Williams gets Game 5 start after closing out Guardians’ Game 4 win

Gavin Williams will start the Guardians’ deciding Game 5 against the White Sox on Saturday, two days after pitching the ninth inning to preserve Cleveland’s Game 4 win. Sean Burke will start for Chicago as the division rivals play for the final American League Championship Series berth.

The game is scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern at Progressive Field. Cleveland’s 9-5 win Thursday tied the best-of-five series at two games apiece. The winner advances to face Tampa Bay in an ALCS that begins Monday.

Williams had been lined up to start Game 5 on normal rest after his Game 2 outing. That plan became more complicated when Cleveland needed him in relief Thursday. He threw eighteen pitches, allowed one hit and recorded the final three outs after closer Cade Smith ran into trouble.

On Friday, manager Stephen Vogt confirmed that Williams would still get the start. Associated Press reporting described Williams telling Vogt after Game 4 that he was ready. Williams compared the outing with his usual between-starts bullpen work and said his body felt good.

Williams struck out eleven in five-plus innings during Cleveland’s 4-3 loss in Game 2. Burke worked the other side of that game, entering in the third inning and allowing one run on one hit over 5 1/3 innings with six strikeouts. He retired thirteen consecutive batters at one point.

Chicago will begin this game with Burke on the mound, giving him a different assignment from his long-relief appearance Monday. MLB.com reported that the White Sox would use him without an opener in front of him.

The rest of the pitching plans remain affected by the previous two games. Chicago used seven pitchers Thursday, and Erick Fedde threw 61 pitches across 3 2/3 innings. Cleveland used eight pitchers, with Smith throwing 31 pitches before Williams took over. Those workloads leave both managers weighing availability as well as matchups.

For Chicago, limiting walks is another immediate priority. The White Sox issued ten in their Game 3 loss and seven more in Game 4. Burke’s command gave them a much stronger result in Game 2, and his Saturday start puts that ability at the front of their plan.

Cleveland has recovered from an 0-2 series deficit, but Saturday determines whether that comeback produces a trip to the ALCS. Williams’ assignment is now settled; the length of his start and the relief choices behind him will unfold during the game.