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MLB

Guardians name Gavin Williams to start decisive ALDS Game 5

Stephen Vogt confirms Williams will start Saturday after recording Game 4’s final three outs.

By TSP Staff
Gavin Williams delivers a pitch in a gray Cleveland Guardians uniform.
Gavin Williams in the photograph accompanying MLB.com’s Game 5 pitching report. Capture date not established. · Credit: MLB.com; photographer not identified in the source record

Gavin Williams will start for the Cleveland Guardians in Saturday’s deciding American League Division Series game against the Chicago White Sox, manager Stephen Vogt confirmed Friday.

The series is tied 2–2, with Game 5 scheduled for 6 p.m. Mountain Time at Progressive Field. Williams faces White Sox right-hander Sean Burke, who will start without an opener.

Williams recorded the last three outs of Cleveland’s 9–5 win in Game 4 on Thursday. It was his first professional relief appearance, and he threw 18 pitches after entering for closer Cade Smith.

The right-hander allowed one hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning. Williams had been due for a between-starts bullpen session that day and remained on track for Saturday’s start.

He last started in Monday’s 4–3 Game 2 loss, striking out 11 over five innings. The Game 5 winner advances to face Tampa Bay in the AL Championship Series, which begins Monday at Tropicana Field.

Sources and notes

  1. https://www.mlb.com/news/guardians-2026-alds-game-5-starter