The Cleveland Guardians lost one of their most important players.
Emmanuel Clase is a legitimate star, and while they reportedly considered trading him, he was an incredibly valuable piece of this team.
However, it’s like he never left.
As pointed out by Just Baseball on X, Cade Smith has done an outstanding job of filling in for him.
Cade Smith since Emmanuel Clase's suspension:
1.17 ERA
0.78 WHIP
8 K | 1 BB
23.8 HardHit% (lowest on the team)The 26-year-old has stepped up in a big way after his team lost their All-Star closer. pic.twitter.com/kUMrrCeg58
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) August 12, 2025
There were multiple rumors about a potential Clase trade, so the team may have already been prepared to lose him.
That’s because Smith looked like a star in the making.
But now that he’s been asked to step up in high-stakes situations, he’s looked every bit like this team’s answer.
The Guardians are looking to make a strong final push for the AL Central Division.
Even if they fail, they will look to stay afloat and make the playoffs as a wild-card team.
It goes without saying that being able to hold onto leads down the stretch will be crucial to those aspirations.
As such, whatever Smith can give them will be instrumental to their success – or lack thereof.
Hunter Gaddis and even Nic Enright have also stepped up to give the team a helping hand in the final innings, but if he continues to play this way, the job will be Smith’s to lose, not only now but for many years to come.
As for Clase, things aren’t looking so well right now, and some believe he might never pitch in the majors again due to his alleged involvement in a sports gambling scheme.
NEXT: Guardians Insider Reveals Immediate Plans For John Means
