Cleveland's Gavin Williams Shows Improvement Amid Extension Talks

This week's MLB Mailbag discusses several topics, including the future of Gavin Williams with the Cleveland Guardians, the St. Louis Cardinals' catching talent, optimism in Miami, and Shohei Ohtani's role as a two-way player.

Gavin Williams has shown marked improvement in his pitching, reducing his walk rate while increasing his strikeout rate to over 33%. Despite a higher ERA of 3.78 this season, his underlying metrics suggest he could be a strong No. 1 or No. 2 starter for playoff teams. His strikeout rate and improved pitch performance indicate a positive trend, leading to speculation about a potential contract extension.

Williams has altered his pitching strategy, increasing the use of his two-seamer and enhancing the effectiveness of his slider and curveball. While he has been prone to home runs this season, his overall skill set appears more promising than in previous years, raising questions about Cleveland's plans for him moving forward.