CLEVELAND -- The evening started inauspiciously for Parker Messick. It ended soon after.
The Guardians sent Messick to the mound for a pivotal Game 5 of the American League Championship Series against the Rays on Sunday at Progressive Field. The rookie left-hander delivered the shortest start of his career, including both the regular season and playoffs.
Messick lasted just two innings and was charged with two runs on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts. He threw 57 pitches (34 strikes), which marked the second most he’s thrown through two innings in a start in his career, behind Sept. 1, 2025, against the Red Sox (60).
Messick allowed a leadoff double to Yandy Díaz, a one-out walk to Ryan Vilade and a two-out infield single to Chandler Simpson -- who logged a stellar 31.2 feet per second sprint speed to beat shortstop Brayan Rocchio’s throw to first base.
Simpson’s single loaded the bases, and Messick walked Jonny DeLuca on five pitches to open the game’s scoring.
Messick is a major reason the Guardians have gotten as far as they have this season, when he emerged as an anchor in the Cleveland rotation as a rookie. But you’ve got to wonder whether his workload is catching up to him, if it hasn't already.
Between the regular season and playoffs, Messick has thrown exactly 200 innings. His previous career high was 138 1/3, between the Majors and Minors in 2025. He has made four postseason starts, including Game 2 of this series -- when he was charged with three unearned runs on six hits and two walks.
Messick has issued at least two walks in each of his four postseason starts, and his command being a tick less sharp could be in part a product of his innings total.
“It hasn't been a long trend,” manager Stephen Vogt said on Thursday. “But what we've asked Parker to do in his first full season is unbelievable, and he keeps answering the call. Maybe he's not quite 100 percent as sharp as he has been throughout the year, but he's still finding ways to get as deep into games and get outs.
“But I definitely think the innings are a contributor to that.”