MLB4d ago
Guardians Set Williams to Oppose Jax in ALCS Game 3
Cleveland turns to right-hander Gavin Williams after his heavy workload in the ALDS, while Tampa Bay hands the ball to Griffin Jax on seven days' rest.
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Williams Handles ALDS Workload
The Guardians will hand the ball to right-hander Gavin Williams for Game 3 of the American League Championship Series on Thursday. Williams threw 210 pitches across six days during the AL Division Series against the Chicago White Sox, working 11⅔ innings in three appearances. That included five innings in Game 2, 18 pitches in Game 4 on two days' rest and 12 strikeouts across 5⅔ innings in Game 5. The 27-year-old posted a 3.76 ERA with an AL-leading 248 strikeouts in 184⅓ innings over 32 starts during the regular season.
Day Start Could Suit Williams
Major League Baseball moved the first pitch for Game 3 to 1 p.m. ET from the original 6 p.m. start because of rain expected in Northeast Ohio. Williams posted a 2.42 ERA in 13 day starts compared with a 4.82 ERA in 19 night starts this season, suggesting the earlier time could work in his favor.
Jax Makes First Postseason Start
Tampa Bay will counter with right-hander Griffin Jax, who will make his first career postseason start after a two-inning relief appearance in Game 3 of the AL Division Series against the New York Yankees. In that outing Jax allowed one run, issued one walk and recorded four strikeouts. The 31-year-old also threw three scoreless innings on Sept. 26 against the Philadelphia Phillies. Jax finished with a 3.14 ERA in 23 starts and an 8.00 ERA in 11 relief appearances this season.
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