Guardians notes: Closer Emmanuel Clase addresses struggles to start season

CLEVELAND — Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase believes when the weather warms up, he will too. Pitching in the Cleveland cold has not been kind to Clase, who entered Saturday owning a 6.00 ERA and 1.83 WHIP over six appearances. It has been a continuation of the right-hander's struggles last year in the playoffs, where he allowed eight earned runs and three home runs after surrendering only five earned runs and two homers during the regular season. "My body feels good," Clase said Saturday through an interpreter. "I feel like I've been able to compete. Obviously, not getting the results that we wanted, but it is a blend of maybe not being too used to pitching in the cold like previous years. But that's something everybody has to get used to and everybody competes in the same weather." One of the theories for Clase's struggles is that hitters are attacking him earlier in the count, and thus far, he has yet to adjust. "I feel like they've been aggressive all along," Clase said. "I feel that's the only way they can attack me. I know I'm a pitcher that throws a lot of strikes, that attacks the zone and having only two pitches, that's the plan of attack. "I feel it's on me, trying to execute better pitches in and out and mixing them up a little bit. The sinker is something that has enabled me to have a better mix. So it's on me in the way how I can attack them and do differently this year." Clase has also been tinkering with his slider after pitching coach Carl Willis located a flaw. It's a pitch Clase has to have to keep hitters from zeroing in on his cut fastball. "Obviously, we saw that the slider was looking very similar to the cutter, the profile, in a way," Clase said. "So we're just working, trying to make the slider have a little bit more depth, that angle towards the bottom of the plate. "That's something that will help me a lot, because in reality, I feel like it's a pitch that's going to allow us to get a little more swing-and-miss and a little more punch outs. It's going to help us to get the results we want." In many ways, Clase, a three-time All-Star who put up one of the greatest regular seasons ever by a major league closer last year, is a victim of his own success. When he doesn't get the job done, it's magnified. "I was thinking that a couple of days ago myself. It's a reminder that I'm also human," Clase said. "I can make mistakes and not get the results that I want. But I think what really matters is the support that I get from my teammates. The important part is that I feel good. As long as I feel good with my body that I know I can do the work that I know I'm capable of doing, that's what makes you feel at ease, that I know I can do better and continue competing every day." "When you're perfect for a whole season last year and then you have a couple games where you give up runs, all of a sudden now people are asking about you," manager Stephen Vogt said. "We talk about it all the time with the bullpen guys. We don't talk about them when they do their job. "So for Clase, it's, 'keep being you.' We're always working on things to get better. We're always trying to find different ways to be successful, but just be Emmanuel and go pitch." Lane Train Center fielder Lane Thomas missed his fourth straight game with a right wrist contusion after getting hit by a pitch in Tuesday's home opener. "He's trending better," Vogt said. "This is the best he's felt today, so we're hopeful he can get back in there soon." ** Right-hander Slade Cecconi (left oblique strain) threw a bullpen session at Progressive Field on Saturday afternoon. "Sounded like his stuff was moving well, so definitely headed in the right direction with Slade," Vogt said. Cecconi was in the running for a spot in the rotation before sustaining the injury during spring training. He went 2-7 with a 6.66 ERA in 20 games (13 starts) for Arizona last year. Roundin' third Jose Ramirez was presented with his fifth Silver Slugger award prior to Saturday's game. The six-time All-Star had 39 doubles, 39 homers and a .537 slugging percentage in 158 games last year. ** Former Cleveland pitcher Dennis Martinez (1994-96) threw a ceremonial first pitch while former center fielder Kenny Lofton (1992-96, 1998-01, 2007) stood in the batter's box and first base coach Sandy Alomar (1990-2000) caught the pitch. ** Sunday, 1:10, Guardians TV; WOBL 1320-AM and 107.7-FM, WMMS 100.7-FM. Lively (0-1, 4.40) vs. Ragans (0-0, 2.81). Contact Chris Assenheimer at (440) 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him on X @CAwesomeheimer.