10/01/26 03:55:00
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10/01 15:53 CDT Guardians name Parker Messick starter for ALDS Game 1 vs. White
Sox, Gavin Williams for Game 2
Guardians name Parker Messick starter for ALDS Game 1 vs. White Sox, Gavin
Williams for Game 2
By JOE REEDY
AP Sports Writer
CLEVELAND (AP) --- Parker Messick will be the first Cleveland rookie pitcher to
start in a postseason game since 2016 when the Guardians left-hander takes the
mound for Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Chicago
White Sox on Saturday.
Manager Stephen Vogt also announced on Thursday that Gavin Williams will get
the start for Game 2 on Monday.
"They've been our two best pitchers. They've earned it and then some," Vogt
said before the Guardians held a workout and simulated game. "Just with how the
last week went, how the rotation's kind of set up, it puts them in the best
positions for success."
Ryan Merritt was the last Cleveland rookie pitcher to get a postseason start.
He threw 4 1/3 shutout innings in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series against
Toronto a decade ago.
Messick went 12-9 in 32 regular-season starts. His 2.56 ERA is the lowest by a
rookie pitcher in a single season with a minimum of 30 starts since the Mets'
Jon Matlack posted a 2.32 ERA in 1972 when he won NL Rookie of the Year.
It is also the lowest ERA by a Cleveland left-hander since Cliff Lee's 2.54 in
2008.
The 25-year old leads MLB qualified rookies in innings pitched (183 1/3), was
second in strikeouts (191), tied for second in wins and ERA and fourth in
opponent batting average (.212).
Vogt pointed to Messick's consistency as the most significant reason for
starting the series opener.
"He's taken the ball every time and given us a chance to win. Just the way he
pitches, it just felt right to go with Parker," he said.
This will be the fifth time Messick goes against the White Sox this season. He
is 2-1 with a 2.81 ERA and has won his last two starts.
Messick's most recent outing against the White Sox was on Sept. 16, when he
went six innings and allowed three runs in a 6-3 victory that sent the
Guardians into first place in the AL Central.
Williams went 14-8 with a 3.76 ERA to lead the American League. He was second
in the majors with 248 strikeouts.
The right-hander held opposing hitters to a .213 batting average, tied for
seventh best in the majors.
"We saw Gavin respond really well with some extra days of rest. So all of that
stuff kind of went into play (for the Game 1 and Game 2 decisions)," Vogt said.
With Chicago dispatching Houston in two games, the Guardians got a jump on
preparing for their AL Central rival. The White Sox went 7-6 in the season
series after Cleveland took 11 of 13 last season.
"What the White Sox have done this year has been really special. I give
(general manager) Chris Getz and (manager) Will Venable a ton of credit for
what they've done. It's been fun to watch," Vogt said. "I share this with Will
all the time. We enjoy playing each other. They can pound the baseball and
they've got some really good arms and their defense is good and their roster is
very deep. They match up well. So we got our work cut out for us."
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