Parker Messick ends up third, Cade Smith second as Guardians pitchers claim major AL honors

Cleveland’s Parker Messick and Cade Smith left MLB’s 2026 awards season with national recognition, even without a top finish in their respective races. Messick placed third in American League Cy Young Award voting, and Smith finished second in the newly created American League Reliever of the Year Award standings, the results announced by MLB Network.

In the Cy Young voting, Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler won unanimously, receiving all 30 first-place votes. Toronto’s Dylan Cease was second, and Messick’s totals reflected a wide range of support across the ballot: he earned seven second-place votes, 12 third-place votes, nine fourth-place votes, and two fifth-place votes.

For the Guardians, Messick’s third-place finish carried franchise context. MLB reported that it was the highest Cy Young showing by a rookie pitcher in Cleveland history. The team also noted it came after Messick finished second in American League Rookie of the Year balloting on Monday.

Messick’s season profile, as detailed by MLB, featured 32 starts, a 2.56 ERA, and 193 strikeouts across 186 1/3 innings. His 6.3 wins above replacement (per Baseball Reference) ranked fifth in the American League, while only Rookie of the Year winner Kevin McGonigle (7.1 bWAR) topped him among AL rookies and only Schlittler (7.0) recorded more among AL pitchers.

The closer award race ended with Smith just behind the leader. In the inaugural AL Reliever of the Year Award balloting, Smith (Cleveland) totaled 133 points, trailing winner Louis Varland but edging the next group. Smith received 16 first-place votes in the total-point race, along with 15 second-place votes and eight third-place votes, while Bryan Baker, Aroldis Chapman, and Josh Hader rounded out the top five.

Smith’s 2026 impact, according to MLB, included All-Star recognition in his first full season as Cleveland’s closer. He posted a 1.95 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP, struck out 107 batters in 74 innings, and finished tied for the MLB lead in saves with 41 alongside Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen.