Gavin Williams has rebounded from a scattershot season debut to show why he is considered the ace of the Cleveland Guardians’ pitching staff. In his past three starts, Williams has also shown why he is a true contender to win the AL Cy Young Award this season.
Facing the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field on Tuesday afternoon, Williams allowed just one hit over 5.2 innings. He also struck out eight batters in Cleveland’s 2-1 victory.
According to Just Baseball, that combination allowed Williams to make MLB history, as he became just the fourth pitcher to strike out at least 25 batters while allowing fewer than six hits in his first three starts of any season.
“The only pitchers in MLB history with 25+ strikeouts and 5 or fewer hits allowed in their first three starts of the season: 2019 Luis Castillo; 2019 Mike Clevinger; 2021 Corbin Burnes; 2026 Gavin Williams. Williams has been DEALING to start the year!” Just Baseball wrote on X.
The only pitchers in MLB history with 25+ strikeouts and 5 or fewer hits allowed in their first three starts of the season:
2019 Luis Castillo
2019 Mike Clevinger
2021 Corbin Burnes
2026 Gavin Williams 👀Williams has been DEALING to start the year! pic.twitter.com/GoIowuzt3E
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) April 7, 2026
After Tanner Bibee was given Cleveland’s Opening Day start against the Seattle Mariners, Williams in the second game allowed just two hits and struck out seven in his five innings. He did walk six batters and allowed three runs in Cleveland’s 5-1 loss.
He responded in his next outing by shutting down the world champion Los Angeles Dodgers over seven innings. The right-hander gave up just two hits while striking out 10 in a 4-1 win.
Then, on Tuesday, he gave up only a second-inning home run to Carter Jensen, allowing the Guardians to rally with a run in the fifth and a run in the bottom of the ninth on an RBI single by Brayan Rocchio. The game had been rescheduled to the afternoon to avoid a frigid weather forecast, but it was still played in far-from-ideal conditions.
For the season, Williams has allowed five hits and struck out 25 batters in 17.1 innings, though he does have 14 walks. His performances have been vitally needed as the Guardians’ offense has continued its troubling pattern from last season of failing to score runs.
Cleveland is above .500 and in first place in the AL Central despite posting just 36 runs in 12 games, and it will attempt to win yet another series when it faces the Royals on Wednesday afternoon with Joey Cantillo on the mound.
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