Combining a rough 2024 with a new manager gives Alexis Díaz a tenuous hold on being Cincinnati’s closer this season. He did not help his case on Saturday. He allowed three hits, five earned runs, and three walks while striking out one in one-third of the fifth against the Royals. He threw 33 pitches (18 strikes – 54.5 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (12.1 SwStr%). His WHIP rose to 4.29 after this outing and he’s only recorded one strikeout against five walks (27.8 BB%) in 2.1 innings.
The most troublesome part of this outing, the command, or the lack thereof. Here is his pitch illustrator courtesy of Statcast:
Taking this one step further, seeing the pitches which were ball four were not even close:
As of now, he remains atop the bullpen hierarchy based on his role with the team the two previous seasons, but his ratios and a manager who abhors free passes make him risky in drafts.
Projected Hierarchy: Alexis Díaz | Scott Barlow | Emilio Pagán
David Bednar
Once again, our focus hones in on the “Renegade.” However, his box score does not tell the whole story. In Saturday’s appearance, he suffered a blown save, allowing three hits, three runs (two earned), and striking out one over two-thirds of an inning facing the Orioles. However, his outing began with a missed pop-up in shallow right-center, a single on a ground ball Adam Frazier missed toward second base, a balk, an infield single misplayed by the shortstop, and a passed ball scoring a run, plus letting a runner reach third. Bednar threw 23 pitches (14 strikes – 60.9 Strike%) and induced two whiffs:
Watching this outing, his four-seam fastball had life in the upper third of the strike zone, including one of his whiffs. He could have had a clean inning with a strikeout if his defense made the first two plays of the inning. Here is his pitch illustrator:
He deserved better. His spring ratios took another hit, but hopefully his next two outings provide better results.
Projected Hierarchy: David Bednar | Dennis Santana | Colin Holderman
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Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Saturday’s spring and exhibition slate.
American League
Boston Red Sox
- A much improved outing by Liam Hendriks. He allowed a two-out infield single against the shift and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless top of the fourth. By my count, he threw 16 pitches (11 strikes – 68.8 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He has a 2.40 WHIP with four strikeouts through five innings.
- Garrett Whitlock fired two scoreless frames, yielding two hits and striking out four on 27 pitches (66.7 Strike%) with seven whiffs (25.9 SwStr%).
- Justin Slaten gave up two hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out one in his first appearance since contracting an illness going through the team facility.
Projected Hierarchy: *Liam Hendriks | *Aroldis Chapman | *Justin Slaten
*= closer competition at camp
Cleveland Guardians
- Collecting his first win, Emmanuel Clase navigated around MJ Melendez’s lead-off single and an errant pick-off attempt for a scoreless bottom of the sixth. Clase threw 15 pitches (60 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (26.7 SwStr%). He has 2.31 WHIP with eight strikeouts against one walk (31.9 K-BB%) over 4.1 innings.
Projected Hierarchy: Emmanuel Clase | Paul Sewald | Cade Smith
Chicago White Sox
- Although his clean streak ended, Mike Clevinger remains scoreless through three relief outings this spring. He allowed a hit and recorded one strikeout on 19 pitches (12 strikes – 63.2 Strike%) with one whiff. He has a 0.33 WHIP with four strikeouts (40 K-BB%) over three innings.
Projected Hierarchy: Mike Clevinger | Justin Anderson | Cam Booser
Houston Astros
- Appearing on consecutive days, Josh Hader struggled with his command. He issued two walks and allowed an unearned run against the Marlins. It’s a process building toward Opening Day. As a result of this outing, his WHIP sits at 1.31 with three strikeouts versus five walks over 5.1 innings.
Projected Hierarchy: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Tayler Scott
Minnesota Twins
- Working around a lead-off single and a stolen base, Jhoan Durán notched his second hold with a scoreless bottom of the fifth. By my count, he threw 11 pitches (90.9 Strike%) and induced one whiff while hitting 101 miles per hour on the televised radar. He has a 0.67 WHIP with four strikeouts in six innings.
Projected Hierarchy: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Cole Sands
Texas Rangers
- Without Statcast data or a televised feed, Chris Martin collected his first win with a clean bottom of the second while recording one strikeout. He has a 0.50 WHIP with five strikeouts (35.7 K-BB%) across four innings.
Projected Hierarchy: Chris Martin | Robert Garcia | Luke Jackson
National League
Atlanta Braves
- In a split-squad game against the Twins, Raisel Iglesias issued a walk during a scoreless top of the sixth. He threw 14 pitches (57.1 Strike%) without a whiff. He has a 1.00 WHIP with three strikeouts against two walks over four innings this spring.
Projected Hierarchy: Raisel Iglesias | Pierce Johnson | Aaron Bummer
Los Angeles Dodgers
- During an exhibition win over Yomiuri in Japan, Kirby Yates gave up two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one on 25 pitches (60 Strike%) with five whiffs (20 SwStr%).
- Blake Treinen allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless seventh.
- Tanner Scott worked a scoreless eighth, giving up a hit and striking out one. He threw 16 pitches (11 strikes – 68.8 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (18.8 SwStr%).
Projected Hierarchy: *Tanner Scott | *Kirby Yates | *Blake Treinen
*= closer-by-committee
Milwaukee Brewers
- (SS) vs. ATH – Trevor Megill allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless sixth. This game did not feature Statcast data or a televised feed. He has a 1.59 WHIP with five strikeouts versus three walks (7.7 K-BB%) over 5.2 innings.
- (SS) vs. LAA – Abner Uribe tossed a scoreless bottom of the eighth. He issued a lead-off walk, induced a double play groundout and recorded a strikeout. He threw 14 pitches (8 strikes – 57.1 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
Projected Hierarchy: Trevor Megill | Joel Payamps | Abner Uribe
Philadelphia Phillies
- Another high-octane outing by José Alvarado, striking out the side at the top of the sixth. He threw 16 pitches (62.5 Strike%) and generated three whiffs (18.8 SwStr%). He has a 0.83 WHIP with 15 strikeouts against three walks (50 K-BB%) through six innings.
- Jordan Romano worked a scoreless seventh, hitting a batter and recording one strikeout on 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9 Strike%) with three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%). He’s also logged six innings and has a 0.67 WHIP with seven strikeouts versus one walk (27.1 K-BB%).
Projected Hierarchy: Jordan Romano | José Alvarado | Orion Kerkering
St. Louis Cardinals
- Securing his fourth hold, Ryan Helsley retired the side on eight pitches (75 Strike%) and induced one whiff at the top of the sixth. He’s posted a 1.00 WHIP with four strikeouts over six innings.
Projected Hierarchy: Ryan Helsley | Phil Maton | JoJo Romero
Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.
Statistical Credits: