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17 articles
CLE • Pitcher • #77
4 days ago
Messick struck out the side in the opening frame and continued rolling from there, scattering three baserunners over five frames and carrying a shutout into the sixth inning before finally meeting some pushback. He issued a leadoff walk to veteran Yandy Díaz before lefty-masher Ryan Vilade delivered a run-scoring single with two outs that chased him from the contest after 95 pitches (58 strikes). The unheralded 25-year-old rookie isn’t overpowering, but he manages to keep hitters off balance by changing speeds and mixing locations. He’s been a revelation this season with a sparkling 1.73 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 38/10 K/BB ratio across 36 1/3 innings over six starts. He’ll close out a two-start week with a challenging road matchup against the Athletics on Sunday.
CLE • Pitcher • #77
10 days ago
Although he threw a career-high 112 pitches in his near no-hitter Thursday against the Orioles, Messick pitched on four days’ rest. He still looked good tonight, with his velocity up just slightly over his season norms, and he opened with up four scoreless innings before giving up all three runs in the fifth. Of the Astros’ four hits in the inning, only the first, a groundball single from Isaac Paredes, was a hard-hit ball. Messick, though, didn’t help himself by mixing in a HBP and a walk. Messick’s ERA jumped from 1.05 to 1.76. He’ll likely make his next start Monday against the Rays.
CLE • Pitcher • #77
15 days ago
He allowed a leadoff walk to Taylor Ward to start the game and another to Leody Taveras to start the sixth inning but that was the only traffic on the bases against him until Taveras singled on the first pitch of the ninth inning to break up the no-hit bid. Blaze Alexander then followed with a single before Messick handed the ball over to Cade Smith — and both inherited runners ultimately scored. The 25-year-old rookie left-hander struck out nine batters on the night while issuing a pair of walks. He got 18 swings and misses on 112 pitches on the night — nine of those on his changeup — while posting a solid CSW of 30 percent. Now 3-0 on the season, he’ll carry a microscopic 1.05 ERA, 0.74 WHIP and a 25/7 K/BB ratio (25 2/3 innings) into Tuesday’s matchup against the Astros.
CLE • Pitcher • #77
20 days ago
Messick didn’t exactly dominate the Atlanta lineup Saturday, generating only four swings and misses. He was effective nonetheless, scattering five hits, issuing two walks and still picking up five strikeouts with his deception. Messick has been outstanding to open the year, and his ERA is now a paltry 0.51 for his trouble. He’ll try and keep up the good work Thursday in a scheduled start against the Orioles.
CLE • Pitcher • #77
26 days ago
Messick struck out six in his second straight strong showing to start the year. He allowed only two hits, one of which was a 355-foot homer from Matt Shaw. He has a tough assignment in Atlanta next weekend, but it’s worth rolling with him in mixed leagues.
CLE • Pitcher • #77
about 1 month ago
Messick walked none and gave up just two hard-hit balls, the harder of which turned into a double play off the bat of Miguel Rojas. It looked like the Guardians might send him down in favor of Logan Allen at the end of the spring, but they clearly made the right decision to keep him at the back of their rotation. He’s a perfectly solid mixed-league play, and he’ll next face the Cubs at home on Sunday.
CLE • Pitcher • #77
about 1 month ago
Messick put together a strong performance this spring to break camp in Cleveland’s season-opening rotation and offers enough upside to warrant rostering in shallow mixed leagues as a low-risk flyer. The 25-year-old lefty doesn’t miss a ton of bats, but he boasts outstanding control and posted a strong 2.72 ERA — 3.06 xERA — and 38/6 K/BB ratio across 39 2/3 innings over seven starts as a rookie last year. He’s in line to take the ball on Sunday against the Mariners for his season debut.
CLE • Pitcher • #77
about 1 month ago
Messick was facing the bad split-squad, too, though he did retire Vinnie Pasquantino, the lone likely major leaguer on the trip, all three times he faced him. Also, all three homers he gave up would have stayed in play in Progressive Field, with one or two of them turning into outs. Messick now has a 3.60 ERA and an 11/4 K/BB in 15 innings for the spring. It’s quite possible the Guardians will pick Joey Cantillo and Logan Allen over him for their two rotation vacancies, but Messick would be plenty intriguing if he gets the spot.
CLE • Pitcher • #77
about 2 months ago
Messick allowed two hits and walked none. The 25-year-old feels like the Guardians’ No. 3 starter for fantasy purposes, but he still might wind up as No. 6 on the actual depth chart, which would almost surely result in a demotion to Triple-A.
CLE • Pitcher • #77
2 months ago
Messick worked the middle innings after Logan Allen allowed two runs in three innings to start the game. It’s not entirely set that Joey Cantillo will be in the Guardians’ rotation, but he seems like a good bet, which would leave one spot for Messick and Allen. Messick is far more interesting for fantasy purposes, but upside might not win the day.
CLE • Pitcher • #77
2 months ago
Messick retired six of the nine batters he faced, striking out one. The 25-year-old seems like the Guardians’ third most interesting starter for fantasy purposes, but first he needs to win a rotation spot. He’ll probably need to outpitch Logan Allen, since fellow candidate Joey Cantillo is at least locked into a roster spot while being out of options.
CLE • Pitcher • #77
7 months ago
The 24-year-old southpaw struck out seven batters on the evening while issuing just one base on balls. His trouble came from his inability to keep the ball in the yard as Jahmai Jones and Wenceel Perez belted first-inning homers against him and Riley Greene tacked on a solo shot in the fourth. Messick got 12 swings and misses on 89 pitches on the night — seven on his fastball — while posting a CSW of 29 percent. He concludes his first taste of MLB action with a 3-1 record, 2.72 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and a 38/6 K/BB ratio across 39 2/3 innings of work in his first seven starts.
CLE • Pitcher • #77
7 months ago
The nine strikeouts are an easy new career high for Messick. The 24-year-old rookie scattered five hits with a walk in yet another impressive outing for the 2022 second-round selection. It’s actually the first time he’s allowed more than one run in a start, and it pushes his ERA all the way up to 2.08. Messick and the Guardians have now won eight straight, and Cleveland is right back in the thick of playoff contention. He’ll be back on the bump for a massive start Thursday against the Tigers. Could be fun.
CLE • Pitcher • #77
8 months ago
Messick’s 22 breaking balls tonight produced a 54% CSW and three balls in play that ranged from 56.6 to 80.5 mph. It’s the fourth time in five big-league starts that Messick has allowed one or no runs, and he’s now 3-0 with a 1.84 ERA and a 22/4 K/BB in 29 1/3 innings. He’ll remain a fine option in mixed leagues with the Twins next on the schedule.
CLE • Pitcher • #77
8 months ago
The rookie struck out four and didn’t walk a batter while throwing 60 of his 86 pitches for strikes. Messick allowed two extra base hits, including a solo home run to Carson Williams, but that was the only real damage against him. Armed with a solid changeup and a good mix of pitches, Messick will take a 1.93 ERA into a great matchup against the White Sox next week.
CLE • Pitcher • #77
8 months ago
This was a tall order for the rookie against an offense that’s top-five in OPS against left-handed pitchers. The good news is that only one of Messick’s hits went for extra bases, but he also had just a six percent whiff rate and 23 percent CSW while having two walks and two strikeouts. He has been good so far this season and would be a deep-league streamer against the Rays if he gets a start this week.
CLE • Pitcher • #77
8 months ago
Hunter Gaddis and Cade Smith finished the shutout. Messick allowed only four hard-hit balls and walked none in a second straight impressive showing since being called up, and the Guardians really should be kicking themselves for not giving him an opportunity sooner. He’ll have a tougher test next week in Fenway, but he should offer some mixed-league value in September.