Cleveland Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams will make the start in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on Friday at Progressive Field against the New York Yankees. Williams made only 16 starts due to an elbow injury for the Guardians during the regular season and went 3-10 with a 4.86 ERA (3.67 FIP) and 1.37 WHIP with 79 strikeouts and 32 walks in 76 innings in his second big-league season, so he'll be a true wild card and a risky DFS option on Thursday against the Bombers in what will be his first start since Sept. 22. In his lone start against the Yankees in the Bronx on Aug. 22, Williams took the loss, allowing three earned runs on four hits (one homer) while walking four and striking out five in 4 1/3 innings of work. The 25-year-old was also worse at Progressive Field in 2024, sporting a 6.55 ERA and 1.69 WHIP in his seven starts.
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams turned in a quality start in Thursday's tough-luck loss versus the division-rival Detroit Tigers. Williams tossed six frames and allowed six hits, three runs, two walks and recorded a season-high nine strikeouts. Unfortunately for Williams, the Guardians offense decided to take the day off, giving Williams his third loss of the season. Since returning from right-elbow inflammation on June 30, Williams has pitched to a 4.50 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 24 innings over five starts. The potential is there for the 25-year-old as he continues to shake off the rust, and he could be a valuable piece at the back end of rotations in the second half. Next up for Williams will be a rematch with the Tigers, this time at home.
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams (elbow) has been reinstated off the injured list on Sunday. The former top prospect will make his return to Cleveland after being sidelined since the beginning of the season due to elbow inflammation. This is great news for the Guardians rotation considering how well Williams pitched with the big league club last season. He posted a 3.29 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 81/37 K/BB ratio across 16 starts. The Guardians might ease him back into things right away. However, Williams should be a reliable fantasy contributor once he's back up to full speed. In a corresponding move, right-hander Triston McKenzie heads back to Triple-A after struggling early on this season.
Cleveland Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams (elbow) made his latest minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Columbus on Thursday and looked good, giving up just one earned run on three hits while walking two and striking out six batters in four innings of work. The 24-year-old threw 82 pitches in the outing. If the Guardians decide that this was Williams' final rehab start, he could make his 2024 debut in a fantastic matchup next Tuesday versus the Chicago White Sox. The former 23rd overall pick in 2021 out of East Carolina should be picked up now off the waiver wire in mixed leagues if he's available after going 3-5 with an impressive 3.29 ERA (4.05 FIP) and 1.26 WHIP with 81 strikeouts and 37 walks in 82 innings over his first 16 MLB starts in 2023. He'll need to be more efficient and limit the free passes, but Williams' upside is intriguing with the first-place Guardians.
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams (elbow) will make another minor-league rehab start on Wednesday for Triple-A Columbus. It'll be a sixth and perhaps final rehab appearance for Williams, who is on the mend from right elbow discomfort. If all goes well on Wednesday, fantasy managers shouldn't have to wait much longer for Williams' long-awaited 2024 debut with the Guardians. The 24-year-old former top prospect needs to be stashed in all fantasy leagues with his return likely to arrive early next week. Williams generated a promising .3.29 ERA and 1.26 WHIP while punching out 81 and walking 37 covering 16 starts (82 innings) in his rookie campaign during 2023.
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams (elbow) threw five innings on Friday for Double-A Akron, striking out four batters and allowing just one run on four hits. Williams threw 66 pitches and topped out at 98 mph with his fastball. Friday marked Williams' fifth appearance in the minor leagues on his rehab assignment from right elbow discomfort, so there's a chance the Guardians deem him ready to rejoin the major-league roster for his 2024 debut in his next start. After posting a promising 3.29 ERA and 1.26 WHIP while striking out 81 and walking 37 through 16 starts (82 innings) during his rookie year a season ago, the 24-year-old former top prospect needs to be stashed in all fantasy leagues with his return appearing imminent.
Gavin Williams Throws Just 32 Pitches In First Rehab Start
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams (elbow) made his first minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Columbus on Thursday, allowing two runs on two hits (one home run) and two walks with two strikeouts over 1 1/3 innings of work. Williams' velocity was fine, but another big takeaway from Thursday's outing is that he was only able to reach 32 pitches. That likely means Williams is going to require around five appearances in the minors before he's stretched out enough to rejoin the major-league rotation, meaning his 2024 debut with the Guardians is unlikely to arrive until sometime in late June. In the meantime, veteran right-hander Ben Lively has helped fill in with a 2.80 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 43:14 K:BB across 45 innings (eight starts) as a starter for Cleveland in 2024 and will be a prime streaming candidate in fantasy for Saturday's scheduled appearance at home versus the Washington Nationals.
Cleveland Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams (elbow) is expected to make a minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday. Williams is now in the final step of his recovery from right-elbow discomfort that first cropped up for him during spring training. The 24-year-old also had a setback in the first month of the season, which is why he has yet to make his 2024 MLB debut. Given his long layoff, he will almost certainly require multiple rehab starts before the Guardians consider having him rejoin their starting rotation. But if he avoids any further setbacks, Williams could be back well before the All-Star break. The former 23rd overall pick in 2021 out of East Carolina could be worth picking up and stashing now after he had a really impressive 3.29 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with an 81:37 K:BB in his first 16 big-league starts in 2023.
Gavin Williams Will Begin Rehab Assignment Next Week
Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said starting pitcher Gavin Williams (elbow) threw a live batting practice session on Friday and will throw another one in a few days. Barring any setbacks, Williams will begin a minor-league rehab assignment before the end of May. Williams has not yet made his 2024 regular-season debut due to an extended absence with discomfort in his right elbow, but he's finally tracking toward rejoining Cleveland's rotation before the end of June. Due to the long layoff, he figures to need multiple rehab appearances before doing so. The 24-year-old former top prospect registered a promising 3.29 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 81:37 K:BB across 82 innings (16 starts) for the Guardians during his rookie season in 2023, and Williams' upside to contribute across the board in fantasy means he deserves to be stashed in the majority of leagues.
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams (elbow) successfully threw a 50-pitch bullpen session on Wednesday. Williams said he didn't feel any lingering effects following his first bullpen session since receiving an anti-inflammatory injection, and he's scheduled to throw his next bullpen on Friday. The 24-year-old former top prospect is working his way back from discomfort in his right elbow after being shut down in late April, and it remains unclear when he'll resume his rehab assignment at this point. Williams should still be an option in Cleveland's rotation sometime in June, and fantasy managers who can afford the stash should be holding the right-hander after he posted a 3.29 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 81:37 K:BB across 82 innings (16 starts) for the Guards in his rookie season in 2023. In the meantime, veterans Carlos Carrasco and Ben Lively will keep battling to hold down spots in the rotation.
Gavin Williams
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Guardians
