From 47 saves and a microscopic 0.69 ERA in the regular season to giving up more runs in the playoffs than he did in 74 1/3 innings – Emmanuel Clase‘s fall from grace has become fodder for mockery across sports. Patrick Mahomes‘s former teammate Gehrig Dieter twisted the knife with a stinging post: “What’s Clase gonna post tonight?!”

The taunt came after Clase’s shocking meltdown in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Yankees on Friday. The Cleveland closer surrendered two runs in the ninth, leading to an 8-6 defeat that pushed the Guardians to the brink of elimination. MLB.com reports the Yankees now hold a commanding 3-1 series lead, with history showing teams in this position advance 85% of the time.

The collapse marked Clase’s third postseason stumble. Just a day earlier, he served up back-to-back homers to Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton in Game 3. Before that, Kerry Carpenter’s three-run blast off Clase in Game 2 of the ALDS against Detroit first exposed his playoff vulnerabilities.

The numbers tell a stark story. Clase didn’t allow more than three hits in any regular-season appearance. Now he’s done it three times in the playoffs. His postseason-earned runs (8) dwarf his entire regular season total (5). The contrast prompted Clase to flex on Instagram after Game 3, showing off his All-Star ring and Reliever of the Year trophy – a move that aged poorly after Friday’s implosion.

The ninth inning used to be yawn time for the Guardians’ bench, a luxury they can no longer afford. With their season hanging by a thread and Game 5 looming Saturday, Cleveland faces a brutal question: Can they trust their star closer when everything’s on the line?

Cleveland’s drama draws NFL stars’ attention

While Clase battles his demons, the Guardians’ playoff run has sparked an entertaining exchange between NFL stars. Travis Kelce jumped to Cleveland’s defense after facing criticism for not wearing team gear at Yankee Stadium during Game 1.

“I’ve been a Cleveland sports fan my entire life…” Kelce posted on X after Thursday’s dramatic Game 3 victory. “Make it back to countless amount of games over the years both Guards and Cavs just to enjoy these memories with my friends and family, WIN OR LOSE!!… and I don’t wear Cleveland gear one time 😂and all of a sudden I’m not a real fan?!”

Patrick Mahomes couldn’t resist needling his teammate with a two-word response: “Go @Royals.” The playful banter highlighted how Cleveland’s rollercoaster series has captured attention beyond baseball, with MLB even sharing the Kelce-Mahomes exchange on its official Instagram.

The spotlight grows hotter as Cleveland faces elimination. With young Gavin Williams starting Saturday’s do-or-die game for the first time since September 22, the bullpen’s reliability becomes even more crucial. Clase’s next appearance could write either a redemption story or the final chapter of Cleveland’s 2024 postseason collapse.