AL DIVISION SERIES: WHITE SOX VS GUARDIANS

October 10, 2026

Gavin Willams

Progressive Field

Cleveland Guardians

Postgame 5 Press Conference

White Sox, 0, Guardians, 2

Q. Gavin, a lot of people were wondering how you would look tonight after the relief outing the other day. Were you also wondering how you were going to look tonight and at what point today did you feel like you had your best stuff?

GAVIN WILLIAMS: No, I wasn't wondering at all. I think that's the thing about pitching. The other day was a bullpen day, as everybody knew. And I just gotta give the team the best shot to win. Doesn't really matter what the role is at this point.

Q. Gavin, baseball is unique in the way it celebrates every step of the way. How does just the grind that you guys have to go through over 162, even dating back to spring training to then winning, I know you have bigger goals ahead, but to win a payoff series, how satisfying is that to see that long work pay off?

GAVIN WILLIAMS: It's pretty satisfying. I would just say just being in the locker room with the guys every day, it's fun. We all love each other. We do stuff away from the field, at the field. We're always doing stuff together. No matter what point it is, it's always fun, and just being able to celebrate with the guys, it's a dream come true.

Q. Gavin, you came out firing tonight. Obviously it's a winner-take-all game. How important was it to set the tone real quick like you did in that first inning?

GAVIN WILLIAMS: Yeah. Like I said, I'm just trying to do my job, give the team the best shot to win. And I was honestly trying to save the pen a little bit. I know they've gone through it a little bit in the four first games, I guess.

So that's the main thing, just giving the team the best shot to win.

Q. Vogt said before the game that a playoff game can feel like a year, just the way every pitch feels so intense. How do you feel that the postseason has a way of maybe slowing down time, for lack of a better phrase?

GAVIN WILLIAMS: Yeah. I think I feel like I have a slow heartbeat, just taking everything in with a great of salt. Really taking a deep breath when I have to, not letting the moment get too big and just going from there.

Q. Gavin, your mix tonight, a lot more breaking pitches maybe compared to fast balls in Game 2. Was that kind of workload that you've had during the series or just looking at this scouting report more taking chase on breakers?

GAVIN WILLIAMS: I think that goes back to seeing them six or seven times now. And Patey did a good job back there. He was reading swings the whole time. We were talking between innings, and I mean, he's phenomenal back there. So I think it's more props to him than me.

Q. Gavin, two years ago playoff debut, you were hurt. You struggled. Last year, pitched great, but you guys didn't win the game. Same thing in Game 2 this year.

Is there any personal vindication for you now that you've come up here in the biggest of stages do or die game and deliver it like you did?

GAVIN WILLIAMS: I mean, I think that just goes back to baseball. Never really know the moment. Never know when your last chance is to pitch. You just have to take it with a grain of salt, like I said, and give the team the best shot to win.

Q. Can you describe the moment Ramírez hit the homer in the dugout was going crazy and what he's been able to do?

GAVIN WILLIAMS: I wasn't in the dugout. I was down low. Gotta a little swing room just trying to catch my breath, slow the heart rate down a little but. But José is José. We all love him. He always has that one moment all the time. We know what he's going to do.

Q. Did the rain, I mean clearly you seemed pretty comfortable, but did the rain impact you at all when you were out there?

GAVIN WILLIAMS: Not at all. Didn't really matter to me. I was going to have to pitch through it no matter what. So I think that's a factor you gotta put away and just don't even think about it.

Q. Also, physically did you feel any different in this one or once you got out there, just felt like any other start?

GAVIN WILLIAMS: Just felt like any other start. I felt like I do a good amount of recovery. I feel like all the pitchers will say the same thing. They can see me in the recovery room all the time. I feel like especially the starters give me a lot of crap about being in there so much.

Q. You tied the franchise playoff record for strikeouts in a game. Hasn't happened in 30 years for someone to get 12. How have you processed that putting yourself in that record book?

GAVIN WILLIAMS: I mean, I'd say it's pretty cool. But at the same time, I don't think that's the big thing to look at. I think we got a bigger goal as the team, and just trying to help the team as much as I can.

Q. You were obviously pitching three of these games. Cade and Hunter pitching in all five, what's it been like to be teammates with them and what they've shown this time of year?

GAVIN WILLIAMS: I mean, they're unbelievable. Just being able to do what they do day in and day out. I know it's very taxing on them. I mean, honestly, props to them. I don't know how they do it as much as they do.

Q. After Game 2, you mentioned that you'd be ready to come out of the pen for game three. Instead, it was Game 4. And then you pitched on Game 5 as well.

With that being said, did the mindset change from coming out of the pen compared to starting a game or is it just more so because it was a bullpen session and it was just the same kind of routine like usual?

GAVIN WILLIAMS: Yeah. I think I have the same routine day in and day out. Nothing really changes, even though it's a bullpen day. Honestly, on a bullpen day, the intensity changes just a tad bit. It's a little bit lower. I mean, I feel like throughout the year, I've had some high intensity pens as well.

So I think it just helped me out along the way.

Q. Gavin, how was the atmosphere out there and how can you describe playing in front of Cleveland fans?

GAVIN WILLIAMS: I mean, I love Cleveland. Cleveland's fans are one of the best. Just being able to see what they do day in and day out, nothing changes here. I mean, if it's 30 degrees, if it's 100 degrees, they're still out. Doesn't matter really the time it is.

Q. You just got knighted by Hedgey. Like what does that do for you guys just to be like a fun kind of, you know, relaxed clubhouse, like what does that do for you when you do have must-win games, you know, three in a row? Like does that personality and identity and culture help you guys do what you did in this series?

GAVIN WILLIAMS: Yeah. It definitely brings the guys together. At the beginning of the year figuring out one thing that we can do and just bring all the guys together, it definitely helps out with the culture, makes us closer, makes these times even more fun to be able to do what we do.