Taking the mound against the Dodgers this Wednesday will be Gavin Williams, a pitcher who, in a way, sort of defied the odds over the last year or so to put up solid numbers despite concerning peripherals. Look no further than the 11.8% walk rate Williams ran last season in order to contemplate that his 3.06 ERA is no model of sustainability. Well, start number one in 2026 didn’t inspire much confidence in his ability to take steps forward in that department—Williams’s final line of two runs allowed in five innings of work against the Mariners represented a strong performance, but how he got there despite walking six batters is quite the surprise.
Although Shohei Ohtani leads the league in walks in this early sample, with six, the Dodgers as a team haven’t been that prone to the free pass. Ultimately, though, unlike in Williams’ case, in which the first sample of 2026 merely follows an established trend in the past, the Dodgers’ ability to be patient is well-known. If they can replicate that against Williams, there might be room for a blowup in here for an offense that hasn’t surpassed five runs in a game since Opening Day.
Early wins have come primarily on the backs of pitching and complementary pieces rising to the occasion. Sure, the stars have had their moments here and there, like that Mookie Betts three-run shot against the Diamondbacks, but we’re waiting for their first massive game. Something else to keep an eye on regarding Williams, a right-hander, is that he had pretty aggressive reverse splits last year, and he’s been better against lefties over the course of his career.
