Smith allowed one walk and struck out one over a scoreless eighth inning in Tuesday's 9-3 loss to the Angels.
Smith, who normally works as setup reliever when the Rangers are leading, made a low-leverage appearance following a rough stretch. The left-hander was tagged for six runs on six hits and three walks over his previous three outings. It's unclear whether using Smith in a mop-up role was a way to give him a positive feeling about an outing or if it was because he hadn't thrown in five days. It may have been a little of both.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Takes loss Saturday
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Smith (2-6) was tagged with Saturday's loss, allowing two runs on one hit and one walk over two-thirds of an inning against Cleveland.
The Rangers clung to a 1-0 lead when Smith, who finished up the bottom of the seventh inning, opened eighth. He allowed two baserunners that eventually scored off Jose Leclerc. Smith has pitched well in a setup role since Aroldis Chapman became the primary closer; Saturday's outing halted a streak of seven consecutive scoreless appearances.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Gives up winning knock
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Smith allowed one run on one hit over one inning in Thursday's 7-5 loss to the Twins.
The Rangers' bullpen blew another lead, although the save was blown by, and the loss credited to, Josh Sborz prior to Smith entering the game with the bases loaded and no outs. Smith's contributions to the loss was to give up a two-run home run to pinch-hitter Ryan Jeffers. This was the sixth time in the last eight appearances that Smith has allowed a run, and the Rangers' closer has a 14.21 ERA with two losses and two blown saves during that run. Texas manager Bruce Bochy has not indicated a change is brewing at closer, but Aroldis Chapman would be the most likely candidate to take over should Smith be removed from the role.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Fastball command off
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Texas manager Bruce Bochy said Smith's recent bout of ineffectiveness was due to lack of command of his fastball, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports. "It's kind of been a one-plane pitch instead of working the four different quadrants of the strike zone," the manager said. "We need to get back and locate that fastball. Command, as I've said many times, is more important than velocity."
Smith has blown two saves and sports a 15.19 ERA over his last seven outings. He agreed with the manager that location is the reason for the recent struggles. Bochy did not give a clear answer when discussing the closing role, but the manager had Aroldis Chapman attempt to close Monday's game, which eventually went to extra innings where Smith blew the save. There was a stretch earlier this month when it looked like the back end of the bullpen was set with Josh Sborz, Chapman and Smith, in that order. However, recent events mean fantasy managers should understand that Smith is not guaranteed to close every game. The Rangers are off Wednesday, and the manager hopes the bullpen can reset.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Struggles again Monday
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Smith (1-5) blew a save and took the loss against the Diamondbacks on Monday, allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits and one walk over two-thirds of an inning.
There may be some noise around the fact that Texas manager Bruce Bochy elected to go to Aroldis Chapman rather than Smith with the Rangers up 1-0 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, though Chapman was unable to seal the deal. When the Rangers took a two-run lead in the top of the 11th, Smith got his save opportunity after all, but he also blew it, allowing back-to-back two-out doubles to allow three runs to cross the plate. It's been a rough stretch of late for the veteran reliever, as he's posted a 15.19 ERA, 2.25 WHIP and two blown saves over his past seven outings. Chapman, by contrast, has allowed just one run while registering a 19:3 K:BB over 10 innings through 10 appearances in August, so Monday's developments may be more than just a one-game thing, though there's been no official word of Smith moving out of the closer role.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Appears in non-save situation
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Smith allowed three runs on four hits and struck out one over two-thirds of an inning in Sunday's 6-2 loss to Milwaukee.
The Rangers expended several relievers in Friday's loss, when Andrew Heaney lasted 3.2 innings, then needed the bullpen again Sunday with Max Scherzer chased after 3.2 innings. In between, Dane Dunning went just five innings Saturday. All that bullpen usage added up to manager Bruce Bochy using his closer, Smith, in the eighth inning of 3-1 game. Unfortunately for the Rangers, who were swept by the Brew Crew, he could not survive a couple of infield hits and a throwing error. Smith has been reliable for the Rangers, but he's had a rough stretch of late. The 34-year-old reliever has given up runs in five of the last nine outings, posting a 9.39 ERA during that stretch. It hasn't hurt the Rangers much, as Smith converted five saves in six chances.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Takes loss Sunday
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Smith (1-4) allowed two runs (one earned) on one hit while striking out a batter in two-thirds of an inning Sunday against the Giants. He blew the save and took the loss.
Smith was called upon to protect a one-run lead in the 10th and nearly accomplished it after retiring the first two batters he faced. The lefty made a good pitch with an inside fastball to Patrick Bailey, but Bailey jumped on it and just cleared the fence in left field to give the Giants the win. Sunday was Smith's first blown save and loss since July 3 even though he's allowed runs in three of his last four outings. Aroldis Chapman has thrown six shutout innings while recording a 15:2 K:BB this month and could be making a case to get a look at the closer role if Smith's struggles continue.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Yields run, secures 22nd save
Rotowire
Smith allowed a run on one hit in one inning to earn the save in Friday's 2-1 win over the Giants.
Smith has given up four runs over his last six innings, but he's been able to protect leads all the same with five saves in that span. The southpaw gave up a double and an RBI groundout in Friday's somewhat shaky outing. Smith is up to 22 saves in 24 chances with a 3.14 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 43:10 K:BB through 43 innings this season as the Rangers' closer.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Converts 21st save
Rotowire
Smith walked one and struck out one in a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the save in Monday's 5-3 win over the Athletics.
Smith put together a much better effort than in his last appearance Saturday, when he gave up two runs in one inning. He's converted a save in each of his last four outings. The veteran southpaw is now at a 3.00 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 43:10 K:BB with 21 saves and five holds over 42 innings this season. Smith continues to hold a noticeable edge over Aroldis Chapman for ninth-inning duties, though both have generally pitched well aside from a rare hiccup lately.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Rallies for save No. 20
Rotowire
Smith gave up two runs on one hit and one walk in the ninth inning Saturday but still recorded his 20th save of the season in a 9-8 win over the Marlins.
A one-out, two-run homer by Jake Burger ramped up the pressure on the veteran lefty, but Smith got soft contact out of the next two batters to preserve the Rangers' fifth straight win. The long ball was the first he'd served up since June 14, with Smith posting a 1.93 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 13:1 K:BB through 14 innings in between. Despite the late June addition of Aroldis Chapman to the Texas bullpen, Smith's hold on the closer role has been secure, and he still appears to have a shot at collecting 30 saves in a season for the third time in his career.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Earns 19th save
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Smith picked up the save in Thursday's 5-3 victory over the White Sox, allowing one hit while striking out two over a scoreless inning.
Smith entered the game with a two-run lead in the ninth and gave up a one-out single to Oscar Colas. However, the lefty veteran was able to run right through the next two batters, getting both to go down swinging, to secure his 19th save of the season. Smith has now converted his last five save opportunities, allowing just one run and no walks over a stretch spanning six innings.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Secures 18th save
Rotowire
Smith picked up the save Tuesday against the White Sox, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.
Smith was called on in the ninth inning to protect a two-run lead and needed just nine pitches to retire the side in order. Since being named a co-closer with Aroldis Chapman coming out of the All-Star break, Smith has converted each of his three save opportunities, allowing just one run on four hits across 6.2 innings in that span.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Notches save No. 17
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Smith didn't allow a baserunner during the ninth inning to earn the save Tuesday against Tampa Bay. He didn't strike out or walk any batters.
Smith entered for the ninth inning with a two-run lead and quickly retired the side in order on just 10 pitches for his 17th save in 19 opportunities. The veteran lefty has given up just one hit across his past five outings and has a 2.75 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 38:8 K:BB over 36 innings this season. Manager Bruce Bochy recently named Smith and Aroldis Chapman as co-closers, with the former picking up Texas' last two saves.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Picks up 16th save
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Smith allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Sunday's 6-5 win over the Guardians.
Smith has lost the full-time closer job, but he remains in the ninth-inning mix while sharing duties with Aroldis Chapman. The Rangers didn't take the lead until the eighth inning Sunday, so this was a bit of a surprise save chance. Smith has converted 16 of 18 save opportunities with a 2.83 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 38:8 K:BB through 35 innings. With the Rangers among the top teams in the American League, Smith should continue to see plenty of save chances, though he's also likely to pick up some more holds along the way.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Picks up hold
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Smith struck out two batters over 1.2 hitless and scoreless innings to earn a hold in Saturday's 2-0 win over Cleveland.
Smith, who needed just 19 pitches to get those five outs, shepherded the lead to the ninth inning for Aroldis Chapman, who was as efficient as Smith in picking up his first save since joining Texas. Earlier in the day, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy announced that Smith and Chapman would be co-closers, per Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com. Smith's value obviously takes a hit with the new arrangement, but he's converted 15 of 17 save opportunities and is a trusted arm.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Picks up one-out save
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Smith recorded the final out Tuesday to collect his 15th save of the season in a 6-2 win over the Red Sox.
Josh Sborz began the ninth inning on the mound for the Rangers, but a single and a catcher's interference call on Mitch Garver put two runners aboard with two outs, and Smith got the call to retire Alex Verdugo and end the threat. The veteran lefty reliever had just blown his second save of the season Monday, but since the beginning of June, Smith has a 2.92 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 10:2 K:BB through 12.1 innings. His spot as the closer doesn't appear to be in any jeopardy from the newly acquired Aroldis Chapman.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Tagged with second blown save
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Smith (1-3) blew the save and took the loss Monday against the Astros. He allowed two runs on three hits over one inning.
It's Smith's first blown save since May 5 -- he'd pitched to a 2.00 ERA over his last 18 innings. The 33-year-old southpaw is now 14-for-16 in save chances this year with a 3.19 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 33:8 K:BB in 31 innings this season. Smith has certainly pitched well enough to hang onto the closing job, though the newly acquired Aroldis Chapman has been quickly working his way up the Rangers' bullpen hierarchy.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Works in non-save situation
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Smith retired the lone batter he faced in Saturday's 5-2 win over Houston.
Smith entered a non-save situation with two outs in the ninth inning after Joe Barlow gave up a two-run home run to Kyle Tucker. Smith needed the work after not pitching since June 23. Lots of fantasy eyes are on Smith, who emerged as Texas' closer but could lose save opportunities to the recently acquired Aroldis Chapman. Rangers general manager Chris Young told Kennedi Landry of MLB.com that whether Chapman is used as a closer is up to manager Bruce Bochy, but the GM wouldn't rule out that possibility.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Posts save Friday
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Smith struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the save in Friday's 4-2 extra-inning win over the Yankees.
Smith made sure Adolis Garcia's go-ahead home run in the top of the 10th inning was enough for the Rangers to get the win. This was Smith's 10th straight save conversion, and he's allowed just four runs over 17.2 innings in that span. The left-hander has been a stabilizing force at the back of the Rangers' bullpen with a 2.73 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 33:8 K:BB over 29.2 innings while converting 14 of 15 save chances and adding four holds this season.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Secures 12th save
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Smith gave up two hits and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his 12th save of the season in a 4-2 win over the Blue Jays.
The veteran reliever converted his eighth straight save chance, a stretch that dates back to May 8 in which he's posted a 2.40 ERA and 18:2 K:BB through 15 innings. Smith has solidified the back of the Texas bullpen this season, reaching double-digit saves for the fourth time in his career, and his rebound this season may be the product of more than a little luck -- despite a career-low 23 percent groundball rate and career-high 41 percent flyball rate, his 5.7 percent HR/FB% is less than half his 2022 mark.
