Parker Messick couldn’t contain his excitement when it was announced that he would start for the Cleveland Guardians on the Fourth of July against the Chicago White Sox.

The left-hander ordered snazzy red, white and blue cleats for the occasion, which he modeled for reporters earlier in Cleveland’s homestand and called “pretty sweet.”

Messick (7-5, 2.85 ERA) will take on White Sox right-hander Sean Burke (5-4, 3.69) as the top two teams in the American League Central continue their four-game series on Saturday night.

“You’re just jealous,” Messick told fellow pitcher Gavin Williams, who did appear envious of the package delivered to the clubhouse. “Just wait ‘til you see the special hats and jerseys we’re wearing, too. It’s going to be really cool.”

The Guardians’ play has been pretty sweet in the first two games of the series. They now hold a one-game lead over Chicago — and have defeated the White Sox nine straight times in Cleveland — after winning on walk-off hits Thursday and Friday.

Brayan Rocchio’s two-run homer in the ninth inning off Grant Taylor lifted the Guardians to a 6-5 victory in the opener. Rookie Kahlil Watson singled in Steven Kwan in the 10th inning to give them a 4-3 triumph Friday.

Watson, who made his major league debut on June 18, has thrived against the White Sox with a .400 average, one homer and seven RBIs in five games. His game-winning single off Sean Newcomb was his first walk-off hit.

“No moment, no scene seems to be too much for him,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “It’s been really fun to see. Obviously, a really cool moment for him and a huge win for us.”

Messick is 1-1 with a 1.98 ERA in two career starts against Chicago, striking out 14 with just two walks over 13 2/3 innings. The loss occurred on June 23, when he allowed two runs in 7 2/3 innings with 10 strikeouts in the Windy City.

Still classified as a rookie, Messick is experiencing his first rocky stretch in the big leagues, going 1-4 with a 4.26 ERA over his past five starts. Prior to it, he had won nine of 11 decisions since making his major league debut last Aug. 20.

“It’s an ongoing process, I’m still young in my career,” Messick said. “We’re starting to figure out what makes me feel the best going into each start.”

Burke, who will be tasked with stopping Cleveland’s momentum, has been solid of late with a 3-1 record and 3.18 ERA in his past seven outings. That includes beating Messick 11 days ago, when he gave up one run in 6 1/3 innings.

In five lifetime appearances against the Guardians, Burke is 1-2 with a 3.48 ERA and has permitted 32 players to reach base in 20 2/3 innings.

“Our guys are really consistent,” Chicago manager Will Venable said. “They flush whatever happened in the past, and are excited to come to the ballpark and give every ounce of energy they have.”

The common thread in the losses has been poor command by White Sox pitchers, who walked nine in the opener and five Friday. In the latter, deposed closer Seranthony Dominguez was handed a 3-1 lead in the seventh, but walked Rhys Hoskins and Rocchio, and allowed them to score.

“When you’re facing the Guardians, limiting the free passes is No. 1 on the pitching side, as far as a way to beat these guys,” Venable said.

–Field Level Media

Houston’s Cristian Javier was reinstated from the 60-day injured list before the Astros opened a three-game series against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays with a 3-1 loss on Friday.

Javier is the second of five Houston starting pitchers either already back in the fold or soon to rejoin the active roster.

Fellow right-hander Hunter Brown (1-0, 1.78 ERA), who returned last month, has the starting assignment for the Astros on Saturday night when they continue their series against the Rays, who have won nine games in a row.

Right-handers Lance McCullers Jr. (shoulder) and Ronel Blanco are set to make rehab starts on Tuesday, while right-hander Hayden Wesneski has a rehab start set for Sunday. Blanco and Wesneski are coming back from elbow surgery.

McCullers Jr., Blanco and Wesneski could be in line to return following the All-Star break, and reinforcements would be welcome for the Astros, who are four games under .500.

“You can never have enough pitching,” manager Joe Espada said. “These guys are progressing well, and we’re entering that time of the year where we’re going to need all the help we can get.

“Those guys are coming along, and they’re throwing the ball really well.”

Brown did not factor into the decision of a 7-5, 10-inning victory over the Detroit Tigers on June 28 after allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts over six innings. That marked his third start following a two-plus-month stint on the injured list (shoulder). Brown has a 2.45 ERA with 15 strikeouts across 14 2/3 innings in those outings.

He is 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA across six career appearances (four starts) against the Rays. He finished 1-1 with a 4.09 ERA in two starts against Tampa Bay last season, including a home start on June 1, 2025, during which he threw six scoreless innings with five strikeouts, one hit and four walks allowed in the Astros’ 1-0 victory.

Right-hander Drew Rasmussen (7-4, 2.45 ERA) is scheduled to start on Saturday for the Rays.

Rasmussen recorded his fifth consecutive quality start on June 28 against the Arizona Diamondbacks after working six shutout innings in a 5-1 victory. He was named American League Pitcher of the Month for June after finishing 3-2 with an 0.82 ERA across six starts.

Rasmussen is 2-2 with a 4.01 ERA in five career appearances (four starts) against the Astros. In his previous outing against them, on Aug. 13, 2024, Rasmussen worked two scoreless innings and allowed two hits with three strikeouts in the Rays’ 3-2 home loss.

Tampa Bay played its 14th game of a stretch of 23 games in 24 days on Friday, and manager Kevin Cash is mindful of providing his regulars rest when viable. Second baseman Richie Palacios had Friday off, and left fielder Chandler Simpson (hand) was a late scratch.

“We’ve got to mix and match and get some guys in there,” said Cash, whose Rays completed a three-game series sweep on the road against the Royals before arriving in Houston. “Get some guys off their feet. It was hot in Kansas City, so watching guys’ workload for sure.”

–Field Level Media

Former All-Star pitcher Hunter Greene is set to make his season debut Saturday night for the Cincinnati Reds as they look to even their weekend series against the visiting Baltimore Orioles.

The return of the Reds’ ace from the injured list comes as the team is struggling to stay within striking distance of a postseason berth. After Friday’s 3-0 loss, Cincinnati has a 40-47 record, the fourth-worst mark in the National League, and is seven games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the third and final wild-card spot.

Despite the Reds winning just three of their last 10 games and playing sub-.400 ball over the past two months, Greene told reporters in the locker room before Friday’s game that he still believes they can make a run.

“There’s too many ebbs and flows of the season, and you guys have seen our team and other teams get really hot,” said the right-hander, who had surgery in March to remove bone chips from his right elbow. “We know that that’s our ability.”

When healthy, Greene, 26, has been one of the National League’s best pitchers over the last two seasons, posting a 16-9 record with a 2.76 ERA over 258 innings with 301 strikeouts. However, he made only 45 starts as he lost time to a groin strain and elbow injuries.

Greene made two starts for Triple-A Louisville to prepare for his return. In his last start, he threw 6 1/3 innings in a 3-0 win, retiring the last 16 batters he faced while throwing 82 pitches.

However, Greene will need support from his offense. In their last 10 games, the Reds have hit just .232 and averaged less than four runs per game. Their .220 average this season with runners in scoring position is the worst in the majors.

Elly De La Cruz has been a bright spot in the Reds’ lineup since he returned from a hamstring injury late last month. He went 1-for-3 Friday to extend his hitting streak to six games.

Greene has faced Baltimore twice in his career. He’s 0-1, with a 5.19 ERA. Last April in Baltimore, he lasted just three innings and gave up five runs in a 9-5 loss.

The Orioles had only four hits in their victory on Friday, but one of them was a two-run homer by Samuel Basallo in the third inning. It was enough to get the win as Trevor Rogers threw five shutout innings.

Baltimore has won four of its last 10 games. Orioles pitchers have allowed a total of three runs in those victories. Rogers said he believes the staff can take it up a notch as its rotation gets healthier.

“That’s what it’s going to take for us to go on that run,” he said.

Brandon Young (6-2, 3.11 ERA) will start for Baltimore on Saturday. The right-hander has won three of his last five starts.

Young also faced the Reds in the April game last year. He lasted only four innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, with three walks and three strikeouts.

Baltimore’s Taylor Ward reached base twice Friday with a hit and a walk in four plate appearances. While he’s only hitting .251 through 88 games, his .379 on-base percentage ranks among the top 10 in the AL.

–Field Level Media