While a 4-3 record for the week may not seem like anything to write home about, it was still an extremely productive and successful week for the Guardians.
Messick Flirts with No-No
Continuing his massively successful 2026 season, rookie Parker Messick nearly made history Thursday night. After the sixth inning, I received a notification on my phone about Messick not yet giving up a hit. Hoping that didn’t just doom him, I turned on the game and watched him pitch two more hitless innings. Heading into the ninth, he was already
over 100 pitches, but manager Stephen Vogt let him try to complete the job. Just like that, first pitch single. The chance at history was gone, and five pitches later, there were runners on first and second. The two runners ended up scoring after Cade Smith entered the game, so Messick couldn’t even collect a shutout. However, those first eight innings are truly what matters as he continues to prove just how special he is on the mound.
Big Day for Hedges
Perhaps one of the most valuable members of the team this year, catcher Austin Hedges has been an asset at the plate both offensively and defensively. He is hitting .250/.290/.321 (the highest average and OBP in his career even though the season is still young) and the Guards are 8-0 in games that he starts. While all of this success at the plate is great for us fans, it’s probably not the thing he’s most happy about right now. That’s because after Sunday’s game versus the Baltimore Orioles, the scoreboard lit up with a message reading “Lexi, will you marry me?” while Hedges got down on one knee. The couple’s happy faces are all you need to see to know what Lexi’s answer was.
Ramírez Reaching History – Again
Third baseman José Ramírez has already added a few records to his list so far this season, but he’s just inches away from another historic moment. With 291 home runs and 297 stolen bases to his name, he is perhaps just a few weeks away from becoming the ninth player in Major League history with 300 home runs and 300 steals. His two home runs in Sunday’s game versus the Orioles got him closer to claiming that title. With six home runs and 10 stolen bases to his name already this season, there’s no doubt he will shatter the 300/300 barrier soon.
Social Media Spotlight
When the Orioles’ manager and Cleveland’s former assistant manager Craig Albernaz came to town, he was greeted by a light-hearted prank from Stephen Vogt. Everything in the visiting manager’s office was child-sized. It was noted that there were plenty of Bluey items scattered around, and that was a highlight for Albernaz as described in this Tweet from Jacob Calvin Meyer.
