Stephen Vogt Says Guardians Reliever Is Back To Himself

One of the sure things for the Cleveland Guardians entering the 2026 season was the status of reliever Cade Smith. He was about to embark on his first full year as an MLB closer, and based on his performance taking over that job last year, Smith seemed to be the least of Cleveland’s concerns.

However, the campaign did not begin like the Guardians were hoping or expecting. Smith did not perform at his best, and there were mild worries that the responsibility may turn out to be too big for him after all.

Now, a little more than one month into the season, everything is as it should be. On Friday against the Minnesota Twins, Smith got his MLB-leading 11th save. It was his third straight appearance and continued a strong run of recent performances.

Afterward, manager Stephen Vogt said the Guardians reliever is back to himself, and that is a welcome sight for the ballclub.

“The last couple of weeks, I feel like Cade’s back. Had to work through a lot the first few weeks of the year. Cade’s looking like himself. He’s been lockdown for us,” Vogt said.

"Cade is looking like himself"#Guardians manager Stephen Vogt on what he has seen form Cade Smith in 3 straight relief appearances#GuardsBall @WEWS pic.twitter.com/5cxPAF0Coh

— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) May 9, 2026

Smith had not been a disaster by any means earlier in the season. He has just two blown saves, and the Guardians have won the game in 17 of his 18 appearances so far.

However, it did not come as easily as it did last year, when he was thrust into the role after two-time Reliever of the Year Emmanuel Clase was banished in late July as part of an MLB gambling investigation that will likely end his career. Smith moved from setup man to closer with aplomb, posting 13 saves in 16 opportunities with a 6-1 record and an ERA well below 3.00 over the final two months, which helped Cleveland make a historic rally to the AL Central title.

A stiff neck suffered in spring training may have had some effect as Smith opened this season with a 9.00 ERA in his first four outings. It was still as high as 6.43 on April 7, but it has fallen steadily since to its current 3.44.

Smith has allowed just two runs in his past nine appearances, including one against the Twins, with eight saves in that span, showing that he still deserves to be considered one of the best closers in the game.