Rookie Parker Messick making MLB history, Guardians into true believers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Isaac Paredes opened the fifth inning Tuesday night with a single to left field. Yainer Diaz followed with a one-out double.Believe it or not, Houston Astros hitters linked quality at-bats off Cleveland Guardians rookie Parker Messick, ending with three runs on Brice Matthews' two-run single and Yordan Alvarez's two-out, RBI single.As one of the franchise's top prospects to believe in, Messick uncharacteristically yielded three earned runs on six hits in five innings at Progressive Field.Guardians believe in rookie P Parker MessickThrough his opening four starts this season, Messick posted an earned-run average of 1.05 with 25 strikeouts and only seven bases on balls in 25.2 innings.Those are elite numbers that can make believers out of any front office.
In a hurry.Over the past decade, Messick became one of two pitchers to record a sub-.215 ERA during his opening 65 career innings pitched. Pittsburgh Pirates' Paul Skenes, the 2025 NL Cy Young award recipient, compiled a 1.90 ERA, while Messick was 2.07.In his previous start last Thursday, Messick carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning before losing the bid one batter into the frame. The 25-year-old entered Tuesday having allowed just three earned runs this season.
The Astros matched that total in the fifth inning Tuesday, spiking Messick's ERA to 1.76.The Guardians (14-11) rallied to score six eighth-inning runs to secure an 8-5 victory over the visiting Astros (9-16). One inning aside, Messick continues to be a player the Guardians believe in.