Pirates in baseball: Gavin Williams slated to start Friday for Guardians

by | Jul 25, 2025

ECU alum and Cleveland Guardians pitcher Gavin Williams will start Friday when the team begins a three-game series with the Kansas City Royals.

The Guardians wrapped up their series with the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday.

Williams (6-4) takes a 3.54 ERA into the contest. He had one of his best outings of his career last Sunday in a win over the Athletics. He pitched seven innings, gave up a run on four hits and struck 11 with a walk.

His 11 strikeouts were the second best he’s had in his career. During his rookie season, he struck out 12 against Toronto on Aug. 7, 2023 then struck out 10 against Tampa Bay on Aug. 12, 2023.

Carter Cunningham

He played in both games of the doubleheader for Vancouver on Thursday against Eugene.

In the first game, he was 0-for-1 but scored the winning run in a 4-3 victory in 11 innings. He started at second base and scored on a fielder’s choice by Eddie Micheletti Jr.

He was 1-for-2 with a walk in a 5-1 loss in the second game.

See below to find out what the rest of the Pirates in baseball did on Thursday.

Major League Baseball

  • Connor Norby, Miami Marlins: On Injured List with wrist injury. Had surgery and will be out 6-8 weeks.
  • Alec Burleson, St. Louis Cardinals: 1-for-5 with run scored in 9-7 win over Padres. He doubled and scored in the second inning to cap six-run inning for 7-2 lead.
  • Shawn Armstrong, Texas Rangers: Off Thursday. Hosting Braves on Friday.
  • Gavin Williams, Cleveland Guardians: See above
  • Jeff Hoffman, Toronto Blue Jays: Did not pitch in 11-4 win over Tigers
  • Clayton McCullough, Miami Marlins (manager): Off Thursday, at Brewers on Friday
  • Zach Agnos, Colorado Rockies: Off Thursday. At Orioles on Friday

Triple-A

  • Carson Whisenhunt, Sacramento RiverCats (Giants): Did not pitch in 4-3 win over Las Vegas.

Double-A

  • Trey Yesavage, New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays): Did not pitch in 6-3 loss to Hartford
  • Carter Spivey, Akron Rubber Ducks (Guardians): Placed on 7-day injured list with right shoulder strain on June 12.
  • Trey Benton, Akron Rubber Ducks (Guardians): On season-ending disabled list

Single-A

  • Carter Cunningham, Vancouver Canadians (Blue Jays): See above
  • Josh Moylan, Hudson Valley Renegades (Yankees): 0-for-4 with a walk and RBI in 8-1 win over Rome
  • Josh Grosz, Hudson Valley Renegades (Yankees): Traded to Colorado Rockies as part of deal to get Ryan McMahon. Assigned to the Spokane Indians and could play against Carter Cunningham later this season.
  • Tyler Bradt, Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals): Came on in relief in 9-5 win over West Michigan. He pitched 2.2 innings, gave up a hit and a walk while striking out one. ERA dropped to 3.32.
  • Jacob-Jenkins-Cowart, Beloit Sky Carp (Marlins): Did not play in 9-2 loss to Great Lakes
  • Ryan McCrystal, Daytona Tortugas (Reds): Promoted to High-A Dayton on Thursday
  • Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman, Modesto Nuts (Mariners): Placed on full-season disabled list on April 15.
  • Erik Ritchie, Clearwater Threshers (Phillies): Rained out vs. Bradenton. Will make up Aug. 1
  • Landon Ginn, Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs): Did not pitch in 4-1 loss to Columbia.

Rookie League

  • Dixon Williams (Braves): According to Carlos Collazo of Baseball America, signed his draft contract with the Atlanta Braves, worth $497,500. The former ECU baseball star will now report to the Braves’ Florida Coast League team.
  • Ethan Young (Cardinals): Was a fifth-round pick and signed to a $630,000 deal. The slot value for the 150th pick is $470,100, according to Baseball America writer Carlos Collazo.

Frontier League

  • Danny Beal, Down East Bird Dawgs (Independent): Did not pitch in 7-1 win over Ottawa

Photo: Gavin Williams (AP photo)

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