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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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: Unavailable for save
Rotowire
Smith was not given the save opportunity in Thursday's 3-1 win over Tigers.
Smith remains locked in as Cleveland's closer, but he recorded saves each of the previous two games and was unavailable Thursday after burning 36 pitches in those contests. Hunter Gaddis worked around a hit while striking out two in picking up his first save of the season.
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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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: Blows save opportunity Tuesday
Rotowire
Smith blew the save Tuesday against the Cardinals, allowing one unearned run on one hit while striking out one over one inning.
Smith appeared on his way to a clean save after retiring the first two batters on just five pitches, but an infield error extended the inning and allowed Masyn Winn to reach. Winn came around to score one batter later on a game-tying double by Yohel Pozo, saddling Smith with his second blown save in five chances this season. To his credit, the right-hander regrouped and struck out the next batter to prevent further damage and send the game to extras. The preseason AL Reliever of the Year favorite has had an uneven start, posting a 5.00 ERA and 1.33 WHIP through nine innings.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: Blows save opportunity Saturday
Rotowire
Smith (1-0) blew a save chance but earned the win over the Mariners on Saturday, allowing one run on two hits and one walk while striking out two batters over one inning.
Smith entered in the ninth inning, tasked with protecting a one-run lead. He gave up a leadoff double to Cole Young but nearly got out of trouble by fanning the next two batters. However, Julio Rodriguez then notched a two-out, game-tying RBI single to tag Smith with his first blown save of the campaign. The Guardians ultimately pulled the game out in the 10th, so Smith did end up with his first victory. Despite the shaky appearance, Smith is firmly locked in as Cleveland's clear-cut closer.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: More spring zeroes
Rotowire
Smith did not allow a hit or walk while striking out two over a scoreless inning in Thursday's spring game against Milwaukee.
Smith made quick work of the Brewers in his third Cactus League appearance, needing just seven pitches to retire the side in order in the fifth inning. The Guardians' closer hasn't allowed a run, hit or walk while striking out four over three innings this spring.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: Collects win after blown save
Rotowire
Smith (7-5) blew the save but picked up the win Tuesday, striking out two and giving up a solo home run in the ninth inning of a 7-5 extra-inning victory over the Tigers.
Called in to protect a 3-2 lead, Smith instead served up a game-tying homer to Kerry Carpenter, only for the Cleveland offense to erupt for four runs in the top of the 10th. It's the right-hander's first blown save since Aug. 22, ending a streak of eight straight successful conversions, and since taking over the closer role in late July he's posted a 3.38 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and eye-popping 33:2 K:BB in 24 innings while securing 12 of 16 save chances.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: Notches 15th save
Rotowire
Smith pitched a scoreless frame while allowing two hits and no walks to collect the save in Sunday's 3-2 win over the White Sox. He struck out two.
Smith worked around a pair of singles to smoothly secure the save on 12 pitches and tally his seventh consecutive blank appearance. Over that stretch, the 26-year-old righty has converted six saves while producing a 14:0 K:BB in seven innings. Through 67.2 total frames, Smith now sports a 3.06 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 96:19 K:BB.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: Picks up 12th save
Rotowire
Smith secured his 12th save of the season with a scoreless inning Tuesday, allowing one hit while striking out two in a 2-0 win over the Royals.
Smith was summoned after Joey Cantillo began the inning by allowing a leadoff base hit. A Bobby Witt single put runners on the corners with one out before Smith fired back with consecutive strikeouts to end the game. He's converted his last five saves and now has multiple strikeouts in each of his last three appearances. Smith's had another productive campaign, posting a 3.20 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 90:19 K:BB in 64.2 innings.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: Nabs extra-inning win
Rotowire
Smith (6-5) picked up the win Wednesday, striking out one during a perfect 10th inning in a 4-3 victory over the Rays.
The right-hander needed only seven pitches (six strikes) to breeze through Tampa Bay's 8-9-1 hitters and leave designated runner Jake Mangum stranded at third base, setting the stage for Kyle Manzardo to walk it off in the bottom of the 10th with an RBI single. Smith allowed runs in three straight appearances last week, but he appears to have righted his ship against the Rays, collecting a win and a save in back-to-back scoreless outings. Through 13.1 innings in August, Smith sports a 2.70 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 14:2 K:BB.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: Up to six saves
Rotowire
Smith recorded the final out Thursday to earn the save in a 9-4 win over the Marlins.
After Nic Enright loaded the bases in the ninth inning, Smith came on to record the final out and lock down his sixth save of the season. The 26-year-old Smith has been impressive since taking over the closing job in Cleveland. He's held opponents scoreless in his last eight appearances (nine innings) to lower his ERA to 2.67 with a 1.09 WHIP and 74 strikeouts across 54 innings this season.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: Fans three in win
Rotowire
Smith (3-4) came away with the win against the Twins on Friday after tossing two perfect innings while striking out three batters.
Smith was dispatched in the ninth inning to keep the game tied at 2-2, and his efforts were rewarded after Kyle Manzardo walked off the Twins in the 10th with an RBI single. Smith appears to be the next man up at closer for the Guardians with Emmanuel Clase on non-disciplinary leave through Aug. 31 as part of MLB's sports-betting investigation. In 21 appearances since the beginning of June, Smith boasts a 3.32 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 27:7 K:BB across 21.2 innings.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: Blows save, takes loss Monday
Rotowire
Smith (2-4) took the loss against the Rockies on Monday, allowing four runs (one earned) on two hits while recording only one out in the ninth inning. He did not register a strikeout.
With Emmanuel Clase on non-disciplinary leave through Aug. 31, it was Smith who received the team's first save chance in his absence. Unfortunately, he allowed the tying run to score on his own throwing error and was ultimately charged with three more runs. While it wasn't an ideal audition for the closer role, Smith has gone 3-for-5 in save opportunities this season with a 3.40 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 65:17 K:BB across 45 innings. It's unclear whether he'll get the next shot in the ninth or if manager Stephen Vogt will go with a committee approach moving forward.
