Parker Messick: Everything you need to know

Messick took a no-decision Monday against the Rays, allowing one run on three hits and two walks in 5.2 innings. He struck out nine. Messick continues to provide the Guardians with plenty of length, working at least five innings in his sixth straight start to begin the year. Additionally, the nine punchouts matched a season high, and the southpaw has given up more than two runs on just one occasion to this point. Messick carries a 1.73 ERA, the second-best mark in the American League behind only Jose Soriano among qualifiers, 0.88 WHIP and 38:10 K:BB across 36.1 frames ahead of a scheduled matchup with the Athletics this weekend.

Messick came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 8-5 win over the Astros, giving up three runs on six hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out four. The 25-year-old southpaw blanked Houston for four innings before running out of steam in the fifth, getting lifted after 85 pitches (54 strikes). The result was Messick's worst start of 2026 so far, as he hadn't allowed more than four runs or struck out fewer than five batters in any of his first four trips to the mound. He'll take a 1.76 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 29:8 K:BB through 30.2 innings into his next start, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Rays.

Messick (3-0) earned the win Wednesday against the Orioles, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks in eight-plus innings. He struck out nine. Messick perhaps pitched better than his final line indicates. The left-hander carried a no-hit bid all the way up until the ninth inning, but a single by Leody Taveras broke it up to lead off the frame. Messick was magnificent nonetheless -- he racked up 18 whiffs en route to matching a career high in punchouts during the longest outing of his career. Wednesday's appearance added to his brilliant start to the season, which has seen Messick produce a 1.05 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 25:7 K:BB across 25.2 frames ahead of his next scheduled matchup with Houston.