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Guardians name Parker Messick Game 1 starter vs White Sox

By Drooid · Oct 2, 2026, 2:26 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Guardians Set Rotation

Cleveland Guardians named Parker Messick as Game 1 starter in the ALDS vs Chicago White Sox.
Gavin Williams will start Game 2 for the Guardians.
Manager Stephen Vogt said they are Cleveland’s two best pitchers this season.
Messick finished 12-9, 2.56 ERA, 193 K in 186 1/3 innings and earned All-Star nod.
Williams posted 14-8, 3.76 ERA and led the AL with 248 K in 184.1 innings.

Summary

White Sox Clinch Victory

White Sox clinched their first playoff series win since 2005, ending a 21-year drought.
This ALDS marks the first postseason series ever contested between the Guardians and the White Sox.
The best-of-five series follows a 2-2-1 format with Games 1, 2, 5 in Cleveland and Games 3, 4 in Chicago.
The Guardians earned the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye by finishing 85-77, one game ahead of Chicago.

History

Historical Context

In 1995 the Cleveland Indians returned to the postseason for the first time since 1954, posted a 100-44 record, won the AL Central by 30 games, and advanced to the World Series after a 30-year gap since the Browns' 1965 championship. Albert Belle’s 50 homers and José Mesa’s 46 saves underscored the revival. Guardians now meet the White Sox in ALDS, echoing historic surge.

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Guardians Set Rotation

Cleveland Guardians named Parker Messick as Game 1 starter in the ALDS vs Chicago White Sox.
Gavin Williams will start Game 2 for the Guardians.
Manager Stephen Vogt said they are Cleveland’s two best pitchers this season.
Messick finished 12-9, 2.56 ERA, 193 K in 186 1/3 innings and earned All-Star nod.
Williams posted 14-8, 3.76 ERA and led the AL with 248 K in 184.1 innings.

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