Caleb Smith collected nine strikeouts in total, including five in a row between the fifth and sixth innings before Chicago got to him. Smith walked a pair with two outs in the sixth before they touched him for their first hit, a Jon Jay single into right field, scoring Adam Engel. With 57-of-93 over the plate, Smith collected his sixth victory of the season against four losses for the Miami Marlins, lowering his ERA to 3.30.
In the absence of a true “ace,” Smith has put his best foot forward and seemingly claimed the mantle as his own.