Guardians turn to Messick to keep season alive in ALDS Game 4

Cleveland needs another win to keep its season alive. The Guardians send Parker Messick to the mound against the White Sox in ALDS Game 4 on Thursday night at Rate Field, with Chicago leading the best-of-five series 2–1 and one victory from the American League Championship Series.

First pitch is 6 p.m. Mountain Time, 7 p.m. Central and 8 p.m. Eastern. Cleveland earned this second chance with Wednesday’s 9–3 Game 3 victory. Chicago won the first two games at Progressive Field, 3–0 and 4–3. The Game 4 winner either ends the series or sends it back to Cleveland.

Messick returns; Chicago starts with Hagen Smith

MLB’s official schedule lists two left-handers: Messick for Cleveland and Hagen Smith for Chicago. Messick returns on four days’ rest after his Game 1 start. He went 12–9 with a 2.56 ERA, 193 strikeouts and 49 walks in 186⅓ regular-season innings. His road ERA was 2.22 over 93⅓ innings.

Smith’s 1.29 ERA came in a much smaller sample: 28 innings across 18 regular-season appearances, with one start. He struck out 41 and walked 16. His assignment begins another Chicago bullpen game, so the opener’s performance and the pitchers following him both matter.

The same matchup opened the series. Messick allowed two runs in 4⅓ innings, with Munetaka Murakami’s two-run homer providing Chicago’s early lead. Smith supplied 2⅔ hitless innings, and Grant Taylor finished the shutout with four scoreless innings. Smith also pitched Wednesday, throwing 21 pitches while recording two outs.

Confirmed Game 4 batting orders

Both batting orders below are confirmed in the official Game 4 feed, checked at 2:36 p.m. Mountain Time. Cleveland’s submitted lineup matches the earlier projection. Chicago has Grichuk batting second, ahead of Vargas and Murakami, with Doyle sixth and Teel seventh.

Cleveland’s confirmed order puts Austin Hedges behind the plate after Patrick Bailey caught Game 3. José Ramírez enters after a double, a triple and two RBIs Wednesday. Jo Adell’s bases-clearing triple helped turn the third inning into a four-run Cleveland rally, while Chicago pitchers issued 10 walks in the game.

The bullpen question after Game 3

Cleveland used seven pitchers Wednesday. Foster Griffin and Joey Cantillo combined for 4⅓ innings, while closer Cade Smith recorded the last six outs on 19 pitches. Those are verified workloads; a pitcher’s availability for a second consecutive day remains a managerial decision. A longer Messick outing would reduce how many outs the Guardians need from their relief staff.

Chicago also used seven pitchers, but Taylor did not appear. He last pitched Monday, recording four outs on seven pitches, after his longer Game 1 outing. That gives Will Venable an important option behind Smith without requiring the same seven-pitcher sequence from Wednesday’s loss.

How to watch, and what comes next

In the United States, Game 4 airs on TBS and truTV, with streaming through HBO Max. Spanish-language television coverage is on UniMás. Canadian viewers can watch through Sportsnet and Sportsnet+, with the daily guide determining the television channel. These are separate market listings; a U.S. streaming subscription does not establish Canadian access.

A White Sox win sends Chicago to face Tampa Bay in the ALCS. A Guardians win forces Game 5 at Progressive Field on Saturday, October 10. MLB currently lists that deciding game for 6 p.m. Mountain Time. For the matchup numbers and opposing analyst selections, read the Game 4 player splits and prediction analysis.

Reporting checked October 8, 2026, at 2:36 p.m. Mountain Time. Game identity, schedule, starters, results and pitcher workload: MLB’s official statistical feed. Confirmed lineups: the official Game 4 feed. U.S. viewing: MLB; Canadian coverage: Sportsnet’s postseason schedule. Both batting orders are confirmed.