Dream Guardians rotation to harness momentum from last year’s strong finish

LHP Parker Messick 

At this time last year, Messick was one of the best-kept secrets in the Guardians’ minor league system. That’s not the case now, as he’s at the forefront of Cleveland’s pitching rotation thanks to an incredible showing in 2025. 

While Messick didn’t join the Guardians until the end of August, he still ended up being worth the ninth-most bWAR on the roster (1.2) in his 39 2/3 innings of work. 

Messick ended up going 5+ innings in six of his seven starts and allowed two runs or less in five of those starts and finished the year by recording 15 strikeouts across his final two starts of the season. 

He doesn’t have incredibly overpowering stuff, but he finished the year with a sparkling walk rate (3.8%) and hard-hit rate (29.8%). We’re expecting big things from him next season.