The Cleveland Guardians could be called one of the more interesting teams in the American League. They won the AL Central last year (barely) and came into 2026 with a rotation that looks deeper on paper than it did then, even without any major additions. Their record so far (10-8) reflects a team that\u2019s been solid at home and an even .500 on the road. They\u2019ve just lost four of six including a 13-1 spanking by Atlanta on Sunday, and a two-to-one series loss to St. Louis.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The offense is built around the usual suspects, plus a few new ones, too. Jos\u00e9 Ram\u00edrez is Jos\u00e9 Ram\u00edrez \u2014 he needs no introduction at this point, having put together nine seasons with an OPS over .800, which is simply one of the great sustained runs of production in franchise history. Outfielder Steven Kwan is in the middle of a down start to the season, but he\u2019s been one of the best contact hitters in the game. Outfielder Angel Martinez (currently hitting .314) has been one of the pleasant surprises of the early season and has been eating into playing time for others. Rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter is hitting everything in sight (.273\/.349\/.618\/.967).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
This is considered a Top Ten offense for now, but several hitters are ice cold. Longtime Philly Rhys Hoskins has had a bumpy start to his Guardians career: he\u2019s hitting .209 in 13 games. Ditto Brayan Rocchio, who has an OPS below .700. Utility man David Fry, who plays first and some outfield, is adding negative value right now, and Bo Naylor, samesies, given a .143 average in 12 games.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Below the top few spots, this is a lineup that doesn\u2019t have a lot of household names, but is disciplined, makes contact, and does not beat itself.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Cleveland rotation, meanwhile, is usually a strength, but with one exception it\u2019s currently floundering a bit. Let\u2019s turn to those matchups.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Game 1: Thursday, 6:10 pm, MASN<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nRHP Shane Baz (0-1, 4.50 ERA, 14 SO) vs. LHP Parker Messick (2-0, 0.51 ERA, 16 SO)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nBaz has had an up-and-down start to life in Baltimore, allowing at least three earned runs in two of his first three outings and yet to complete six innings in any of them, giving him a 4.50 ERA and 1.56 WHIP through 16 innings. The stuff remains impressive \u2014 his fastball is sitting around 97 mph and he\u2019s been leaning more heavily on his knuckle-curve, which generated a nearly 30% whiff rate in his early work. The command has been the issue, and it has been the issue with him in the past.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nOn the other side of this matchup, however, is arguably the hottest pitcher in baseball right now. The 25-year-old lefty Parker Messick has an 0.51 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, and a 16:5 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and in just three starts he\u2019s already accumulated more WAR (1.3) than he did in his entire 2025 campaign. His most recent start came against Atlanta\u2019s formidable offense, where he held the Braves scoreless through 6.2 innings, allowing just four hits and two walks. His changeup is special, his command is exceptional, and he is not afraid of the moment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nGame 2: Friday, 6:10 pm, MASN<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nRHP Chris Bassitt (0-2, 9.00 ERA, 5 SO) vs. RHP Tanner Bibee (0-2, 6.38 ERA, 18 SO)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nThis one looks more like a game the Orioles can win, at least on paper, because both starters are in poor form. Bassitt comes in at 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA and just 5 strikeouts. He was acquired as a professional innings-eater who keeps the team in games, and that has not been what he\u2019s delivered so far. His five-year track record of reliability gives reason to believe he\u2019ll find his footing, but we\u2019re not seeing it at present. In his last start, the veteran right reports being able to better land his offspeed pitches, a welcome development.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
RHP Shane Baz (0-1, 4.50 ERA, 14 SO) vs. LHP Parker Messick (2-0, 0.51 ERA, 16 SO)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Baz has had an up-and-down start to life in Baltimore, allowing at least three earned runs in two of his first three outings and yet to complete six innings in any of them, giving him a 4.50 ERA and 1.56 WHIP through 16 innings. The stuff remains impressive \u2014 his fastball is sitting around 97 mph and he\u2019s been leaning more heavily on his knuckle-curve, which generated a nearly 30% whiff rate in his early work. The command has been the issue, and it has been the issue with him in the past.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n On the other side of this matchup, however, is arguably the hottest pitcher in baseball right now. The 25-year-old lefty Parker Messick has an 0.51 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, and a 16:5 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and in just three starts he\u2019s already accumulated more WAR (1.3) than he did in his entire 2025 campaign. His most recent start came against Atlanta\u2019s formidable offense, where he held the Braves scoreless through 6.2 innings, allowing just four hits and two walks. His changeup is special, his command is exceptional, and he is not afraid of the moment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n RHP Chris Bassitt (0-2, 9.00 ERA, 5 SO) vs. RHP Tanner Bibee (0-2, 6.38 ERA, 18 SO)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n This one looks more like a game the Orioles can win, at least on paper, because both starters are in poor form. Bassitt comes in at 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA and just 5 strikeouts. He was acquired as a professional innings-eater who keeps the team in games, and that has not been what he\u2019s delivered so far. His five-year track record of reliability gives reason to believe he\u2019ll find his footing, but we\u2019re not seeing it at present. In his last start, the veteran right reports being able to better land his offspeed pitches, a welcome development.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nGame 2: Friday, 6:10 pm, MASN<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n