Smith picked up the save in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Pirates, striking out two over 1.2 perfect innings.
Smith entered with one out in the eighth inning after Jose Leclerc loaded the bases. The left-hander got Rodolfo Castro to fly out before striking out Jack Suwinski to end the frame. Smith then set down the Pirates in order in the ninth, securing a one-run victory and his ninth save. Smith has now converted his last five save opportunities across five scoreless innings. His ERA is down to 2.65 with a 0.88 WHIP and 21:5 K:BB through 17 innings this season. He's become a reliable source of saves on a first-place Rangers team.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Nails down eighth save
Rotowire
Smith struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his eight save of the season in a 7-4 win over Atlanta.
It didn't look like the veteran lefty would be needed in this one until Jonathan Hernandez served up two homers in the eighth, shrinking a 6-1 Rangers lead. Smith is 8-for-9 in converting save chances this season with a 2.93 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 19:5 K:BB through 15.1 innings, and his reunion with manager Bruce Bochy has been a resounding success so far -- Smith saved 48 games for Bochy's Giants in 2018-19.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Possible waiver wire pickups
Rotowire
At this point, it's kind of ridiculous Smith is still so available. He's clearly the Rangers closer, you guys, having secured each of their past six saves, and the Rangers are clearly contenders, which has made for ample opportunities for the left-hander. Maybe it's because he's 33 years old and washed out in his previous closing opportunity with the Braves, but the man had 37 saves in 2021 and 34 saves in 2019. He's averaging 11.2 K/9. Literally no one else is pushing for the job. If saves are at all important in your league, then Will Smith should be as well.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Not used for save
Rotowire
Smith was bypassed in a save situation in Friday's 9-7 extra-inning loss to the Athletics.
Smith had pitched three of the last four games, including the previous two, so this could have been manager Bruce Bochy not wanting to use his closer for a fourth time in five nights. Instead, the manager stuck with Brock Burke, who had finished out the ninth but didn't retire a batter in the extra frame.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Collects seventh save
Rotowire
Smith picked up the save Thursday against the Athletics, retiring the only batter he faced.
Smith came in with two on and two outs in the ninth and struck out Brent Rooker on four pitches. The one-out save helped bail out Nathan Eovaldi, who dominated through 8.2 innings. Smith is up to seven saves with just one blown save and has earned the closer duties over Jose Leclerc.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Secures sixth save
Rotowire
Smith struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his sixth save of the season in a 4-3 win over the Mariners.
The veteran reliever continues to get the job done as the Rangers' closer. Smith has converted six of seven save chances through 14 appearances while also adding four holds, and he's only been scored upon in three of those outings. With Jose Leclerc once again having trouble finding the plate and having been shifted to low-leverage work for now, Smith has little competition for his spot on the depth chart.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Possible waiver wire pickups
Rotowire
We can safely conclude now that Will Smith is indeed the Rangers closer. Perhaps we could have concluded it when manager Bruce Bochy designated him such last week, but then Smith had a three-run meltdown in his very next appearance. Sure enough, though, Bochy turned back to Smith for the Rangers' latest save chance Monday, and the left-hander responded by striking out the side to preserve a one-run lead. Can't do any better than that, and frankly, neither can Bochy, not with Jose Leclerc still struggling to find the strike zone. Smith has a history of closing -- for Bochy specifically, in fact -- and he looks stable enough that he deserves more attention in Fantasy, particularly given the way the Rangers are playing now.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Fans all three hitters in save
Rotowire
Smith picked up the save Monday against the Mariners, striking out the side over a perfect inning.
This was a nice bounce-back outing for Smith after blowing a save chance against the Angels on Friday. This was the first time this season the southpaw struck out the side, and he now sports a 3:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio on the year. The 33-year-old journeyman also sports a 1.15 WHIP, further evidence he remains a solid relief option 11 years into his career.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Remains high-leverage reliever
Rotowire
Texas manager Bruce Bochy said Smith will remain pitching in high-leverage situations following Friday's blown save, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
In Smith's first appearance after he was anointed as the team's closer -- taking over for Jose Leclerc -- the left-hander was rocked by the Angels in Friday's 5-4 extra-inning loss. However, Smith retains the confidence of the manager, who's seen the bullpen during a 13-game stretch either blow a lead or turn a tied game into a deficit in the seventh inning or later six times. There aren't many dependable arms for Bochy to choose from to close out games, so Smith should be safe.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Falters Friday
Rotowire
Smith (0-2) took the extra-inning loss and a blown save Friday versus the Angels. He gave up four runs (three earned) on four hits and a walk over 1.1 innings.
Smith was responsible for all of the Angels' three runs in the ninth inning in his first appearance since being named the full-time closer. Despite that poor showing, he stayed in to face Shohei Ohtani after intentionally walking Mike Trout. Ohtani delivered a fielder's choice, and Josh Sborz reliever Smith, allowing the winning run to score on a wild pitch. While the loss was not fully Smith's fault, it was by far his worst outing of the season. He now has a 3.75 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 12:5 K:BB through 12 innings. He's added four saves and four holds in 12 appearances.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Named closer
Rotowire
Smith will receive the bulk of the save opportunities for the Rangers moving forward, manager Bruce Bochy told Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News on Wednesday.
Smith collected his team-leading fourth save Tuesday in the Rangers' win over the Diamondbacks. He's recorded each of the club's last three saves to emerge as Bochy's clear lead option. Jose Leclerc entered the season seemingly at the top of the pecking order, and while he has a 0.93 ERA, his velocity has been down and he's walked seven in 9.2 innings.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Picks up fourth save
Rotowire
Smith picked up the save Tuesday against the Diamondbacks, firing 1.1 scoreless innings during which he allowed a hit and a walk while recording a strikeout.
Smith was asked to get four outs while protecting a two-run lead. He struck out Nick Ahmed to end the eighth, but he allowed the tying run to reach in the ninth before closing the door on the Diamondbacks. Smith has a team-high four saves with an excellent 1.69 ERA and 0.94 WHIP.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Locks up third save
Rotowire
Smith picked up the save in Friday's 5-2 victory over the Yankees. He didn't allow a run, hit or walk while striking out one over one inning.
Smith needed just eight pitches to retire the side in the ninth inning. The lefty has a team-high three saves on the season, as Smith splits closer duties with Jose Leclerc. Both pitchers have been excellent -- Leclerc has a 0.93 ERA, while Smith's is down to 1.93.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Shuts door on Oakland
Rotowire
Smith allowed one hit and struck out one to record his second save in Sunday's 5-2 win over Oakland.
With a couple of left-handed batters due up in the ninth inning, Texas manager Bruce Bochy had Smith warming up to close out the game instead of a rested Jose Leclerc. Smith has been reliable in whichever role Bochy wants, so more save chances can be expected. The lefty reliever has allowed two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out 10 over 8.1 innings.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Earns fourth hold
Rotowire
Smith allowed one walk over two-thirds of an inning to earn a hold in Sunday's 9-1 win over Houston.
Smith entered a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh and got former teammate Yordan Alvarez on a weak grounder to quell the threat. It was the fourth hold of the season for Smith, who finished off a good weekend against the club for whom he pitched in 2022 and received his World Series ring. Smith has allowed one run, two hits and three walks while striking out nine over 6.2 innings.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Calls save chance a surprise
Rotowire
Smith conceded he was surprised to be called for Sunday's save opportunity against Philadelphia, Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News reports.
Smith had been warming up in the eighth inning if needed to replace Jonathan Hernandez, who worked a perfect inning, then sat down in preparation for Jose Leclerc to close. Smith said manager Bruce Bochy indicated on Opening Day that Leclerc was going to close for the Rangers to start the season. "So it was honestly kind of a surprise to all of us down there," Smith said. "Then the phone rings, and [bullpen coach] Brett [Hayes] says it's me." Bochy opted for Smith in Texas' first save situation and also talked about the versatility of the bullpen, noting that he could use any of his closer candidates in any inning.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Records save Sunday
Rotowire
Smith retired all three batters faced to pick up the save in Sunday's 2-1 win over Philadelphia.
Smith got the call for the first save situation presented to the Rangers. Jose Leclerc exited spring training as the presumptive closer, but he was bypassed in favor of Smith, who was a late addition to the roster this spring. Leclerc was well rested, having thrown 21 pitches Thursday.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Back to action
Rotowire
Smith threw a scoreless relief inning in Wednesday's spring game against the White Sox.
Smith hurled the eighth inning ahead of closer Jose Leclerc in what looked like the bullpen's dress rehearsal for the regular season. After five shutout innings from starter Nathan Eovaldi, Taylor Hearn got four outs and Jonathan Hernandez retired two batters before the back end of the bullpen finished it off. Smith has appeared in two games since returning to camp Monday following the birth of his son.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Returning to camp
Rotowire
Smith is scheduled to pitch Monday after being out of camp for several days to attend the birth of his son, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.
Smith has thrown just two innings this spring and hasn't been on the mound in a week. He was acquired by the Rangers as insurance after projected closer Jose Leclerc was shut down briefly due to neck spasms. Leclerc is pitching again, meaning Smith is expected to be part of the setup crew.
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Rangers' Will Smith: Signs with Texas
Rotowire
Smith signed a one-year contract with the Rangers on Saturday.
Houston declined Smith's $13 million club option for 2023 after the lefty posted a 3.97 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and five saves over 65 appearances last season. Smith surpassed 30 saves in 2019 and 2021 with San Francisco and Atlanta, respectively, and could close in Texas with Jose Leclerc (neck) banged up. Smith is expected to join the team right away Saturday.
