AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: GUARDIANS VS RAYS

October 14, 2026

Gavin Williams

Progressive Field

Cleveland Guardians

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. How are you feeling coming off the crazy workload you had to finish last time out?

GAVIN WILLIAMS: I feel good. I feel like that was kind of a normal workload for me, except throwing in the game for my pen session. But nothing really. Body feels good. Arm feels good. And going to go out there tomorrow.

Q. Time change, maybe a little bit of a different environment you guys are going to be going into now. Is that on the back of your mind at all?

GAVIN WILLIAMS: No, not really. Game times have changed throughout the year. So nothing we can really worry about at this point. We're going to go out there and try to do our job the best we can.

Q. What's it like facing a Tampa Bay lineup that they're not really free swingers, they get a lot of contact and put the ball in play?

GAVIN WILLIAMS: Yeah, going to have to execute the way I know how to. They don't strike out much. They're going to put the ball in play. They're going to put a lot of pressure on us. Just going to have to execute the best way I know how to.

Q. It might be damp and drizzly tomorrow afternoon. What's it like pitching in those conditions?

GAVIN WILLIAMS: We're going to figure it out. I've pitched in the rain this year a few times. Going to go out there and just try to fill it. If I have to call out the grounds crew, that's what I'm going to do, try and figure some things out.

Q. What are the difficulties? Is it gripping the ball or what in that kind of condition?

GAVIN WILLIAMS: Just depends on how bad it gets. It can be the mound. It could be the ball. It could be a little bit of everything. Won't know until game time.

Q. I don't know if you know that since you got called up to the big leagues, I've been telling everybody that remind me of Roger Clemens. I got the opportunity to play against him. And you remind me that kind pitcher. You're very serious, you're a hard worker. And what you've been doing is amazing, leading the league in strikeouts, the way you're pitching here in the playoffs. To mention that name to you, how do you feel about it?

GAVIN WILLIAMS: To get my name mentioned with him, it's awesome. He played a lot longer than me. Hopefully I can play as long as him and have the career he did. But it's awesome. He's one of the best that's ever done it.

Q. We just heard from the pitching coach talking about how Parker Messick's work ethic has been compared to second to none. When you see someone go out like that and have an outing where it didn't necessarily go his way, where have you seen of his reaction and how he's been able to still maintain his own mindset?

GAVIN WILLIAMS: Yeah, I mean, he's already up here today. He almost beat me up here, and I had a bunch of media stuff to do. But he doesn't let anything affect him. He's going to go and do his stuff the next day like he knows how to, and he's not going to let anything bother him.

Q. I'd like if you could expand on how much of a creature of habit are you day versus night games? You've got different routines for both. Do you like the idea of having a bunch of hours waiting before night starts? Are you, I want to get up in the morning and get right after it? How does that work for you?

GAVIN WILLIAMS: Yeah, I feel like I'm very routine-oriented. I wake up about the same time every day, no matter if it's a night game or a day game. I honestly stick to my routines throughout the whole day.

I know the process of, like, warming up changes from a day game to a night game, but everything else in between stays the same.

Q. Just curious, because we talk about pitchers needing to be able to harness the energy that's around them, not being too over-amped when you're on the mound. You add the energy of the playoffs, the fact that you guys have been kind of thriving, being the kings of your backs against the wall. How are you channelling all of that to where your work is staying consistent on the mound?

GAVIN WILLIAMS: Probably just go back to not letting the moment get too big, a bunch of deep breaths, working on the breaths, and just going from there. And I feel like that's what I've done good at this year is not letting the moment get too big.

Q. Was there a moment during this season where you thought that this team could do what it's done, win the division, get to the ALCS, beat Chicago in the ALDS?

GAVIN WILLIAMS: Yeah, I mean, honestly, since Spring Training or the first series of the year, I knew we were special. We've been together all year. We've done some special things throughout the year. Yeah, I would say since Spring Training it was going to be special no matter what.

Q. Vogter and a couple players have said your first couple years here you were quiet. Starting at Spring Training, they discovered you had a voice and were boisterous and joking around and everything. Was that just getting more comfortable and confident in yourself, or what allowed that?

GAVIN WILLIAMS: I guess Hog's saying that? Did Hog come up to you with that? I think he's just mad that I beat him in golf a little bit.

But no, yeah, definitely being more comfortable a little bit. Through, I guess, my first year, year and a half, I had the elbow thing. And then getting called up, you don't really want to overstep on anything. You're just trying to fill out everything and seeing what you should do and what you shouldn't do. I definitely got more comfortable with that throughout the years.

Q. Carl Willis, when he comes out if you're struggling or you're in a jam, when he comes out to talk to you, what does he say to you?

GAVIN WILLIAMS: It's usually just a period for him to calm us down, get the heart rate a little bit lower. Usually just pitch strategies, what to stay away from, what to go to, and how to attack the hitters coming up.

Q. It seems like he's really calm in those conversations.

GAVIN WILLIAMS: For sure. Definitely helps out every pitcher that he goes out there and talks to.