relievers — this season. That has become the norm with the 26-man rosters, and the complementary trend within baseball has been to use relievers much more compared to eras of the past.

Starting pitchers are running through lineups a third time less and less, instead giving way to high-leverage relievers. The game's governing body might be changing that for next season and beyond.

MLB is considering reducing the number the maximum number of pitchers teams can carry to 12, which would in effect require starting pitchers to again throw deeper into games, according to an Associated Press report.

Former Guardians manager Terry Francona used to always joke that he'd carry 20 pitchers if he could, as it allows for teams to protect some of their coveted arms throughout the long 162-game season. It also helps to avoid a situation where some relievers are shuttled between the majors and minor leagues as much as allowed.

According to Sportradar, major league starters averaged 17.8 outs per outing in 2000. Last season, it dropped to 15.4 outs.

"I became a better pitcher since I went through three times in the lineup and was failing on that third time through the lineup," Texas Rangers pitcher Max Scherzer told the Associated Press. "That's every young pitcher's struggle, is learning how to pitch three times through a lineup. … WE're so scared now to let guys fail."

The game has turned toward pitcher preservation, with teams closely monitoring the workloads of starters and relievers alike, particularly as young prospects make their way to the big leagues. MLB also recognizes that fans wanting to watch an elite starting pitcher can be a big draw to that night's game.

"From a fan perspective, yeah, to see a guy in there go seven, eight innings, I absolutely get it," Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "Doesn't necessarily help you win baseball games, and I'm in the business of winning games."

Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis1@gannett.com. Read more about the Guardians at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/cleveland-guardians. Follow him on Threads at @ByRyanLewis.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians Trevor Stephan injury will shut him down