Guardians' Pitcher Gavin Williams Explains Wild Start

The young right-hander struggled with control issues in his last outing but is looking to correct the problem.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 1:07pm

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Gavin Williams, a pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians, explained the wildness he experienced in his last start against the Seattle Mariners. Williams walked six batters over five innings in the loss, saying he was out of sync with his delivery, causing him to over-rotate and pull some pitches. The right-hander had done a good job limiting walks late last season and in spring training, but is now looking to correct the issue before his next scheduled start against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Why it matters

Control issues can be a major problem for young pitchers trying to establish themselves at the major league level. Williams had shown improvement in this area, so this latest outing is a setback that he'll need to quickly address to avoid further struggles and maintain his spot in the Guardians' rotation.

The details

In Friday's start against the Mariners, Williams said he was out of sync with his front foot getting to the ground too quickly before his upper body was ready to deliver the ball. This caused him to over-rotate and pull some pitches, leading to the six walks. Williams had done a good job limiting walks over the second half of the 2025 season, lowering his BB/9 from 5.3 before the All-Star break to 3.3 after it. He also had a strong spring training, walking just two batters in 17.2 innings.

  • In Friday's start against the Seattle Mariners, Williams walked six batters over five innings.
  • Prior to the All-Star break in 2025, Williams had a 5.3 BB/9 rate.
  • After the All-Star break in 2025, Williams had a 3.3 BB/9 rate.
  • This spring, Williams walked just two batters in 17.2 innings.

The players

Gavin Williams

A right-handed pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians who is trying to establish himself at the major league level.

Seattle Mariners

The opposing team that Williams faced in his last start where he struggled with his control.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The team that Williams is scheduled to face in his next start, where he will look to correct the control issues he experienced in his last outing.

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What they’re saying

“I was out of sync with my front foot too quick to the ground before my upper body were ready to deliver the ball. That caused me to over-rotate and pull some pitches, and my attempts to overcorrect caused more wayward offerings.”

— Gavin Williams, Guardians Pitcher

What’s next

Williams will look to correct the issue leading up to his next scheduled start on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The takeaway

Control issues can be a major problem for young pitchers, and Williams will need to quickly address this latest setback in order to maintain his spot in the Guardians' rotation. His ability to make the necessary adjustments will be crucial as he continues to develop at the major league level.