Thursday’s small slate, five games, yielded plenty of action for high-leverage relievers. They recorded a win and four saves, factoring in each contest. Because of the limited action, the takeaways will focus on teams of interest from these games.
Today’s Takeaways
Philadelphia Phillies
Making his first appearance on consecutive days, José Alvarado hung on for his first save. His outing began with a lead-off walk, followed by two singles, scoring an earned run. He bore down with no outs and two on, recording a strikeout, another single, and two more strikeouts. He allowed three hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out three on 35 pitches (60 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (11.4 SwStr%).
His WHIP rose to 1.50, and he’s posted 10 strikeouts against two walks (44.5 K-BB%) across four innings. It’s possible Alvarado will not be available until Sunday or only in a short burst against Shohei Ohtani on Saturday. Through his first four games, he owns a 60 percent strike rate, a 12.9 swinging strike percentage, and a 71.8 percent contact rate allowed. As for his role, this remains fluid.
Jordan Romano notched his first hold, yielding a hit and striking out one in a scoreless eighth.
He has not converted a save, though he was in line for one on March 31 until his teammates tacked on two runs. In his first three games, he’s posted a 2.09 SIERA, a 4:1 K:BB (21.4 K-BB percentage), a 61.1 percent strike rate, and an 11.1 swinging strike percentage.
Orion Kerkering gave up a hit and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless seventh for his second hold.
Updated Hierarchy: *José Alvarado | *Jordan Romano | Orion Kerkering
*= match-up-based approach
Boston Red Sox
In order of appearance, Zack Kelly retired the side at the bottom of the fifth and collected his first win. Justin Wilson worked a scoreless sixth, giving up a hit and striking out one for his first hold.
Justin Slaten entered against the 8-9-1 lineup pocket and gave up a hit while striking out one during a scoreless eighth. He threw 20 pitches (65 Strike%) without a whiff. He’s turned in three solid outings and one implosion, resulting in a 1.67 WHIP with two strikeouts versus one walk through three innings across four appearances. It’s early, but one would prefer seeing better than an 8.3 swinging strike percentage and less contact than his current 83.3 percent rate allowed.
Garrett Whitlock logged two innings, allowing a hit, an earned run, and a walk while striking out three on 37 pitches (23 strikes – 62.2 Strike%) with seven whiffs (18.9 SwStr%). For now, Alex Cora maintains Whitlock will log multi-inning outings. If Slaten’s whiff rates do not improve, how roles evolve once Bryan Bello and Lucas Giolito return may dictate if he overtakes him as the right-handed, highest-leverage reliever option. Stay tuned.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Justin Slaten | Garrett Whitlock
Houston Astros
Securing his third save, Josh Hader fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded one strikeout on 13 pitches (9 strikes – 69.2 Strike%) with three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%). He’s posted a 1.33 WHIP with three strikeouts versus two walks (7.7 K-BB%) through three innings.
His SIERA (4.52) is above his current ERA (3.00) because he allowed a 78.8 percent contact rate in these outings with an 11.3 swinging strike percentage. His pedigree makes this a blip, but we will monitor his swing-and-miss rates throughout April.
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Tayler Scott
New York Yankees
With Devin Williams on paternity leave, Luke Weaver took over at the top of the eighth with a runner on and a two-run lead. He stranded the runner and retired all four batters, one via strikeout, for his first save. He threw 19 pitches (15 strikes – 78.9 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (15.8 SwStr%).
Mark Leiter Jr. notched his second hold, giving up a hit and striking out two in a scoreless combined inning. He remains in Aaron Boone’s trust tree, representing an intriguing stream option in SOLDS formats.
Hierarchy Remains: Devin Williams | Luke Weaver | Mark Leiter Jr.
Milwaukee Brewers
With multiple high-leverage arms unavailable, Joel Payamps filled in capably, nailing down his first save with a clean top of the ninth and striking out one. He threw 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
- Bryan Hudson secured his first hold with a clean eighth while striking out one.
- Elvis Peguero allowed a hit and a walk while recording one strikeout in a scoreless seventh for his first hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Joel Payamps | Abner Uribe
Cincinnati Reds
Learning on the fly as a reliever, Graham Ashcraft tossed a scoreless bottom of the eighth, allowing a hit and a walk on 12 pitches (50 Strike%) with one whiff. Here is his pitch illustrator from this outing:
No, he was not playing Connect Four, but that jumped at me. Working with increased cutter velocity represents a benefit from a fantasy standpoint, but honing the location will be necessary. The dot in the upper right corner is illustrated in this strikeout of Joc Pederson last year.
Of his 27 pitches, he has only thrown six sliders, which perplexes me. His career has produced a 14.7 swinging strike percentage with the pitch, and it’s effective down in the zone, shown during this whiff induced while facing Jackson Merrill.
If Ashcraft progresses toward closing games this season, his cutter placement must improve, and he must get the feel of his slider and deploy it more often.
As for his teammate Alexis Díaz, reports have been a bit conflicting. First, from Charlie Goldsmith:
And the counterpoint:
This bullpen will continue being a hot topic unless someone emerges as a trusted option.
Hierarchy Remains: *Emilio Pagán | *Tony Santillan | Graham Ashcraft
What to Watch For (Weekend Edition)
American League
Chicago White Sox: Who gets the first save chance? Is this truly a match-up-based approach bullpen?
Detroit Tigers: Will structure emerge for the leverage ladder this weekend? Can Tommy Kahnle fill the void of Jason Foley in the ninth?
Kansas City Royals: Can Carlos Estévez overcome the time lost this spring and recover his past velocity? First, his velocity by games tracked at Brooks Baseball since 2024:
And, by month:
Stay tuned.
Texas Rangers: Does Luke Jackson stay hot atop the hierarchy in Texas? He’s converted three of four save opportunities.
National League
Arizona Diamondbacks: With the first two saves of the season, is A.J. Puk the closer or the beneficiary of match-ups against the Yankees?
Atlanta Braves: Who will emerge as reliable set-up relievers ahead of Raisel Iglesias?
Chicago Cubs: Can Ryan Pressly cut down traffic and improve his command?
Cincinnati Reds: Does Emilio Pagán receive the next save chance, or is this genuinely fluid until Díaz returns?
Colorado Rockies: Will Seth Halvorsen cement his status as the closer?
Los Angeles Dodgers: This weekend will be a great litmus test for Tanner Scott facing left-handed hitters. He’s faced eight this year and allowed four hits, three for extra-bases, resulting in a .571/.500/1.429 slash against. It’s a limited sample, but one worth tracking.
Miami Marlins: Does Anthony Bender get the next save chance?
Philadelphia Phillies: Alvarado has thrown 71 pitches over the previous four days with the Dodgers arriving. Can the bullpen hold leads if he’s down until Sunday?
Pittsburgh Pirates: Will Dennis Santana remain atop the bullpen hierarchy? If he pitches well this weekend, how will this affect David Bednar‘s status moving forward?
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