Cleveland Guardians reliever Cade Smith, Aug. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

The 2025 Cleveland Guardians, at 63-60, are locked in a battle for the final American League wild-card spot with 39 games left in the MLB regular season. Just 3.5 games behind the Yankees despite being near the bottom of many offensive statistical categories, Cleveland will need continued excellence from its pitching staff to catch New York and carry the team through to the finish line.

A key pitcher in the Guardians’ playoff push is their new closer, Cade Smith.

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Smith was Cleveland’s setup man for most of the year, but with All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase on paid leave since July 28, Smith has been entrusted with filling Clase’s shoes and shutting down opposing teams when it matters most.

Yet even with hopes of the Guardians’ fanbase on his shoulders and all the pressure that comes with it, Smith finds his truest identity in Christ alone. While signing autographs before Friday’s 2-0 loss to the Atlanta Braves in Cleveland, Smith asked his fans about the Bible verse inscribed on his glove, 1 Corinthians 6:11.

“Does anyone know this verse off the top of their head?” Smith asked while showing the crowd his glove. “This is one of my favorite verses, because basically (verses) nine and 10 are a statement of universal condemnation. … It means everyone sins. No one’s good enough. You’re not getting to Heaven on your own. Verse 11 starts, ‘and that’s what you guys were, but you were washed, justified and sanctified by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.’”

“Does anyone know this verse?”
Love this from Guardians pitcher Cade Smith sharing his faith with fans.

1 Cor 6:11

(📲 Nobles Darby/IG) pic.twitter.com/NsEx2uaAl1

— Sports Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) August 16, 2025

Then, Smith explained how the passage applies to his life and his job in MLB.

“Regardless of how any outing goes — up or down, if I succeed or I struggle or I do really bad — I know that I’m not actually a pitcher. I’m washed. I’m justified. I’m sanctified. And those are things that no one can take from me.”

The 26-year-old Canadian and former University of Hawaii standout is in his second major league season, and he’s impressed in his new role. He hasn’t allowed an earned run since the day Clase’s leave began — now nine consecutive outings (10 total innings) — and he’s surrendered only three hits and one walk in that span.

His performance has merited effusive praise from Guardians manager Stephen Vogt.

“I mean, Cade’s Cade,” Vogt said on Friday, via Cleveland.com. “No matter what the spot, no matter the situation, nothing’s too big for him.”

Vogt continued later, “[Smith is] the same person every day. He is routine-oriented. He makes sure he does all the things he needs to do. And he’s an elite human being, treats everybody kindly. And he’s just consistent.”

In an interview with Guardians TV in May, Smith revealed that his consistency and calmness under pressure is derived from his assurance as a child of God.

“The first and most important thing is that I’m confident and certain that my identity is not based in baseball,” he said. “My identity is based in my faith, and that’s something that can’t be taken from me and it can’t be shaped by the highs and lows of this game, whether I go out and perform or whether I fail, because I am going to fail.

“But the good news is that that doesn’t define me. That doesn’t affect who I am — how I am with my family, with the guys in the clubhouse — so I can shake it off. I can learn what I can from each appearance, regardless of the outcome, and then I can move forward and continue to learn from it.”

Last offseason, Smith talked about trusting God with the upcoming season and His perfect plan for his life.

“I want to take things one day at a time and focus on what I can control,” he told BlueJaysNation.com in January. “And just trust that God is going to open and close doors as He sees fit.”

God opened a door for Smith to be Cleveland’s closer last month, and he’s walked through it with obedience and a desire to glorify his Father in Heaven. And if he continues to play at the level he has, God may open a door for Smith to play in the MLB postseason for the second year in a row.

Cade Smith entered the game with no outs and the bases loaded.

He struck out the next three batters to escape the jam 🔥 pic.twitter.com/bBQbrZCbGb

— MLB (@MLB) May 23, 2025

Thanks in part to Smith’s performances, Cleveland has been rising in the standings for the past two months, although the team was swept in its latest three-game series against the Braves. The Guardians will now seek to bounce back as they go on the road for two series against the Arizona Diamondbacks (60-65) and the Texas Rangers (62-63).

First pitch of Game 1 against Arizona is set for Monday at 9:40 p.m. ET.

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