Guardians Would Have One Big Advantage In A Game 7

The Cleveland Guardians cannot afford to look past Game 6 of the ALCS against the Tampa Bay Rays. After losing Game 5 on Sunday, another loss on Monday night would end their season short of their World Series goal.

However, it’s hard not to think about what lies ahead if the Guardians do get a victory. It would set up a winner-take-all game at Tropicana Field on Tuesday, and Cleveland would have to like its chances.

Analyst Ken Carman points out that the Guardians would have one big advantage in a Game 7, as they would start ace Gavin Williams, who is in the midst of a dominant postseason run.

“Not having Gavin Williams out there makes me nervous, obviously. But if you get to that Game 7, how good do you feel going into tomorrow night with Gavin Williams on the mound?” Carman said.

“How good do you feel going into tomorrow night with Gavin Williams on the mound?”

➡️ @KenCarman looks ahead to a potential ALCS Game 7 and what having Gavin Williams available could mean for the #Guardians. pic.twitter.com/93keminj7d

— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) October 19, 2026

Cleveland could have decided to start Williams in the first must-win game instead, and many people are wishing it would do so. However, manager Stephen Vogt said the Guardians would not use the 27-year-old on short rest after he threw 70 pitches over five innings in his Game 3 start on Thursday.

Williams is also coming off a career-high 184.1 innings in just his second full MLB season. Yet that has not had an effect on him in the playoffs, as the 6-foot-6, 250-pound right-hander has 32 strikeouts with just seven hits allowed in his three playoff starts this year. In addition to starting Game 2 against Chicago, he pitched an inning of high-leverage relief in Game 4 of that series before starting Game 5 two days later.

So in Game 6 against the Rays, the Guardians reportedly will try to extend their season with a bullpen game, with Slade Cecconi in line to handle multiple innings. Cleveland also has a well-rested Tanner Bibee and Joey Cantillo available, along with the rest of their usually reliable bullpen.

Tampa Bay plans to start Freddy Peralta, who pitched six scoreless innings in Game 2 on Tuesday, a 3-1 Cleveland loss. Peralta also pitched two-thirds of an inning in relief on Saturday, throwing nine pitches.

If Williams does get his chance to start Game 7, it will be the Rays who have to figure out their pitching to determine who wins the American League pennant.