CLEVELAND, Ohio — Any way you slice it, the Guardians bullpen has been baseball’s best from day one of the 2024 season. Now, Cleveland relievers will have the chance to continue their unprecedented run as they aim to lead the club to a World Series appearance once division round play begins Saturday.
Headlined by All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase, Cleveland’s relief corps features a pair of unflappable right-handers in Cade Smith and Hunter Gaddis that stepped in and excelled when injuries looked like they would derail the season before it even began, and a left-hander in Tim Herrin who discovered a devastating curveball that gives opposing lefty hitters fits.
Under the guidance of first-year bullpen coach Brad Goldberg, Guardians relievers led the majors in ERA (2.57), fielding independent pitching (3.22), batting average against (.203), on-base percentage (.276), slugging percentage (.328), OPS (.604), WHIP (1.05), hits per nine innings (6.53), home runs per nine (0.75) and games with at least 3 scoreless innings (60).
The Guardians’ 2.57 bullpen ERA was the lowest in the American League since Kansas City (2.55 in 2013) and the lowest for a Cleveland team since 1954 (2.52). Cleveland set a new franchise record for relief innings in 2024 with 623, surpassing last season’s 588 innings out of the bullpen and ranking fourth in the AL. The club’s 2.57 bullpen ERA was the lowest in MLB history by a team with at least 600 relief innings, ahead of San Francisco’s 2.97 in 2021.
Clase, Gaddis, Smith and Herrin combined to become the first set of four teammates in MLB history to each appear in at least 70 dames and post ERAs of 2.00 or lower. The only other team to have three such pitchers was the 2003 Dodgers featuring National League Cy Young winner Eric Gagne, Guillermo Mota and Paul Quantrill.
But numbers to not tell the whole story. Cleveland’s bullpen has served as the backbone of the club all season, said catcher Austin Hedges
“They work their tails off day-in, day-out,” Hedges said. “They’re prepared for any situation that they get in. Us position players are super thankful for them. They’re always ready no matter what the situation is. And watching them in practice, they continuously work. We have a phenomenal group of guys who just love hard work and I think that’s what good teams do.”
Below is a look at what makes Cleveland’s bullpen so special.
Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase pitches against the Cincinnati Reds in the ninth inning. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
The Cy Young contender
Emmanuel Clase’s record-setting season should earn him strong consideration for the American League Cy Young Award. His 47 saves are a franchise single-season record, breaking the mark of Jose Mesa (46 in 1995). He became the club’s all-time saves leader on Aug. 30 when he passed Cody Allen (149). Clase led all MLB relievers with a 0.61 ERA and a 0.66 WHIP and ranked second to Cardinals righty Ryan Helsley’s 49 saves. He has converted 34 consecutive save opportunities since May 20, marking the longest streak since Zack Britton closed out 47 straight for Baltimore in 2016. The difference for Clase after an up-and-down 2023 season, has been his elite cutter, which he threw 75% of the time. Clase’s cutter limited opponents to a .150 batting average and a .209 slugging percentage, which is the fifth-lowest in the majors on any single pitch type.
Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Cade Smith throws during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)AP
The replacement sensations
Hunter Gaddis moved to the bullpen when Cleveland lost setup man Trevor Stephan to a season-ending elbow injury in spring training. Gaddis earned 33 holds in his first season as a reliever, breaking the Guardians rookie record held by Vinnie Pestano (23 holds in 2011). Gaddis tied for second among MLB relievers in appearances and was third in ERA (1.57). His strikeout rate nearly doubled from 13.2% in 11 appearances last year to 23.7% in 2024 thanks to a high-80s slider that ranked 12th in the majors with a run value of 10 according to Statcast.
Cade Smith’s emergence softened the blow of losing James Karinchak to a shoulder injury during training camp. Smith struck out 103 batters, tying for the third most among major league relievers this year and also tying Paul Shuey for third most in Cleveland franchise history behind only Dave LaRoche (104 in 1976) and Sid Monge (108 in 1979). Manager Stephen Vogt called upon Smith in situations where he needed a punchout with runners on base, and Smith responded by leading the majors with a 5.6 inherited runners scored percentage. Only two inherited runners scored out of 36 against Smith, the lowest rate in MLB since 2017. Smith’s fastball is the top-ranked pitch in baseball with a run value of 28 according to Statcast, generating a 39.9% strikeout rate.
Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Tim Herrin (29) in action during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Monday, June 24, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)AP
The left-handed assassin
Tim Herrin appeared in 75 games, tying for the second most relief outings by a lefty in the majors this season. With lefty Sam Hentges missing most of the season due to injury, Herrin served as the only consistent left-handed presence in the bullpen from start to finish. His 1.92 ERA ranked sixth among lefties. Herrin struggled with command in 2023, but discovered his curveball in 2024, producing a 42% whiff rate. He limited left-handed opponents to a .143 batting average with 29 strikeouts in 101 plate appearances.
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Nick Sandlin throws in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field. John Kuntz, cleveland.com
The pacifier
Side-arming Nick Sandlin set a new career high with 68 appearances and posted a perfect 8-0 record, becoming the 16th pitcher in MLB history to earn eight wins or more without a loss. He is the first undefeated pitcher in the big leagues with at least eight wins since Nate Jones went 8-0 for the White Sox in 2012. Vogt has used the right-hander in a variety of roles, including as an opener. He referred to Sandiln as his “pacifier” early in the year before a back injury sidelined the righty for a few weeks. Still, Sandlin’s 33.5% whiff rate ranks in the 94th percentile according to Statcast and his offspeed run value ranks in the 97th precentile.
“He’s not afraid,” Vogt said. “Versus righties, versus lefties — it hasn’t mattered. You hear me talk about it all the time, that guy that pivots us into the bullpen gets us out of trouble. Nick has been phenomenal in that role.”
Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Pedro Avila throws in the third inning against the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field. John Kuntz, cleveland.com
The innings eaters
Pedro Avila was not part of the Guardians opening day roster, acquired from San Diego after he was designated for assignment by the Padres in April. But since joining Cleveland, Avila has found new life, posting career-highs in appearances (54), innings pitched (82 2/3) and strikeouts (82). Avila has pitched multiple innings in 33 of his 54 outings and has pitched at least once in every inning (1-9) this season.
“It doesn’t matter the game situation, it doesn’t matter who’s coming up,” Vogt said. “You take the ball and you make your pitches. You’re going to earn more leverage, you’re going to earn more opportunities in different roles. And that’s what Pedro’s done.”
Eli Morgan has posted a career best 1.93 ERA in 42 innings despite spending two stints on the injured list and pitching at Triple-A Columbus for a month in July.
“Every time he takes the ball, he gives us everything he has,” Vogt said of Morgan. “He’s been throwing the ball really well the last month.”
The unblemished rookies
After joining the roster in September, Andrew Walters, a 2023 second-round pick out of Miami, is the fourth pitcher in Cleveland history to begin his career with nine straight outings without an earned run allowed.
Erik Sabrowski, who overcame two elbow surgeries to reach the big leagues at age 26, is the second pitcher in Cleveland history with 12 or more scoreless innings in their first eight career games, joining Mike Garcia (1948-49).
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