Cleveland Guardians Superstar Working to Join Elite Baseball History in 2024
![Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase (48) celebrates a win over the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field on July 24. Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase (48) celebrates a win over the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field on July 24.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3333,h_1874,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/fastball/01j5e3y4jhmf3pjf213m.jpg)
The Cleveland Guardians are one of the biggest surprises in all of baseball. At 72-49, they lead the American League Central by 4.0 games and are currently positioned to earn the No. 1 seed in the American League playoffs.
All this after finishing in third place in the American League Central a year ago and losing Hall of Fame manager Terry Francona to retirement.
One of the biggest reasons why the Guardians have been able to be so good is because of the dominance of closer Emmanuel Clase. An All-Star again this season, Clase is putting himself in Cy Young consideration with his performance at the back end of games, which is a huge luxury for manager Stephen Vogt.
Clase has gone 4-2 this season with a microscopic 0.64 ERA. He's struck out 49 batters in 56.1 innings pitched and has a whopping 37 saves, which leads all of baseball. He also led baseball in saves each of the last two seasons and is on track to join some very rare baseball history.
Per @JayHayKid on social media:
Emmanuel Clase (0.64 ERA, 37 saves) could join the trio of pitchers to have a season with 40+ saves and an ERA under 0.75:
Zack Britton (2016)
Fernando Rodney (2012)
Dennis Eckersley (1990)
The lowest ERA in a 50-save season is 1.20 by Eric Gagné in 2003.
Emmanuel Clase (0.64 ERA, 37 saves) could join the trio of pitchers to have a season with 40+ saves and an ERA under 0.75:
— nugget chef (@jayhaykid) August 15, 2024
Zack Britton (2016)
Fernando Rodney (2012)
Dennis Eckersley (1990)
The lowest ERA in a 50-save season is 1.20 by Eric Gagné in 2003. https://t.co/q4lFQMpBKW
Still just 26 years old, Clase is positioned to be the best closer in the game for years to come. He uses upper 90s velocity and a dominant upper-90s cutter to make hitters extremely uncomfortable in the box.
The Guardians will take on the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night at 8:10 p.m. ET.
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