Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said after Tuesday’s game, which was closed by Cade Smith, that Clase was fine, but that obviously wasn’t the truth. He’s on his way to burning out his team’s biggest asset with the way he’s using Clase and Tim Herrin for three straight days and Smith four times in five days. Clase played catch today. If he can’t pitch today and Smith certainly can’t go and Hunter Gaddis probably shouldn’t go for a fourth time in five days, it might mean a save chance for Herrin or Paul Sewald. Smith would likely be the primary closer if Clase lands on the IL.

Clase had pitched on both Friday and Saturday, so it’s questionable that he was used to save a three-run lead against a weak Pirates offense. The inning started with a tough seven-pitch walk to Enmanuel Valdez before back-to-back doubles plated two runs. Although, the double by Adam Frazier would have been a routine groundball to third base if the Guardians had not been shifted. Clase would then get one out before a single by Ke’Bryan Hayes off the glove of Kyle Manzardo and a drawn-in infield tied the game. Clase’s velocity was fine, and he threw plenty of strikes, but he didn’t miss bats. He came into today with an elevated .455 BABIP, and while he has not been his dominant self, the batted ball luck against him has been tough to swallow, and it continued today with just an 88 mph average exit velocity allowed.

Incredibly, the Pirates had a runner thrown out at third while being down multiple runs to the Guardians in the ninth for the second game in a row. Enmanuel Valdez was the culprit this time. He actually slid in safe ahead of the tag on his bid for a triple, but he seemed to hurt himself on the head-first dive, and when he removed his hand from the bag to call time, a tag was applied and ump called him out. Clase quickly finished the inning from there, throwing just six pitches. He also threw nine in a one-out save Friday, so it will be interesting to see if he’s available Sunday; he’s pitched two days in a row, but they’ve both been brief appearances.

Paul Sewald let the Pirates back into a five-run game in the ninth, but Clase shut the door, striking out Jack Suwinski after walking the first batter he faced. It’s Clase’s third save of the year.