The Cleveland Guardians opened Spring Training on Saturday with a 4-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds and saw some solid contributions from plenty of different members of the team. David Fry and Gabriel Arias delivered big extra-base hits to drive in runs and Logan Allen started and delivered two shutout innings.
Elsewhere on the farm, Cleveland had a split-squad game and beat the Milwaukee Brewers 9-6 to go 2-0 on the day. Joey Cantillo started and gave up two earned runs in 1.1 innings, which wasn’t how he wanted to start his spring, but hopefully he can build off of it and improve in his next start.
Mason Horodyski shared on X that Parker Messick is next up in the rotation and will toe the slab against the Athletics on Sunday. It’s a big spring for Messick, who like Cantillo, is likely competing for a spot in the rotation and will be aiming to build off a solid yet brief debut towards the end of the 2025 season.
“Parker Messick is the probable starter for the #Guardians Sunday vs. the A’s, per the team,” Horodyski wrote.
Parker Messick is the probable starter for the #Guardians Sunday vs. the A’s, per the team.#GuardsBall x @WEWS
— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) February 21, 2026
Messick made seven starts for the Guardians last season and went 3-1 with a 2.72 ERA. He also had an impressive 38:6 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 39.2 innings and certainly has an inside track to a rotation spot with a solid spring.
Cantillo and Messick are among the group that is battling for that final spot in the rotation, and some view Cantillo as a breakout candidate after his solid 2025 season. Cantillo had a 3.21 ERA in 95.1 innings last season and was one of Cleveland’s most highly-regarded prospects prior to his debut, so there’s plenty of room for him to go up a level despite his rocky Spring Training debut on Saturday.
Messick is also reportedly working on a cutter, so keep an eye out during his start on Sunday to see if he is already comfortable enough to throw a few of them. Gavin Williams had a strong 2025 season after also developing a cutter, so if Messick can follow suit, it would make him a major asset to this rotation.
NEXT: Stephen Vogt Will Face His Biggest Challenge Yet With Guardians This Season
