Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams posted his best outing of the season against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday. The right-hander went five innings, allowing three hits, one earned run, and struck out seven batters in the win. He gave up a run in the first inning, but settled down nicely after that. In fact, Williams retired 12 of his last 13 batters before exiting the game at 94 pitches. The 25-year-old has the potential to be a top of the line starter, but he's not quite there yet. Williams will get a challenging matchup against the Baltimore Orioles during his next start. Fantasy managers might want to wait and see how that goes before jumping on the waiver wire to add Williams.

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams tallied six punchouts across 2 1/3 innings on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels. Williams struck out the side in the opening frame. In the second, Williams allowed two baserunners, one via a hit and the other by a hit by pitch. However, he managed to tally three strikeouts to escape the jam. He was given an opportunity to pitch in the third but allowed a leadoff double that eventually scored on an RBI single. Through 4 1/3 innings of work this spring, Williams has tallied nine punchouts and held a 2.08 ERA with a 0.92 WHIP. Last season, the 25-year-old logged 76 innings of work and held a 4.86 ERA with a 1.37 WHIP. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his strikeout upside during camp, as he could be taking the next step in his development. He is expected to operate as the No. 2 starter in the Cleveland rotation this season behind Tanner Bibee.

Cleveland Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams will make the start in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on Friday at Progressive Field against the New York Yankees. Williams made only 16 starts due to an elbow injury for the Guardians during the regular season and went 3-10 with a 4.86 ERA (3.67 FIP) and 1.37 WHIP with 79 strikeouts and 32 walks in 76 innings in his second big-league season, so he'll be a true wild card and a risky DFS option on Thursday against the Bombers in what will be his first start since Sept. 22. In his lone start against the Yankees in the Bronx on Aug. 22, Williams took the loss, allowing three earned runs on four hits (one homer) while walking four and striking out five in 4 1/3 innings of work. The 25-year-old was also worse at Progressive Field in 2024, sporting a 6.55 ERA and 1.69 WHIP in his seven starts.

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams turned in a quality start in Thursday's tough-luck loss versus the division-rival Detroit Tigers. Williams tossed six frames and allowed six hits, three runs, two walks and recorded a season-high nine strikeouts. Unfortunately for Williams, the Guardians offense decided to take the day off, giving Williams his third loss of the season. Since returning from right-elbow inflammation on June 30, Williams has pitched to a 4.50 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 24 innings over five starts. The potential is there for the 25-year-old as he continues to shake off the rust, and he could be a valuable piece at the back end of rotations in the second half. Next up for Williams will be a rematch with the Tigers, this time at home.

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams (elbow) has been reinstated off the injured list on Sunday. The former top prospect will make his return to Cleveland after being sidelined since the beginning of the season due to elbow inflammation. This is great news for the Guardians rotation considering how well Williams pitched with the big league club last season. He posted a 3.29 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 81/37 K/BB ratio across 16 starts. The Guardians might ease him back into things right away. However, Williams should be a reliable fantasy contributor once he's back up to full speed. In a corresponding move, right-hander Triston McKenzie heads back to Triple-A after struggling early on this season.

Cleveland Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams (elbow) made his latest minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Columbus on Thursday and looked good, giving up just one earned run on three hits while walking two and striking out six batters in four innings of work. The 24-year-old threw 82 pitches in the outing. If the Guardians decide that this was Williams' final rehab start, he could make his 2024 debut in a fantastic matchup next Tuesday versus the Chicago White Sox. The former 23rd overall pick in 2021 out of East Carolina should be picked up now off the waiver wire in mixed leagues if he's available after going 3-5 with an impressive 3.29 ERA (4.05 FIP) and 1.26 WHIP with 81 strikeouts and 37 walks in 82 innings over his first 16 MLB starts in 2023. He'll need to be more efficient and limit the free passes, but Williams' upside is intriguing with the first-place Guardians.

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams (elbow) will make another minor-league rehab start on Wednesday for Triple-A Columbus. It'll be a sixth and perhaps final rehab appearance for Williams, who is on the mend from right elbow discomfort. If all goes well on Wednesday, fantasy managers shouldn't have to wait much longer for Williams' long-awaited 2024 debut with the Guardians. The 24-year-old former top prospect needs to be stashed in all fantasy leagues with his return likely to arrive early next week. Williams generated a promising .3.29 ERA and 1.26 WHIP while punching out 81 and walking 37 covering 16 starts (82 innings) in his rookie campaign during 2023.

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams (elbow) threw five innings on Friday for Double-A Akron, striking out four batters and allowing just one run on four hits. Williams threw 66 pitches and topped out at 98 mph with his fastball. Friday marked Williams' fifth appearance in the minor leagues on his rehab assignment from right elbow discomfort, so there's a chance the Guardians deem him ready to rejoin the major-league roster for his 2024 debut in his next start. After posting a promising 3.29 ERA and 1.26 WHIP while striking out 81 and walking 37 through 16 starts (82 innings) during his rookie year a season ago, the 24-year-old former top prospect needs to be stashed in all fantasy leagues with his return appearing imminent.

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams (elbow) made his first minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Columbus on Thursday, allowing two runs on two hits (one home run) and two walks with two strikeouts over 1 1/3 innings of work. Williams' velocity was fine, but another big takeaway from Thursday's outing is that he was only able to reach 32 pitches. That likely means Williams is going to require around five appearances in the minors before he's stretched out enough to rejoin the major-league rotation, meaning his 2024 debut with the Guardians is unlikely to arrive until sometime in late June. In the meantime, veteran right-hander Ben Lively has helped fill in with a 2.80 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 43:14 K:BB across 45 innings (eight starts) as a starter for Cleveland in 2024 and will be a prime streaming candidate in fantasy for Saturday's scheduled appearance at home versus the Washington Nationals.

Cleveland Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams (elbow) is expected to make a minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday. Williams is now in the final step of his recovery from right-elbow discomfort that first cropped up for him during spring training. The 24-year-old also had a setback in the first month of the season, which is why he has yet to make his 2024 MLB debut. Given his long layoff, he will almost certainly require multiple rehab starts before the Guardians consider having him rejoin their starting rotation. But if he avoids any further setbacks, Williams could be back well before the All-Star break. The former 23rd overall pick in 2021 out of East Carolina could be worth picking up and stashing now after he had a really impressive 3.29 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with an 81:37 K:BB in his first 16 big-league starts in 2023.

Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said starting pitcher Gavin Williams (elbow) threw a live batting practice session on Friday and will throw another one in a few days. Barring any setbacks, Williams will begin a minor-league rehab assignment before the end of May. Williams has not yet made his 2024 regular-season debut due to an extended absence with discomfort in his right elbow, but he's finally tracking toward rejoining Cleveland's rotation before the end of June. Due to the long layoff, he figures to need multiple rehab appearances before doing so. The 24-year-old former top prospect registered a promising 3.29 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 81:37 K:BB across 82 innings (16 starts) for the Guardians during his rookie season in 2023, and Williams' upside to contribute across the board in fantasy means he deserves to be stashed in the majority of leagues.

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams (elbow) successfully threw a 50-pitch bullpen session on Wednesday. Williams said he didn't feel any lingering effects following his first bullpen session since receiving an anti-inflammatory injection, and he's scheduled to throw his next bullpen on Friday. The 24-year-old former top prospect is working his way back from discomfort in his right elbow after being shut down in late April, and it remains unclear when he'll resume his rehab assignment at this point. Williams should still be an option in Cleveland's rotation sometime in June, and fantasy managers who can afford the stash should be holding the right-hander after he posted a 3.29 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 81:37 K:BB across 82 innings (16 starts) for the Guards in his rookie season in 2023. In the meantime, veterans Carlos Carrasco and Ben Lively will keep battling to hold down spots in the rotation.

The Cleveland Guardians transferred right-hander Gavin Williams (elbow) to the 60-day injured list on Thursday to make room on the 40-man roster for right-hander Darren McCaughan, who was acquired in a trade. Williams resumed throwing a week ago while recovering from a right-elbow injury, but he still has a ways to go before he's an option to rejoin the team's major-league starting rotation. When the 24-year-old is healthy, though, he should have a rotation spot waiting for him in Cleveland after he went 3-5 with a 3.29 ERA (4.05 FIP) and 1.26 WHIP while walking 37 and striking out 81 in 82 innings over his first 16 major-league starts in 2023. If Williams can reduce his number of walks when he returns, he could be a major contributor in all fantasy leagues.

Cleveland Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams (elbow) has been cleared to begin throwing and did so on Thursday pain-free, according to manager Stephen Vogt. An elbow injury has kept Williams from making his 2024 debut with the Guardians after a fine rookie season in 2023 in which he went 3-5 with a 3.29 ERA (4.05 FIP) and 1.26 WHIP with 81 strikeouts and 37 walks in 82 innings in his first 16 major-league starts. He allowed just one earned run in 4 2/3 spring training innings over two appearances as well before getting hurt and landing on the injured to open the year. The 24-year-old former 23rd overall pick in 2021 out of East Carolina isn't exactly close to joining Cleveland's rotation, but he showed enough last year to be worthy of stashing in mixed fantasy leagues if you have the room on your roster.

Cleveland Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams (elbow) felt the same right-elbow discomfort after his latest start in Arizona as he did this spring. He will receive an injection and will be shut down for seven days as a result. The Guardians are hoping Williams can then resume throwing and won't be set back too far. It's obviously bad news, and there remains no timetable for a potential return for the 24-year-old. Williams started last year at Double-A Akron before making it all the way to Cleveland's starting rotation in his rookie campaign, where he impressed by going 3-5 with a 3.29 ERA (4.05 FIP) and 1.26 WHIP with 37 walks and 81 strikeouts in 82 innings over 16 starts. It's becoming more of an uphill battle for Williams to return to the Guardians in the first half of 2024.

Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said before Friday's game versus the Oakland Athletics that starting pitcher Gavin Williams (elbow) will pitch on Saturday in Arizona. After throwing his first simulated game on Monday, Williams appears to be closing in on a minor-league rehab assignment if all continues to go smoothly in his recovery from right elbow discomfort. Although he has a chance to be activated from the injured list before April's end, an early-May return is probably more realistic. The 24-year-old former top prospect recorded a 3.29 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 81:37 K:BB across 82 innings (16 starts) for the Guards in his rookie season in 2023, and it's about time to make sure he's not floating around any waiver wires in fantasy leagues. In the meantime, veterans Carlos Carrasco and Ben Lively will keep battling to hold down spots in Cleveland's rotation when Williams eventually makes his 2024 regular-season debut.

Cleveland Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session this week during the series against the Seattle Mariners that ends on Wednesday. Williams landed on the injured list to begin the 2024 regular season after dealing with right-elbow inflammation in the middle of spring training in March. The 24-year-old will hopefully embark on a minor-league rehab assignment shortly after he gets back on the mound. Barring setbacks on his rehab assignment, he has a chance to make his season debut before the end of April. The former 23rd overall pick in 2021 out of East Carolina went 3-5 with a solid 3.29 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 37 walks and 81 strikeouts in 82 innings in his first 16 major-league starts in 2023, so he will have a rotation spot waiting for him when he's ready.

Cleveland Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams (elbow) will start the year on the injured list. He will need another three or four days without throwing before he ramps back up and won't have enough time to build up completely before Opening Day on March 28. Williams had an MRI exam and everything looked good structurally, though, so he should be able to make his 2024 debut at some point later in April. The 24-year-old injured his right elbow while throwing weighted balls during a spring workout, but the injury isn't overly serious. Williams looked good in his first MLB season in 2023, going 3-5 with a 3.29 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 37 walks and 81 strikeouts in 82 innings over 16 starts. While Williams was a little fortunate in the ERA department last year, he's still worth a back-end rotation spot in mixed fantasy leagues as he enters his sophomore season.

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams (elbow) was scratched ahead of his scheduled start on Sunday. The right-hander is dealing with right elbow discomfort, so the organization is going to proceed with extreme caution. Luckily, Williams is currently considered as day-to-day, so the team doesn't believe it's a long term issue. The Guardians are likely going to ease Williams back into activities throughout the spring. Williams has been a stud this spring, so the hope is that he'll be ready to go by Opening Day.

Cleveland Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams was scratched from his scheduled start on Sunday after feeling discomfort in his right elbow after throwing weighted balls and will not throw for a couple of days. The 24-year-old had been off to a hot start this spring with a 1.93 ERA and nine strikeouts in just 4 2/3 innings across two Cactus League outings but will be shut down for a brief period of time. Williams debuted with a 3.29 ERA across 16 starts in the 2023 season after he tossed nine starts of 2.93 ERA ball at the Triple-A level. A 2021 first-round pick, Williams has displayed quality strikeout stuff in his brief minor-league tenure and punched out 23.5% of the hitters he faced as a rookie. He remains a rock-solid fantasy asset heading into the 2024 season but fantasy managers will want to keep an eye on his status ahead of Opening Day.