Guardians make unsurprising Parker Messick ALDS Game 4 decision

The Cleveland Guardians will start rookie left-hander Parker Messick in Thursday’s ALDS Game 4 against the Chicago White Sox, keeping their expected rotation plan intact with the season on the line. The Guardians rookie will take the mound on four days’ rest with Cleveland facing elimination.

MLB.com’s Tim Stebbins took to X, formerly Twitter, Wednesday to confirm the move after the Guardians extended the series with a 9-3 Game 3 victory at Rate Field.

“Parker Messick will start for the Guardians in Game 4, as expected.”

Messick last pitched in Game 1 on Saturday. The 25-year-old allowed two earned runs on four hits and two walks over 4 1/3 innings in Cleveland’s 3-0 loss, striking out six. Munetaka Murakami supplied the biggest blow with a two-run homer.

His Game 1 assignment made Messick the first Guardians rookie to start a postseason game since Ryan Merritt in 2016.

The rookie finished the regular season 12-9 with a 2.56 ERA across 32 starts. He also went 2-1 with a 2.81 ERA in five outings vs. the White Sox, giving the Guardians extensive familiarity with the matchup.

Manager Stephen Vogt had already positioned Messick and Gavin Williams as Cleveland’s top two starters for the series. Using a bullpen game Wednesday allowed the rotation to cycle back naturally to Messick for Game 4.

The White Sox lead the best-of-five series 2-1 after winning the first two games at Progressive Field. Cleveland answered Wednesday behind an 11-hit attack that included key triples from Jo Adell and Jose Ramirez.

Game 4 returns to Rate Field on Thursday. A Guardians win would force a decisive Game 5 in Cleveland on Saturday, while a loss would end their postseason run.

Messick now gets the ball with Cleveland needing another victory Thursday to keep its season alive and force Game 5.