CHICAGO — The Guardians finally looked like themselves Wednesday afternoon.
Now they have to do it again.
Cleveland enters Game 4 of the American League Division Series trailing the Chicago White Sox 2-1 after staying alive with a 9-3 victory Wednesday at Rate Field. First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
Game Information
Messick gets the ball with Cleveland’s season still on the line. The left-hander started Game 1 and allowed two runs on four hits with six strikeouts before the Guardians eventually lost 3-0. He was particularly effective at Rate Field during the regular season, posting a 2.45 ERA with 18 strikeouts and only two walks in 14? innings.
Chicago will open with left-hander Hagen Smith, who posted a 1.29 ERA in 28 regular-season innings and has already appeared twice in the series.
For Cleveland, however, the biggest question remains the offense.
The Guardians scored only three runs and collected seven hits combined in the first two games before erupting for nine runs and 11 hits Wednesday. José Ramírez finally broke through with a double, triple, two RBIs, a walk, and a stolen base, while Jo Adell delivered the biggest hit of the afternoon with a bases-clearing triple in the third inning.
That is the version of Cleveland’s lineup that has to show up again Thursday.
The Guardians also received a dominant performance from their pitching staff in Game 3, striking out 19 White Sox hitters while using seven pitchers. That bullpen-heavy approach worked, but it makes Messick’s ability to provide length even more important in Game 4.
Cleveland does not need another offensive explosion, but it cannot go back to the version of itself that struggled to generate anything in Games 1 and 2.
After finally punching back Wednesday, the Guardians have one more chance to bring the series home with momentum. Otherwise, it's lights out on the season.
