Cade Smith

Active

Cleveland Guardians · Pitcher

Age 276' 5" · 230 lbsThrows Right

FBaseball Overview

Smith enters 2026 as Cleveland's established closer, building on a stellar 2025 campaign where he posted a 2.93 ERA with 104 strikeouts and 16 saves across 73.2 innings. His 26 saves through the season's opening stretch demonstrates the Guardians' continued trust in him as their primary back-end arm, offering managers elite saves production in what appears to be a secure role. The right-hander maintains elite strikeout rates and has consistently kept his ERA and WHIP in excellent territory, though some regression in his K-rate this season warrants monitoring. For fantasy purposes, Smith represents a top-tier closer with reliable counting stats in wins, saves, and strikeouts, making him a cornerstone piece for any pitching staff seeking stability in the closer position.

MLB Pitching

Year	Team	G	W	L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2024	Cleveland Guardians	74	6	1	1	1.91	0.90	103	75.1	17
2025	Cleveland Guardians	76	8	5	16	2.93	1.00	104	73.2	19
2026	Cleveland Guardians	38	2	1	26	2.90	1.14	57	40.1	10
Career	Totals	188	16	7	43	2.52	0.99	264	189.1	46

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Minor League Pitching

Year	Team	G	W	L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2021	2 teams▼	33	2	3	5	3.98	1.09	68	43	22
2022	2 teams▼	44	4	2	13	2.93	1.19	99	61.1	35
2023	2 teams▼	47	5	3	15	4.02	1.31	95	62.2	28
Career	Totals	124	11	8	33	3.61	1.21	262	167	85

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Game Log2026 season

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Pitching Analytics2026 season · via Baseball Savant

Click for year to year changes

FB Velo96.8 mph

Avg Spin1856 rpm

Whiff %34.4%

K %34.3%

BB %6.0%

Hard Hit %45.8%

Barrel %10.4%

xERA3.44

xBA Against0.226

xSLG Against0.378

BA Against0.237

SLG Against0.355

GB%40.8%

FB%26.5%

What These Stats Mean

FB Velo — Average fastball velocity. Harder throwers generate more swings and misses, setting up every other pitch in their arsenal. Velocity is the foundation of strikeout upside.

Avg Spin — Average spin rate across all pitches. Higher spin creates more movement and makes pitches harder to square up — elite spinners run better strikeout and batting average against numbers.

Whiff % — Swings-and-misses per swing. The most direct measure of a pitcher's ability to miss bats and the best leading indicator of strikeout rate.

K % — Strikeout rate per batter faced. The core fantasy pitching stat — high K% means reliable strikeout totals that hold up even in shorter starts.

BB % — Walk rate per batter faced. The primary control metric. High BB% tanks ERA and WHIP and keeps baserunners on constantly. Elite starters typically run below 7%.

Hard Hit % — Percentage of batted balls hit 95 mph or harder against. Low hard-hit% means weak contact, protecting both ERA and the defense behind the pitcher.

Barrel % — Percentage of batted balls barreled against. The most direct home run predictor — low barrel% pitchers rarely give up long balls.

xERA — Expected ERA based on contact quality allowed, removing the effect of sequencing, luck, and defense. Better predictor of future ERA than ERA itself.

xBA Against — Expected batting average opponents should hit based on contact quality. A gap between xBA and actual BA indicates unsustainable luck in either direction.

xSLG Against — Expected slugging allowed based on contact quality. High xSLG against predicts future extra-base damage; low xSLG means the pitcher is genuinely suppressing power.

BA Against — Actual batting average opponents are hitting — a key WHIP component. Check xBA to see if the number is sustainable.

SLG Against — Actual slugging allowed. Captures hits, doubles, triples, and home runs — lower means the pitcher is limiting the power damage he gives up.

GB% — Ground ball rate. High GB% pitchers generate double plays, limit home runs, and keep the ball in the park — great for protecting ERA and WHIP ratios.

FB% — Fly ball rate. High FB% pitchers give up more air contact — dangerous when combined with high exit velocity, less so when contact is soft.

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Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2024

Cleveland Guardians

1.91

0.90

103

75.1

2025

Cleveland Guardians

2.93

1.00

104

73.2

2026

Cleveland Guardians

2.90

1.14

40.1

Career

Totals

188

2.52

0.99

264

189.1

Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2021

2 teams▼

3.98

1.09

2022

2 teams▼

2.93

1.19

61.1

2023

2 teams▼

4.02

1.31

62.2

Career

Totals

124

3.61

1.21

262

167