Cleveland Guardians closer Cade Smith is, quite simply, one of the very best relievers in the majors and arguably the best in the American League. Ever since he made his MLB debut back in 2024, all he has done is dominate the competition.
Smith, however, has been going through something of a rough patch recently. He was flirting with recent history just a few days ago, but scuffled a bit in the series against the Chicago White Sox. The right-hander allowed two runs in each of his last two games, covering 2.1 innings.
That includes an outing in which he surrendered two solo home runs and blew a save on Wednesday. Some fans and members of the media are worried about Smith, but not Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com.
He’s been around the game long enough to know that this is just a fluke and that the righty should return to his best in no time.
“From 1 to 10? I’m a 1. If there was a negative-one, I’d have a negative-one,” Hoynes said about his concern level for Smith. “I’ve got to go with Cade Smith. I mean, I’m going with him until he raises his hand and says he can’t go anymore.”
That’s how it’s supposed to be. Smith is not only your closer, but he’s also a guy who has posted a 2.57 career ERA and an even better 1.73 FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching).
You would think that someone who struggled for a handful of games at the beginning of the season and accounting for his recent stretch would have an ERA higher than 3.22 for the year. But he was so good in between that it makes perfect sense.
As long as Smith keeps throwing as hard as ever and his stuff keeps looking crisp every time he takes the hill, he should be given the benefit of the doubt. He isn’t perfect, but if you ask general managers around the game for one reliever not on their roster they would want, more than half of them would say Smith.
The concern is certainly understandable, but make no mistake: Smith, as he already did this season, will get out of his funk, and it’ll be glorious.
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