Smith (4-1) collected the win in the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Tigers, allowing one hit and striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.
The Cleveland closer kept the score tied at 6-6 in the top of the final frame, and Smith got rewarded when Brayan Rocchio launched a walk-off solo shot in the bottom half of the inning. Smith hasn't been needed much lately, making only two appearances since Aug. 25, and that rest could pay off down the stretch as the Guardians try to catch the White Sox for the AL Central crown. Since the beginning of August, Smith has delivered a 1.50 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB over 12 innings while converting five of six save chances.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: Notches 35th save
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Smith struck out two in a perfect 10th inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 8-6 extra-inning win over the Angels.
Smith was handed a two-run lead after Jose Ramirez's go-ahead double in the top of the 10th and slammed the door for his 35th save of the season. The right-hander worked around the automatic runner without allowing him to score, striking out two during a 15-pitch frame in which he threw 11 strikes. Smith has now earned saves on consecutive days after closing Monday's 4-2 victory over Los Angeles, and he lowered his ERA to 2.40. He's also clinched his last five save chances.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: Posts save Monday
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Smith gave up one run on one hit while striking out one batter over one inning to earn a save against the Angels on Monday.
Smith entered in the ninth frame with Cleveland up by three runs. He hit the first batter he faced with a pitch, and then gave up a one-out single followed by a sacrifice fly to surrender a run. However, Smith was able to get Christian Moore to fly out to end the contest. It was the second straight outing during which Smith has allowed a run, but he's been able to record a save in both instances. The right-hander moved into sole possession of second place in MLB with 34 saves, and he's supported that mark with a 2.44 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 82:20 K:BB over 59 innings spanning 56 appearances this season.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: Records 33rd save
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Smith recorded his 33rd save of the season in Saturday's game against Colorado, allowing a run on one hit while striking out one.
It was not perfect for Smith, yet he was able to navigate around a Connor Norby solo home run to earn the save. Saturday's outing ended his streak of 12 straight outings without allowing an earned run. Through 58 innings this campaign, Smith owns a 2.33 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 81:20 K:BB.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: Holds on for 32nd save
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Smith worked around two walks to earn the save in a scoreless ninth inning Thursday against the Giants. He struck out one.
San Francisco brought the potential tying run to the plate, but Smith was able to hang on and close it out for the Guardians. The star closer hasn't let in an earned run since July 12 in Miami, a streak of 12 straight outings. Through 57 innings this year, Smith boasts a 2.21 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 80:20 K:BB with 32 saves in 37 chances.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: Takes blown save Wednesday
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Smith was charged with a blown save in Wednesday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Mets, allowing an unearned run on one hit and two walks while striking out two in the ninth inning.
After walking Jared Young to lead off the ninth, Smith had New York down to their final out before giving up a double to Jorge Polanco, followed by a walk to Marcus Semien to load the bases. It looked like Smith would escape with the save after A.J. Ewing grounded to second base. However, Brayan Rocchio failed to field the ball cleanly, allowing the tying run to score and sticking Smith with his fifth blown save this season. Coming into the day, Smith had turned in seven straight scoreless innings, though he's had some trouble with his command of late with seven walks in his past 4.1 frames. Overall, Smith has converted 30 saves this season, posting a 2.41 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 73:18 K:BB across 52.1 innings.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: Secures 29th save
Rotowire
Smith struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his 29th save of the season in a 5-2 win over the Twins.
The 27-year-old closer fanned Kody Clemens as he extended his MLB saves lead, with the Padres' Mason Miller, the Rays' Bryan Baker and the Cardinals' Riley O'Brien tied for second with 25. Smith has allowed an earned run in only one of his last 10 appearances, and on the season he's produced a 2.72 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 66:11 K:BB over 46.1 innings.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: Registers save No. 28
Rotowire
Smith earned the save Friday against the Marlins after tossing a perfect ninth inning.
Smith didn't record a strikeout en route to his MLB-leading 28th save of the season, but he needed just nine pitches (seven strikes) to get the job done in the bottom of the ninth. Smith has yet to allow a hit in five appearances so far in July while posting a 4:1 K:BB across five innings.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: Locks down MLB-high 27th save
Rotowire
Smith secured the save Thursday against the Twins, throwing a clean ninth inning. He struck out two.
With Thursday's save, the 27-year-old right-hander moved in front of Bryan Baker for the major-league lead. Cade Smith has flourished as Cleveland's full-time closer in 2026, posting a 2.76 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 61:11 K:BB with 27 saves in 30 attempts over 42.1 innings. Smith has yet to allow a hit across four outings in July so far.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: Blows third save Wednesday
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Smith gave up two runs on three hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning Wednesday to take his third blown save of the season in a 4-3 extra-inning win over the White Sox. He struck out one.
The normally reliable closer blew his first save since April 14, retiring the first two batters he faced in the ninth inning before serving up back-to-back solo shots to Braden Montgomery and Randal Grichuk to tie the game at 3-3 before he put two more batters aboard and got the hook. The Guardians were able to bail Smith out in the 10th, but the right-hander has now been tagged for four runs in his last two appearances, and he's issued at least one free pass in four straight. If his struggles continue, Erik Sabrowski, Hunter Gaddis and Shawn Armstrong -- who finished up Wednesday's contest -- could all find their way into the closing mix, but Smith's job security won't evaporate that quickly.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: Takes L in non-save situation
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Smith (2-1) was the losing pitcher Monday, surrendering two runs on two hits and one walk while striking out three over 1.2 innings in a 6-5 loss to the White Sox.
The three-game series between the AL Central's leaders kicked off Monday in exciting fashion. Smith entered to start the eighth inning with the Guardians trailing 4-3 and got through his first inning without issue. After Cleveland scored twice in the top half of the ninth, Smith was in position for a win while pitching in a save-like situation -- ahead by a run in the ninth inning. The White Sox rallied for a pair of runs and the walk-off win. This was Smith's first hiccup of any kind since April 14, when he blew a save.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: Reaches 20-save mark
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Smith earned the save in Friday's 4-3 win over the Red Sox, allowing one hit and no walks with three strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning.
Smith was called upon to protect a one-run lead in the ninth inning and worked around a leadoff single to become the first pitcher to reach 20 saves this season. A whopping 13 of those saves have come in May, and the 27-year-old has now converted 17 straight opportunities dating back to April 16. Overall, he's 20-for-22 in save chances with a 2.60 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 41:5 K:BB across 27.2 innings.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: Collects 19th save
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Smith gave up one run on two hits and struck out two in the ninth inning Wednesday, recording his 19th save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Nationals.
Back-to-back singles by Curtis Mead and CJ Abrams to lead off the final frame made things interesting, but Smith buckled down and struck out the last two hitters he faced after giving up a sacrifice fly. The right-hander hasn't blown a save since April 14, reeling off 16 straight successful conversions, and on the season he sports a 2.70 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 39:5 K:BB over 26.2 innings.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: Up to 18 saves
Rotowire
Smith earned the save in Sunday's 3-1 win over the Phillies, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.
Smith has been rolling, converting his last 15 save chances while allowing just one earned run in his last 13.2 innings. The 27-year-old Smith leads the majors with 18 saves (in 20 chances) this season while posting a 2.45 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 37:5 K:BB across 25.2 innings.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: Nails down 17th save
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Smith struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his 17th save of the season in a 1-0 win over the Phillies.
Kyle Manzardo produced the game's only run with a solo shot off Jhoan Duran in the top of the ninth, setting the stage for Smith to complete a combined shutout with Gavin Williams. Smith's 17 saves leads the majors, and he's been tagged for an earned run in only one of his last 12 appearances, posting a 0.71 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 21:1 K:BB in 12.2 innings over that dazzling stretch.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: Secures 13th save
Rotowire
Smith struck out the side in a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his 13th save of the season in a 4-2 win over the Angels.
The right-hander carved up the heart of the Halos' order, fanning Jorge Soler, Oswald Peraza and Zach Neto on 14 pitches (nine strikes). Smith has converted 10 straight save chances dating back to April 16, posting a 1.54 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 18:1 K:BB over 11.2 innings during that stretch. His 13 saves now leads the majors.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: Notches 11th save
Rotowire
Smith secured the save after giving up one earned run on two hits and striking out a batter in the ninth inning of Friday's 6-4 win over the Twins.
Smith threw 13 of his 15 pitches for strikes Friday, but a pair of singles from Byron Buxton and Austin Martin to begin the inning followed by a double-play ball off the bat of Ryan Jeffers put an earned run on Smith's ledger before the night was over. The 26-year-old's ERA is up to 3.44 through 18.1 innings, though he now sits alone atop the American League saves leaderboard with 11.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: Nails down 10th save
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Smith secured the save Thursday against the Royals, throwing a clean ninth inning. He struck out two.
The 26-year-old right-hander threw just half of his 18 offerings for strikes Thursday, but the Royals were unable to muster a baserunner. Through 17.1 innings this year, Smith has a 3.12 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 23:4 K:BB while converting 10 of his 12 save opportunities. Smith has allowed just one earned run over his last 11 outings, and he's now tied with David Bednar and Lucas Erceg for the American League lead in saves.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: Secures seventh save
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Smith gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Wednesday to record his seventh save of the season in a 3-1 win over the Rays.
The right-hander converted his fourth straight save chance in efficient fashion, firing 10 of his 12 pitches for strikes. Smith has had a bumpier start to the season than expected, but he's been scored upon only once in his last eight appearances and sports a 3.86 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 17:4 K:BB through 14 innings on the year.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: Fans three for fifth save
Rotowire
Smith picked up the save in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Orioles, striking out all three batters he faced in the ninth inning.
Smith made easy work of the Orioles' batters in the ninth inning, getting each one to strike out swinging while generating six whiffs and 15 pitches (11 strikes). The right-hander has converted on five of seven save opportunities this season and has a 4.09 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 14:3 K:BB across 11 innings. His five saves are tied for sixth most in the American League.
