What Guardians closer Cade Smith said after his latest dominant playoff outing

Cleveland Guardians closer Cade Smith delivered another dominant postseason performance Thursday, recording a four-out save in a 3-2 ALCS Game 3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays at Progressive Field.

Smith entered with the tying run on third and two outs in the eighth inning after Hunter Gaddis allowed a double. He struck out Yandy Diaz after a 10-pitch battle, then retired the Rays in order in the final frame. The outing gave Smith his second save of the postseason and helped the Guardians seize a 2-1 series lead.

MLB Network shared a postgame clip on X, formerly Twitter, of the All-Star closer discussing the Guardians' approach after securing the win.

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"I think that's kind of emblematic of the way that we play baseball. You know, we're we're gritty. We stay in there. We punch back, and and you know we really hang in there tooth and nail."

Smith needed 18 pitches to complete 1 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing no hits or walks while striking out two. He has now worked nine postseason innings in 2026, allowing two hits and one earned run with 13 strikeouts and a 1.00 ERA.

The 27-year-old has appeared in seven of Cleveland's eight playoff games this year and 18 of the Guardians' 20 postseason games since 2024, underscoring his high-leverage role.

Rookie Petey Halpin supplied the decisive offense with a two-run homer in the fifth, while Gavin Williams struck out nine over five innings. Cleveland's bullpen allowed only one baserunner across the final four frames.

The Guardians now hold a 2-1 ALCS lead with Game 4 scheduled Friday at Progressive Field. Smith remains central to the club's bullpen as the series continues.