Big awards week ahead for Messick (ROY, Cy Young), Smith (Reliever of the Year)
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CLEVELAND -- Two frequent recipes for success for the 2026 Guardians were Parker Messick starting a game and Cade Smith finishing one off.
Soon, both pitchers could be honored for their stellar individual campaigns.
Messick was named a finalist for the American League Rookie of the Year Award and the AL Cy Young Award on Monday, while Smith was named a finalist for the inaugural AL Reliever of the Year Award.
The honors are voted upon by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America after the conclusion of the regular season; the playoffs are not taken into account. Winners will be announced next week on MLB Network: Rookie of the Year on Monday, Nov. 9, and Cy Young and Reliever of the Year on Wednesday, Nov. 11.
Messick is a Rookie of the Year finalist alongside Kevin McGonigle (Tigers) and Payton Tolle (Red Sox), and a Cy Young finalist alongside Cam Schlittler (Yankees) and Dylan Cease (Blue Jays). Smith is a finalist alongside Bryan Baker (Rays) and Louis Varland (Blue Jays)
Messick followed up his seven-start debut stint in the Majors last season with a breakout 2026. The left-hander had to earn his spot in the Guardians’ starting rotation during Spring Training. He went on to become an All-Star and was indispensable by season’s end.
Messick’s 6.3 wins above replacement (per Baseball Reference) ranked fifth in the AL, including second among rookies behind McGonigle (7.1) and second among pitchers behind Schlittler (7.0). Among rookie pitchers in Cleveland franchise history, only Vean Gregg logged a higher bWAR (9.1 in 1911) than Messick.
Messick recorded a 2.56 ERA (sixth in MLB among qualified starters), a 1.06 WHIP and 193 strikeouts in 186 1/3 innings over 32 starts this season -- which marked a new career high at any professional level. He allowed three or fewer runs 29 times, two or fewer 24 times and one or zero 16 times, consistently giving the Guardians a chance to win like a seasoned veteran.
“We've seen with Parker time and time again,” manager Stephen Vogt said this month, “whether it's maybe a little bit of lack of command or maybe he doesn't have his changeup, maybe doesn't have a breaking ball, he finds a way to get outs because he just pitches. He's got the ability to do it a number of different ways.
“That's really what stood out to me with Parker: He finds a way.”
Whether Messick takes home any hardware, he’s in good company. He’s the first pitcher in either league to be a finalist for both the Rookie of the Year Award and the Cy Young Award in a single season since Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes in 2024. Fernando Valenzuela in 1981 is the only hurler to win both honors in a single campaign.
Like Messick's, Smith’s 2025 campaign proved to be a launching pad for ‘26. The right-hander was elevated to the Guardians’ closer last July after Emmanuel Clase went on leave. A role change required Smith to adjust his routine from when he was deployed earlier in games as a setup man.
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As Smith embarked upon his first full season as closer this spring, the Guardians were confident he had the right stuff -- between a four-seamer that touches triple digits and a dancing splitter -- and the right temperament for the job. He left no doubt.
Smith, another first-time All-Star this season, racked up 41 saves, which was tied for the MLB lead with Baker. Smith led the Majors in games finished (60), while recording a 1.95 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP and a career-high 107 strikeouts in 74 innings over 69 appearances.
“He's just ready for whatever we ask,” Vogt said of Smith in September. “This guy works harder than anybody. His routines are dialed. Obviously, he's got one of the best fastballs on the planet and great command. But he just keeps himself available and ready as close to 100 percent as possible every day.
“When you're consistent with your routines, when you're consistent with your work and your preparation, that's going to lead to consistent results. And Cade embodies that better than anybody I've been around.”