AL DIVISION SERIES: WHITE SOX VS GUARDIANS

October 7, 2026

Parker Messick

Rate Field

Cleveland Guardians

Pregame 3 Press Conference

Q. Parker, how different, if at all, is your preparation for a start that is set up after a win-or-go-home game?

PARKER MESSICK: It's exactly the same. Just get ready to go. Plan like I'm ready to rock 'n' roll tomorrow.

Q. Obviously, this is a big day for you guys. It seems unlikely that you would factor into this game. How difficult is it, the competitor in you, to know that you're gearing up for a different role tomorrow, but likely wouldn't have an impact on a must-win game to keep the season going?

PARKER MESSICK: I think it's just that I trust the team. It's a team sport for a reason. I can't be a part of it every time. My job is to go out there every fifth day. So just trust the team to do their job. And then when I get my chance tomorrow, take care of business.

Q. Parker, what did you learn in your first postseason experience, like, in Game 1 pitching that you think you'll apply to tomorrow, if you pitch and how it might help you?

PARKER MESSICK: When you face the same team for six times, there's certainly no secrets going into a start. I think for me, the postseason atmosphere is just what I've always looked forward to pitching in. It was exactly what I anticipated it to be. It was super exciting. I eat up the atmosphere, whether it's for me or against me, home or away. I think it's so fun to play in that kind of baseball game.

So I definitely think it aided to the way that I pitch anyway. So I'm going to lean into that tomorrow as well. But no secrets between me and the White Sox. They pretty much know what I got, I know what they got. So it's going to be best stuff on best stuff and see what happens.

Q. Parker, what do you remember hearing about Daniel Espino when you first came into the organization?

PARKER MESSICK: This is actually a fun story. He was actually, like, the prototype for what they wanted us to be as a Cleveland pitcher. He threw multiple pitches for strikes. He was, you know, the hardest worker, took care of business in every aspect of his game and nutrition, weight room, training room, all of it.

When we got drafted, we actually sat down in a room, my draft class, and they showed us a video of him striking out, like, 15 people in Akron. I'm pretty sure it was one ball put in play, and it was a jam shot back to the pitcher and he literally fielded it, stared at the guy running down the line, tossed it to first. They're like, this is what we want you guys pitching like.

He was actually the first pitcher I ever saw video on right when I got drafted. He's an incredible person inside the locker room, and obviously we've seen he's super talented on the field.

THE MODERATOR: Parker, thanks for coming in.

PARKER MESSICK: Thank you, guys.