Gavin Williams can’t escape fourth in poor start

Manager Stephen Vogt wasn’t ready to name a starter, but the plan doesn’t include Williams, who saw his velocity dip in his fifth and final inning Wednesday. Tanner Bibee and Joey Cantillo will both be available to go long in Game 6.

Williams was cruising early in this one, keeping the Rays off the scoreboard for the first three innings and striking out five of the first nine batters he faced. He allowed a leadoff double in the fourth but then struck out the next two batters and seemed close to getting out of the jam before a walk and a Chandler Simpson triple plated two runs. Williams would rebound to retire the side in order in the fifth but was then removed from the game at just 70 pitches. Guardians manager Stephen Vogt made it clear that Williams was healthy but had just started two games and made one relief appearance in a six-game stretch, so they wanted to save his arm in case they need him later in the series. Williams has now allowed four runs on eight hits in 16 2/3 innings this postseason while striking out 33 and walking six. He could likely start Game 7 if the series gets that far.

Williams will be on four days’ rest after striking out 12 in 5 2/3 scoreless innings against the White Sox in the decisive ALDS Game 5. Including his relief appearance, he’s allowed two runs and struck out 24 in 11 2/3 innings this postseason.

The Guardians’ ace came out of the bullpen in Game 4 on Thursday, throwing 18 pitches to record the final three outs. Williams racked up 11 strikeouts over five innings of two-run baseball as the Guardians dropped Game 2 on Monday. It’ll be an all hands on deck situation in an elimination game for the Guardians, with Williams giving them everything that he possibly can before turning the ball over to the bullpen on Saturday.

The Guardians entered the ninth with a comfortable five-run advantage, but after a home run from Miguel Vargas and a walk to Munetaka Murakami, manager Stephen Vogt turned to Williams — his presumed Game 5 starter — to close it out. Williams allowed a single to Sam Antonacci before retiring Andrew Benintendi on strikes for the first out of the inning. He then got Kyle Teel to ground into a fielder’s choice before retiring Braden Montgomery on a fly ball to left to end it. Williams needed 18 pitches to get through the ninth which could put his availability to start on Saturday into question.

With their season on the line once again on Thursday, the Guardians will do anything necessary to survive — which includes using their ace out of the bullpen if they have to. Williams threw 98 pitches while striking out 11 batters over five innings in Game 2 on Monday. In a best-case scenario, the Guardians would love to save him for a decisive fifth game back in Cleveland, but that requires a win on Thursday to get there first and they may not have that luxury.

Williams led the majors with 11 double-digit strikeout performances during the regular season and became the first Cleveland starter to accomplish the feat in a playoff setting since Bartolo Colon back in 2001. His 11 punchouts were one shy of the franchise record set by Charles Nagy back in 1996. He piled up 22 swinging strikes on 98 pitches, allowing just seven baserunners over five impressive frames. He looked like he was going to get in trouble when White Sox rookie sensation Munetaka Murakami smacked an RBI single in the fourth inning. However, he managed to get out of the frame without any further damage. He was charged with an additional run when Cleveland’s bullpen allowed an inherited runner to cross the plate in the sixth. He figures to get the ball for a decisive Game 5 matchup, if the series gets to that point.

It’s Williams’ fifth scoreless start of the year, and he has two others in which he allowed just one unearned run. With nine strikeouts, he now leads the majors at 244, though surely not for long; he’s one ahead of Jacob Misiorowski, who starts tonight. Williams is in line to make his final start Saturday, but the Guardians could tweak things based on how things are lining up for the playoffs. If the Guardians clinch the AL Central, then Williams could have a relatively normal start next weekend. However, if they fall into Wild Card position, then they would need Williams to start on Tuesday or Wednesday next week.

Making his first start in eight days, Williams wriggled out of multiple jams, carrying an improbable shutout into the sixth inning before the White Sox finally broke through following his departure after a season-high 113 pitches. He finished with seven strikeouts, issued three walks and also hit a pair of batters. He’ll wrap up a two-start week with a favorable home outing against the Athletics on Sunday.

The Guardians are giving Williams a few extra days of rest before facing the White Sox on Monday. It sets up a two-start week for fantasy managers next week that also includes a home matchup against the Athletics. However, it’s a tough development for them to stomach in the short-term as it leaves Williams without a start for this entire week. It’ll be Daniel Espino kicking off a bullpen game for Cleveland on Saturday afternoon.