The 2026 MLB All-Star Game, played on Tuesday in Philadelphia, was a perfect chance for the world to get to know three Cleveland Guardians stars from up close. Those who haven’t watched Parker Messick, Cade Smith, and Travis Bazzana play are now familiar with them and why they were chosen to participate in the Midsummer Classic.
Messick, in particular, has been one of the best starting pitchers in the American League, with a 2.73 ERA in 112 frames this year. He has developed nicely, with hard work and a lot of patience. Right now, he is the leader of a fantastic rotation.
After starting pitcher Dylan Cease took care of the opening frame with a walk and three strikeouts, Messick tossed the second inning for the junior circuit. It was quick and painless, and he got the job done.
He faced three hitters and got a first-pitch pop-up, a groundout, and a strikeout. He needed just 10 pitches, and it all happened in the blink of an eye. That’s Messick for you: he works quickly, he doesn’t like to waste time, and he will dominate you.
Cleveland.com’s Paul Hoynes discussed Messick’s outing in the Cleveland Baseball Talk podcast, saying that he was so quick that most people actually missed the show.
“And [Parker Messick] moved on the mound so fast that he was on the mound and he was gone and he’s headed to the dugout like in the snap of the fingers. The announcers were talking about (Justin) Verlander, something totally different, and the inning was over. And I don’t know if they even mentioned Messick’s name maybe once or twice,” Hoynes said. “Maybe the national audience missed it, and maybe the fans were still getting into their seats or buying a beer or eating a hot dog, but you know, those guys in the locker room, both sides — that did not go unnoticed.”
Few starters looked better than Messick in the first half. He dominates hitters either by striking them out (110 in 112 frames) or by inducing soft contact. He is a master at disrupting hitters’ rhythm, forcing them to swing at pitches they don’t want to swing.
Messick is throwing harder than ever, but is also aided by a fantastic changeup that boasts a 37.1 percent whiff rate. His phenomenal four-seamer is limiting hitters to a .140 batting average, an elite mark.
Messick was so good and so quick in the All-Star Game that some fans didn’t even get to enjoy him for a long time. Don’t worry: there will be plenty of chances, because he is not going anywhere.
NEXT: Insider Reveals An Unbelievable Stat About Steven Kwan's Season
