CLEVELAND -- While battling for the American League Central title last month, the Guardians and White Sox divisional race featured an added reward: a first-round bye in the postseason that would allow the champ to set its preferred pitching plan for the AL Division Series.
That’s where we find ourselves now, as Cleveland and Chicago get set for their first-ever playoff matchup.
As the AL Central champion Guardians enjoyed a bye this week, they also lined up their staff anchors for the first two games of ALDS, which is set to kick off with Game 1 on Saturday at Progressive Field. Meanwhile, the White Sox are working through things after they completed a sweep of the Astros in the best-of-three AL Wild Card Series on Wednesday to advance.
Chicago’s plan, understandably, is less settled coming off its Wild Card series, though Cleveland has some uncertainty as well. What could the pitching matchups look like? Let’s take a look.
Guardians
Game 1
Parker Messick, LHP
Messick has come a long way in one year. The lefty wasn’t on the Guardians’ roster in the 2025 AL Wild Card Series, following his seven-start debut stint in the Majors down the stretch. This spring, he had to earn a spot on Cleveland’s Opening Day roster. Now, the Guards are hoping he paves the way as they push for October glory.
Messick’s stellar rookie season could make him a finalist for both the AL Cy Young Award and the Rookie of the Year Award. The 25-year-old had a 2.56 ERA (seventh in MLB) in 186 1/3 innings over 32 starts, with 193 strikeouts and 49 walks. In perhaps a good omen, he was particularly effective against Chicago, logging a 2.81 ERA with 29 strikeouts and five walks in 25 2/3 innings over four starts.
Game 2
Gavin Williams, RHP
If you like pitchers with overpowering stuff, Game 2 could be appointment viewing. This season, Williams racked up 248 strikeouts (second in MLB to Jacob Misiorowski’s 252) in 184 1/3 innings over 32 starts, all of which were career highs. He had double-digit punchouts in 11 of those outings, which led the Majors.
None of those 11 starts were against Chicago, though Williams did record a 3.98 ERA with 28 strikeouts and eight walks in 20 1/3 innings over four starts against the White Sox. His Game 2 assignment is noteworthy because it lines him up to pitch Game 5 (if necessary) back in Cleveland, whereas Messick is lined up for Game 4 in Chicago. Williams had a 2.84 ERA in 18 home starts this season, and a 5.05 ERA in 14 road starts.
Game 3
TBD, possibly opener Daniel Espino
The Guardians are still working through their plan here. Manager Stephen Vogt noted Thursday that they want to see how Games 1 and 2 go and what their potential needs are before making a decision.
Why could it be Espino? Of the 14 position players on the White Sox Wild Card Series roster, there were six lefties and one switch-hitter. Starting Espino as an opener for lefty Joey Cantillo could force Chicago to make a lineup decision, such as whether to start lefty smasher Randal Grichuk against Espino, or call his number after Cantillo enters.
Espino served as an opener in Cantillo’s final three appearances of the regular season after the lefty encountered some command issues. Cantillo tossed 15 scoreless innings, allowing five hits and four walks, while striking out 17 batters in those outings. The formula could work in October.
All that being said: The Guardians have a flurry of options, between Espino/Cantillo, Tanner Bibee and Foster Griffin. Stay tuned.
White Sox
Game 1
Hagen Smith
Some of the TBDs in terms of White Sox starters were cleared up on Friday by manager Will Venable. It begins with Smith, the rookie southpaw, who gets the same Game 1 honor as he did in the sweep of Houston during the AL Wild Card Series.
“They're a really good team. This will be my third time playing [them] since I got up here,” Smith said Friday. “So just kind of familiar with the guys and their lineup and familiar with the scouting reports against them. We are both good teams. We play hard. They play hard. So it's going to be a good series.“
Game 2
TBD (Maybe Sean Burke)
With Sunday’s off-day, Burke would be pitching on regular rest Monday after striking out eight over four innings against the Astros on Wednesday. Venable confirmed Friday that Burke will pitch on Monday and will not pitch on Saturday, but the skipper did not confirm if it would be as a starter or bulk hurler.
Burke recently joked that the White Sox have 13 pitchers, or 12 in the Wild Card round, but they don’t look at anyone as a starter or reliever. This is not a situation of trying to outsmart the opposition by usage of an opener, but it’s more about Venable and his staff trying to win each game and nothing more. It has produced one of the best Major League Baseball stories this season, so why change now?
Game 3
TBD (Maybe Anthony Kay)
Again, Kay would make sense, having last pitched Wednesday. But he might be needed in one of the first two games. Everything is fluid.
One thing to consider: Davis Martin has a 5-3 record with a 3.13 ERA over 15 home starts against a 4-5 record and 4.68 ERA over 14 appearances (13 starts) on the road. Let’s not forget rookie Noah Schultz, who has been impressive working multiple innings out of the bullpen, or rookie David Sandlin, a starter who worked in relief against the Astros. Sean Newcomb has done a little bit of everything this season, with a 3.24 ERA over eight games against the Guardians. So he’s always a possibility.
Don’t overlook Smith coming back, with Venable discussing Smith and Taylor potentially being available for all three games.