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The Guardians used their Game 5 starter to close Game 4 -- now what?

The Cleveland Guardians' postseason survival hinged on an unexpected move Thursday night, when ace right-hander Gavin Williams entered the game in relief to close out a 9–5 victory over the Chicago White Sox and force a decisive Game 5. Williams, who had been slated to start Saturday’s Game 5 on his usual rotation, instead recorded the final three outs after manager Stephen Vogt turned to him in the ninth inning.

The decision came after closer Cade Smith, who had already pitched two innings in Game 4 on Wednesday, allowed two runners on base with one out in the ninth. With the Guardians clinging to a four-run lead, Williams—who had been warming up in the bullpen as a precaution—stepped in and threw 18 pitches, allowing just a single base hit while striking out one batter.

His appearance added an unusual wrinkle to the rotation, as he had originally been scheduled to pitch Saturday despite the late-game workload.

The Guardians’ bullpen had already been tested earlier in the game, with starter Parker Messick exiting after 65 pitches over 2⅓ innings and a series of relievers—including Tanner Bibee, Tim Herrin, and Erik Sabrowski—struggling to contain the White Sox. The team’s offense exploded in the sixth inning with six runs, but the late-game chaos forced Vogt’s hand.

Williams’ readiness and trustworthiness made him the logical choice, even if the plan had initially been for him to simply throw bullpen sessions in-game to stay sharp for his scheduled start. With Game 5 now on the line, the Guardians will need to decide whether to stick with Williams on the mound or adjust their strategy after his unplanned outing.

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