Saturday’s full slate featured plenty of volume across the high-leverage ecosystem. Relievers recorded seven wins and suffered eight losses while converting nine of ten save opportunities. Although the bullpen hierarchies remain unsettled, Cincinnati and Colorado recorded saves during one-run wins. Ryan Pressly held on for his first save, but these situations represent our topics in today’s takeaways.
Three Takeaways
(1) Reds restructured leverage ladder: Reds’ reliever roulette landed on Emilio Pagán, and he responded by recording his first save. He retired the side on 12 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%).
Graham Ashcraft made his first career relief outing and navigated around two hits for a scoreless eighth, securing his first hold. He threw 15 pitches (80 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%).
Tony Santillan notched his second hold, yielding a hit during a scoreless seventh. Fantasy managers can take a chance on Pagán for saves in the short term, but it’s a limited window. Those taking the long view can stash Ashcraft. Last, the team will give Alexis Díaz another chance at closing games, but he will be on a short leash once he’s activated.
(2) Pressly’s already on the hot seat? Hanging on for his first save, Ryan Pressly navigated around a traffic-infused appearance, and benefited from a heads-up play by Dansby Swanson, ending the game on a tag, preserving a one-run win. Pressly allowed four hits, including Eugenio Suárez’s two-run home run, and a walk while striking out one on 29 pitches (18 strikes – 62.1 Strike percentage) with three whiffs (10.3 swinging strike percentage).
After three appearances, he’s posted a 3.33 WHIP with one strikeout against four walks (-17.6 K-BB%). He has allowed more baserunners (10 – six hits plus four walks) than batters retired (9).
Porter Hodge gave up consecutive singles leading off the eighth, then retired the next three, two via strikeout, for a scoreless outing and his second hold. He has a 1.33 WHIP with five strikeouts against one walk across three innings. He could be in line for the save chance today, and usurp the closer role sooner rather than later.
(3) Halvorsen converts a four-out save: Handed a one-run lead, Seth Halvorsen nailed down his first save, retiring all four batters faced and striking out one. He threw 14 pitches (9 strikes – 64.3 Strike%) and produced one whiff.
This outing featured much better location from the high-octane reliever:
Halvorsen and Victor Vodnik were competing for the closer role this spring, which may not be decided in one weekend. Who receives the next save chance, or may consecutive ones emerge with the role? Now fantasy managers await Bud Black’s upcoming leverage moves.
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Here are the remaining high-leverage events of interest from Saturday.
Closer CliffsNotes
American League
Baltimore Orioles
Making his first appearance in 582 days, Félix Bautista allowed Bo Bichette’s one-out double and recorded three strikeouts, closing a four-run win over Toronto. He threw 22 pitches (12 strikes – 54.5 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (18.2 SwStr%) while reaching 98 miles per hour on the radar.
- Seranthony Domínguez notched his first hold, stranding two runners and striking out one of two batters in the eighth.
- Gregory Soto issued two walks and struck out one in one-third of the eighth.
- Yennier Cano tossed a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Félix Bautista | Yennier Cano | Seranthony Domínguez
Chicago White Sox
During a shutout loss, Jordan Leasure retired the side and recorded a strikeout at the top of the ninth. He threw 12 pitches (50 Strike%) and induced one whiff. Mike Clevinger suffered his first loss. He issued Jorge Soler a two-out walk, uncorked a wild pitch advancing him to third, then allowed an RBI infield single, resulting in the game’s only run. Clevinger threw 14 pitches (50 Strike%) and produced one whiff.
This represents two appearances in the eighth inning for Clevinger. Leasure has appeared before and after him in two contests. All signs pointed toward Clevinger being the “closer,” but it may be a role he has to earn or a match-up-based approach with them being shared. Either way, it could prove frustrating from a fantasy perspective.
Updated Hierarchy: *Mike Clevinger | *Jordan Leasure | *Fraser Ellard
*= match-up-based approach
Houston Astros
Securing his second save, Josh Hader worked around a walk for a scoreless top of the ninth, finishing a one-run win over the Mets. He threw 14 pitches (8 strikes – 57.1 Strike%) without a whiff. Through two games, he has a 2.00 WHIP with two strikeouts versus two walks while posting a 67.3 strike percentage.
Bryan Abreu notched his second hold with a scoreless eighth, walking one and striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Tayler Scott
Kansas City Royals
Despite issuing a lead-off walk, Carlos Estévez settled in and retired the next three batters, including a game-ending strikeout of Lane Thomas for his first save as a Royal. Estévez threw 16 pitches (50 Strike%) without a whiff in this outing. Lucas Erceg allowed a hit during a scoreless eighth, securing his first hold. Daniel Lynch IV collected his first win, logging two scoreless frames.
Hierarchy Remains: Carlos Estévez | Lucas Erceg | Hunter Harvey
Los Angeles Angels
Preserving a combined shutout, Kenley Jansen nailed down his first save. He recorded two strikeouts, issued Andrew Benintendi an unintentional “intentional” walk, and then induced a game-ending groundout by Andrew Vaughn. Jansen threw 19 pitches (11 strikes – 57.9 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (10.5 SwStr%). Ben Joyce notched his first hold, walking one during a scoreless eighth on 19 pitches (57.9 Strike%) with two whiffs.
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Ben Joyce | Brock Burke
Minnesota Twins
Jhoan Durán struggled with a non-save appearance. He allowed a hit, an earned run, and two walks while striking out one in one-third of the eighth. He threw 24 pitches (13 strikes – 54.2 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (16.7 SwStr%). Unsurprisingly, he posted a 5.63 ERA last year with a 1.417 WHIP across 26 games, spanning 30.1 innings in non-save outings. Thanks, Rocco.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Cole Sands
Texas Rangers
Shutting the door on his first save, Chris Martin fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts, preserving a one-run win over Boston. He threw 13 pitches (9 strikes – 69.2 Strike%) and generated six whiffs (46.2 SwStr%).
Robert Garcia allowed a hit, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one in the eighth for his first hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Luke Jackson | Chris Martin | Robert Garcia
The Athletics
Locking down his first save, Mason Miller gave up a shallow single by J.P. Crawford and recorded three strikeouts, preserving a two-run win. He threw 17 pitches (14 strikes – 82.4 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (23.5 SwStr%) in his season debut.
Updated Hierarchy: Mason Miller | Tyler Ferguson | José Leclerc
Toronto Blue Jays
Getting in work during a loss, Jeff Hoffman worked a scoreless top of the ninth, giving up an infield hit and striking out one. He threw 20 pitches (60 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (20 SwStr%).
Hierarchy Remains: Jeff Hoffman | Yimi García | Chad Green
National League
Arizona Diamondbacks
Making his season debut, while his team trailed by three, Justin Martinez tossed a scoreless top of the ninth on nine pitches (66.7 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (22.2 SwStr%). Jon Berti reached on an error but Martinez recorded three groundouts in his outing.
Hierarchy Remains: *Justin Martinez | *A.J. Puk | Shelby Miller
Los Angeles Dodgers
Finishing a four-run win, Blake Treinen allowed a lead-off single, then retired the next three batters, two via strikeout in a non-save outing. He threw 11 pitches (81.8 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%). He has a 1.00 WHIP with six strikeouts against one walk through three innings. Kirby Yates fired a clean eighth, striking out the side on 13 pitches (69.2 Strike%) with five whiffs (38.5 SwStr%).
Hierarchy Remains: *Tanner Scott | *Blake Treinen | Kirby Yates
*= closer-by-committee
Miami Marlins
Benefiting from a walk-off rally at the bottom of the 12th, George Soriano collected his first win after navigating around two hits and striking out one at the top of the frame.
- Lake Bachar logged two scoreless innings, giving up an unearned run and three walks while striking out one.
- Calvin Faucher tossed a scoreless ninth, walking one and striking out two, keeping the game tied. He threw 26 pitches (15 strikes – 57.7 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (7.7 SwStr%).
- Anthony Bender worked a clean eighth on seven pitches, though his defense saved a potential home run.
Hierarchy Remains: *Calvin Faucher | *Jesús Tinoco | Anthony Bender
*= closer-by-committee
Pittsburgh Pirates
Summoned with the bases loaded at the bottom of the 12th, Tim Mayza recorded one out before allowing a walk-off hit by Dane Myers.
- Joey Wentz suffered his first loss, giving up two hits, two unearned runs, and two walks while striking out one over two combined innings.
- Colin Holderman worked around a hit and a walk for a scoreless bottom of the ninth.
- Dennis Santana fired a clean eighth, striking out two on 12 pitches (75 Strike%) with five whiffs (41.7 SwStr%).
- Justin Lawrence was tagged with his first blown save, allowing two hits and an earned run while striking out two in the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: David Bednar | Dennis Santana | Colin Holderman
San Diego Padres
Completing a combined shutout, Adrian Morejon issued a walk and recorded a strikeout at the top of the ninth for his first save. He threw 18 pitches (50 Strike%) without a whiff against Atlanta.
- Alek Jacob secured his first hold, yielding a hit and retiring two at the top of the eighth.
- Wandy Peralta collected his second win, firing 1.1 clean frames and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Suarez | Jason Adam | Jeremiah Estrada
St. Louis Cardinals
Phil Maton tossed a scoreless top of the ninth, finishing a four-run win over the Twins in a non-save appearance. Retiring the side in order, he recorded one strikeout while throwing eight pitches (87.5 Strike%) with three whiffs (37.5 SwStr%).
- JoJo Romero notched his first hold with a scoreless eighth, giving up a hit.
- Ryan Fernandez fired a clean seventh, securing his first hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Helsley | Phil Maton | JoJo Romero
Decisions in non-save appearances
- Aaron Bummer (ATL): He gave up a hit, an earned run, and a walk (intentional – Xander Bogaerts) while striking out two at the bottom of the seventh, resulting in his first loss.
- Paul Sewald (CLE): He suffered his first loss and a blown save, giving up two hits, including a game-tying home run by Maikel Garcia, over two-thirds of the seventh.
- Yoendrys Gómez (NYY): Taking over at the top of the fifth with a runner on, he stranded him while logging 1.1 scoreless frames and collected his first career win. He allowed a hit and recorded one strikeout.
- Spencer Bivens (SF): Entering a tied game at the bottom of the sixth, he gave up Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s go-ahead solo home run and struck out one, resulting in his first loss.
- Hoby Milner (TEX): He collected his first win, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out one.
Vulture Save Options for Sunday, March 30
- Yennier Cano (BAL): Brandon Hyde will not use Bautista on consecutive days early this season. There have been heavy usage patterns already, so a wild card like Cionel Pérez could also be in play, but it is more likely for a vulture win.
- Porter Hodge (CHC): If a save chance presents itself, Pressly has struggled and threw 29 pitches yesterday; he’s probably unavailable in this matchup.
- Jesús Tinoco (MIA): Part of the Marlins’ shared save situation, Faucher tossed 26 pitches in a scoreless outing on Saturday but may not be used today, opening the door for Tinoco.
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