CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Guardians have named Gavin Williams their Game 1 starter for the American League Wild Card series, a decision that caps a transformative season for the pitcher who has embraced significant change. Williams will face Detroit’s Tarik Skubal in the series opener on Tuesday at Progressive Field.
This appointment marks a dramatic turnaround from 2024, when Williams struggled to a 3-10 record with a 4.66 ERA after starting the year on the injured list with a sore right elbow. This season, he finished 12-5 with a 3.06 ERA over 31 starts, striking out 173 batters in 167 2/3 innings.
His success is the result of a comprehensive offseason overhaul. Working with pitching coach Carl Willis, Williams focused on restoring his slider, which had flattened into a cutter. After re-establishing the pitch early this season, he reintroduced the cutter and added a sinker, expanding his arsenal to five distinct offerings alongside his four-seam fastball and curveball.
“The cutter and sinker give him three fastball shapes,” said Willis. “He has velocity, but now he has three velocity pitches with different profiles. It just makes the swing path of a hitter a real tough adjustment to make.”
Williams also refined his delivery, adjusting his glove hand to improve pitch shape and location—a change he admitted took about a month to feel comfortable with. “It was frustrating at times, just wanting to give up on it,” Williams said. “But I had the pitching department behind me… it helped out a lot.”
His commitment extended to his recovery routine. On the advice of team consultant and two-time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber, Williams adopted dry needling to treat muscle pain and fatigue, a process involving multiple needles inserted into his shoulder, despite a profound fear of them. “I really can’t look at it. I start sweating really, really bad,” Williams confessed, but added, “It helps out.”
The changes have paid dividends, particularly against his playoff opponent. In two recent starts against the Tigers, Williams was dominant, throwing five scoreless innings on September 17 and striking out 12 over six innings in a win against Skubal on September 23. He is 4-0 in his last five starts and holds a 2-0 record with a 1.06 ERA against Detroit this season.
“Gavin has been incredible,” said manager Stephen Vogt. “From the start of the year to now, he’s just been incredibly fun to watch.”
Following Williams in the best-of-three series will be Tanner Bibee (12-5, 3.06 ERA) in Game 2 and Slade Cecconi (7-7, 4.30) in a potential Game 3.
For Williams, who was the Guardians’ first-round pick in 2021, the chance to lead his team into the postseason is a significant moment.
“I’m kind of star-struck, just being able to start a playoff game,” said Williams. “Them trusting me to go Game 1, it’s unbelievable.”
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