The Chicago White Sox are shaking things up for Game 1 of the American League Division Series by naming reliever Hagen Smith as their starter against the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday. This sets up a matchup of rookie left-handed pitchers, as the Guardians have already confirmed that Parker Messick will take the mound at Progressive Field.
Smith, just 23, has been a standout this season with a 1.29 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 28 innings across 18 appearances. He stepped up unexpectedly in the Wild Card Series against Houston, pitching three scoreless innings in his second start of the year. Now, he’s getting the call for the biggest game yet.
On the other side, Messick, 25, posted a 12-9 record in 32 starts, including a solid 2.81 ERA in five outings against the White Sox this season. The teams split their season series 7-6, with Cleveland taking 11 of 13 games last year, making this rivalry as heated as ever.
As for Game 2, the White Sox haven’t announced their starter yet, but they’ll face Cleveland’s Gavin Williams. The stakes are high, and both teams are ready to bring their A-game.
