Two lefties, two very different vibes. Messick (6-3, 2.68) has been one of the quieter great stories in the AL — 2.68 ERA through his age-25 season — while Shane Drohan is a converted bulk reliever the Brewers just slotted into the rotation and immediately had Pat Murphy gushing about his poise. First pitch 1:10 PM CT.
The Guardians' problem isn't the arm they're sending out, it's everything behind him. Jose Ramirez is gone 5-to-7 weeks after hamate surgery, Angel Martinez is on the IL with a foot, and Chase DeLauter just joined them Wednesday with a rib issue. That's the heart of the order and two outfielders. Cleveland scratched 1 run on Tuesday and got steamrolled 9-4 on Wednesday — small sample, but the Ramirez-less lineup is going to look like that a lot.
- Day-To-DayTanner Burns SP — no
- Day-To-DayCarlos Hernandez RP — Hernandez (shoulder) began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
- 10-Day-ILChase DeLauter RF — The Guardians placed DeLauter (rib) on the 10-day injured list Wednesday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILJose Ramirez 3B — Ramirez underwent surgery to address the hamate bone fracture in his left hand Tuesday and is expected to be sidelined 5-to-7 weeks, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
- 10-Day-ILAngel Martinez LF — Martinez (foot) will be placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, reports Cade Cracas of Sports Illustrated.
- 15-Day-ILErik Sabrowski RP — Sabrowski (elbow) joined High-A Lake County on Sunday to begin a rehab assignment, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DayBrandon Sproat SP — Manager Pat Murphy said after Wednesday's win over Cleveland that Sproat's hamstring cramps are minor and won't impact his next scheduled start, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILBrandon Lockridge LF — Lockridge received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right knee Thursday, MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILBrandon Woodruff SP — Woodruff (shoulder) allowed three runs over 5.1 innings while notching six strikeouts in a rehab start with High-A Wisconsin on Tuesday.
- 15-Day-ILColeman Crow SP — Crow said Sunday that an MRI on his right forearm revealed a mild flexor strain, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILDL Hall RP — Hall received an anti-inflammatory injection for his left pectoral strain Friday, MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILJared Koenig RP — Koenig (elbow) transferred his rehab assignment to Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday and could be activated from the injured list in about a week, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
- 15-Day-ILCarlos Rodriguez RP — The Brewers placed Rodriguez on the 15-day injured list Monday due to a right shoulder impingement, MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILLogan Henderson SP — Henderson received an injection in his back Tuesday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Milwaukee, meanwhile, is 45-26 and playing the cleanest baseball in the NL. They've taken 4 of their last 5, the bullpen's been mowing, and even with Woodruff, Priester, Crow and Henderson all on the IL the rotation keeps producing usable starts. Drohan's last time out he went 5 with 7 punchouts and zero walks against the Phillies — the line (4 ER) was uglier than the stuff.
The shape of this game writes itself: Messick keeps it tight into the 6th, Cleveland needs to scratch 2 or 3 against a lefty starter who can spin it, and then it's on a depleted Guardians lineup to do something against a Brewers pen that's been one of the better units in baseball. Doable. Not easy.
Getaway day, 1:10 local, Guardians flying to Houston after. Cleveland would really, really like to not get swept here before walking into Daikin Park. This is the spot where Messick has to be the guy.