Gavin Williams Stays on Cy Young Track with 11-Strikeout Performance in Win

The Cleveland Guardians' ace continues his dominant start to the 2026 season.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 1:26am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the various angles and movements of a baseball pitcher's windup and delivery, with sharp planes of navy, red, and yellow colors.Gavin Williams' dominant pitching performance showcases his ability to confound hitters with a diverse arsenal of pitches.Cleveland Today

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams delivered another stellar outing, striking out 11 batters over 7 innings in a 4-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles. Williams now leads the league with 40 strikeouts on the season, further cementing his status as an early Cy Young contender.

Why it matters

Williams' dominant start to the season has the Guardians off to a strong beginning as they look to compete in the AL Central. His ability to rack up strikeouts while limiting walks and hits has been a key factor in the team's early success.

The details

On Saturday, April 18, Williams allowed just 3 hits, 1 earned run, and 1 walk while striking out a season-high 11 batters over 7 innings. He was efficient, throwing strikes and getting ahead of hitters. Shortstop Brayan Rocchio provided the offensive support with a 3-run home run in the 5th inning to give the Guardians the lead for good.

  • On Saturday, April 18, Williams struck out 11 batters over 7 innings.
  • Williams' previous season-high was 10 strikeouts against the Los Angeles Dodgers just a few series ago.
  • Through 5 starts, Williams has a 2.12 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and .133 batting average against.

The players

Gavin Williams

The Cleveland Guardians' starting pitcher who is off to a dominant start to the 2026 season, leading the league in strikeouts.

Brayan Rocchio

The Guardians' shortstop who hit a 3-run home run in the 5th inning to give Cleveland the lead.

Bo Naylor

The Guardians' catcher who hit a solo home run in the 8th inning to provide insurance for Cleveland.

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What they’re saying

“That's as good a mix as I think we've seen from him. I thought the usage of breaking balls, cutter, sinker, fastball. I thought Bo called a great game. He executed. It felt like he pitched with his spin tonight and really surprised them with fastballs. That was unbelievable. Just a great job being efficient.”

— Steve Vogt, Guardians Catcher

“He was throwing strikes. I mean, he was filling up the zone. He was getting ahead, and I don't even think there were too many three-ball counts tonight. I mean, he was super efficient, a lot of punch-outs, which, usually, that means a higher pitch count, but that wasn't the case tonight.”

— Steve Vogt, Guardians Catcher

What’s next

The Guardians and Orioles will face off again on Sunday, April 19, with Joey Cantillo taking the mound for Cleveland.

The takeaway

Gavin Williams' dominant start to the 2026 season has him firmly in the Cy Young conversation, as he continues to rack up strikeouts while limiting baserunners. If he can maintain this level of performance, the Guardians will be a force to be reckoned with in the AL Central.