Tarik Skubal's injury could open up Cy Young opportunities for Guardians co-aces 

While Gavin Williams and Parker Messick have yet to earn an All-Star nod in their career, there’s a good chance that both of them could end that streak this summer as a part of the Guardians’ contingent that heads to Philadelphia this summer for the MLB All-Star Game. 

But they both have a good chance to earn a bit more than that this year thanks to Tarik Skubal’s elbow injury. 

Skubal, the two-time reigning American League Cy Young winner, was placed on the 15-day injured list earlier this week with loose bodies in his throwing elbow. 

Not only is that injury a huge boon to the Guardians’ chances to three-peat in the American League Central, but it could also help Williams and Messick build their Cy Young cases. 

 Although Skubal may be back at some point in June, he’s going to face an uphill battle to get the stats needed to win the award for a third year in a row. 

That should be music to the ears of Messick and Williams, who are both off to strong starts this season and have become co-aces at the top of the Guardians’ rotation. 

Gavin Williams and Parker Messick are off to Cy Young-worthy starts

Messick has been one of the best stories in baseball this season thanks to an incredible opening month where he posted a 1.73 ERA across 36 1/3 innings. While he struggled a bit his last time out against the Athletics, Messick has opened plenty of eyes across MLB. He’ll be a clear Cy Young finalist if he’s able to keep it up. 

And then there’s Williams. After authoring a breakout season in 2025, he’s been even better this season to the tune of a 3.28 ERA with an MLB-leading 60 strikeouts. 

That strikeout ability is arguably the biggest leg up Williams has on the rest of the competition since he has a legitimate shot at reaching 200 strikeouts (he had 173 last year). 

If Williams continues to limit the free passes (10.6% walk rate) then he'll have as good of a shot to win the award as anyone. 

They both got some love earlier this week from MLB.com’s Thomas Harrington in his story highlighting some AL pitchers who could benefit from Skubal’s injury. 

José Soriano was the favorite for the award two weeks ago thanks to the 0.24 ERA he posted through his first six starts, but he’s allowed eight earned runs across his last two starts. 

New York’s Cam  Schlittler has taken over the American League ERA crown (1.52), but he has yet to throw more than 150 innings in a single season. 

Skubal was as close to a lock as you could have for an award in the past two seasons, but his injury changes things. 

That change could end up being the Guardians’ gain in more ways than one. 

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow