The Cleveland Guardians needed all hands on deck to make the playoffs last season. Given their offensive shortcomings, it only made sense that the pitchers had to step up and get the job done.
Fortunately for them, they continued to have one of the most reliable bullpens in the game. Unsurprisingly, Hunter Gaddis had plenty to do with that.
With that in mind, it’s only normal to see that he’s among the league’s elite in some major categories. As shown by Guardians Prospective on X, Gaddis has been one of the best setups in the game:
“Cleveland Guardians setup man RHP Hunter Gaddis leads all MLB relievers in holds (68) since the start of 2024 season. During that same span he ranks 5th (81.3%) in LOB% amongst all MLB relief pitchers with 100+ innings pitched,” via Guardians Prospective.
Cleveland #Guardians setup man RHP Hunter Gaddis leads all MLB relievers in holds (68) since the start of 2024 season.
During that same span he ranks 5th (81.3%) in LOB% amongst all MLB relief pitchers with 100+ innings pitched.
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) November 30, 2025
The Guardians’ one-two punch of Gaddis and Cade Smith proved to be stellar. While most people assumed that losing star closer Emmanuel Clase was going to be a catastrophe for this team – and rightfully so – the Guardians didn’t miss a beat with Gaddis and Smith holding down the fort.
Of course, that’s not to say that this team can just afford to roll it back with the same bullpen they had last season. There’s always plenty of volatility between seasons, and given how often the Guardians turned to the bullpen, fatigue might also be a major factor, even after a full offseason of rest.
That being said, they should continue to be all set in the setup and closer departments. There’s no need to fix what isn’t broken, and with Gaddis and Smith dominating at this rate, the Guardians can rest assured that their leads will be safe down the stretch.
NEXT: Guardians Named 'Possible Fit' For Former MVP Infielder
