The Cleveland Guardians host the Baltimore Orioles for the second game of a four-game series on Friday, April 17.
The Guardians beat the Orioles 4-2 on Thursday, April 16, after going 2-4 on a six-game road trip to Atlanta Braves and St. Louis.
At 11-9, the Guardians trail the Minnesota Twins (11-8) by half a game in the American League Central Division.
Follow our live updates throughout the game tonight. Here’s what to know before the first pitch:
Orioles pitcher Chris Bassitt works around bases loaded jam to retire Guardians in first inning
The Guardians loaded the bases with one out and did not score in the first inning against Orioles pitcher Chris Bassitt.
Guardians leadoff hitter Steven Kwan flied out to Orioles center fielder Leody Taveras. Bassitt walked Chase DeLauter and José Ramírez, and Kyle Manzardo hit a single to left to load the bases. Rhys Hoskins popped out to Orioles third baseman Coby Mayo and Daniel Schneemann grounded out to second baseman Jeremiah Jackson to end the inning.
Guardians pitcher Tanner Bibee works around single, walk to retire Orioles in first inning
Guardians left fielder Angel Martinez made a diving catch to rob Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson of a hit to leadoff the game. Henderson lined Tanner Bibee’s first pitch and Martinez dove onto the grass to record the out. Orioles left fielder Taylor Ward hit a flyball to center field that Steven Kwan caught, Pete Alonso singled to left, Dylan Beavers walked and Bibee struck out Samuel Basallo to end the inning.
When do the Guardians play today?
First pitch for Cleveland’s game tonight is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. ET.
Where to watch the Guardians today?
Today’s Guardians-Orioles game will be televised on Guardians TV and WKYC.
Guardians lineup today vs. Orioles
Orioles lineup today vs. Guardians
Guardians vs. Orioles starting pitchers today
Right-hander Tanner Bibee (0-2, 6.38 ERA) gets the start for Cleveland on Friday and Baltimore will counter with right-hander Chris Bassitt (0-2, 9.00 ERA).
Bassitt pitched at the University of Akron before turning pro in 2011. He is in his first year with the Orioles after previously pitching for the Chicago White Sox in 2014, the Oakland Athletics from 2015-21, the New York Mets in 2022 and the Toronto Blue Jays from 2023-25.
American League Central Division standings
Parker Messick, José Ramírez lead Guardians to win over Orioles
Parker Messick and José Ramírez led the Guardians to a 4-2 win over the Orioles to open the three-game series on Thursday, April 16. Messick pitched eight no-hit innings before allowing two singles in the ninth and was then lifted for closer Cade Smith, who eventually got the final three outs. Ramirez hit a two-run homer to continue his hot stretch at the plate.
Parker Messick’s stats
Messick’s final line Thursday was eight innings pitched with two earned runs and two walks and nine strikeouts over 112 pitches (78 strikes). Messick set career-highs with the eight innings pitched and 112 pitches, and the nine strikeouts tied a career high.
Messick’s 1.05 ERA (three earned runs 25⅔ innings) through four starts this season is the lowest by a Cleveland starter through his first four starts of a season since Cody Anderson in 2015 (0.89 ERA). Austin Hedges has caught all four of Messick’s starts this season.
Guardians (almost) no-hitters
Messick’s no-hit bid was the second within the last two seasons by a Guardians pitcher to reach the ninth inning. Guardians pitcher Gavin Williams pitched 8⅓ no-hit innings on Aug. 6, 2025 in a 4-1 win at the New York Mets.
Thursday, Baltimore’s Leody Taveras ended the no-hit bid with a single to right field in the ninth and Blaze Alexander followed with a single to center field.
This was fourth time a Cleveland pitcher has taken a no-hit bid into the ninth inning since Len Barker’s perfect game on May 15, 1981, against the Toronto Blue Jays. The four pitchers are John Farrell (May 4, 1989, vs. Kansas City Royals, eight innings), Carlos Carrasco (July 1, 2015, at Tampa Bay Rays, 8⅔ innings), Williams and Messick.
José Ramírez’s stats
Ramirez went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in the first inning off Orioles starter Shane Baz. Ramirez also walked and scored on an RBI single by George Valera (2-for-4).
Ramirez notched his 464th career multi-hit game, passing Omar Vizquel for seventh most such games in franchise history.
Over his last eight games, since April 8, Ramirez is hitting .355 (11-for-31) with two doubles, three home runs, five RBIs and a 1.169 OPS.
He’s hit safely in 22 of his last 27 games against Baltimore since the start of 2022, posting a .349 (37-for-106) batting average with eight home runs, 22 RBIs and a 1.060 OPS.
Steven Kwan’s stats with RISP
Steven Kwan’s 2-for-4 night included a two-out RBI-single in the fifth inning, extending the Guardians’ lead to 3-0
Kwan’s .563 (9-for-16) average with runners in scoring position this season leads qualified MLB hitters, ahead of Tampa Bay’s Yandy Díaz (.526). Kwan also recorded the 189th multi-hit game of his career, the eighth most in MLB among active players.
Guardians vs Orioles pitching probables
Akron Beacon Journal sports writer Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians lineup, live score updates tonight vs. Orioles
Reporting by Michael Beaven, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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