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Lifted early out of caution, Williams still adds to historic postseason ledger

Cleveland Guardians ace Gavin Williams delivered another dominant postseason performance in Game 3 of the ALCS, striking out nine Tampa Bay Rays batters across five innings to secure a 3-2 victory at Progressive Field. His velocity dipped from a peak of 99 mph early in the outing to around 95 mph by the fifth, prompting manager Stephen Vogt to lift him ahead of schedule as a precautionary measure.

Despite the early exit, Williams’ dominance has redefined his postseason trajectory, with a career-high strikeout rate of 45.9%—the best among MLB pitchers with at least 10 innings pitched in October. The Guardians now face Game 4 with Williams’ workload carefully managed, though his ability to elevate his game when called upon remains a defining factor in their playoff push.

If Cleveland advances, Williams’ historic run could cement his legacy as one of the most clutch postseason pitchers of his generation.

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