CLEVELAND, Ohio — Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase could be on the road back after missing three games earlier this week with right shoulder discomfort.

Clase, who last pitched Sunday in Pittsburgh when he suffered his second blown save of the season, was unavailable for the first two games against the Yankees on Monday and Tuesday. Cade Smith closed both games — Guardians wins — for his first two saves of 2025.

Manager Stephen Vogt said Clase played catch prior to Wednesday’s series finale against New York and returned to Progressive Field on the club’s off day to throw a bullpen session. The 27-year-old Dominican reported feeling good after each session, Vogt said.

“He played catch Wednesday morning before the game, felt good and then came in yesterday threw a bullpen and feels great,” Vogt said. “We should have a status update on him (Saturday). I haven’t heard how he felt today playing catch.”

An All-MLB first-team performer and American League Cy Young finalist in 2024, Clase had appeared in three consecutive games, throwing 30 pitches and suffering his second blown save of the season on Sunday in Pittsburgh, and Vogt said after Tuesday’s game that the club wanted to give him two days off.

Clase’s struggles this season have become evident through his first 11 outings. He has allowed nearly as many runs (9) in 10 1/3 innings as he did all of last year (10) in 74 1/3 innings. His hard-hit percentage has skyrocketed to 40%, up more than 11% from last season and his barrel percentage has more than doubled to 7.4% according to Statcast.