Guardians Blank Braves Behind Messick's Strong Start

Rookie lefty goes deep into game as Ramírez powers Cleveland offense

Apr. 12, 2026 at 5:02am

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An abstract, expressionist painting featuring bold, neon-colored brushstrokes capturing the dynamic motion and energy of a baseball pitcher delivering a pitch and a batter swinging, with the players' faces and uniforms blending into the vibrant, unstructured composition.The Guardians' young ace Messick and slugger Ramírez combine to overpower the Braves in an electric display of Cleveland's rising talent.Cleveland Today

Rookie left-hander Parker Messick pitched four-hit ball into the seventh inning and All-Star José Ramírez hit his second home run of the season as the Cleveland Guardians shutout the Atlanta Braves 6-0 on Saturday night. Chase DeLauter and Daniel Schneemann also drove in runs for the Guardians.

Why it matters

The win keeps the Guardians in the thick of the AL Central race as they look to return to the playoffs after a surprise run to the World Series last season. Messick's strong outing is a positive sign for Cleveland's young pitching staff, while Ramírez's power bat continues to anchor their lineup.

The details

Messick, making just his fifth career MLB start, was dominant on the mound, limiting the Braves to four hits over 6.1 scoreless innings. Ramírez provided the offensive firepower with a solo home run, his second of the year. DeLauter and Schneemann added key run-scoring hits off the bench to pad the Guardians' lead.

  • The game was played on Saturday, April 12, 2026.

The players

Parker Messick

A rookie left-handed pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians.

José Ramírez

An All-Star third baseman and one of the top hitters in the Cleveland Guardians lineup.

Chase DeLauter

An outfielder for the Cleveland Guardians who drove in a run with a double.

Daniel Schneemann

A bench player for the Cleveland Guardians who added a two-run single.

Atlanta Braves

The opposing team that was shut out by the Guardians.

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What they’re saying

“Messick really set the tone for us tonight with his performance. When he's on like that, it makes our whole team that much tougher to beat.”

— José Ramírez, All-Star Third Baseman

What’s next

The Guardians and Braves will conclude their three-game series on Sunday afternoon.

The takeaway

The Guardians' young pitching and veteran leadership from Ramírez proved to be too much for the Braves, as Cleveland continues to position itself as a contender in the AL Central race.