Smith (2-3) has returned from back spasms and picked up the loss in Sunday's game against Detroit. He allowed six runs (four earned) on five hits and an error over a third of an inning.
Smith came on to pitch the 10th inning after closer Emmanuel Clase's wild pitch in the ninth allowed the tying run to score. Smith, who had ceded just one regular-season home run during his MLB career, was taken deep twice in the final frame. Back spasms limited his availability over the final week of June.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: Day-to-day with back spasms
Rotowire
Smith hasn't made an appearance for the Guardians since their June 22 win over the Athletics due to back spasms, MLB.com reports.
Smith threw prior to Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Cubs and is considered day-to-day. The right-handed reliever has collected two wins, three saves and 15 holds over his 36 appearances this season while logging a 2.36 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 53:13 K:BB over 34.1 innings.
Guardians' Cade Smith: Stays in game after comebacker
Rotowire
Smith took a comebacker off his forehead Friday but remained in the game, Josh Kirshenbaum of MLB.com reports.
Smith talked the medical staff into letting him stay in the game, and he struck out the next batter he faced to finish off the inning. The right-hander then struck out two during a 1-2-3 inning in Saturday's game. He's been an effective bullpen arm for the Guardians in 2025, posting a 2.32 ERA with three saves and a 47:10 K:BB over 31 innings.
Smith allowed one hit and one walk while striking out two over a scoreless eighth inning in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Twins.
Smith has operated as a fill-in closer while Emmanuel Clase worked on the demons that plagued him early in 2025. Clase followed Smith to pitch the ninth inning of a 1-1 game, which indicates the former is still a trusted late-game arm and in the closer mix.
Smith recorded his third save of the season in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Red Sox, giving up a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth inning. He struck out one batter.
Emmanuel Clase, who had been dealing with a sore shoulder, struck out two in a perfect eighth inning during the matinee as he saw his first game action since Sunday, leaving the ninth to Smith. Smith has been by far the more effective pitcher of the two in the early going, posting a 1.29 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 17:5 K:BB through 14 innings while converting all three of his save chances and adding seven holds, but the Guardians would prefer for Clase to regain his form and settle back in to closing duties.
Smith threw a perfect inning and earned a save against the Yankees on Tuesday.
Smith needed only four pitches in the ninth inning to close out the 3-2 victory. He recorded seven holds through 11 appearances to start the year but has now converted saves in back-to-back days. Those two save chances came directly after Emmanuel Clase was rocked for three runs in a blown save against the Pirates on Sunday while pitching for a third straight day, which inflated his season ERA to 7.84. Clase has not appeared during either of the last two games while dealing with some shoulder discomfort, though for now it appears he'll avoid the injured list. Smith owns a 1.38 ERA with a 16:4 K:BB through 13 innings this season and could see a boost to his fantasy profile, depending on the health of Clase.
Smith collected the save in Monday's 6-4 victory over the Yankees, pitching a scoreless inning while allowing one hit and no walks. He struck out two.
Smith neatly retired the side on 11 pitches, which included nine strikes. The 25-year-old completed the feat in style, striking out Aaron Judge swinging to end the game. Smith earned the save chance because Emmanuel Clase had pitched on three consecutive days prior to Monday. Despite the Cleveland closer's unsightly 7.84 ERA over 10.1 innings, Smith will likely remain in a setup role for the time being.
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Guardians' Cade Smith: Earns fifth hold
Rotowire
Smith struck out two in a scoreless inning to earn a hold during Saturday's 6-3 win over Kansas City.
With the Guardians up 3-1, Smith opened the top of the eighth inning with the task of getting the lead to closer Emmanuel Clase. He made quick work of the Royals for his fifth hold, before Cleveland stretched the lead with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Smith has allowed two unearned runs over eight outings, giving up three hits and three walks while striking out nine over 7.2 innings.
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