Craig Albernaz, Orioles seeks better result in reunion with Guardians

Craig Albernaz spent plenty of time in the home manager's office during the last two seasons as a coach with the Cleveland Guardians.

Now managing the Baltimore Orioles, he is spending this weekend in the other clubhouse while going against his longtime friend, Cleveland skipper Stephen Vogt.

Orioles right-hander Chris Bassitt (0-2, 9.00 ERA) takes on Guardians right-hander Tanner Bibee (0-2, 6.38) in the second game of the four-game series on Friday.

"We used to say it to each other all the time in the past two years: Can you believe they let us do this?" Albernaz said. "And if you had told me Vogty and I would be managing together, I would say you were out of your mind. There was no way this would happen."

Vogt named Albernaz his bench coach upon being hired ahead of the 2024 season, then promoted him to associate manager the next year. They guided the Guardians to back-to-back American League Central Division titles, in addition to a trip to the 2024 American League Championship Series.

When the Orioles wanted to interview Albernaz for their open position last winter, Vogt gave them a glowing review of his work. He later traveled to Baltimore to support "Alby" at his introductory press conference.

"We talk all the time, but it's always good to catch up in person," said Vogt, who won AL Manager of the Year each of his first two seasons on the job. "It's going to be a fun series."

Vogt rolled out the welcome mat and some new decor for Albernaz before the series opener on Thursday, which saw Cleveland rookie Parker Messick carry a no-hitter into the ninth inning in the Guardians' 4-2 win.

All of the standard furniture in the visiting manager's office was replaced with kid-sized versions, along with Spider-Man designs in the private bathroom. Bluey was the primary character in the former.

"That was awesome," Albernaz said. "I'm going to have all of it sent back to Baltimore and make sure he gets the shipping receipt so he can pay for it."

The Orioles dropped their third straight game, thanks to Messick's near-masterpiece, but scored twice in the ninth after Cade Smith entered. Leody Taveras' leadoff single broke up the no-hit bid and sparked a rally that saw Baltimore put the potential tying run in scoring position.

Messick was charged with both runs in eight-plus innings. The left-hander tied his career high with nine strikeouts in his longest outing as a professional, but he admitted disappointment after coming close to making history.

"I've never thrown a no-hitter, so from about the sixth inning on, I prayed pretty much between every inning," said Messick, who surrendered two hits and two walks. "It was a good game, just one pitch (got away), and he snuck it through the hole."

While Messick has sparkled with a 3-0 record and 1.05 ERA through four starts, both Bassitt and Bibee have been disappointing.

Bassitt signed as a free agent in February and has failed to get through the fifth in his three outings. The Ohio native is 1-3 with a 3.95 ERA in seven career starts against Cleveland, the last occurring on May 2, 2025, when he surrendered three runs in 5 1/3 innings while pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Bibee was rocked for eight runs and 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings in a 13-1 loss at Atlanta on Sunday. In three career starts against Baltimore, he is 2-1 with a 4.82 ERA and has given up four homers in 18 2/3 innings.

--Field Level Media

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This story was originally published April 17, 2026 at 2:28 AM.