Clase's locker has been cleared out in the Guardians' clubhouse Friday as he remains under investigation by MLB, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
Clase was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave through Aug. 31 as part of MLB's sports-betting investigation, but his locker being cleared out could signal that the Guardians don't expect Clase to be back with the team this season. Teammate Luis L. Ortiz also had his locker cleared out Friday, as he is also on paid leave in the same gambling investigation. Clase's fall from grace has been quick after he finished third in AL Cy Young voting last season. It remains to be seen if he'll pitch again in the majors.
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Guardians' Emmanuel Clase: Placed on leave in gambling probe
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The Guardians announced Monday that Clase has been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave through Aug. 31 as part of MLB's sports-betting investigation, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
Clase becomes the second Guardians pitcher to be placed on the restricted list in connection with the investigation, as right-hander Luis L. Ortiz previously went on leave earlier in this month. The 27-year-old righty has taken a step back statistically this season but has still performed as one of baseball's top closers, notching saves in 24 of 29 chances while logging a 3.23 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 47.1 innings. The 52-53 Guardians are 3.5 games behind for the final wild-card spot in the American League and may have considered moving Clase ahead of Thursday's trade deadline, but his placement on non-disciplinary leave likely takes any potential deal off the table. While Clase is out for at least the next month, right-hander Cade Smith (3.02 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 65:17 K:BB in 44.2 innings) looks like the next man up for save chances in the Cleveland bullpen, though manager Stephen Vogt could opt for a committee approach at closer.
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Guardians' Emmanuel Clase: Mixed results in doubleheader
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Clase (5-3) took a blown save and the loss by allowing three runs on a hit and two walks over one-third of an inning in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader versus the Royals. He then pitched a perfect inning to earn a save in the second game of the twin bill.
It's rare for a reliever to be called on to pitch twice in the same day, and even rarer for the second appearance to come after the type Clase had in the day game, when he threw just six of 15 pitches for strikes. He showed a strong ability to bounce back by locking down his 24th save in 29 chances with his outing in the nightcap. He has a 3.23 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 47:12 K:BB through 47.1 innings over 48 appearances this. While Clase has failed to match his dominance from 2024, he remains firmly entrenched as the Guardians' closer and has mostly bounced back from an ugly start to the campaign.
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Guardians' Emmanuel Clase: Gets two-out save
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Clase got two outs in a scoreless ninth to pick up the save, allowing one hit while striking out two, during Friday's 8-6 win over the Athletics.
The Guardians had an 8-3 lead entering the ninth inning with starter Slade Cecconi still in the game, but the Cleveland closer was asked to get the final two outs as Cecconi allowed three runs. One of those was a runner that Clase inherited, but he buckled down and picked up two strikeouts to earn his 21st save of the season. The 27-year-old hasn't looked quite as good as last year, during which he had an 0.61 ERA in 74.1 innings pitched, but he's currently in the midst of a 13-game stretch dating back to June 17 in which he's allowed just one earned run.
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Guardians' Emmanuel Clase: Notches save No. 20
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Clase recorded his 20th save of the season in the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the White Sox, allowing one hit in a scoreless ninth inning.
The veteran needed 10 pitches (seven strikes) to dispatch the top of Chicago's order. Clase has been tagged for earned runs only twice in 17 appearances since the beginning of June, posting a 1.56 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB over 17.1 innings during that stretch while converting eight of 10 save chances.
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Guardians' Emmanuel Clase: Nails down 19th save
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Clase earned the save against the Astros on Monday by throwing a perfect ninth inning.
Clase rebounded from Sunday's blown save against the Tigers by retiring the Astros in order Monday, closing out a 7-5 win by inducing three groundouts. His 2025 numbers -- a 3.20 ERA and 1.32 WHIP over 39.1 innings -- aren't anywhere near as eye-popping as last season's 0.61 ERA and 0.66 WHIP in 74.1 innings, but the flamethrower's underlying metrics remain strong. A 2.49 FIP this year compared to 2.22 in 2024 suggests he's still pitching at a high level. The jump in walk rate to 2.3 BB/9, his highest since 2019, has certainly contributed to the statistical dip, but Clase remains a top-tier reliever.
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Guardians' Emmanuel Clase: Survives for 18th save
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Clase picked up the save in Sunday's 3-0 win against the Athletics, allowing two hits and one walk in a scoreless inning. He struck out one.
The Cleveland closer was shaky in this 31-pitch appearance to collect a save for the second consecutive day. Clase loaded the bases on two singles and a walk before securing the win by inducing a Lawrence Butler groundout to wrap the contest. After pitching to an uncharacteristic 6.75 ERA through April 30, Clase has been back to his old self since then with a 1.33 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 21:7 K:BB across 20.1 frames while going 13-for-14 in save chances.
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Guardians' Emmanuel Clase: Cruises to 17th save
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Clase earned a save against the Athletics on Saturday by throwing a perfect ninth inning without striking out a batter.
Clase needed just 12 pitches (eight of which were strikes) to retire the side in order and protect a two-run, ninth-inning lead. The veteran closer was effective despite not notching a strikeout for just the second time over his past nine outings. Clase's 3.58 ERA is well above his career norm, but he's still recorded 17 saves, tied for sixth-most in the majors.
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Guardians' Emmanuel Clase: Secures 16th save
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Clase notched a save against the Giants on Wednesday, allowing one hit and striking out one batter over one scoreless inning.
Clase inherited a two-run ninth-inning lead and worked around a two-out single to retire the side on 14 pitches. Though the veteran closer has allowed at least one baserunner in each of his past five appearances and has a mediocre 4:4 BB:K across 4.2 frames during that span, he's converted three of four save opportunities in that stretch. It certainly hasn't been Clase's smoothest season -- he's currently holding a 3.69 ERA and 1.48 WHIP, each of which is on pace to be a career-worst mark -- but he's managed to go 16-for-19 in save chances to remain comfortably in control of Cleveland's closer role.
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Guardians' Emmanuel Clase: Shaky in save Tuesday
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Clase allowed two hits and a walk while striking out one over a scoreless inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Giants.
After a blown save Saturday in Seattle, another shaky outing isn't encouraging. Clase was able to navigate danger after loading the bases with one out in the ninth inning, getting a shallow flyout from Dominic Smith before striking out Casey Schmitt. Clase has allowed multiple baserunners in five of his seven appearances in June, so he's lucky to have given up just two runs over 6.2 innings. He's at a 3.82 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 33:9 K:BB with 15 saves in 18 chances over 30.2 innings this season.
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Guardians' Emmanuel Clase: Captures 14th save
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Clase earned the save in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Astros, allowing two hits in a scoreless ninth.
Clase worked around back-to-back singles to Yainer Diaz and Jake Meyers to come away with the save, needing just 12 pitches (six strikes) to do so. Clase has converted 10 straight save opportunities, with his last blown save taking place April 20 against the Pirates. He has yielded just one earned run since the beginning of May and has a 3.54 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 30:5 K:BB across 28 innings this season.
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Guardians' Emmanuel Clase: Fans two for save
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Clase struck out two batters in a perfect inning and earned a save against the Angels on Sunday.
Clase fired nine of 10 pitches for strikes and had no issue retiring the Angels' 5-6-7 hitters in order to close out the 4-2 win. He picked up saves on back-to-back days for the first time since May 3 and 4 and has now converted nine straight chances. Since his last blown chance, Clase has posted a 17:2 K:BB with a 1.23 ERA over 14.2 frames. He owns a 3.96 ERA and has converted 13 of 15 saves this season.
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Guardians' Emmanuel Clase: Picks up ninth save
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Clase struck out two in a perfect inning and earned a save over the Brewers on Tuesday.
Clase threw 10 of 14 pitches for strikes to retire Milwaukee's 2-3-4 hitters in order and finish off the 2-0 victory. He's converted nine of his 11 save chances this season, including five straight. Clase has tossed five consecutive scoreless innings as he's seemingly regained his usual form. He now owns a 4.91 ERA with a 19:4 K:BB through 18.1 frames.
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Guardians' Emmanuel Clase: Hangs on for seventh save
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Clase earned the save in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Blue Jays, allowing one unearned run on one hit in the ninth inning. He struck out one.
After Andres Gimenez reached on an error to start the ninth, Clase gave up a base hit to Bo Bichette, who'd eventually move to third on an Anthony Santander groundout. However, Clase stranded him there, striking out George Springer to close out the one-run victory. It's been a shaky start to the year for the 27-year-old Clase, though he's been better recently, allowing just one earned run in his last five innings. His ERA now sits at 5.87 with a 1.76 WHIP and 15:3 K:BB across 15.1 innings this season.
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Guardians' Emmanuel Clase: Picks up fourth win
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Clase (4-0) allowed a hit in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the win Tuesday against the Twins. He did not strike out or walk a batter.
It wasn't a save situation, but the right-hander was called upon for the top of the ninth inning of a 1-1 tie and was awarded the win after Kyle Manzardo clubbed a walk-off homer in the bottom of the frame. Cade Smith -- who has converted Cleveland's past three saves -- worked the eighth inning Tuesday, which is an indication that Clase is still firmly in the mix at closer. His 6.57 ERA and 1.95 WHIP for the campaign may mean that he and Smith split the role for a bit, but Clase has now delivered two straight scoreless outings after dealing with a bout of shoulder discomfort.
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Guardians' Emmanuel Clase: Tending to shoulder issue
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Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said Wednesday that Clase experienced some shoulder discomfort after his most recent appearance in Sunday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Pirates, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports.
Clase came away with his third win but was charged with his second blown save of the season Sunday, giving up three earned runs on four hits and one walk before retiring the final batter of the ninth inning. The reliever had worked on three consecutive days over the weekend, so the Guardians' decision not to use him in save situations Monday and Tuesday against the Yankees in favor of Cade Smith was initially believed to be rest-related. With Vogt now disclosing that Clase is managing a shoulder issue, the right-hander's availability for Wednesday's series finale isn't known. Clase was able to play catch Wednesday, so for now, the shoulder injury isn't considered serious enough for the Guardians to shut him down from throwing.
Clase (3-0) blew the save but collected the win Sunday against the Pirates in a game that went 10 innings. He allowed three runs on four hits and one walk with no strikeouts over an inning.
Entering on a streak of three consecutive scoreless outings and pitching on the third straight day, Clase unraveled in this appearance and picked up his second blown save. This game marked the Cleveland closer's second time allowing four hits in 2025 after going all of the 2024 regular season without one such instance. Clase's confounding start to the season continues, as he's now pitched to an abysmal 7.84 ERA, 2.23 WHIP and 9:3 K:BB across 10.1 innings.
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Guardians' Emmanuel Clase: Quickly notches fourth save
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Clase earned the save in Saturday's 3-0 win over the Pirates, allowing one hit in a scoreless ninth inning. He did not issue a walk or record a strikeout.
Clase allowed a triple to Enmanuel Valdez to start the ninth inning, but the latter ended up being tagged out by Jose Ramirez after unsuccessfully calling for time. Clase needed only three pitches to retire the next two batters to capture his fourth save of the season. He's now delivered three straight scoreless appearances and has a 5.79 ERA, 1.93 WHIP and 9:2 K:BB across 9.1 innings to start the year.
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Guardians' Emmanuel Clase: Notches third save
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Clase recorded his third save of the season in Friday's 10-7 win over the Pirates, walking one and striking out one in one-third of an inning.
The Guardians took a 10-2 lead in the top of the seventh inning, but after Tim Herrin, Jakob Junis and Paul Sewald were all tagged for runs, Clase was forced onto the mound in the ninth to get the final out. The right-hander has had a shaky start to the season, posting a 6.48 ERA, 2.04 WHIP and 9:2 K:BB through 8.1 innings while blowing one of his first four save chances, but Clase's 34.4 percent whiff rate is actually a career high and his .467 BABIP is due for major regression.
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Guardians' Emmanuel Clase: Earns win Tuesday
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Clase (2-0) got the win over the White Sox on Tuesday after tossing a perfect ninth while recording two strikeouts.
Clase made quick work of the White Sox in the ninth, sending them down in order on nine pitches. He wound up with his second win of the early campaign after the Guardians walked it off in the bottom of the inning. Tuesday was Clase's first appearance in 2025 with multiple strikeouts, though he is still waiting to pick up his first save of the season.
