Emanuel Clase (26), the Cleveland Guardians' best closing pitcher, is experiencing a severe fall. He showed overwhelming performance with 0-point ERA during the regular season, but has been under fire with 10-point ERA since the postseason.
In Game 4 of the 2024 Major League Postseason American League Championship Series (ALCS, best-of-seven) at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio on the 19th (Korea time), Clase became a losing pitcher with three hits, one walk, and two runs in one inning.
The Cleveland Indians trailed 2-6 until the sixth inning, but managed to score three runs in the seventh inning and one run in the eighth inning, displaying the potential to tie the game. However, Clasé, who came up in the top of the ninth inning, gave up the momentum to the Yankees. Anthony Rizzo and Anthony Wolfie had consecutive hits from the start of the inning, putting them on the verge of first and third bases with no outs.
Clase, who struck out Austin Wells with runners on the second and third bases with no outs that led to Volpi's steal of second base, however, had a catch error by Brian Locchio when Alex Verdugo grounded out to shortstop. The third baseman came home and lost an additional point after Gleyber Torres hit a timely hit to center field with one out and third base.
Cleveland lost the game 6-8 in the bottom of the ninth inning with one out and runners on the first and second bases failed to take advantage of the chance, and Clase became a losing pitcher. The Cleveland Indians, who lost one game and three games in the series, are on the brink of collapse.
In the third game held on Saturday, Klase was put on a two-out, one-base hit early in the top of the eighth inning with two outs and one-base hit by Aaron Judge and collapsed after allowing Giancarlo Stanton to hit a back-to-back home run. He had three hits (two homers) and two walks in ⅓ innings, and failed to overcome the crisis for two consecutive games.
In the second game of the AL Division Series against the Detroit Tigers, Clase lost the game by allowing four hits (one homer) with one strikeout and three runs in one inning. He has continued to throw unstable pitches with two losses, two saves and an earned run average of 10.29 in six post-season games. 스포츠토토
Clase is the best closing pitcher in the Major League. Since his debut with the Texas Rangers in 2019, Clase has played in the Cleveland Indians since 2021 and recorded 16 wins, 23 losses and 158 saves with an ERA of 1.67 strikeouts during five seasons (312 ⅔ innings). He ranked No. 1 in saves in the AL for the third consecutive year with 42 in 2022, 44 last year and 47 this year.
Notably, he had a career-high season this year with four wins, two losses, 47 saves and 0.61 strikeouts in 74 games (74 ⅓ innings). He had only five earned runs in 74 regular-season games, but gave up eight earned runs in six post-season games, which is a dramatic achievement. His pitches have not slowed significantly, but he is faltering due to long balls.
"Our guys did a good job, but I had some regrets," Clasé said after the game, according to the MLB.com news agency. "Things that will happen will happen, so I'll think positively and trust myself and make an effort." Cleveland catcher Austin Hedges also said, "Clasé is still the best pitcher in the world. We haven't lost the series yet. Clasé will make saves for us again."