The Cleveland Guardians were cruising to an easy 4-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.
They handed the ball to their closer, Emmanuel Clase, to protect that three-run lead in the ninth inning and he turned it into a tied ballgame.
The Guards went on to win in extras, but Clase’s issues are starting to get out of hand.
He currently boasts a 7.84 ERA for the season and has already surrendered more earned runs this year than last, and we are still in April.
Manager Stephen Vogt discussed Clase’s situation and believes it’s a location issue.
“I haven’t watched the replays, but anytime they’re finding barrels against Clase it’s because the ball is in the middle of the plate,” said Vogt. “He had the walk (to start the ninth) and some bad counts. The ball is just over the middle right now,” Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com wrote.
Clase’s velocity is fine: he is still throwing that cutter in the triple digits.
The problem is not his control: despite walking a hitter on Sunday, walks aren’t really hurting Clase.
The lackluster command he has shown in 2025 is the most worrisome development in this ongoing saga.
Vogt believes that Clase’s trademark cutter is catching too much of the fat part of the strike zone, and hitters are punishing him.
It’s hard to hit a 100-mph fastball with late movement, but when it comes in the middle of the plate, it becomes much easier.
Location is always important, especially for Clase.
He had huge success last year attacking hitters, both lefties and righties, in the inside part of the zone with that cutter.
He is now leaving the ball in the middle more often than he should and paying the price.
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