CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 01: Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams (32) leaves the mound after striking out Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Andres Gimenez (0) for his thirteenth strikeout of the game to end the seventh inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Guardians on September 1, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Cleveland Guardians big right-handed starter, Gavin Williams, was almost un-hittable in his latest start.
In his August 1, 2026 appearance against the Toronto Blue Jays, Williams, who just turned 27 July 25, threw 7 innings of two-hit baseball.
That effort should boost Williams in the American League Cy Young Award discussions.
Williams yielded one run in the game, and it was unearned.
Williams left the game with a record of 13-7, a 3.81ERA, and a 1.09 Whip, in 28 starts, covering 163 innings.
In his 13th Cleveland Guardians victory of the season, Williams threw 97 pitches, with 64 for strikes.
Williams struck out a career best 13 hitters, and ended the evening with a career high 217 strikeouts.
After the game, Williams’ catcher, Patrick Bailey, said this, as reported by mlb.com: “… the best starter in the league. No doubt about it.”
Williams is 6-6, 250 pounds, and is affectionately known as “The Big Rig” by his teammates, and fans.
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams delivers against the San Diego Padres during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
More About Cleveland Guardians Gavin Williams:
Williams was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 30th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft. He was chosen out of Cape Fear High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Williams decided not to accept the Rays offer, and instead, enrolled at East Carolina University, in Greenville, North Carolina.
The Guardians selected Williams in the 1st round of the 2021 MLB draft. He was the No. 23 player selected in that draft.
The Guardians gave Williams a $2.25 Million signing bonus.
Gavin Williams made his major league debut June 21, 2023, at the age of 23. He threw 5.2 innings against the Oakland Athletics, yielding 4 hits, 4 earned runs, 3 strikeouts, and 3 walks.
CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 01: Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto (7) scores on a Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams (32) (not pictured) wild pitch during the fifth inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Guardians on September 1, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Cleveland Guardians Gavin Williams Pitching Style:
As noted by brooksbaseball.net, Williams throws four distinct pitches in his repertoire.
During his September 1 outing agains the Blue Jays, Williams was throwing his fastball at 99.9 miles per hour.
Williams would then alter the balance or the eye level of the hitter by going to his sinker, his sweeper, or his curve.
Here are the usage percentage of Gavin Williams arsenal:
Four-seam fastball=31.96%
Sinking fastball=18.52%
curveball=30.93%
Sweeper/slider=18.50%
Just when the hitter was expecting the fastball, Williams would bend the hitter’s knee with a sharp breaking curve, or sweeper.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 19: Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees pitches during the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Yankee Stadium on June 19, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
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Cleveland Guardians Gavin Williams Cy Young Competition:
mlb.com posted a mid-August 2026 poll of the top contenders for the American League Cy Young Award.
A total of 35 “experts” were involved in the poll.
Gavin Williams was not listed as a contender in the poll.
Ironically, Williams’ Guardians teammate, Parker Messick, was indeed, among the five names noted.
Here are the pitchers listed in the mlb.com article:
1- Cam Schlittler-New York Yankees (165 points, 25 first place votes
2- Dylan Cease-Toronto Blue Jays (148 points, 10 first place votes)
3- Drew Rasmussen-Tampa Bay Rays (79 points)
4- Parker Messick-Cleveland Guardians (54 points)
5- Sonny Gray-Boston Red Sox (41 points
Both Schlittler, and Cease pitch in larger media markets than Williams.
There is more media attention in New York, and Toronto, meaning more attention from fans and the baseball world in general.
However, Williams, like his teammate Messick, have gotten the attention of Major League Baseball hitters.
When hitters struggle against a pitcher, that raises eyebrows.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – MAY 18: A detail of a New Era Cleveland Guardians baseball hat with the logo on top of a glove during the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on May 18, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
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Conclusions About Cleveland Guardians Gavin Williams Cy. Young Award Quest:
The Cleveland Guardians will try to ride Gavin Williams, and his teammate, Parker Messick into the playoffs.
The Guardians, known for their pitching prowess, allso have lefties Joey Cantillo, and Foster Griffin, as well as veteran right-hander Tanner Bibee rounding out a very solid starting rotation.
Cleveland Guardians right-handed starter, Gavin Williams is making a strong case to be in the American League Cy Young Award conversation.
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