Cade Smith Fantasy Stats

With right-hander Emmanuel Clase out of the saves picture in Cleveland, Guardians right-handed reliever heads into the 2026 season as the team's likely closer. Smith took over for Clase in the middle of last season and finished out the year with a 2.93 ERA (1.95 FIP), 1.00 WHIP, a career-high 16 saves, 104 strikeouts, and 19 walks in 73 2/3 innings pitched out of the bullpen. He had earned 76.4% of the team's save share, and he was one of just five relievers in major-league baseball to strike out 100-plus batters. The 26-year-old has proven pretty dominant in high-leverage situations in his two MLB seasons in Cleveland, striking out 207 batters and walking 36 in 149 innings pitched. Smith relied mostly on his fastball to post a 28.3 K-BB percentage, which ranked sixth among all qualified relievers. His fantasy value has skyrocketed from last year to this year, and RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 5 fantasy reliever.

Cleveland Guardians closer Cade Smith (8-5) earned the win in a 3-2 nail-biter over the Texas Rangers on Saturday and helped his team clinch an improbable playoff berth. Smith entered in the top of the eighth and threw 1 2/3 perfect innings with one strikeout before the Guardians won on a walk-off hit by pitch in the bottom of the ninth. The Guardians were a seemingly insurmountable 15 1/2 games back of Detroit in the AL Central on July 6, but almost four months later, they'll have a chance to take the division on Sunday with a win or a Tigers loss. Cleveland is in this position thanks in part to Smith, who took over as its closer in late July after Major League Baseball placed two-time AL Reliever of the Year Emmanuel Clase on leave for a sports betting investigation. Smith has tallied 16 saves this season, including seven in September, and logged a 2.93 ERA with a 1.03 WHIP, 103 strikeouts, and 19 walks in 73 2/3 innings.

Cleveland Guardians reliever Cade Smith notched his 12th save of the season in his team's 2-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday. Smith pitched a scoreless ninth inning, allowing a hit and striking out two. In 64 2/3 innings this season, Smith has converted 12 out of 17 save chances while pitching to a 3.20 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 90 strikeouts. The hard-throwing right-hander has been prone to the occasional blowup outing since taking over as Cleveland's closer, but he remains one of the better strikeout-generating relievers in baseball.

Cleveland Guardians reliever Cade Smith was unable to shut the door on the Texas Rangers in a 4-3 loss on Friday. Smith came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning with a 3-2 lead and proceeded to allow three straight hits, including a walk-off double by Joc Pederson. The 26-year-old picked up his fifth blown save and fell to 5-5 on the season. The normally effective Smith has now surrendered at least one earned run in three consecutive appearances and blown back-to-back saves. Considering Smith has been among the game's best high-leverage arms since he debuted in 2024, there's no reason to panic over his recent struggles. The right-hander still owns a 3.14 ERA (2.26 FIP) with a 1.13 WHIP, 77:19 K:BB, 19 holds, and seven saves in 57 1/3 innings this season.

Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Cade Smith secured his sixth save of the season in Thursday's 9-4 win over the Marlins. It didn't look like he would be needed with a five-run lead heading into the ninth, but Nic Enright loaded the bases to create a save situation with one out remaining. Smith made quick work of the situation, needing five pitches to get Liam Hicks to line out. The 26-year-old has been dominant since taking over the closer role from Emmanuel Clase, as he's now up to nine consecutive scoreless innings with nine strikeouts and one walk in that span. He has always been one of the most dominant middle relievers in baseball, and should be viewed as a top-10 closer now that the job is his.

Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Cade Smith earned his fifth win of the season in Tuesday's 4-3 game against the Marlins. Smith came in to pitch the top of the eighth inning with the game tied, two outs, and a runner on first. He got the third out on a strikeout and stayed in to pitch the ninth inning with a one-run lead, posting a 1-2-3 inning with no strikeouts. The 26-year-old has split save opportunities and high-leverage situations with Hunter Gaddis while Emmanuel Clase is being investigated for sports betting. Smith has pitched well all season, collecting five wins, five saves, and 19 holds to go with a 2.68 ERA, a 1.10 WHIP, and a 12.41 K/9 rate in 53 2/3 innings of work. He should offer the most fantasy value out of the Guardians' bullpen down the stretch.

Cleveland Guardians reliever Cade Smith (3-4) earned his third victory of the season in a 3-2 game against the Minnesota Twins on Friday. Smith threw two scoreless innings, the ninth and the 10th, and allowed just one base runner on a hit by pitch. The right-hander struck out three and tallied 23 pitches. Smith has served as a setup man for the Guardians, but he figures to work as their closer for as long as Emmanuel Clase is out. Major League Baseball placed Clase on administrative leave Monday as part of a sports betting investigation. Smith has been outstanding since he made his debut last year, making him a qualified fill-in for Clase. The 26-year-old has a 3.00 ERA (2.05 FIP) with a 1.20 WHIP, 68:17 K:BB, 19 holds, and three saves over 48 innings this season.

With the July 31 trade deadline approaching, the Cleveland Guardians are fielding offers for top relievers Emmanuel Clase and Cade Smith, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. It's unlikely the Guardians will trade either right-hander, per Heyman. It would take a haul for Cleveland to move Clase or Smith, as both hurlers are under control at eminently reasonable prices for the foreseeable future. One of the game's premier closers, the 27-year-old Clase is earning a relative pittance compared to some of his peers. The three-time All-Star and two-time AL Reliever of the Year is on a $4.5 million salary this season and will collect $6 million in 2026. Clase then has two affordable club options for $11.5 million each. Those are on track to be exercised as of now, but if not, he has a $2 million buyout for both 2027 and '28. Smith, meanwhile, isn't even due to reach arbitration until after the 2026 season. That means he's under wraps for four and a half more years. The 26-year-old has excelled in a setup role since he debuted last season.

Cleveland Guardians reliever Cade Smith (back) threw a pregame bullpen session on Wednesday and has shown improvement in his recovery from back spasms. The right-hander is day-to-day and shouldn't require a minor league rehab assignment. Although he's not on the 10-day injured list, it has been almost two weeks since Smith made an appearance on June 22. The 26-year-old earned his 15th hold of the season in that game. He owns a stingy 2.36 ERA with 53:13 K:BB and a 1.17 WHIP across 34 1/3 innings.

Cleveland Guardians right-hander Cade Smith (back) is feeling better after back spasms cropped up during pre-game batting practice on June 25, according to MLB.com. The Guardians will re-evaluate Smith during their scheduled day off on Monday, which means he could be available out of the bullpen for the series opener on Tuesday at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. The 26-year-old Canadian reliever also had an injury scare earlier in June when he took a comebacker off his forehead, but he remained in the game after being checked by the medical staff. Smith has been a valuable member of Cleveland's bullpen in his second year in the major leagues, posting a 2.36 ERA (1.31 FIP), a 1.16 WHIP, a career-high three saves, 53 strikeouts and 13 walks in 34 1/3 innings pitched in 36 appearances out of the bullpen.