CLEVELAND, Ohio - Gavin Williams’ 18 pitches in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the ALDS have sparked plenty of second-guessing, but the concern inside the Guardians’ camp appears to be less about the raw pitch count and more about the fact that he was doing something completely unfamiliar.
It was Williams’ first relief appearance in the majors, and the first time he has pitched out of the bullpen since college. That makes the outing a break from his usual routine, and that disruption could matter more than the 18 pitches themselves as he prepares for his Game 5 start Saturday night.
Manager Stephen Vogt has also been navigating roster and usage questions as the series has unfolded. When asked why Matt Festa was not used in lower-leverage situations with a four-, five- or six-run lead, Vogt pointed to the fact that both Games 3 and 4 were elimination games, which is why he turned to closer Cade Smith in those spots.
The Guardians’ ALDS pitching plan also explains why Tanner Bibee has not started in the series. The best-of-five format let Cleveland give Parker Messick and Gavin Williams two starts apiece, leaving one open start for Game 3, where the club went with an opener in Daniel Espino and bulk innings from Foster Griffin and Joey Cantillo. If Cleveland reaches the best-of-seven ALCS, Bibee could be in the mix.
There are also broader questions around pressure, both in October and beyond. While a young roster may not spend much time dwelling on the franchise’s history, players still have to deal with the pressure of performing on baseball’s biggest stage, and that is something they have to learn to control.
On the labor side, the Guardians have not had much to say about the MLBPA’s contract talks. That silence matches what they’ve been told by the people running the game on both sides.
If owners and players eventually agree to a salary cap with a salary floor, clubs like Cleveland would have to comply. The floor could be phased in year by year, while higher-payroll teams would be allowed to come down gradually until they reached the agreed-upon cap.
If the Guardians advance, roster construction will shift again. A team can carry a maximum of 13 pitchers on a 26-man postseason roster, and Cleveland used 12 pitchers and 14 position players in the ALDS.
Looking ahead even further, the odds of a 2027 work stoppage appear real. The current sense is that a lockout when the basic agreement expires Dec. 1 is almost certain.
The unanswered question is whether regular-season games would be lost. The last lockout came after the 2021 season, and a settlement on March 10, 2022 still allowed MLB to play a full regular season, with Opening Day pushed to April 7 and the schedule ending Oct.
In Other News...
Guardians Suddenly Look Dangerous Thanks To One Deadline Gamble
Clevelands offense has gone from quiet to relentless at exactly the right time, and the sudden surge has the Guardians sitting one win from the ALCS after taking Games 3 and 4 from the White Sox. Both of those victories came with nine runs on the board, a striking answer from a club that had been searching for the kind of timely thump that changes a postseason series in a hurry.
Jo Adell, brought in as a recent deadline addition, has been right in the middle of it, giving Cleveland a jolt that has changed the feel of the lineup over just two games. His arrival now looks like the kind of move that can reshape October, and the Guardians will carry that new edge into the next game with a chance to finish the job. [Read more 🡒]
Jose Ramirez May Have Just Saved Cleveland At The Perfect Time
Jose Ramirez has spent much of the season searching for the version of himself Cleveland has leaned on for years, and in Game 4 of the ALDS he finally gave the Guardians a reminder of why he matters so much in October. After working through pain since hamate bone surgery and enduring a difficult offensive stretch, Ramirez kept showing signs of life across the first two playoff games and then added another jolt in a 9-5 win over the White Sox.
The biggest swing came in the fifth inning, when his two-run homer flipped the game and helped Cleveland protect its season for at least one more night. With the series now headed to a decisive Game 5 at Progressive Field, the Guardians suddenly have reason to believe Ramirez may be heating up at exactly the right time, and that changes the feel of everything around them. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Suddenly Face A Bullpen Problem In Their Biggest Game Yet
Cade Smiths rough ninth inning in Game 4 gave Cleveland a moment of unease at exactly the wrong time, even if Gavin Williams stepped in to close out the 9-5 win over the Chicago White Sox and send the series to a winner-take-all Game 5. The Guardians have leaned hard on their pitching staff throughout the matchup, and Smith did not hide his frustration after not getting through the inning, though he said he is still ready if called upon again.
Gavin Williams role only underscores how thin the margin has become for Cleveland. He was needed in relief to finish Game 4, and now he is lined up to start Game 5 in less than 48 hours, a reminder of how much the Guardians have asked of their arms just to reach this point. For a team playing its biggest game yet, that kind of workload can turn every inning into a test of depth as much as execution. [Read more 🡒]