Guardians Set Rotation for Crucial Twins Series
The Cleveland Guardians are stepping into a pivotal stretch of the season, and their pitching rotation has been firmly set for this weekend’s four-game showdown against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Fresh off a three-game sweep in Detroit, the Guardians are now breathing down the necks of the first-place Tigers. The chase has never been more intense, and every inning feels like it carries October weight.
It all begins Friday night, when rookie left-hander Parker Messick, unbeaten so far with a 3-0 record and a razor-sharp 1.84 ERA, is tasked with keeping the Guardians’ momentum rolling. This will be his first career start against Minnesota, and his dazzling debut campaign has already become one of the stories of Cleveland’s season.
Saturday brings a doubleheader, and manager Stephen Vogt has laid out the plan. Slade Cecconi, who sits at 6-6 with a 4.39 ERA, will pitch in the afternoon game, while Logan Allen, who’s had a tougher go at 7-11 with a 4.36 ERA, will handle the nightcap. Vogt admitted there wasn’t much mystery in that decision, saying both were set to throw regardless, but he noted Cecconi has found some rhythm in day games.
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The series wraps on Sunday with Joey Cantillo on the hill. He enters at 5-3 with a steady 3.27 ERA, aiming to cap off the series before the Guardians return home for their final homestand of the season—one that begins against none other than the division-leading Tigers.
One name not in the mix this weekend is veteran lefty John Means. He is making a rehab start with Triple-A Columbus as he continues working his way back from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in June of last year. Vogt emphasized that the priority remains Means’ health over any immediate contribution. The long-term picture, he stressed, matters more than short-term needs.
Despite all the recent success—seven straight wins and 12 out of their last 13—the Guardians still trail Detroit by three and a half games. But that deficit is the smallest it has been since late May, and there’s a sense of real belief building around this team. A historic comeback in the AL Central is still within reach, and to make that dream real, this weekend in Minnesota cannot be taken lightly.
The Twins may be stuck in fourth place and slogging through a rough second half, but Vogt made it clear that his club is not overlooking them. “It doesn’t matter who we’re playing,” he said. “We know we have to play flawless baseball to win. Records don’t tell the whole story.”
For Cleveland, the stakes are crystal clear. Every pitch, every at-bat, and every defensive play could be the difference between a storybook finish and a near miss. And as the Guardians step onto the field in Minnesota, the belief in something special continues to grow.
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