Game 57: Red Sox up against a solid young pitcher in middle game of series in Cleveland

A day after a tough loss in which righthander Brayan Bello delivered his best performance of the season, the Red Sox are up against a rising star in Cleveland on Saturday.

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Rookie lefthander Parker Messick, 25, has allowed no more than three earned runs in 10 of his 11 starts this season. He has 108 strikeouts and 25 walks in 18 career starts (104 innings), including in 2025.

Messick has one career appearance against the Red Sox, a no-decision on Sept. 4 in a 6-4 loss. He allowed three runs on nine hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Cleveland is 9-2 in games he’s started this season.

“It doesn’t matter who he’s pitching against,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “He’s just gonna go attack.”

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Here’s a preview.

RED SOX (23-33): TBA

Pitching: RHP Sonny Gray (5-1, 3.27 ERA)

GUARDIANS (34-25): TBA

Pitching: LHP Parker Messick (6-1, 2.24 ERA)

Time: 4:10 p.m.

TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7

Red Sox vs. Messick: Ceddanne Rafaela 0-2, Connor Wong 1-1

Guardians vs. Gray: Patrick Bailey 1-5, Stuart Fairchild 0-2, David Fry 0-3, Austin Hedges 3-9, Rhys Hoskins 5-20, Kyle Manzardo 0-3, Angel Martínez 0-3, José Ramírez 9-43, Daniel Schneemann 0-3

Stat of the day: According to MLB.com, only two Cleveland pitchers have had more strikeouts through 18 starts than Messick, who has 108: Herb Score (139) and Danny Salazar (112). Shane Bieber also had 108 strikeouts in 18 starts.

Notes: The Red Sox hit a season low with Friday’s loss, dropping 10 games below .500 for the first time in 2026. … Boston has lost six of its last seven games. It’s the first time the Red Sox have been 10 games below .500 since the 2020 season. … Red Sox starter Sonny Gray is 7-5 with a 3.20 ERA in 20 career appearances (all starts) against the Guardians, leaders of the American League Central. … Gray struggled with his command in his last start, a no-decision in a 6-5 loss to Minnesota on Sunday. He was pulled after four innings and gave up three runs on six hits, walked two batters and hit another. … Cleveland played without outfielder Steven Kwan on Friday after he was placed on the bereavement/family medical emergency list and is expected to miss the entire three-game series.

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Material from Field Level Media was included in this report.