It’s easy to see how well Cade Smith has adapted to his first full season as the Cleveland Guardians’ closer just by looking at how many saves he has so far. He leads the majors with 22, which is four more than the next closest reliever.
It’s quite an accomplishment when you consider that early in the season, he had almost as many blown saves as he had saves. Now, after an elite stretch, he has not blown a save since.
The stats show how Smith has been dominating this season, after his latest successful outing against the Detroit Tigers on Friday.
“Cleveland Guardians closer Cade Smith picked up his MLB-leading 22nd save tonight vs. the Tigers. Line: 1.0(IP) 0H 0R 0ER 0BB 1SO (13 Pitches 10 Strikes). Last 24 appearances: 25.1(IP) 20H 4ER 2BB 39SO 1.42 ERA,” Guardians Prospective posted.
Cleveland #Guardians closer Cade Smith picked up his MLB leading 22nd save tonight vs the Tigers.
Line – 1.0(IP) 0H 0R 0ER 0BB 1SO
(13 Pitches 10 Strikes)
Last 24 appearances:
– 25.1(IP) 20H 4ER 2BB 39SO 1.42 ERA #GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/qiEB8mlqow
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) June 13, 2026
Though an adjustment period was to be expected to start the season, with Smith taking over the role full-time after replacing Emmanuel Clase last July, there had to be at least a mild level of concern when he got off to a slow start. Smith took an ERA of 9.00 into April, and after a failed outing against the St. Louis Cardinals on April 14, he had three saves and two blown saves.
Since then, he has 19 saves, with just two outings failing to produce one. Overall this season, the Guardians have won 28 of the 30 games in which he has appeared, which is more than 90 percent of their 38 total victories.
Among MLB relievers, Smith ranks fifth with 47 strikeouts, and he has allowed just five walks. He has given up 27 hits and just one home run in 31.1 innings, and he is well on his way to his first AL All-Star Game selection.
He is also the likely favorite to win AL Reliever of the Year, which Clase won in 2022 and 2024, the final time with Smith as his primary setup man. Clase’s career is likely over as a result of an MLB gambling investigation, so it’s going to be Smith’s job for a while.
It was an impossible thought this time last year, but the Guardians may have an even better closer in Smith than they did before.
NEXT: Bruce Drennan Reveals His Main Concern About Guardians
