CLEVELAND -- Hunter Gaddis and Cade Smith are typically two relievers finishing games for the Guardians. That was also the case Tuesday, though not in a way we’re too used to seeing.
In the Guardians’ 3-2 win over the Angels at Progressive Field, Gaddis was first up out of the bullpen in relief of starter Slade Cecconi. Typically Cleveland’s setup man, Gaddis entered in the fifth inning. Smith, meanwhile, went on to convert a four-out save.
All said, the Guardians’ bullpen covered five innings and allowed two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out six batters. It followed Cecconi throwing 89 pitches (59 strikes) over four scoreless innings, in which he allowed five hits and one walk with seven strikeouts.
Tuesday marked only Smith’s third career four-out save, following May 1 against the A’s and Aug. 30 of last season against the Mariners. For Gaddis, the outing marked only his second time pitching in the fifth inning since he became a reliever full-time in 2024. He also pitched that frame on May 31, 2025.
In between those two, the Guardians had some interesting mixing and matching with their bullpen. That included rookie Franco Aleman getting an opportunity to pitch in high leverage in his second career appearance.
Aleman (who made his MLB debut on Sunday) recorded two outs in the eighth. He allowed a solo homer to Angels second baseman Vaughn Grissom and issued one walk.