cbssports
The Cleveland Guardians are set to host the Chicago White Sox in a winner-take-all Game 5 of the American League Division Series on Saturday night at Progressive Field. The victor will move on to face the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALCS, while the defeated team will see its 2026 campaign come to an end. The stakes could hardly be higher.
To handle the pressure, the White Sox will send right-hander Sean Burke to the mound, their most reliable starter during the regular season. Cleveland will counter with right-hander Gavin Williams, who topped the American League with 248 strikeouts this year. Manager Stephen Vogt's decision to go with Williams is straightforward, especially after standout rookie Parker Messick started Game 4.
Williams is coming off a crucial relief appearance in that elimination game, having been on the mound when the Guardians clinched the Game 4 win in Chicago. Now, just two days later, he will take the ball for the decisive Game 5.
According to Sarah Langs on Bluesky, Williams will become only the sixth pitcher since 1945 to record the final out of one game and then start the next game in the same postseason series. The others in this rare group include:
- Jesse Chavez, Braves – 2021 NLCS, Games 3-4: 16 pitches in relief, 0 days rest, 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H
- Brad Peacock, Astros – 2019 ALCS, Games 5-6: 21 pitches in relief, 0 days rest, 1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H
- Miguel Batista, Diamondbacks – 2001 NLDS, Games 1-2: 12 pitches in relief, 1 day rest, 6 IP, 2 R, 3 H
- Bob Turley, Yankees – 1957 World Series, Games 5-6: 11 pitches in relief, 1 day rest, 9 IP, 2 R, 4 H
- Hank Borowy, Cubs – 1945 World Series, Games 6-7: N/A pitches in relief, 1 day rest, 0 IP, 3 R, 3 H
Of these five starts, two occurred in an era of vastly different pitcher usage, and the two most recent involved "opener" roles. That leaves Batista's 2001 NLDS start as the only truly comparable instance. In that outing against the Cardinals, Batista struck out four and walked none over six innings. Like Williams, Batista was working on one day of rest, though he threw 12 pitches in relief compared to Williams' 18.
Key Analysis
Vogt is likely hoping for some length from Williams. In an elimination game, a quick hook is always a possibility, especially with the bullpen coming off a day off, but Williams is expected to face at least one trip through the order, maybe two. Nothing from his Game 4 relief outing should prevent that, particularly since he was scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Thursday anyway. Perhaps more relevantly, Williams started Game 2 against the White Sox and delivered a strong performance: five innings, 11 strikeouts, two runs, and four hits. As noted, he is already in historically rare company before even throwing a pitch in Game 5.
Originally reported by cbssports.