CLEVELAND -- The Guardians know they need as many innings from their starting pitchers as they can get, especially at this time in the season. But Sunday morning, even pitching coach Carl Willis had to admit he enjoys picking up the phone that rings the bullpen and saying Cade Smith’s name.

So, you can only imagine the confidence Willis had when he saw Smith strolling in from the bullpen with two on and nobody out in the sixth inning of the Guardians’ 2-0 victory over the Rays on Sunday afternoon at Progressive Field. As usual, Smith delivered.

“I know he’s in his first year,” closer Emmanuel Clase said through interpreter Agustin Rivero, “but he came ready to pitch.”

Cleveland is closing in on a playoff berth. After the Tigers won earlier in the day, the Guardians needed their own victory to keep Tuesday as their earliest possible clinch date. Plus, the Royals lost to the Pirates, which increased Cleveland’s lead in the American League Central to four games.

When in doubt, turn to Smith.

Starter Ben Lively had only thrown 59 pitches through five-plus innings, but after he allowed the first two runners to reach base in the sixth, manager Stephen Vogt wasn’t taking any chances. The club needed its lights-out reliever to make sure it would split the series.

With two runners on and nobody out, Smith didn’t let the Rays even get their hopes up. He caught Junior Caminero looking. He got Jonathan Aranda to pop out to catcher Bo Naylor in foul territory. Then, to further prove his dominance, he set Dylan Carlson down looking to end the frame.

“Cade Smith is a guy who's going to come right at you,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “We saw it, and we didn't have much of an answer."

This isn’t new. Smith entered the day not only having the fifth-most appearances of any pitcher in the Majors (70) but also tied with the A’s Mason Miller for the highest fWAR of all 174 qualified relievers (2.4). He watched his ERA drop to an even 2.00, while his team’s confidence in him with the game on the line continued to escalate.

“We have a ton of detailed, hard-working people on our team,” Vogt said. “I think Cade might be No. 1. His routines, his effort. He sticks to his routine every single day. It is meticulous, and he doesn’t sway from it. I’m not shocked to see the consistent results that he’s been putting out there, because he puts in the consistent work.”

Smith and Clase have become the anchors of Cleveland’s bullpen. Hunter Gaddis is right behind them. This trio has the potential to be electric in the postseason, shutting a game down by the time it reaches the seventh inning. On Sunday, they combined with Tim Herrin for four scoreless frames. It was the 56th time this season that the ‘pen pitched at least three scoreless innings, which is the most in the Majors (the Yankees have the second most with 46).

“Cade Smith has a good mix of pitches, and he and the bullpen were able to locate their pitches and take away some of the momentum, which was huge,” Carlson said. “We weren’t able to capitalize. They made some pitches and we took our best at-bats, it just didn’t pay off.”

Willis spent a few minutes before the game talking about Smith’s journey, and he couldn’t wipe the “proud papa” smile off his face. This is a pitcher who probably wouldn’t have cracked the Opening Day roster if it wasn’t for Xzavion Curry and Lively being sick at the time, unable to play.

Who knows how long it would have taken Smith to get his first call up to the Majors. Who knows how starting with Triple-A Columbus would have affected his overall success this season. The Guardians don’t have a crystal ball, and they’d rather not think about it.

From the moment Smith got here, he established himself as a reliable high-leverage arm. He’s emerged into the hurler Cleveland turns to during the most pivotal part of a game to make sure nothing gets out of hand. Without him, this team wouldn’t be where it stands now.

Willis knows it. He sat back in his chair, looking for the words to explain what it’s been like to watch Smith and added: “It’s been indescribable to see him come in and do what he has done.”