Cleveland Guardians’ Gavin Williams Enters Cy Young Award Conversation

[Gavin Williams Dominates Game, Strongens Case for Cy Young Accolade]

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams (32) exits after striking out Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Andres Gimenez (0) for his thirteenth strikeout of the game to ends the seventh inning of the Major League Baseball matchup 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)

Cleveland Guardians big right‑handed starter Gavin Williams was virtually unwinnable during his most recent outing.

In his August 1, 2026 appearance against the Toronto Blue Jays, Williams—who turned 27 on July 25—generated seven innings of two‑hit baseball.

That performance bolstered Williams’ case for discussion in the American League Cy Young Award race.

While allowing one run, which was unearned, Williams finished the contest with a record of 13‑7, a 3.81 ERA, and a 1.09 WHIP after 28 starts over 163 innings.

In his 13th Cleveland Victory of the season, he piled up 97 pitched balls, 64 of which were strikes, and recorded a career‑best 13 earned runs allowed along with a career high of 217 strikeouts.

After the game, teammate Patrick Bailey affirmed the evaluation in a statement shared by MLB.com: “…the best starter in the league. No doubt about it.”

At six‑twenty‑six pounds, Williams, affectionately called “The Big Rig,” has already become a fan favorite and teammate chant.

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams delivers against the San Diego Padres during the opening 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:

Drafted in the 30th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball selection by the Tampa Bay Rays, Williams attended East Carolina University where he originally suited up.

Instead of accepting the Rays’ offer, Williams enrolled at his alma mater east before being selected by the Guardians in the first round of the 2021 MLB draft as the number twenty‑third pick.

The Guardians committed them to a $2.25 million signing bonus upon signing.

Making his major league debut on June 21, 2023 at age twenty‑three, he logged five and a half innings against the Oakland Athletics, surrendering four hits, four earned runs, three strikeouts, and three walks.

CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 01: Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okimoto (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:

BrooksBaseball.net highlights that Williams utilizes four distinct pitches within his repertoire.

During his September 1 outing versus Toronto, he released his fastball at a bursting 99.9 mph.

He then varied his approach by resorting to his breakleft, slicksweeper, or curved delivery to disrupt timing.

Below is the breakdown of how each pitch contributed to his effectiveness:

• Four‑seam fastball – 31.96 % of pitches
• Sinkable fastball – 18.52 %
• Curveball – 30.93 %
• Sweeper/slider – 18.50 %

Just as batters anticipate his primary tools, Williams often shifted expectations with tightening to his side‑arm velocity or altering his angle of release.

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:

An midsummer poll published by mlb.com featured opinions from thirty‑five independent experts regarding the year’s leading pitchers.

Notably, Gavin Williams did not appear among the nominees in that survey.

Ironically, his own Guardians teammate Parker Messick was included among the five names considered.

The ranking of eligible starters includes:

• 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 represent larger media markets, resulting in greater public and industry attention compared with Williams.

This amplified visibility often accompanies pitcher pressure, raising questions about whether opposing offenses struggle enough to generate heightened scrutiny.

DETROIT, MICHIGAN – MAY 18: A detail of a New Era Cleveland Guardians baseball hat featuring the team logo atop a glove during the game versus 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 Quest:

The Guardians expect to lean on Gavin Williams—and teammate Parker Messick—when racing into the postseason.

The unit boasts additional left‑hand options from Joey Cantillo, Foster Griffin, and veteran right‑hander Tanner Bibee alongside Williams.

Despite these resources, Cleveland holds a strong argument for earning a spot in the American League Cy Young Award discussion.

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