As we are about to hit the halfway point of the season, the Cleveland Guardians are right there with Baltimore and New York as one of the three best teams in the American League.
The Guardians are getting it done with the bats this year, which is ironic, considering they were projected to have one of the better pitching staffs in the AL.
But injuries to Shane Bieber (done for the season) and Gavin Williams (yet to pitch this year) have forced Cleveland to turn to guys like Ben Lively and Carlos Carrasco to fill out their rotation. The good news is that Gavin Williams is nearing a return, but what should our expectations be for him this season?
How High Is Gavin Williams' Fantasy Potential?
Cleveland’s top-ranked pitching prospect becomes a no-brainer fantasy add the moment he gets the call up. Williams offers immediate fantasy appeal with his hard-tossing stuff and solid command.
The flame-throwing hurler is already being stashed in 58% percent of Yahoo leagues based on his stats from last season and the hype surrounding his return. Williams made 16 starts last year for Cleveland, tossing 82 innings and compiling a 3.29 ERA while striking out 81 hitters.
Gavin Williams looked good in his rehab start today for AAA and got up to 82 pitches:
4 IP 3 H 1 R 2 BB 6 K
16 whiffs 27 CSW%Should be back in the rotation shortly!
pic.twitter.com/yWcMmjkiJu— Andrew DeCeglie (@Andrew_FBB) June 28, 2024
Many believe Williams was just scratching the surface of his potential last season. With three pitches graded 50 or higher in his arsenal (fastball, slider, curveball), he has the type of stuff of ace pitchers.
When Might Gavin Williams Get A Major-League Opportunity?
The wait is over! Williams is set to make his 2024 season debut on Wednesday against the White Sox, which is a dream matchup for any pitcher who is looking to start their season off on a good note.
Gavin Williams is slated to return in front of a sold out crowd on Wednesday night.
I cannot wait. #ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/y0aU8yc09E
— Brady Hamilton (@BradyH_216) July 1, 2024
After making five starts at Triple-A Columbus and striking out 20 batters in 12 innings, the Guardians have decided that Williams is ready to go and, therefore, he should be added in all formats. Again, we are talking about a former first-round pick here who, at six-foot-six and 250 pounds, has a massive presence on the mound.
The sky is the limit for Williams, he's easily the top pick-up this week. Run, don't walk to your waiver wire to see if he's still available!
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