Smith allowed one hit and one run while striking out one over 1.1 innings, picking up a blown save in Wednesday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to Arizona. Smith was unable to close the door in the bottom of the ninth inning,

The difference between pitching in the seventh inning and closing out a baseball game in the ninth might seem negligible on paper – three outs are still three outs. But Guardians manager Stephen Vogt knows as well as anybody: The mental pressure of those final three outs creates a psychological challenge unlike any other in baseball.