Overview

• Williams opens the best-of-three at Progressive Field on Tuesday at 1:08 p.m. ET against Detroit left-hander Tarik Skubal.
• He finished 2025 at 12-5 with a 3.06 ERA and 173 strikeouts in 167 2/3 innings, though he led MLB with 83 walks.
• Pitching coach Carl Willis credits a restored slider, the return of a cutter, and the addition of a sinker for giving Williams three distinct fastball shapes.
• Williams adopted dry needling on advice from pitching consultant Corey Kluber, with soft-tissue therapist Beth Mignano administering the treatment.
• Manager Stephen Vogt lined up Tanner Bibee for Game 2 and Slade Cecconi for a potential Game 3, as Cleveland enters after clinching the AL Central on the final day and an 8-5 season edge over Detroit.