CLEVELAND, Ohio — The transformation of Gavin Williams from a hard-throwing, occasionally wild pitcher into the Guardians’ undisputed postseason ace is one of the more compelling stories of the 2026 baseball season — and it didn’t happen by accident.

Gavin Williams was charged with two runs — zero earned — over five innings in a loss to the White Sox on Monday.

Watching Gavin Williams work against an overmatched A’s lineup on Sunday, it was easy to begin looking ahead to dream about his potential on the October stage. The big right-hander with overpowering stuff is the type of pitcher any team would love to lean on in the postseason.

The White Sox staggered through the last seven days like a young, inexperienced team weighed down by the demands of holding onto first place late in the season when back in March nearly everyone predicted they would finish in the AL Central basement.

Tristan Peters' 18-pitch walk is tied for the fifth longest in MLB history since 1988 — and it landed in the sixth inning of the Guardians' biggest game of the season, right when Gavin Williams was cruising.

Watching Gavin Williams work against an overmatched A’s lineup on Sunday, it was easy to begin looking ahead and dream about his potential on the October stage. The big right-hander with overpowering stuff is the type of pitcher any team would love to lean on in the postseason.