2026 Stats
W-L
2-0
ERA
3.31
WHIP
1.29
K
21
SV
9
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 contract with the Guardians in March of 2025.
Strikes out side for ninth save
Smith collected his ninth save of the season in the Guardians' 3-1 win over the Royals on Wednesday after allowing one hit and striking out three batters in the ninth.
Analysis
Smith made his first appearance out of the bullpen since Friday and was tasked with protecting Cleveland's two-run lead. He was perfect outside of a single to Vinnie Pasquantino, with Smith striking out each of the other three batters he faced in the inning. Smith has recorded a save in four consecutive outings (and in six of his last seven appearances), and his nine saves are tied for fifth-most in the majors. He sits at a 3.31 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 21:4 K:BB across 16.1 innings this season.
Smith made his first appearance out of the bullpen since Friday and was tasked with protecting Cleveland's two-run lead. He was perfect outside of a single to Vinnie Pasquantino, with Smith striking out each of the other three batters he faced in the inning. Smith has recorded a save in four consecutive outings (and in six of his last seven appearances), and his nine saves are tied for fifth-most in the majors. He sits at a 3.31 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 21:4 K:BB across 16.1 innings this season.
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
16
Last 5 Games
17
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
-27%
BAA vs LHP
2026
-22%
BAA vs LHP
| BAA | K | BB | H | HR | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2024vs Left | .171 | 125 | 21 | 50 | 4 | |||
| Since 2024vs Right | .233 | 103 | 19 | 73 | 2 | |||
| 2026vs Left | .235 | 14 | 2 | 8 | 1 | |||
| 2026vs Right | .300 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 0 | |||
| 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
-33%
ERA at Home
2026
-33%
ERA at Home
| ERA | WHIP | IP | K/9 | BB/9 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2024Home | 2.00 | 0.84 | 81.0 | 12.6 | 2.1 | ||||
| Since 2024Away | 2.99 | 1.13 | 84.1 | 12.3 | 2.2 | ||||
| 2026Home | 2.57 | 1.43 | 7.0 | 16.7 | 3.9 | ||||
| 2026Away | 3.86 | 1.18 | 9.1 | 7.7 | 1.0 | ||||
| 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
5.25K/9
11.6BB/9
2.2HR/9
0.6Fastball
96.5 mphERA
3.31WHIP
1.29BABIP
.390GB/FB
1.00Left On Base
71.4%Exit Velocity
82.3 mphBarrels/BBE
5.4%Spin Rate
1879 rpmBalls Hit 95+ MPH
21.5%Swinging Strike
15.1%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
Picks up eighth save
Smith struck out one over 1.1 perfect innings to earn the save in Friday's 8-5 win over the Athletics.
Analysis
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Secures seventh save
Smith gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Wednesday to record his seventh save of the season in a 3-1 win over the Rays.
Analysis
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Nails down sixth save
Smith allowed two hits in a scoreless ninth inning to record his sixth save of the season in an 8-6 win over the Blue Jays. He didn't walk or strike out a batter.
Analysis
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Fans three for fifth save
Smith picked up the save in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Orioles, striking out all three batters he faced in the ninth inning.
Analysis
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Tallies fourth save
Smith secured the save Thursday against the Orioles, allowing no runs on two hits and no walks in the ninth inning.
Analysis
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Likely to remain in Cleveland
Smith is a candidate to be traded but would be "prohibitively expensive," Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan of ESPN.com report.
Analysis
Smith has four more years of team control after this season, so the Guardians are certainly in no rush to move him, but they could consider it if the right offer came along. McDaniel and Passan list the odds of a Smith trade at 20 percent, with the Dodgers, Phillies, Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Tigers and Rangers representing possible landing spots.
Smith has four more years of team control after this season, so the Guardians are certainly in no rush to move him, but they could consider it if the right offer came along. McDaniel and Passan list the odds of a Smith trade at 20 percent, with the Dodgers, Phillies, Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Tigers and Rangers representing possible landing spots.