Emmanuel

Clase

Skubal celebrates his 28th birthday with his first career Cy Young Award, receiving all 30 first place votes in balloting, following a transcendent 2024 campaign where he helped lead Detroit back to the postseason with an American League-leading 2.39 ERA (2.39) and 228 strikeouts across 192 innings (31 starts). He’ll be the first starting pitcher off the board next spring in all fantasy drafts. Royals veteran Seth Lugo finished second and Guardians stopper Emmanuel Clase came in third.

The 26-year-old right-hander delivered an unbelievable season out of the Guardians’ bullpen in 2024, registering a minuscule 0.61 ERA, 0.66 WHIP and a 66/10 K/BB ratio over 74 1/3 innings while notching four victories and piling up a league-leading 47 saves. That phenomenal effort has him as a finalist for the Cy Young Award as well, though it’s difficult to see him besting Tigers’ left-hander Tarik Skubal for that award.

Clase and Lugo are deserving finalists, but Skubal is a near-lock to take home his first Cy Young Award after a dominant 2024 campaign where he led the American League in ERA (2.39) and strikeouts (228) over 192 innings (31 starts). The 27-year-old southpaw figures to be the first starting pitcher off the board next spring in all fantasy drafts. Clase melted down in the postseason, but was other-worldly during the regular season, converting a career-high 47 saves to go with a sparkling 0.61 ERA across 74 1/3 innings (74 appearances). He’s the first reliever since Francisco Rodríguez back in 2008 to be named a Cy Young Award finalist. Lugo was an unexpected revelation in his Kansas City debut, finishing with a solid 3.00 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 181/48 K/BB ratio across 206 2/3 innings (33 starts).

Clase came into a tie game in the ninth inning. With the Guardians season on the line again and the best closer this regular season on the mound, Clase folded once again. Anthony Rizzo and Anthony Volpe both singled to start the inning. After Volpe stole second base, Alex Verdugo reached on an error that brought in a run. Then Gleyber Torres lined an RBI single to give the Yankees an 8-6 lead. Clase has now allowed nine runs in seven innings this postseason. The Guardians offense bailed out Clase in Game 3, but they weren’t able to do it again in Game 4. Clase has certainly had his moments this postseason, like closing out the Tigers in Game 4 and Game 5 of the division series. Overall, though, he’s coughed up the lead three times and has two losses.

Clase was called on in the top of the eighth with a runner on, and he was able to get the final six outs in the must-win game. The right-hander gave up a three-run homer to Kerry Carpenter in Game 2, but he’s been as dominant as any reliever in baseball even with that blemish. He’ll see plenty of work in the best-of-seven series against New York in the ALCS; or at least the Guardians hope that’ll be the case.

It was quite the bounce back performance for Clase, who entered the game with a one-run lead, two men on base and one out in the eighth inning. Clase escaped the jam unscathed by getting Zack McKinstry to ground out and striking out Trey Sweeney. After the Guardians scored an insurance run in the top of the ninth, Clase allowed a run of his own in the bottom of the ninth. Still, he shut the door on the Tigers, earning the five-out save and sending the series back to Cleveland for a decisive Game 5 on Saturday.

Clase would have allowed the go-ahead run to score in the eighth if not for a miracle catch from Steven Kwan in left field, though he wouldn’t have been charged with it in relief of Hunter Gaddis. Clase got the one out then and two in a two to start the ninth, but he then gave up two singles and the three-run blast to Kerry Carpenter. It was just the third homer he’s given up in 76 1/3 innings this season. He hadn’t given up multiple runs in an outing since Sept. 22, 2023.

Clase’s save was his 47th of the year. He loaded the bases with no outs after two walks and a base hit. Despite the added degree of difficulty, Clase retired the next three batters in order. He lowered his ERA to 0.61 on the season in the process. Clase has been the best closer in fantasy all year long.

The save was Clase’s 46th of the season. He struck out two batters in a perfect inning of work. Clase has easily been the best closer in baseball this season. He lowered his ERA to 0.65 with the scoreless inning. With about two weeks left in the season, a 50-save year is within reach.

What more superlatives are there to describe Clase’s season? He hasn’t blown a save since April 16th and has allowed exactly one run since the All-Star break. This save pulled him one ahead of Ryan Helsley for the league lead and set a new career-high. It would be a shock if he didn’t grab some down-ballot AL Cy Young votes.