In Sunday’s 6-5 win over the Cubs, Parker Messick allowed just one run over five innings, lowering his career ERA to 2.31 through nine starts.
Over the last 100 seasons, only two others have posted a lower ERA through nine career games (minimum 50 IP) with Cleveland:
- Aaron Civale, 182
- Gene Bearden, 2.25
- Messick, 2.31
- Luis Tiant, 2.44
- Hal Woodeshick, 2.72
- Herb Score, 2.88
It’s also the second consecutive years in which Messick has generated an ERA under 1.00 through his first two appearances of the season.
He’s just the fifth Cleveland pitcher in the last 100 years to accomplish that feat (minimum 10 IP):
- Mike Clevinger, 2018-19
- Dick Stigman, 1960-61
- Bob Feller, 1946-48 (three years)
- Jim Bagby Jr., 1942-43
Tiant, Shane Bieber and Mel Harder also did it two (Harder three times) but in non-consecutive years.