CLEVELAND, Ohio — Each year, the Cy Young Award goes to the most outstanding pitcher in Major League Baseball’s American and National leagues. Voters from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America cast ballots to select the pitchers they believe fit that description, and only that description.
Nowhere in the voting rules does it stipulate that a starting pitcher should be given more consideration, or a relief pitcher any less. The award goes to the best pitcher. Period. And this year, it is getting harder and harder to ignore Emmanuel Clase’s position toward the top of that list.
Clase is 4-2 with a 0.67 ERA and a major league best 45 saves in 68 appearances. The saves represent a career high and are one shy of Cleveland’s single-season record held by Jose Mesa, who saved 46 in 1995. Mesa finished second in Cy Young voting that year. Only Dodgers closer Eric Gagne, who saved 55 games in 2003, has won the award as a reliever since then.
Clase has converted 32 consecutive saves since May 20, the second-longest saves streak in club history behind Mesa’s 38 from 1994-95, and the longest by any MLB reliever in a single season since Wade Miley converted 32 straight for the Cubs in 2017.
Still, there are those who believe a starting pitcher’s overall value is higher than that of a reliever, despite whatever statistics and metrics are thrown into the argument. Clase said he considers every save opportunity his responsibility to help the team win.
“I just see it as my role,” Clase said via Guardians interpreter Agustin Rivero. “I know that’s the time I’m going to come in and pitch, and I have to prepare to perform in those situations.”
Clase has been undeniably dominant, and he is starting to win over pundits who now think he has a real chance at the award, with Detroit’s Tarik Skubal being seen as his main competition. For his part, Clase said he has done everything in his power to help his team win, regardless of personal accolades.
“I think the numbers speak for themselves,” Clase said. “To get to that point, you have to work throughout the season. So far, I’ve been able to put up those type of numbers.”
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said he looks at the award as the MVP of pitching, and in his mind, there’s nobody more valuable than Clase.
“What Emmanuel means to us and to our team, he should 100% be in consideration,” Vogt said. “But that’s my opinion on it. Like I said, I don’t get to vote, and I’m a little biased.”
Vogt said the moment that he keeps going back to is Clase’s Houdini at in Minnesota last month when he escaped a bases loaded, nobody out situation while protecting a two-run lead.
“He just goes out there and he smiles,” Vogt said. “He was the only one that wasn’t nervous in the whole building, and it just speaks to his confidence in himself and the ability to make pitches when he needs to. He’s just a special person and unbelievable talent.”
Starting pitcher Ben Lively said a reliever could “absolutely” win baseball’s top pitching prize, in his mind. He called Clase “one of the most fun pitchers I’ve ever seen in my life,” and marveled at the right-hander’s consistency every time he takes the mound.
“Early in the year was probably the most mind blowing thing for me because we’re playing in 30 degree weather and it’s freezing,” Lively said. “He’s still the same pitcher he is now, dotting it up at 102 mph. It’s hard to argue with it. He’s the best pitcher in baseball.”
Trivia time
Cold pizza and a Mountain Dew might not check all the boxes for a nutritious breakfast, but sometimes you’ve got to grab what’s there and go. So, as you rush out the door this morning, consider this question: José Ramírez was issued his 88th career intentional walk on Saturday. Which Cleveland legend did he pass to take over the franchise lead in intentional free passes? Answer below.
Magic Number: 9
The Guardians reduced their magic number to clinch the American League Central Division championship again on Sunday thanks to a 2-0 win against the Rays at Progressive Field and a Kansas City loss to Pittsburgh.
Any combination of Guardians wins as well as losses by the second-place team (currently the Royals) that equals 9 will give Cleveland the 12th AL Central Division crown in franchise history.
Cleveland Guardians Magic Number.cleveland.com
Today’s game
Cleveland opens a four-game series against the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field. Lefty Matthew Boyd (2-1, 2.18) will start for the Guardians against Twins righty Pablo López (15-8, 3.88). Bally Sports Great Lakes will televise the game and WMMS 100.7 FM, WTAM 1100 AM, WARF 1350 AM (Spanish) and the Guardians Radio Network will carry the broadcast.
What’s next
Here’s what awaits the Guardians after Monday’s game against the Rays:
Tuesday: RHP Gavin Williams (3-9, 5.23) vs. RHP Zebby Matthews (1-3, 7.11) at 6:40 p.m. Bally Sports Great Lakes, WTAM 1100 AM, WMMS 100.7 FM, WARF 1350 AM (Spanish) and the Guarfdians Radio Network will carry the game.
Wednesday: RHP Tanner Bibee (11-8, 3.60) vs. RHP Bailey Ober (12-7, 3.90) at 6:40 p.m. Bally Sports Great Lakes, WTAM 1100 AM, WMMS 100.7 FM, WARF 1350 AM (Spanish) and the Guarfdians Radio Network will carry the game.
Thursday: LHP Joey Cantillo (2-3, 4.99) vs. RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (5-5, 4.08) at 1:10 p.m. Bally Sports Great Lakes, MLB Network, WTAM 1100 AM, WARF 1350 AM (Spanish) and the Guarfdians Radio Network will carry the game.
Friday: The Guardians make their final trip of the regular season, a three-game visit to Busch Stadium to play the Cardinals in St. Louis.
Trivia answer: Ramírez passed Jim Thome (87) for the franchise lead in intentional walks. He also passed Thome for fourth place on the club’s all-time total bases list with 2,671 (He now has 2,674 after a double and a single on Sunday against Tampa).
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