Emmanuel Clase on striking out the side in All-Star Game: 'That was my mindset'

Eighteen pitches. One inning of work. And a whole lot of triple-digit cutters in return.

Evaluating trades often involves 20/20 hindsight. But now that at least some of the dust has settled, the Corey Kluber trade continues to look better and better for Cleveland every time Emmanuel Clase unleashes another string of 100-plus-mph cutters.

The Texas Rangers dealt Clase to Cleveland in exchange for Kluber, a two-time Cy Young Award winner who was turning 33 years old and on the heels of a lengthy injured list stint. He threw 18 pitches for the Rangers before again hitting the injured list and missing the rest of the shortened, 2020 season. Kluber then moved on to the Yankees and this season the Rays, posting serviceable 3.83 and 3.73 ERAs, respectively.

Franchise milestone: Guardians manager Terry Francona records win No. 800 with Cleveland

In exchange for what turned out to be 18 pitches of Kluber, the Guardians have Clase, an All-Star in 2022, under club control through the 2028 season thanks to a long-term extension that includes two club options.

Since May 20, Clase has arguably been baseball's best reliever. In that time, a span that stretches 25 appearances and 25 innings, Clase has allowed just one run on 11 hits and struck out 27 hitters.

But his most impressive performance was in Los Angeles on Tuesday night in the All-Star Game. Clase entered the bottom of the ninth with the American League clinging to a 1-0 lead. Clase made quick work of Garrett Cooper, Kyle Schwarber and Jake Cronenworth to end the game.

Clase had two goals. He accomplished one — the one he could actually control. Giancarlo Stanton stole the other by winning game MVP. But Clase, like Shane Bieber in 2019, delivered the game's best pitching performance.

Clase took the mound, threw 10 cutters (ranging from 97.7 mph to 100.3 mph) and sat down three N.L. All-Stars in order.

"In reality, that was my mindset, try to strike everybody out," Clase told reporters in Chicago through a team translator. "My goal was to win MVP of the game and unfortunately that didn't happen, but that was my mindset."

Triston McKenzie defeats upset stomach in start in Chicago

Sometimes your own stomach can be your own worst enemy. On Saturday, Guardians starter Triston McKenzie ended up dueling more than just the Chicago White Sox.

In the first game of the doubleheader, McKenzie prepared to take the mound, but he didn't quite feel like himself.

"I just felt a little queasy before the game," McKenzie told reporters in Chicago. "I think it kind of showed up in the first couple innings, I didn't feel as aggressive or dominant on the mound. But I settled in, it didn't necessarily bother me at all."

McKenzie's scoreless innings streak came to an end, but he did turn in another solid outing, allowing one run on four hits with four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. In McKenzie's last four outings, a span that stretches 26 2/3 innings, McKenzie has given up one run on 13 hits with 27 strikeouts.

He can also now add a win against his own stomach after Saturday's outing.

Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Guardians at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/cleveland-guardians. Follow him on Twitter at @ByRyanLewis.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 'That was my mindset': Emmanuel Clase reflects on All-Star performance