Friday provided a nine-game slate, but the leverage impact was not minimized. Relievers recorded three wins, four saves, three losses, and two blown saves. Detroit and Los Angeles went into extra innings, and the Rays won on a walk-off home run. These will be covered after our takeaways from last night’s action.
Three Takeaways
(1) Díaz brings the heat: After concerns arose during spring about his four-seam fastball velocity, Edwin Díaz finished a two-run win in Houston for his first save. He retired the side and recorded one strikeout on 15 pitches (80 Strike%) with two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%):
More importantly, his fastball had life at his normal velocities:
(2) Monty’s pretty, pretty, good: Rays southpaw Mason Montgomery tossed a scoreless eighth, giving up a hit and striking out one. He threw 12 pitches (91.7 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (33.3 SwStr%):
Yet another success story for this franchise, converting a former starting pitcher into a high-leverage force of nature. He could be a SOLDS monster and pick up ancillary saves as the season progresses.
(3) Brieske falters in the tenth: Handed his team’s first save chance of the season, Beau Brieske suffered his first loss, allowing four hits and five runs (four earned), including a walk-off three-run home run by Mookie Betts. His outing began with Michael Conforto’s lead-off double on a bad read by Riley Greene and sequencing mistakes against Will Smith. Brieske threw 21 pitches (16 strikes – 76.2 Strike%) and produced two whiffs:
Appearing on consecutive days may have affected his command, but he cannot live in this part of the strike zone against this lineup:
Better days may lie ahead, but this loss stung his teammates and fantasy managers’ ratios.
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Closer CliffsNotes
Atlanta Braves
For a second straight contest, the bullpen was tagged with the loss. In order of appearance, Pierce Johnson retired the side and recorded a strikeout in the sixth. In the seventh, Dylan Lee suffered his first loss, giving up a go-ahead solo home run (Jake Cronenworth) facing him in the eighth after retiring the side in the seventh. Daysbel Hernández retired all three batters in the eighth, striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Pierce Johnson | Aaron Bummer
Colorado Rockies
It was a tale of two innings for Victor Vodnik. He retired the side facing the Rays’ 2-3-4 hitters, recording a strikeout at the bottom of the eighth on 11 pitches. However, he returned for the ninth and gave up a walk-off home run on the first pitch. Vodnik suffered his first loss, throwing 12 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and producing two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%):
This was a strange usage pattern, considering he did not perform an up-down during spring training.
Updated Hierarchy: Victor Vodnik | Seth Halvorsen | Tyler Kinley
Detroit Tigers
Before Brieske’s outing last night against the Dodgers:
- Tommy Kahnle fired a clean ninth, striking out two against the 4-5-6 lineup pocket.
- Will Vest allowed a Betts solo home run and struck out two in the eighth.
- Tyler Holton logged 1.1 clean frames and recorded one strikeout between the sixth and seventh innings.
Updated Hierarchy: *Beau Brieske | *Tommy Kahnle | *Tyler Holton
*= closer-by-committee
Los Angeles Dodgers
Although he allowed two runs (one earned) on a hit and a walk, Luis García collected his first win when his teammates provided a walk-off at the bottom of the tenth.
- Tanner Scott suffered his first blown save, allowing three hits and an earned run in the ninth. He only threw ten pitches (80 Strike%) and did not induce a whiff. He’s struggled against left-handed hitters early.
- Alex Vesia navigated around a hit and two walks while recording two strikeouts in a scoreless eighth.
- Kirby Yates fired a clean seventh, striking out two.
- Anthony Banda worked a clean sixth and recorded two strikeouts.
Hierarchy Remains: *Tanner Scott | *Blake Treinen | Kirby Yates
*= match-up-based approach
Pittsburgh Pirates
Summoned with a three-run lead, David Bednar issued a lead-off walk, allowed a two-run home run by Otto Lopez, then bore down, inducing two groundouts and a game-ending strikeout on a full count. He threw 18 pitches (11 strikes – 61.1 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (22.2 SwStr%) while securing his first save. It was not pretty, but he did not fold when the pressure mounted.
Dennis Santana was warming up in case he was needed.
Hierarchy Remains: David Bednar | Dennis Santana | Colin Holderman
San Diego Padres
Slamming the door on his second save, Robert Suarez retired the side and recorded a strikeout, preserving a one-run win over Atlanta. He threw 14 pitches (9 strikes – 64.3 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%) facing the 7-8-9 hitters:
He has a 0.50 WHIP with three strikeouts versus one walk through two games.
- Jason Adam collected his first win with a scoreless eighth, walking one and striking out three on 20 pitches (60 Strike%) with four whiffs (20 SwStr%).
- Jeremiah Estrada worked a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Suarez | Jason Adam | Jeremiah Estrada
Tampa Bay Rays
After navigating around two walks and recording two strikeouts in a scoreless top of the ninth, Pete Fairbanks collected his first win on a walk-off home run at the bottom of the frame. He threw 26 pitches (50 Strike%) and induced four whiffs (15.4 SwStr%):
Hierarchy Remains (for now): Pete Fairbanks | Edwin Uceta | Garrett Cleavinger
Texas Rangers
Back in the saddle and rewarding his manager’s faith, Luke Jackson retired the side against Boston’s 7-8-9 hitters for his first save and first since August 11, 2019. He threw nine pitches (77.8 Strike%) without a whiff:
Hierarchy Remains: Luke Jackson | Chris Martin | Robert Garcia
Vulture Save Options for Saturday, March 29
- Blake Treinen (LAD): Scott has appeared in two straight games.
- Chris Martin (TEX): He was not used last night, and Jackson has pitched on consecutive days.
- Dennis Santana (PIT): Bednar has worked in back-to-back games, putting Santana atop the hierarchy today.
- Edwin Uceta (TB): Fairbanks threw 26 pitches, which may make him unavailable today.
- Tommy Kahnle (DET): If being contrarian, Kahnle faced the heart of the order last night and may be in line for the save chance if provided today.
- Wandy Peralta (SD): For those in deep leagues searching for a flier, Wandy may be your guy. Suarez, Adam, and Estrada pitched in the first two games, meaning they are unavailable for a third consecutive day today.
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Statistical Credits: