Guardians' No-Hitter Drought Continues

Parker Messick comes close but falls short of ending Cleveland's 45-year no-no drought.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 12:35am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the motion of a baseball pitcher, with sharp planes of color representing the Guardians and Orioles uniforms, conveying the excitement and disappointment of a no-hit bid that fell just short.A cubist interpretation of a Guardians pitcher's delivery captures the drama and tension of a near no-hitter.Atlanta Today

The Cleveland Guardians' no-hitter drought continues after pitcher Parker Messick took a no-hit bid into the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles before giving up a single. The last no-hitter thrown by a Guardians pitcher was in 1981 by Len Barker.

Why it matters

The Guardians have had a long history of dominant pitching, with legends like Bob Feller and Bob Lemon throwing multiple no-hitters for the franchise. Ending the team's 45-year no-hit drought would have been a historic accomplishment, but Messick's near-miss highlights how elusive the feat has been for Cleveland in recent decades.

The details

On Thursday, Guardians pitcher Parker Messick no-hit the Baltimore Orioles through eight innings, walking two and striking out nine. However, Leody Taveras led off the ninth inning with a single, breaking up Messick's no-hit bid.

  • On April 11, 2026, Messick took a no-hitter into the ninth inning against the Orioles.
  • The last no-hitter thrown by a Guardians pitcher was in 1981 by Len Barker.

The players

Parker Messick

A Guardians pitcher who came close to throwing the team's first no-hitter in 45 years.

Leody Taveras

The Orioles batter who broke up Messick's no-hit bid with a single in the ninth inning.

Bob Feller

A legendary Guardians pitcher who threw three no-hitters during his Hall of Fame career.

Bob Lemon

Another Guardians pitching great who threw one no-hitter for the franchise.

Len Barker

The last Guardians pitcher to throw a no-hitter, which he accomplished in 1981.

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The takeaway

The Guardians' no-hit drought highlights the rarity of the accomplishment, even for teams with storied pitching histories. Messick's near-miss shows the heartbreak and excitement that can come with a no-hit bid, and the team will continue searching for the next pitcher to etch their name in franchise lore.