Cleveland left-hander Parker Messick is poised to make his major league debut as the Guardians face the Arizona Diamondbacks in a crucial playoff matchup. The Guardians announced that Messick will start in the final game of a three-game series on Wednesday afternoon in Phoenix. This comes after the Diamondbacks secured a narrow 6-5 victory over Cleveland on Tuesday, intensifying the competitive atmosphere.
The Diamondbacks will counter with right-hander Brandon Pfaadt, who has a record of 12-8 and an ERA of 5.08. This decisive game follows a tense contest in which the Guardians left the bases loaded in both the seventh and eighth innings, allowing Arizona to rally from a 4-2 deficit to take a commanding lead. Guardians manager Stephen Vogt acknowledged the challenges posed by the Diamondbacks’ pitching staff, stating, “We had a lot of weak contact tonight, but that’s a testament to their pitching. They did a great job getting in on us. We had our opportunities.”
Messick, aged 24, arrives in the big leagues after a successful stint with Triple-A Columbus, where he recorded a 5-6 record with a 3.47 ERA over 20 games, all starts. In those outings, he struck out 119 batters while walking 42 in 98.2 innings. His most effective pitch is a low-80s changeup, and he has been particularly effective recently, posting a 2.93 ERA and an 0.88 WHIP in his last five starts, spanning 30.2 innings.
Diamondbacks’ Lineup and Recent Performance
As Messick takes the mound, he will face a revitalized Diamondbacks lineup featuring Geraldo Perdomo, Ketel Marte, and Corbin Carroll, who have been batting in the top three spots in the order for seven of the last eight games. This trio has combined for an impressive .323 batting average, contributing six doubles, three triples, four home runs, 14 RBIs, and nine stolen bases during this span.
Carroll, who has 27 home runs this season, recently achieved his fourth two-triple game, setting a career and major league record with 16 triples. He is now one of only six players in the modern era to record four two-triple games in a single season, joining the ranks of notable players like Carl Crawford in 2004. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo expressed optimism about the new lineup arrangement, stating, “I like it a lot. It’s new for Corbin, I get that. But Corbin is full of slug. He can impact the game from any position at any time.”
Pfaadt’s Recent Performance and Career Against Guardians
On the mound for the Diamondbacks, Pfaadt recently set a personal best with his victories in a 13-6 win against Colorado on August 10, 2024. However, he saw his two-game winning streak come to an end after allowing four runs in six innings during a rematch against the Rockies, resulting in a 4-3 loss. “We stayed in the game and ultimately gave our team a chance to win the game. Just didn’t come out on top,” Pfaadt reflected.
Despite Pfaadt’s success in terms of wins, his ERA ranks 23rd among the 27 qualifiers in the National League, indicating inconsistency. He has surrendered 151 hits this season, placing him fourth in the league for most hits allowed. Notably, Pfaadt has previously faced the Guardians, achieving a victory in his only career start against them, where he allowed two runs in 6.1 innings on August 7, 2024.
As the Guardians and Diamondbacks clash in this pivotal game, both teams are aware of the stakes involved in their playoff aspirations. Messick’s performance may prove crucial as Cleveland seeks to close the gap in the American League wild-card race.