Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt had to come up with a plan when his team began a stretch of 17 games in 17 days on Aug. 29.
As a result, Vogt opted to employ a six-man rotation to get through the grueling late-season schedule. It will continue Saturday evening as Cleveland (76-71) hosts the Chicago White Sox (57-91).
Guardians left-hander Parker Messick (2-0, 1.93 ERA) will face White Sox right-hander Davis Martin (6-9, 4.03 ERA) in the middle contest of the three-game series.
“As a player or manager, this is the first time I’ve experienced it,” Vogt said. “When the idea got brought up, it just kept making more and more sense with this particular group of pitchers for this particular stretch at this time.”
The results have been impressive, especially on an ongoing seven-game homestand that has seen Cleveland go 4-1 and remain in the American League wild-card chase.
Slade Cecconi, Joey Cantillo, Gavin Williams and Tanner Bibee posted quality starts in four of the first five contests at home, while Logan Allen went five innings and gave up two runs in the other.
“It’s been good, other than it’s hard to keep track of who’s pitching tomorrow,” Vogt quipped. “I think the extra day or rest at this point of the year is really helping them have their best stuff.”
Bibee tossed the latest gem Friday, limiting the White Sox to two hits in a 4-0 win. It was the right-hander’s initial career shutout and the franchise’s first complete game shutout since Zach Plesac against the Los Angeles Angels on Sept. 10, 2019.
“I’ve got to give him credit, man,” said Chicago catcher Kyle Teel, whose 20-game on-base streak ended against Bibee. “He was locating his off-speed pitches really well and using his fastball for effect. I have to tip my cap to him.”
Messick was recalled from Triple-A Columbus to make his debut Aug. 20 at the Arizona Diamondbacks and has been nothing short of terrific in three of his four outings, allowing zero or one runs while pitching at least six innings.
This will be his first appearance against the White Sox and his second start at home.
Martin is 1-2 with a 7.71 ERA in three starts against the Guardians, pitching five innings in his lone victory Aug. 10 at home, a 6-4 Chicago victory. He hasn’t lost since Aug. 5, going 3-0 with a 3.77 ERA over six games.
The White Sox have the second-worst record in the majors but are 24 full games ahead of their pace from last season, when they finished 41-121 and fired manager Pedro Grifol in August.
“They’ve come together and are proud of what they’re doing,” Chicago manager Will Venable said. “And they’re holding each other accountable, which is the ultimate representation of ownership.”
Chicago is 8-3 in September and can avoid another 100-loss season by winning six of its remaining 14 games.
“Next year is going to be a good year for this team,” Chicago pitcher Martin Perez said. “They’re going to be a contending team.”
-Field Level Media