The Guardians open a three-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays at Progressive Field on Monday, April 27.
Cleveland (15-14) is currently tied atop The American League Central with Detroit. Tampa Bay (16-11) is 1½ games behind the New York Yankees in the AL East.
Follow along here for live updates, highlights and in-game analysis:
Guardians get to Tampa Bay left-hander Steven Matz in the fifth inning
Chase DeLauter lined out to left field. David Fry was initially called out on strikes, but challenged at walked instead. Daniel Schneeman homered to left-center field on the first pitch. Fry scored. The blast went 386 feet and extended his 13-game on-base streak. Austin Hedges grounded out to short. Brayan Rocchio flew out to right. Cleveland 2, Tampa Bay 0
Parker Messick continues to impress, game still scoreless in the fifth
Ben Williamson grounded out to short. Nick Fortes grounded out to second. Taylor Walls struck out swinging. Tampa Bay 0, Cleveland 0 B5
Jose Ramirez’s hit quickly erased in the fourth
Angel Martinez flew out to left field. Jose Ramirez singled to center field on the first pitch. Rhys Hoskins grounded out to a 5-4-3 double play. Steven Matz has given up two hits, walked none and struck out none through four for the Rays. He has thrown 47 pitches. Tampa Bay 0, Cleveland 0 T5
Parker Messick is dealing through four for the Guardians
Junior Caminero grounded out to second. Ryan Vilade broke his bat, sent a slow roller to first and beat Parker Messick to the bag. Base hit. Jonny DeLuca struck out swinging. Chandler Simpson flew out to center field. Messick has thrown 64 pitches through the first four innings. He has seven strikeouts, has walked one and allowed two weak groundball hits. Tampa Bay 0, Cleveland 0 B4
Guardians notch first hit, don’t capitalize in third
Daniel Schneeman grounded out to second. Austin Hedges singled to left. Brayan Rocchio grounded into a fielder’s choice to third. Hedges out at second. Steven Kwan grounded out to right-center field. Tampa Bay 0, Cleveland 0 T4
Rays put runner in scoring position, don’t capitalize in third
Nick Fortes strikes out swinging. Taylor Walls strikes out swinging. Yandy Diaz walked. Jonathan Aranda batting, Diaz advanced to second on a passed ball. Aranda grounds out 1-6-3. Tampa Bay 0, Cleveland 0 B3
Guardians hitting Rays hard, not finding holes; It’s scoreless after two
Rhys Hoskins flies out to deep left center. Chase DeLauter flew out to right. Guards putting good wood on the ball, just not finding grass. David Fry grounded out to third base. Tampa Bay 0, Cleveland 0 T3
Tampa Bay reaches base, goes scoreless in the second
Ryan Vilade strikes out looking. Jonny DeLuca singles on a soft ground ball that had the oomph of a bunt. Chandler Simpson flew out to center field. Ben Williamson grounds out to second. Tampa Bay 0, Cleveland 0 B2
Guardians go down in order, it’s scoreless after one
Steven Kwan grounded out to second base. Angel Martinez grounded out to second base. Jose Ramirez grounded out to short. Steven Matz with a 13-pitch inning. Tampa Bay 0, Cleveland 0 T2
Parker Messick strikes out the Tampa Bay side to start things off
Yandy Diaz struck out swinging. Jonathan Arana struck out looking. Junior Caminero strikes out looking. Parker Messick with a tidy 15-pitch inning, 11 of which were strikes. Tampa Bay 0, Cleveland 0 B1
Spell the C in Cleveland Guardians, with a K
The Guardians pitching staff has recorded an MLB-leading 267 strikeouts this season, ahead of 2nd-place Houston (266). It’s the most strikeouts through 29 games in franchise history.
Because we know you’re wondering, Cleveland hitters have struck out 228 times, the fourth fewest in the American League behind Houston (221), Tampa (191) and Toronto (188)
When do the Guardians play today?
First pitch is 6:10 p.m. ET.
Where to watch Guardians game tonight?
The Guardians-Rays game is on Guardians TV.
Guardians vs. Rays starting pitchers
Cleveland will send left-hander Parker Messick (3-0, 1.76) to the mound. Tampa Bay will throw left-hander Steven Matz (3-1, 4.81).
Cleveland Guardians lineup today vs. Rays
Tampa Bay Rays lineup vs. Guardians
American League Central Division standings
Guardians vs. Rays pitching probables
April 28: RHP Tanner Bibee (0-3, 4.45) vs. LHP Nick Martinez (1-1, 2.10)
April 29: LHP Gavin Williams (4-1, 3.28) vs. RHP Drew Rasmussen (2-0, 2.45)
Brad Bournival can be reached by email at bbournival@usatodayco.com and is on X at @bbournival.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians lineup, live score updates in Parker Messick start vs. Rays
Reporting by Brad Bournival, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
