Guardians' Gavin Williams: Named ALCS Game 4 starter
Rotowire
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said Thursday that Williams will start Friday in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Yankees, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Williams hasn't pitched since Sept. 22, as the Guardians haven't needed a fourth starter yet this postseason. He will be opposed by Luis Gil. Williams was limited to 16 starts during the regular season due to elbow issues and finished with a 4.86 ERA and 79:32 K:BB over 76 innings.
Williams won't pitch Sunday after the Guardians' contest with the Astros was cancelled due to inclement weather.
Williams was expected to pitch the bulk role out of the bullpen after opener Nick Sandlin, but he will now go into the postseason with additional rest after Sunday's cancellation. Williams will finish his 2024 regular season having produced a 4.86 ERA and 1.37 WHIP with 79 strikeouts over 76 innings in 16 starts with Cleveland.
Guardians' Gavin Williams: Slated for bulk relief Sunday
Rotowire
Williams will be used as a bulk reliever in Sunday's game against the Astros, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
All 16 of Williams' appearances with the Guardians to this point in the season have been traditional starts, but the club will try him as a primary reliever in his final regular-season outing, perhaps with an eye on using him similarly in the playoffs. For what it's worth, Williams has a 6.32 ERA in the first inning this season.
Guardians' Gavin Williams: Falls short of quality start
Rotowire
Williams allowed a run on four hits and two walks over 5.2 innings in a no-decision Sunday. He struck out three during the loss to St. Louis.
Williams fired five scoreless innings before the Cardinals finally pushed a run home in the sixth. He broke a three-start losing streak but has now failed to complete six innings in seven of his last eight appearances. During that span, he's produced a 5.35 ERA with a 37:19 K:BB. Williams needed 86 pitches Sunday and generated only four swinging strikes. His season ERA sits at 4.86 with a 79:32 K:BB through 76 innings. Williams' final start of the regular season is projected to be at home against Houston.
Williams (3-10) took the loss Tuesday against the Twins, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out seven.
The Cleveland right-hander's losing streak now stands at three, although, he performed much better in this 89-pitch outing. Williams entered having allowed eight runs across his last six innings and managed to generate a solid 16 whiffs en route to his seven punchouts. The 25-year-old just couldn't handle Matt Wallner, as the Minnesota slugger drove in both runs allowed via a pair of RBI singles. Williams has now pitched to a 5.12 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 76:30 K:BB across 70.1 innings this season. He lines up to make his next start against the Cardinals in St. Louis this weekend.
Williams (3-9) took the loss against the Rays on Thursday, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out five.
Williams got off to a rocky start, surrendering a solo homer to Brandon Lowe in the second at-bat of the game to put Cleveland in an early hole. The Rays would get to the right-hander again in the fourth, this time for two runs after he allowed three of the first five batters to reach. Williams would not make it through six frames for the fifth time in his last six starts while going on to take his second straight loss. He now carries a 6.23 ERA in September over three starts to go along with an 11:7 K:BB. Williams has also issued multiple walks in six consecutive outings.
