The Cleveland Guardians are elite, and have reached that status (and the best record in the American League at 50-26) in spite of a mediocre rotation.
Shane Bieber’s injury severely affected the Guards’ rotation and the unit currently doesn’t have the depth and quality required to successfully navigate a playoff series.
That’s a problem for another day, though: Cleveland has a comfortable lead in the AL Central, and a deadline reinforcement or two could revitalize the staff.
That, and the impending return of Gavin Williams.
The young fireballer, who impressed last year with a 3.29 ERA in 82 innings, suffered an elbow injury in spring training, one that he finally seems to be leaving behind.
He has made a few rehab starts in the minor leagues, and will make at least one more on Wednesday.
“#Guardians RHP Gavin Williams will make another rehab start Wednesday for Triple-A Columbus,” Guardians Prospective tweeted.
#Guardians RHP Gavin Williams will make another rehab start Wednesday for Triple-A Columbus
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) June 24, 2024
Williams suffered the injury in March.
He was actually close to a rehab assignment in late April, but felt renewed soreness and had to be shut down for a few days.
He is now making rehab starts, accumulating four in total.
The results just haven’t been there (7.88 ERA in eight frames), and he is still in the process of being fully stretched out.
Pay close attention, because if he dominates or has a solid outing on Wednesday, it could be his last rehab outing before heading to Cleveland.
The Guardians rotation (19th among the 30 MLB teams in ERA with a 4.25 mark) certainly needs the 2023 version of Williams.
Perhaps that’s why the team has taken so long with his recovery: they want him to feel right.
NEXT: Graphic Highlights Guardians' Most Dominant Unit
