Two relievers earned their first major league saves on Wednesday, and the Cardinals completed a sweep. Ryan Helsley now leads the National League with his 15th save, while Jhoan Durán secured his fourth save despite giving up another home run. Our condensed and full game recaps cover these events and those of interest.
Closer CliffsNotes
American League
(RP | CLE): Filling in affably in the ninth inning, Cade Smith recorded his first major league save, giving up a hit and striking out two while preserving a three-run win over the Mets.
(RP | HOU): Appearing during a loss, Bryan Abreu fired a clean top of the ninth, striking out two on eight pitches (87.5 Strike%) and producing two whiffs (25 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in seven of his last eight games with 13 strikeouts versus two walks over eight innings.
Hierarchy remains: Josh Hader | Ryan Pressly | Bryan Abreu
(RP | KCR): Putting the bow on a sweep of Detroit, James McArthur tossed a scoreless top of the ninth, allowing a hit and closing out a five-run win. He threw 16 pitches (9 strikes – 56.3 Strike%) and induced one whiff. This was his first outing in four days.
Adjusted Hierarchy: James McArthur | John Schreiber | Chris Stratton
(RP | LAA): Locking down his third save, Luis García retired the side in Houston while striking out two and preserving a one-run win.
(RP | MIN): Despite allowing a home run for a third straight appearance, Jhoan Durán closed out a one-run win in Washington for his fourth save.
(RP | TBR): Entering in the top of the fifth, Richard Lovelady suffered his second loss, allowing two hits and two earned runs while recording one strikeout among his two outs.
Hierarchy remains: Pete Fairbanks | Jason Adam | Garrett Cleavinger
National League
(RP | CHC): Making an impressive major league debut, Porter Hodge fired a clean top of the ninth, striking out the side against Atlanta’s 2-3-4 lineup pocket. He threw 10 pitches (90 Strike%) and produced six whiffs (60 SwStr%).
Hierarchy remains (for now): Héctor Neris | Mark Leiter Jr. | Ben Brown
(RP | COL): Outlasting the A’s in a 12-inning contest, Matt Koch issued a walk and induced a game-ending flyout with two runners on for his first save of the season.
(RP | MIA): Preserving a shutout win over the Brewers, Tanner Scott recorded his sixth save, giving up a hit and striking out one.
(RP | NYM): Taking over in the seventh, Reed Garrett suffered his first loss, allowing two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one.
Updated Hierarchy: *Adam Ottavino | *Reed Garrett | Edwin Díaz
*= closer-by-committee
(RP | PHI): Entering in the top of the fifth, Matt Strahm stranded both inherited runners and logged 1.1 scoreless frames en route to his third win. He owns a 20-game scoreless streak with 29 strikeouts versus two walks over 20.1 innings.
Hierarchy remains: *José Alvarado | *Jeff Hoffman | Orion Kerkering
*= closer-by-committee
(RP | PIT): Tasked with the top of the tenth, Carmen Mlodzinski was tagged with his first loss, giving up four hits, four runs (three earned), and two walks while striking out two over two-thirds of the inning.
(RP | SDP): Closing out a four-run win in a non-save appearance, Robert Suarez gave up a one-out single before retiring his last two batters via strikeout. He threw 14 pitches (9 strikes – 64.3 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). He’s riding a 17-game scoreless streak with 15 strikeouts against two walks over 17.1 innings while converting 10 saves.
Hierarchy remains: Robert Suarez | Yuki Matsui | Jeremiah Estrada
(RP | SFG): Benefiting from a four-run rally in the top of the tenth, Ryan Walker collected his fourth win after retiring the side in the bottom of the ninth and striking out one in Pittsburgh.
(RP | STL): Nailing down his National League-leading 15th save, Ryan Helsley worked around a hit with a game-ending double play and struck out one during a scoreless ninth, preserving a win over the Orioles, completing the suspended contest from yesterday.
Vulture Save Options for Thursday, May 23
- Taylor Rogers (SFG): Doval, Tyler Rogers, and Walker have all pitched on consecutive days, making the leverage ladder thin and placing the left-handed Rogers on the radar for the save chance this afternoon.
Vulture Save Options for Friday, May 24
- Jeremiah Estrada (SDP): If Robert Suarez pitches today, it will mark three outings in the past four days. Estrada received the last ancillary save, and as long as he pitches one inning or less, he will be in line for the save on Friday.
Game Recaps – American League
Cleveland Guardians – Closing out a come-from-behind rally, Cade Smith recorded his first major league save, working around a two-out double by Francisco Lindor with a game-ending strikeout of Pete Alonso. He threw 15 pitches (13 strikes – 86.7 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%). Sam Hentges notched his second hold, allowing a hit and striking out one over two-thirds scoreless in the top of the eighth. Hunter Gaddis collected his third win, logging 1.1 scoreless frames, giving up a hit, and striking out three. Tim Herrin retired the side in the sixth.
Updated Hierarchy: Emmanuel Clase | Scott Barlow | Cade Smith
Los Angeles Angels – With the bullpen running on fumes based on heavy usage patterns in recent contests, Luis García once again stepped up. He fired a clean bottom of the ninth, striking out two and recording his third save. He threw 12 pitches (75 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (33.3 SwStr%). Even though he’s allowed at least a run in four of his last six outings, he’s notched a save in two of his last three.
Hierarchy remains: Carlos Estévez | Luis García | Adam Cimber
Minnesota Twins – The good news was that Jhoan Durán received the save chance and converted his fourth during a one-run win over Washington. However, he did allow a home run for a third straight outing. He also gave up a single but stranded the runner with a strikeout and a game-ending groundout. He threw 16 pitches (11 strikes – 68.8 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (18.8 SwStr%). Caleb Thielbar secured his fourth hold, retiring the side and striking out one in the eighth. Griffin Jax notched his seventh hold, retiring both batters and stranding one of two runners. Kody Funderburk allowed two hits, an earned run, and struck out one during one-third of the seventh. Steven Okert collected his first win, firing 1.1 clean frames, striking out one, and tipping the bullpen cart driver.
Hierarchy remains: *Jhoan Durán (HLR/PSS) | *Griffin Jax | Caleb Thielbar
*An HLR/PSS means he’s the preferred save option, but will be used in the highest-leverage moment in games when deemed necessary.
Game Recaps – National League
Colorado Rockies – Completing a back-and-forth contest, Matt Koch recorded his first save of the season. After issuing a walk, he induced a game-ending flyout, stranding a runner and preserving the one-run win in the bottom of the 12th. Nick Mears collected his first win, giving up a hit, an unearned run, and a walk while striking out three over 1.2 innings. Victor Vodnik fired a clean tenth, striking out one. Jalen Beeks suffered his second blown save. It began with a one-out single by Brent Rookier, replaced by pinch runner Esteury Ruiz, a two-out walk, and an RBI single by Zack Gelof, scoring the game-tying run. This outing snapped his modest five-game scoreless streak.
Hierarchy remains: Jalen Beeks | Justin Lawrence | Tyler Kinley
Miami Marlins – Finishing a 1-0 win over Milwaukee, Tanner Scott tossed a scoreless top of the ninth, allowing a two-out single by William Contreras before inducing a game-ending groundout by Christian Yelich for his sixth save. He threw 16 pitches (62.5 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (12.5 SwStr%). It has not always been pretty, but he’s been scoreless through eight appearances in May, with 10 strikeouts against five walks while collecting three wins and converting both save chances.
Hierarchy remains: Tanner Scott | A.J. Puk| Anthony Bender
Pittsburgh Pirates – Things started well for this leverage ladder when Hunter Stratton recorded his fourth hold, retiring the side while striking out two. However, things went off the rails when Aroldis Chapman took over. He issued three straight walks, throwing 14 pitches and only two strikes before his removal. Colin Holderman only let one of three inherited runners score on a fielder’s choice groundout. He returned for the ninth but gave up a single by Luis Matos, who moved to second on an error and scored on a game-tying RBI single by LaMonte Wade Jr. He was tagged with his first blown save. Carmen Mlodzinski suffered his first loss, allowing four hits, four runs (three earned), and two walks while striking out two in the top of the tenth.
Hierarchy remains: David Bednar | Aroldis Chapman | Colin Holderman
San Francisco Giants – Wrapping up an extra-inning win, Camilo Doval stranded the “place” runner while allowing a walk and striking out one in the bottom of the tenth. He threw 20 pitches (75 Strike%) and induced two whiffs. Ryan Walker collected his fourth win, firing a clean bottom of the ninth, striking out one on 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9 Strike%) and producing four whiffs (30.8 SwStr%). Tyler Rogers retired the side in the eighth, recording one strikeout. Randy Rodríguez logged two clean frames, striking out four. From the fifth inning on, the relievers did not allow a hit.
Hierarchy remains: Camilo Doval | Tyler Rogers | Ryan Walker
St. Louis Cardinals – Moving into a share of the major league lead in saves, Ryan Helsley closed yesterday’s suspended contest by recording his 15th save. He allowed a one-out walk but erased him with a game-ending double play groundball. He threw 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and induced one whiff while striking out one in his scoreless appearance. He’s given up an unearned run over his last 16 games with 19 strikeouts against one walk and converted all 12 save chances since April 9. JoJo Romero notched his MLB-leading 17th hold, retiring both batters in the eighth. Andrew Kittredge secured his 14th hold, tossing 1.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit, and striking out two.
In the regularly scheduled game, Ryan Fernandez held on for his first career save, allowing two hits and an earned run, preserving a one-run win. Kyle Leahy was credited with his first hold, logging two scoreless innings, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out one. John King collected his first win, taking over after the rain delay and tossing two scoreless frames, walking one and striking out one.
Hierarchy remains: Ryan Helsley | Andrew Kittredge | JoJo Romero
Closer Monkey’s filthy outing of the day goes to Cade Smith, racking up two strikeouts during his first career save, courtesy of the Pitching Ninja.
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