Ex-Pirate Gavin Williams outduels World Series MVP

Guardians defeat Dodgers 4-1 behind strong outing from former college star

Apr. 2, 2026 at 1:43pm

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Gavin Williams, a former standout pitcher at East Carolina University, outperformed the reigning World Series MVP on Wednesday to lead the Cleveland Guardians to a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Williams, now in his second MLB season, delivered a dominant pitching performance to earn his first win of the year.

Why it matters

Williams' success against the defending champions showcases his continued development as a professional pitcher and the Guardians' ability to cultivate young talent. The win also keeps Cleveland in contention early in the season as they look to build on their recent playoff appearances.

The details

Williams, 25, held the Dodgers to just one run on four hits over six strong innings, striking out eight batters. He outdueled Dodgers ace and reigning World Series MVP Tyler Anderson, who allowed four runs in five innings of work. The Guardians jumped out to an early lead with a pair of runs in the first inning and added two more in the fifth to secure the victory.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, April 2, 2026.

The players

Gavin Williams

A 25-year-old right-handed pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians, who was previously a standout at East Carolina University.

Tyler Anderson

The reigning World Series MVP and ace pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Cleveland Guardians

The Major League Baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles, California and the defending World Series champions.

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What they’re saying

“Gavin really set the tone for us today with his performance. He's been working hard and it's great to see that pay off with a big win against the champs.”

— Terry Francona, Manager, Cleveland Guardians

What’s next

The Guardians and Dodgers will play the rubber match of their three-game series on Thursday afternoon.

The takeaway

Gavin Williams' dominant outing against the defending World Series champions demonstrates the Guardians' ability to develop young pitching talent and suggests the team could be a force to be reckoned with in the American League this season.