2026 Stats
W-L
2-1
ERA
3.13
WHIP
1.18
K
56
SV
25
Rest-of-Season Projections
2026 Fantasy Outlook
While Smith's ERA was a full point higher than it was in 2024, the 26-year-old still turned in dominant sophomore campaign. He was one of only five relievers to strike out 100-plus batters in 2025, finishing third once again with 104. The 26-year-old also produced a 28.3 K-BB percentage, sixth-best among qualified relievers. The Canadian native remained fastball-heavy in his approach, tossing his 96.4 mph four-seamer 70 percent of the time while registering the highest Statcast Run Value (16) on the pitch among relievers. With Emmanuel Clase missing the last few months of 2025, Smith seamlessly took over as the Guardians' closer, securing a 76.4 percent team save share from July 28 onwards. He finished with 16 saves and eight wins, which speaks to his upside for 2026 and beyond since Clase was recently indicted on federal charges. Smith has been the fifth closer off the board, on average, in early 2026 drafts. Read Past Outlooks
Signed a one-year, $824,600 contract with the Guardians in March of 2026.
Escapes jam for 26th save
Smith earned the save Sunday against the Mariners, allowing one unearned run on two hits while striking out one in the ninth inning.
Analysis
After Cleveland erupted for five runs in the eighth inning, Smith was called on to protect a two-run lead. He allowed back-to-back singles before a throwing error by Victor Robles allowed a run to score. The right-hander stranded runners on second and third to preserve his 26th save of the season. Following a brief rough patch over his last few appearances, Smith has begun to steady himself and lower his ratios once again. He owns a 3.05 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and a 57:10 K:BB across 38.1 innings.
After Cleveland erupted for five runs in the eighth inning, Smith was called on to protect a two-run lead. He allowed back-to-back singles before a throwing error by Victor Robles allowed a run to score. The right-hander stranded runners on second and third to preserve his 26th save of the season. Following a brief rough patch over his last few appearances, Smith has begun to steady himself and lower his ratios once again. He owns a 3.05 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and a 57:10 K:BB across 38.1 innings.
Pitching Stats
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2026 MLB Game Log
2026
2025
2024
Minor League Game Log
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Pitching Appearances Breakdown
Average Pitch Count
19
Last 10 Games
20
Last 5 Games
23
How many pitches does Cade Smith generally throw?
1-10
11-20
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
61-70
71-80
81-90
91-100
101-110
111-120
121+
What part of the game does Cade Smith generally pitch?
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
Extra
% Games Reaching Innings Threshold
% Games By Number of Innings Pitched
Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2024
-25%
BAA vs LHP
2026
-19%
BAA vs LHP
| BAA | K | BB | H | HR | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2024vs Left | .175 | 144 | 24 | 58 | 5 | |||
| Since 2024vs Right | .234 | 119 | 22 | 82 | 3 | |||
| 2026vs Left | .219 | 33 | 5 | 16 | 2 | |||
| 2026vs Right | .269 | 23 | 5 | 18 | 1 | |||
| 2025vs Left | .159 | 57 | 9 | 21 | 3 | |||
| 2025vs Right | .239 | 47 | 10 | 34 | 1 | |||
| 2024vs Left | .165 | 54 | 10 | 21 | 0 | |||
| 2024vs Right | .213 | 49 | 7 | 30 | 1 | |||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | |||||||
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2024
-38%
ERA at Home
2026
-54%
ERA at Home
| ERA | WHIP | IP | K/9 | BB/9 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2024Home | 1.95 | 0.84 | 92.1 | 13.0 | 2.0 | ||||
| Since 2024Away | 3.16 | 1.15 | 94.0 | 12.4 | 2.4 | ||||
| 2026Home | 1.96 | 1.09 | 18.1 | 16.2 | 2.5 | ||||
| 2026Away | 4.26 | 1.26 | 19.0 | 10.9 | 2.4 | ||||
| 2025Home | 1.78 | 0.71 | 35.1 | 12.2 | 1.5 | ||||
| 2025Away | 3.99 | 1.28 | 38.1 | 13.1 | 3.1 | ||||
| 2024Home | 2.09 | 0.85 | 38.2 | 12.1 | 2.3 | ||||
| 2024Away | 1.72 | 0.95 | 36.2 | 12.5 | 1.7 | ||||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | ||||||||
Stat Review
How does Cade Smith compare to other relievers?
This section compares his stats with all relief pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 30 innings)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 30 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 30 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
K/BB
5.60K/9
13.5BB/9
2.4HR/9
0.7Fastball
96.8 mphERA
3.13WHIP
1.18BABIP
.386GB/FB
1.17Left On Base
72.9%Exit Velocity
83.2 mphBarrels/BBE
4.9%Spin Rate
1984 rpmBalls Hit 95+ MPH
23.2%Swinging Strike
16.9%Advanced Pitching Stats
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Defensive Stats
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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2025 Fantasy Outlook
An undrafted free-agent by the Guardians in 2020, Smith's rookie season was a resounding success. The 25-year-old broke camp with Cleveland and immediately showcased the elite strikeout potential that he carried through every level in the minors. Armed with a 96 mph fastball that was the best pitch in baseball last year per Statcast Run Value (28), Smith struck out 103 batters (T-3rd among relievers) overall, with 81 coming via the four-seamer he threw nearly 70 percent of the time. An effective splitter (.175 BA, .228 SLG) and occasional sweeper completed Smith's arsenal, but the fastball carried his success in 2024. The 6-foot-5 righty permitted only one home run across 75.1 innings and limited free passes with an impressive 5.9 percent walk rate. Smith finished fifth in the AL Rookie of the Year standings, ninth in AL Cy Young voting and was Cleveland's most trusted reliever during the playoffs. Some ratio regression should be expected in 2025, but Smith should be on fantasy radars moving forward.
More Fantasy News
Registers save No. 25
Smith earned a save against the Mariners on Saturday, allowing one hit and and no walks while striking out one batter over one scoreless inning.
Analysis
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Blows third save Wednesday
Smith gave up two runs on three hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning Wednesday to take his third blown save of the season in a 4-3 extra-inning win over the White Sox. He struck out one.
Analysis
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Takes L in non-save situation
Smith (2-1) was the losing pitcher Monday, surrendering two runs on two hits and one walk while striking out three over 1.2 innings in a 6-5 loss to the White Sox.
Analysis
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Up to 24 saves
Smith earned the save in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Brewers, working around a pair of walks while striking out two across 1.1 scoreless innings.
Analysis
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Records four-out save Saturday
Smith earned the save in Saturday's win over the Tigers after allowing a hit and a walk across 1.1 innings, striking out two.
Analysis
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Best AL reliever in May
Smith has been named the American League Reliever of the Month for May, according to Theo DeRosa of MLB.com.
Analysis
Smith was as dominant as you can be as a closer in May. He went 13-for-13 in saves while striking out 25 and posting a 1.32 ERA over 13.2 innings during the month. The right-hander leads the majors in saves with 20 this season and has a 2.60 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 42:5 K:BB in 27 appearances.
Smith was as dominant as you can be as a closer in May. He went 13-for-13 in saves while striking out 25 and posting a 1.32 ERA over 13.2 innings during the month. The right-hander leads the majors in saves with 20 this season and has a 2.60 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 42:5 K:BB in 27 appearances.