The Cleveland Guardians have spent the week ready to play baseball once more.
Their first-round bye within the American League playoff bracket has compelled them to attend till Saturday, once they’ll open the ALDS towards the Chicago White Sox — who eradicated the Houston Astros within the AL Wild Card Spherical on Wednesday.
However the time without work has meant one great point for Cleveland: After they’re again, they’ll have all their pitching arms able to go.
That led to Thursday’s announcement of the primary two pitchers for the White Sox sequence.
There have been no surprises.
Guardians’ Recreation 1 ALDS Starter
The Guardians introduced that Parker Messick will get the beginning in Recreation 1 of the ALDS at dwelling.
Messick has been among the best breakout tales in your entire sport in 2026.
After debuting late in 2025, Messick has been completely dominant this season. He completed the yr with a 2.56 ERA in 32 begins.
Messick threw 186.1 innings, by far probably the most of his profession, nevertheless it by no means felt like he was slowing down. If something, his velocity rose because the yr went on, organising his nasty changeup even higher.
The southpaw made the All-Star Recreation whereas putting out 9.3 batters per 9 innings and permitting lower than one homer per 9.
Messick earned this Recreation 1 nod, to make certain.
At 25 years outdated, perhaps there’d be concern about Messick being fazed by the stage. However given the extent he pitched in any respect yr, and his even-keel existence on the mound, Messick looks as if he must be simply high quality.
Guardians’ Recreation 2 ALDS Starter
The Guardians introduced that Gavin Williams will get the beginning at dwelling in Recreation 2 of the ALDS.
The one actual selection for Stephen Vogt was which order he wished Messick and Williams to get the baseball in. They have been all the time going to be his top-two within the postseason.
Williams, known as “Massive Rig,” had an excellent season in 2026, his second consecutive actually impactful yr on the mound.
This yr, he had a 3.76 ERA in 32 begins with a 14-8 report. Williams raised his strikeout price to a career-high 12.1 per 9 innings whereas concurrently pairing that with a career-best 3.0 walks per 9 ratio.
His 4.07 strikeout-to-walk ratio is taken into account elite.
Williams led your entire American League in strikeouts, with 248 in 184.1 innings.
The 6-foot-6 righty will give the White Sox lineup a special look than the lefty Messick.
White Sox vs. Messick, Williams
The White Sox roster combines to hit .209 towards Messick. They’ve 4 dwelling runs, one apiece by 4 totally different gamers, in 91 at bats towards him.
Randal Grichuk is 5-for-12 profession off Messick with two doubles and a triple.
The White Sox have a mixed .214 common towards Williams in 98 at bats with simply two homers — one by Munetaka Murakami, and one by Miguel Vargas.
Vargas is 6-for-14 (.429) towards Williams, and Andrew Benintendi is 5-for-13 (.385).
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