Cleveland Guardians All-Star reliever Emmanuel Clase struggled badly to open the season.
If you follow the team, you know that every time Clase walked to the mound in April, fans felt fear.
Last year, they assumed the game was already over because he was automatic: 47 saves and a 0.61 ERA will do that for you.
The beginning of 2025 was rough, though.
He posted a 6.75 ERA in April amid significant command issues, allowing a whopping 23 hits in 13.1 frames.
Since the calendar turned to May, however, Clase has finally found some consistency.
Something has clicked: his fortunes turned around for the better, and he started to hit his spots more consistently.
The results have been amazing, even if the sample is not too large.
“Emmanuel Clase in May: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 5 K, 4-for-4 in save opportunities. He might just be back,” Just Baseball posted on X.
Emmanuel Clase in May:
5 IP
2 H
0 ER
5 K
4-for-4 in save opportunitiesHe might just be back. pic.twitter.com/8FE9OGoD3K
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) May 14, 2025
The best thing in that good-looking stat line in May is not the four saves or even the zero runs allowed: it’s the hits.
It was the perfect proof that control wasn’t the problem with him; command was.
He was always in the strike zone but left hittable pitches near the middle too often and batters made him pay.
Now, he is doing a better job of staying away from zones in which batters might inflict damage.
Two hits allowed in five frames look much more like 2024 Clase.
Now, the real challenge will be sustaining this over a long period.
He is looking much better, though, and you can almost say he is back to form.
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