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Messick will begin the regular season in the Guardians' rotation, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
The race for the final spot came down to Messick and Logan Allen, and after the latter gave up a dozen runs in just 2.1 frames Friday, the Guardians decided to go with Messick. The 25-year-old southpaw performed well over seven starts during the late stages of the 2025 regular season, recording a 2.72 ERA and 1.31 WHIP alongside a 38:6 K:BB across 39.2 innings. His success has carried over into Cactus League play (3.60 ERA, 1.13 WHIP), though he gave up three solo home runs during his most recent spring outing.
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Guardians' Parker Messick: Stung by homers
Rotowire
Messick allowed four runs on seven hits while striking out three over 5.2 innings in Thursday's spring start against Kansas City.
The positives are that Messick ran his pitch count up to 87 (57 strikes), didn't walk a batter and pitched into the sixth inning for the first time this spring. Unfortunately, the left-hander was touched for three solo home runs in his fourth Cactus League appearance (third start). Messick entered the game with a 1.93 ERA and a strong case to be named the fifth starter over fellow lefty Logan Allen. A roster projection posted Friday by Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal has Allen winning the job and Messick headed to Triple-A Columbus, however. Each pitcher has minor-league options remaining, so the decision could come down purely to spring performance, and even after Friday's outing Messick would seem to have the edge there -- Allen has an 18.00 ERA and 9:8 K:BB through 10 Cactus League innings, compared to Messick's 3.60 ERA and 11:4 K:BB in 15 innings.
Messick allowed two hits and one walk while striking out four over 4.2 scoreless innings in Monday's spring start against the Royals.
Messick was dominant in his third Cactus League outing (two starts), upping his pitch count to 66 (41 strikes) in a bid to earn a spot in the Guardians' rotation. The left-hander lowered his spring ERA to 1.93 over 9.1 innings. Cleveland's received good work from all its starters over the last week, and the decision will be tough one for manager Stephen Vogt. Messick has three minor-league options, which could work against him in the competition with Joey Cantillo (no options) and Logan Allen (one) for the final two spots in the rotation.
Guardians' Parker Messick: Competing for rotation spot
Rotowire
Messick is one of four pitchers competing for three available spots in the Guardians' rotation, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Messick begins his mission for a rotation spot Sunday against the Athletics. The 25-year-old left-hander, who is working on adding a cutter per the Cleveland Plain Dealer, is competing with Logan Allen, Joey Cantillo and Slade Cecconi for spots in the Opening Day rotation.
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