Arizona Diamondbacks at Cleveland Guardians

The most resistance Guardians starter Gavin Williams faced on Sunday was a one-hour, 34-minute rain delay that prematurely ended his outing against the D-backs. Before that, he was nearly perfect. Lately, the big right-hander has been clinical. “He's been dialed in,” Guardians catcher Patrick Bailey said. “He's been getting better and better over this last month. It's so much fun back there catching him.” Williams struck out 10 batters over 5 2/3 scoreless innings on Sunday to lead the Guardians to a 5-0 win over the D-backs at Progressive Field. He allowed just one hit and one walk and threw 89 pitches (60 strikes), carrying a perfect-game bid into the sixth inning. D-backs center fielder Tim Tawa snapped it with a leadoff single. Sunday marked the fifth consecutive start in which Williams has struck out 10-plus batters and allowed one or fewer walks. That’s tied for the second-longest streak in the Majors since at least 1900 with Chris Sale (2018). It trails only Clayton Kershaw’s six-start streak in ‘16. Williams has struck out 55 batters and walked just three over his past five starts, which is the most by a Cleveland pitcher over a five-start span since Shane Bieber (57) from April 7-30, 2021. “He’s coming out, giving us a chance to win every time, filling up the strike zone, attacking guys, swings and misses left and right,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “It's just been a lot of fun to watch him work right now.”