Cade

Smith

Smith struck out one to pick up his league-leading 21st save of the season. He now has 34 saves since August 1 of last season, four more than second place and exactly double ninth place. Cleveland continues to lean heavily on him, and he keeps proving to be up to the challenge. Smith has the third-highest K-BB% among relievers in ’26, trailing only Mason Miller and Jhoan Duran.

Smith got the call to protect a one-run lead in the final frame and managed to work around a leadoff single from Isiah Kiner-Falefa by striking out Marcelo Mayer, Caleb Durbin and Jarren Duran to preserve the win. The 27-year-old is the first closer to reach the 20-save plateau this season and finds himself four ahead of Padres star Mason Miller for the league lead. He holds a strong 2.60 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 42/5 K/BB ratio across 27 2/3 innings of work.

Curtis Mead and CJ Abrams singled to start the ninth and then Daylen Lile hit a sac fly to make it a one-run game. The Nationals couldn’t complete the comeback from there, though, as Smith came back to strike out José Tena and Jorbit Vivas. Smith has converted 16 straight save opportunities and is up to 12 saves this month.

Smith made quick work of the Phillies in the bottom of the ninth inning. With the Guardians clinging to a 3-1 lead, he induced two ground outs before he struck out Trea Turner to end the game. Smith now has 18 saves, which leads the league. With the exception of Mason Miller, he has a case as the top reliever in baseball.

It couldn’t have looked easier for Smith in this one. Despite facing Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and Bryce Harper, he got out of this inning in just eight pitches while the Guardians clung to a one run lead. The Phillies’ stars weren’t even close either. Turner popped up on the first pitch, Schwarber struck out, and Harper rolled one over, also on the first pitch. If Mason Miller didn’t exist, we’d be talking a lot more about Smith’s dominance this season with his league-leading 17 saves and strikeout rate approaching 40%

Smith coughed up a leadoff single to Zach McKinstry that brought the Manfred Man home from second base to open the frame. He settled in afterwards, striking out Hao-Yu Lee and getting pinch-hitter Spencer Torkelson to pop out in foul territory before getting Colt Keith to pop up to end it. The 27-year-old elite fantasy stopper has converted 16 of 18 save opportunities this season and has now pulled ahead of Padres stopper Mason Miller for the big-league lead this season.

Matt Vierling and Kevin McGonigle singled off him, but the Tigers couldn’t complete the rally from there. Smith has a 17/1 K/BB while allowing one run in 8 2/3 innings this month. His last 10 appearances have all concluded with saves.

Smith walked a batter tonight for the first time since Apr. 21, but he retired the other three, striking out two. He is tied with Mason Miller for the major league lead with 14 saves.

Smith was a little shaky early on this season, but he seems to have really settled in of late. In his last seven outings, he’s fanned 14 and walked none over 7 2/3 innings.

Smith got the call to protect a one-run lead in the eighth inning with the tying run already on-base and managed to strike out Sebastián Rivero to extinguish the threat. He came back out for the final frame and needed just four pitches total to retire Zach Neto and Mike Trout before winning an eight-pitch battle against Nolan Schanuel, getting him to chase a splitter in the dirt to end it. The 27-year-old elite fantasy stopper has converted 12 of 14 save opportunities and is tied with Mason Miller for the major-league lead this season.