Cade Smith has turned into one of the most reliable weapons in the Cleveland bullpen, and his numbers back up every bit of the praise coming his way this week. The right-hander leads all of Major League Baseball with 26 saves this season, pairing that total with a 2.97 ERA, 57 strikeouts and a 1.17 WHIP across 39 and a third innings. Smith took over the closer role last year after Emmanuel Clase went on leave, and what began as an emergency assignment has since become one of the biggest stabilizing forces on this Cleveland roster.
Manager Stephen Vogt did not hold back when discussing just how far Smith has come in his first full season handling the ninth inning.
“He’s been one of the best closers in the game in his first year closing,” Vogt said.
"He's been one of the best closers in the game in his first year closing"#Guardians manager Stephen Vogt on how Cade Smith has more than earned an All-Star nod#GuardsBall @WEWS pic.twitter.com/VzvtmNNdAr
— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) July 5, 2026
His 26 saves currently sit atop all of baseball, and he has been especially dominant at home, where he owns a 1.77 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP with 34 strikeouts. Smith has also shown he can handle high-pressure moments without blinking, closing out one-run games and extra-inning affairs alike, including a recent 4-3 win in extras over the White Sox that showcased exactly the composure Vogt has come to expect from him.
What makes Smith’s emergence even more notable is the circumstance that created the opportunity in the first place. Closing games at the major league level is difficult enough under normal conditions, and Smith was thrust into the role without the traditional runway most relievers get before inheriting that responsibility. Instead of struggling to adjust, he has thrived, turning himself into a first-time All-Star and giving Cleveland a level of certainty in the ninth inning that few teams around the league can match.
Cleveland will continue to lean on Smith as the Guardians push through a tight AL Central race, and if the first half is any indication, the ninth inning is no longer a question mark for this roster. Vogt made clear this week that Smith has more than earned the trust that comes with that job.
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