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37 articles
CLE • Pitcher • #36
2 days ago
Smith gave up a leadoff single to Yandy Díaz and then retired three in a row from there. He gave up four runs over his first four appearances of the season, but he’s allowed just two earned runs and struck out 14 in 10 innings since.
CLE • Pitcher • #36
7 days ago
Kazuma Okamoto and Andrés Giménez singled to start proceedings in the ninth, but Smith got pinch-hitter Eloy Jiménez to ground into a double play to quash the rally before Davis Schneider popped up to end the game. Smith’s 4.15 ERA and 1.50 WHIP weren’t what you were hoping for when you sprung an early pick on a closer, but he’s underperforming his xERA by almost a full run and his strikeout rate remains high.
CLE • Pitcher • #36
15 days ago
Smith came on after Parker Messick allowed back-to-back singles to start the ninth inning. He made things interesting by allowing a leadoff single to Taylor Ward that loaded the bases. Smith then allowed a long sacrifice fly to Gunnar Henderson and an RBI double to Pete Alonso before retiring Colton Cowser on a fly ball to center for the second out. Finally, he got Samuel Basallo to ground out to second to end the night. Smith has now converted four of his first six save chances on the season while posting a 4.50 ERA across his first 10 innings.
CLE • Pitcher • #36
17 days ago
Smith should have picked up the save Tuesday, but an error by Juan Brito kept the inning alive. A run-scoring double by Yohel Pozo, of all players, gave Smith his second blown save of the season. It has not been smooth sailing for the 26-year-old, but it doesn’t seem like he’s in any danger of giving up the closing gig just yet.
CLE • Pitcher • #36
24 days ago
Smith came in to pitch in a 1-1 game, and he kept the Royals from reaching base while picking up a pair of strikeouts. The 26-year-old now has two wins on the year, but he’s struggled prior to Tuesday’s action with an ERA of 6.43 over six appearances.
CLE • Pitcher • #36
26 days ago
Smith walked two and gave up a bloop hit to Ian Happ before striking out Carson Kelly to end the game. He ended up throwing 33 pitches, so it will be interesting to see if the Guardians risk going to him with a late lead on Monday. Maybe Eric Sabrowski or Shawn Armstrong could pick up a save in his place.
CLE • Pitcher • #36
30 days ago
It was a bit surprising to see Smith summoned to protect a four-run lead in the final frame after giving up a pair of runs in a non-save situation the previous night. He got Kyle Tucker and Mookie Betts to fly out before serving up a 407-foot homer to Freddie Freeman. The hard-throwing 26-year-old stopper was able to settle down afterwards and prevent the inning from snowballing, getting Will Smith to fly out to preserve the win. Given his recent workload it wouldn’t be surprising to see Shawn Armstrong handle a save chance during Friday’s home opener.
CLE • Pitcher • #36
about 1 month ago
The ninth opened with an infield single from Kyle Tucker and an RBI double from Mookie Betts. Smith retired three in a row from there, but he did give up the second run on a wild pitch. He threw 29 pitches tonight after throwing 28 in another shaky outing Saturday, so the Guardians might want to give him Tuesday off. That could put Shawn Armstrong in line for a save chance.
CLE • Pitcher • #36
about 1 month ago
This game featured two of the better closers in baseball, but neither Smith nor Andrés Muñoz pitched well Saturday night. Smith gave up a double to Cole Young, and with two outs, Julio Rodríguez was able to lash an opposite-field single to score the tying run. Fortunately for fantasy managers, the Guardians scored three in the tenth, so Smith was able to pick up a less-than-deserving win.
CLE • Pitcher • #36
about 1 month ago
He struck out one. Smith declined to play for Canada in the WBC after topping 70 innings out of the Guardians pen for a second straight year in 2025, but it probably would have gone just fine. He’s a definite threat to lead the league in saves with the closer’s role all to his own in Cleveland this year.
CLE • Pitcher • #36
7 months ago
Smith came in with two on and one out in a tie game in the eighth. After he got a groundout, the final out of the frame came on a caught stealing at home after Michael Helman took off from first, turned around when it looked like he’d be thrown out and Dylan Moore was retired at the plate. Smith then pitched a perfect ninth, and he picked up his eighth win when the Guardians scored in the bottom of the frame. Smith only threw 16 pitches tonight, so he still should be in the mix with the division title on the line Sunday.
CLE • Pitcher • #36
7 months ago
Smith wasn’t messing around in this one, striking out Riley Greene and Dillon Dingler to start the inning before retiring Zach McKinstry on a liner to third to end it. He has been a major weapon out of the Guardians’ bullpen this season, posting a 3.01 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and a 103/19 K/BB ratio over 71 2/3 innings while securing 16 saves and seven victories.
CLE • Pitcher • #36
8 months ago
Smith came on with a one-run lead to protect in the ninth inning. He got Parker Meadows on a ground out to first and Zach McKinstry on a swinging third strike to open the inning. He then fell behind Carpenter 2-1 before serving up the game-tying blast to center field. Smith rallied to strike out Gleyber Torres to end the inning and then became the beneficiary as the Guardians scored four times in the top half of the 10th inning. For the season, he boasts a 3.15 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and a 98/19K/BB ratio over 68 2/3 innings on the season while converting 15 of his first 21 save chances.
CLE • Pitcher • #36
8 months ago
Smith worked around a pair of singles in the inning. It’s his sixth straight appearance in which he’s fanned at least two in his inning. He’s faced 22 batters in that span and struck out 13 of them.
CLE • Pitcher • #36
8 months ago
Smith came on after the Guardians scored twice in the home half of the eighth inning to take a one-run lead. The 26-year-old right-hander made things interesting by plunking Jonathan India to start the inning, but he battled back to get Kyle Isbel and Nick Loftin on strikes before retiring Mike Yastrzemski on a fly ball to right field to end the ballgame. He now boasts a 3.15 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and a 92/19 K/BB ratio over 65 2/3 innings on the season to go along with 13 saves and six victories.
CLE • Pitcher • #36
8 months ago
Smith had one of the worst outings of his career in a non-save situation a week ago, but he’s since pitched four scoreless innings with eight strikeouts and three saves. Given that he has worked four times in five days, the Guardians might give him Wednesday off, opening the door for Hunter Gaddis to earn a save.
CLE • Pitcher • #36
8 months ago
Smith now has 11 saves on the season and has allowed seven runs on 13 hits in 17 2/3 innings since the start of August. There have been two really poor outings in there, but the 26-year-old has been tremendous otherwise and would be a top-ten closer option next season if Emmanuel Clase’s gambling investigation impacts his 2026 status.
CLE • Pitcher • #36
8 months ago
Smith was called on to close out the game in the bottom of the ninth after Cleveland took a one-run lead in the top of the frame. He struck out two in a clean inning of work to secure the win and lock down his tenth save of the season to go with a 3.30 ERA over 62 2/3 innings.
CLE • Pitcher • #36
8 months ago
Brought into a 7-7 game with one on and two outs in the eighth, Smith gave up hits to all four batters he faced, making the score 11-7. The loss went to Hunter Gaddis, who left the one guy on base before Smith entered. It’s Smith’s worst outing since he stepped in for Emmanuel Clase, but it’s hard to attribute it to any closing pressures when he was just pitching in a tie game in the eighth. He’ll likely remain the Guardians’ primary closer going forward, and since he threw only 11 pitches tonight, he should be available Wednesday.
CLE • Pitcher • #36
8 months ago
Smith was outstanding after entering to protect a one-run lead with two outs in the eighth. The 26-year-old now has nine saves in 2025, and he struck out three while lowering his ERA to 2.97. It’s not quite the dominant effort of 2024, but it’s one that has shown Smith is going to stick around for a long time.
CLE • Pitcher • #36
8 months ago
Smith retired Carson Williams, Nick Fortes and Chandler Simpson with the automatic runner on, and the Guardians went on to score in the bottom of the inning. It’s Smith’s fourth win to go along with five saves this month.
CLE • Pitcher • #36
8 months ago
Smith didn’t record an out against the Rangers on Friday. The 26-year-old right-hander entered the ninth inning with a one-run lead. He allowed a double to Wyatt Langford, a single to Corey Seager that tied the game and a double to Joc Pederson to give the Rangers the win. Smith has suddenly blown three saves since Emmanuel Clase was placed on the restricted list, but remains the top option for saves as long as Clase is away from the team.
CLE • Pitcher • #36
8 months ago
The homer by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was just the fourth Smith has surrendered in 132 2/3 innings as a major leaguer. It’s Smith’s second blown save since Emmanuel Clase was placed on the restricted list, but he does have four saves and three wins this month.
CLE • Pitcher • #36
9 months ago
Smith gave up an RBI triple to Geraldo Perdomo in the ninth, but it came with the Guardians holding a 3-0 lead. The 26-year-old now has seven saves on the season with a 2.73 ERA, and he should see the bulk of the chances as long as Emmanuel Clase is unavailable.
CLE • Pitcher • #36
9 months ago
Saves don’t get much cheaper than this, but Smith will take it. Nic Enright pitched a scoreless eighth before loading the bases with two outs in the ninth, creating the save opp. Smith then got a soft liner from Liam Hicks to end the game.
CLE • Pitcher • #36
9 months ago
Smith finished the eighth in a 3-3 tie and remained in after the Guardians took a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the inning. It’s his fifth win to go along with five saves this season. Three of those wins and two of the saves have come in his six appearances this month.