Williams ties Cleveland playoff record with 12 Ks in Game 5

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 10: Gavin Williams #32 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates during Game Five of the American League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Saturday, October 10, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Jared Wickerham / Major League Baseball / Getty

Cleveland Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams tied the franchise's single-game postseason record with 12 strikeouts during Saturday's clinching 2-0 win over the Chicago White Sox in Game 5 of the ALDS.

Williams didn't allow a run while surrendering just one hit with two walks on 94 pitches over 5 2/3 innings. He's performance comes after closing out Thursday's Game 4.

Williams tied Charles Nagy's franchise mark. The latter struck out 12 in Game 4 of the 1996 ALDS.

Most strikeouts in a playoff game, Cleveland history: 12: Gavin Williams, tonight 12: Charles Nagy, ALDS Game 4 in 1996 11: Gavin Williams, five days ago 11: Bartolo Colon, ALDS Game 1 in 1999
— Zack Meisel (@ZackMeisel) October 11, 2026

The 27-year-old is the first pitcher with 10-plus strikeouts in a playoff game on one day of rest since Liván Hernández in the 1997 NLCS.

Williams' 12 strikeouts are also the second most in postseason history for a winner-take-all game. Tarik Skubal owns the record with 13 in Game 5 of the 2025 ALDS.