So close, but not quite enough.

That’s been the theme for Cleveland Guardians pitcher Parker Messick since MLB’s award season began at the start of the month.

The All-Star pitcher was named a finalist for both Rookie of the Year and Cy Young in the American League. Unfortunately, he came up short in that award, and it was a similar story for the other honor he was up for.

The winner of the Cy Young Award was announced on Wednesday evening, and Messick came up short again in this award, too. He finished in third behind Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Dylan Cease, who finished, and New York Yankees ace Cam Schlittler, who was the unanimous winner.

Looking a little bit closer at the voting breakdown, Messick received seven second-place votes, 12 third-place votes, nine fourth-place votes, and two fifth-place votes for a total of 84 points. Schlittler finished with a perfect score of 210, and Cease earned 110.

The stats from each pitcher pretty much match where each player finished in the voting.

The Yankees pitcher, overwhelming, finished at the top of the voting, and deservedly so. Schlittler wrapped up his second season in the Majors with a 1.95 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP with a strikeout rate of 31.4 percent. The first stats finished at the top of the American League.

Cease posted a 2.40 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP in his first season with the Blue Jays. The walks were still an issue for the 30-year-old, but he made up for it with elite whiff and punchout numbers.

Compared to Cleveland’s finalist, Messick finished his first full season in the big leagues with a 2.56 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. Both numbers are elite and among league leaders in their categories, but not quite enough compared to the other finalists.

If anything, Messick finishing third in the Cy Young race might just give him more motivation this offseason.

Messick was a finalist for the Cy Young, but he wasn’t the only Guardians pitcher to receive Cy Young votes. No, it wasn’t Gavin Williams who made history with how dominant he was in the playoffs.

Cleveland’s closer Cade Smith ended up with two fifth-place votes, for a total of two points.

Of course, it would have been nice if the Guardians had the Cy Young winner on their roster, but two pitchers, one starter and one bullpen arm, receiving votes is just evidence that Cleveland’s pitching factory is alive and well.