Emmanuel Clase is back, though concerns remain for Guardians closer

It wasn't long ago that Emmanuel Clase looked like a shell of his former self.

Entering play on May 5, Clase had a 5.87 ERA and 1.761 WHIP in 15 1/3 innings . The 27-year-old had given up 11 runs on 24 hits and three walks, a far cry from his performance in 2024 when he finished third in AL Cy Young voting.

In 74 1/3 innings last year, he led the league in games finished (66) and saves (47), compiling an absurd 0.61 ERA with 66 strikeouts, and a laughable 0.659 WHIP. And here's the kicker: according to ERA+, Emmanuel Clase was 574% better than the average pitcher. Five hundred and seventy four percent.

For reference, longtime Yankees closer Mariano Rivera has the best career ERA+ in history (205, or 105% better than league average).

The good news is that Clase has started to right the ship this season. He's allowed just three earned runs since the start of May (a span of 16 1/3 innings) Since the start of May, he's allowed just one earned run in 15 2/3 innings. He's also struck out 18 batters and issued three walks, though those numbers are a bit of cold comfort considering he just gave up three runs in a blown save to the Mariners.

He's not quite as dominant as he was last year, but Clase appears to be back to his usual self. However, some of the things that plagued him in April still lay dormant underneath the surface.

Emmanuel Clase's pitches aren't as effective as they once were

Take a look back at Clase's comical campaign in 2024, and you'll notice that he shoved with both of his primary offerings.

His signature cutter was the single most valuable pitch among all MLB relievers last year, and his slider was a perfect complement. In 765 offerings last year, his cutter generated a .150 batting average against and .194 wOBA from opposing hitters. The slider, thrown about 200 times, was even better, inducing a .145 batting average and .148 wOBA from opposing hitters.

Those numbers are way up this year. His cutter is actually being hit with some authority for the first time ever (.313 BA, .342 wOBA), and his slider is merely good compared to last year's greatness (.235 BA, .262 wOBA).

Now, a lot of this is still early-season noise; he's pitched in just 29 2/3 innings this year. It's also worth noting that Clase has been hammered on the road this season (5.17 ERA ERA, .338/.400/.523, .375 wOBA), though he's generally been quite good at Progressive Field (2.57 ERA, .245/.281/.245, .240 wOBA).

The game he blew against the Mariners over the weekend was on the road as well. Prior to Clase blowing the lead, the Guardians were 114-0 when going into the ninth inning with a lead since the start of the 2024 season.

But, his cutter's struggles have led to tangible changes on the mound. He's throwing his primary pitch about 10% less this year, all of which he's allocated to his slider. That's also part of the issue, since both pitches have lost some horizontal movement this year in favor of vertical break (or rise, in the cutter's case), which makes it harder to tunnel to opposing hitters.

All of this is to say that Clase is still a really good pitcher. He's been nearly fantastic since his April swoon.

But, until and unless he rediscovers the form that made him legendary last season, he and Guardians fans will have to settle for "really good".