Monday’s 11-game slate yielded seven saves, one win by a reliever, though a blown save accompanied it. Relievers also suffered two losses. One recorded his first career save in a piggyback appearance spanning four innings, and there was a one-out save. Which segues into our three takeaways.
Three Takeaways
(1) Santillan’s save: A fantasy favorite one-out save was secured by Tony Santillan. He finished a combined shutout of the Giants by retiring Heliot Ramos on a game-ending lineout, stranding both inherited runners. He only threw five pitches (40 Strike%) with no whiffs, but the save helps those with him on their active roster. Santillan has been identified as Terry Francona’s preferred “fireman” and has posted a 0.71 WHIP with seven strikeouts against two walks (25 K-BB%) through 5.2 innings. How he’s used in the following save situation remains dependent on how he’s matched up against lineup pockets.
Hierarchy Remains: *Emilio Pagán | *Tony Santillan | Graham Ashcraft
*= closer-by-committee
(2) Finnegan’s turkey: Appearing for a third straight day, Kyle Finnegan worked overtime, recording five outs while holding on for his fourth save. He took over at the top of the eighth with two runners and one out, giving up a two-out Will Smith RBI single. In the ninth, Finnegan worked around a lead-off double by Max Muncy and a two-out walk (Shohei Ohtani) before inducing a game-ending Mookie Betts ground out. He threw 32 pitches (19 strikes – 59.4 Strike%) and induced five whiffs (15.6 SwStr%).
He has a 1.59 WHIP with five strikeouts versus four walks (4 K-BB%) through 5.2 innings. He logged three consecutive outings three times last year, all in July. It’s early for such a heavy usage pattern, so he may be off for the rest of the Dodgers series.
Hierarchy Remains: Kyle Finnegan | Jorge López | Jose A. Ferrer
(3) Estévez holds on for his third: Working into and out of trouble, Carlos Estévez recorded his third save despite giving up a hit batter, a walk, and Harrison Bader’s RBI single. Estévez finished with a walk and a strikeout while throwing 23 pitches (12 strikes – 52.2 Strike%) with two whiffs (8.7 SwStr%). His velocity with the four-seam ranged from 93.9-to-96.6 miles per hour in this outing.
He has a 1.20 WHIP with five strikeouts versus four walks (4.5 K-BB%) over five innings. Lucas Erceg recorded his fourth hold, walking and striking out one in a scoreless eighth. Hunter Harvey gave up a hit during a scoreless seventh, securing his third hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Carlos Estévez | Lucas Erceg | Hunter Harvey
With eyes on usage patterns entering gameplay today:
Vulture Save Options for April 8
- Serathony Domínguez (BAL) – Bautista pitched last night, and Cano has appeared on consecutive days.
- Will Vest (DET) – Kahnle has pitched in back-to-back contests.
- Daniel Lynch IV (KC) – Estévez, Erceg, and Harvey have all appeared in consecutive games.
- Wandy Peralta (SD) – Suarez, Adam, and Estrada pitched in the previous two games.
- Jorge López (WSH) – The most risky option, in the least likely scenario, but Finnegan has appeared in three straight.
Vulture Save Stash Options for April 9
- Collin Snider (SEA) – If Muńoz pitches tonight, it will be back-to-back contests.
- Chad Green (TOR) – Hoffman and García appeared in Monday’s game; if they pitch again tonight, they will be off on Wednesday.
Here are our remaining leverage events of interest from Monday’s slate.
Closer CliffsNotes
Baltimore Orioles
Capping a four-run win, Félix Bautista retired the side in a non-save outing. He threw 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) and induced one whiff. After three appearances, he has a 2.00 WHIP with three strikeouts and three walks.
- Gregory Soto allowed a hit during a scoreless eighth.
- Yennier Cano fired a clean seventh, striking out two on 15 pitches (11 strikes – 73.3 Strike%) while producing four whiffs (26.7 SwStr%). He’s posted a 0.25 WHIP with six strikeouts (46.2 K-BB%) across four innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Félix Bautista | Yennier Cano | Seranthony Domínguez
Houston Astros
With a one-run lead at the bottom of the eighth, Tayler Scott issued consecutive walks, which resulted in two earned runs and his first loss, though he was credited with a hold. Bryan Abreu took over with one out and two runners. After striking out Julio Rodríguez, he gave up Jorge Polanco’s go-ahead two-RBI single. Abreu finished with a hit against and a strikeout, resulting in his first blown save.
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Bryan King
New York Mets
Completing a combined shutout, Ryne Stanek notched his first save as a Met with a clean top of the ninth, recording one strikeout on nine pitches (88.9 Strike%) with one whiff (11.1 SwStr%).
- José Butto secured his first hold, logging two scoreless frames, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out two.
- Danny Young allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless sixth for his second hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Edwin Díaz | A.J. Minter | Ryne Stanek
Pittsburgh Pirates
Taking the baton from Carmen Mlodzinski, rookie Thomas Harrington recorded his first career save, logging four innings, allowing four hits, three earned runs, and a walk while striking out five. He threw 60 pitches (38 strikes – 63.3 Strike%) and produced eight whiffs (13.3 SwStr%). He’s the third reliever with a save for the Pirates this season.
Hierarchy Remains: Dennis Santana | Justin Lawrence | Ryan Borucki
San Diego Padres
Shutting the door on his National League-leading fifth save, Robert Suarez retired the side against the Athletics’ 9-1-2 hitters, striking out one. He threw nine pitches (77.8 Strike%) and induced one whiff (11.1 SwStr%).
Through five innings, he’s posted a 0.20 WHIP with seven strikeouts against one walk (35.3 SwStr%).
- Jason Adam notched his fourth hold, allowing a hit and striking out one in a scoreless eighth.
- Jeremiah Estrada gave up Tyler Soderstrom’s solo home run and recorded a strikeout for his second hold in the seventh.
- Adrian Morejon stranded a runner and retired his only batter in the sixth via strikeout for his first hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Suarez | Jason Adam | Jeremiah Estrada
San Francisco Giants
Entering a scoreless game at the top of the eighth, Camilo Doval issued a walk, hit a batter, and they were moved into scoring position by a sacrifice bunt, prompting his removal. Erik Miller took over and loaded the bases with a walk, followed by Blake Dunn’s two-RBI double. He intentionally walked Elly De La Cruz, then struck out Gavin Lux before being lifted. Lou Trivino stranded all three runners in the eighth and retired the side in the ninth while striking out two in the eventual loss. Doval suffered his first loss in this contest, giving up two earned runs and a walk over his one-third of an inning.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Walker | Camilo Doval | Tyler Rogers
Seattle Mariners
Preserving a one-run win, Andrés Muñoz nailed down his fourth save, firing a clean top of the ninth and recording one strikeout. He threw 13 pitches (9 strikes – 69.2 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%).
He has a 1.20 WHIP with eight strikeouts versus four walks (20 K-BB%) through five innings.
- Gregory Santos was awarded his first win and tagged with his first blown save. He allowed a hit, two unearned runs, and a walk during the top of the eighth.
- Trent Thornton stranded a runner in the sixth and retired all four batters, one via strikeout, for his second hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Trent Thornton | Gregory Santos
Toronto Blue Jays
Preserving a four-run win at Boston, Jeff Hoffman fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded one strikeout. He threw nine pitches (66.7 Strike%) and induced one whiff (11.1 SwStr%).
He’s posted a 0.86 WHIP with six strikeouts (31.6 K-BB%) over 5.1 innings.
- Yimi García allowed a hit, an unearned run, and a walk while striking out one at the bottom of the eighth, throwing 24 pitches (54.2 Strike%) without a whiff.
Hierarchy Remains: Jeff Hoffman | Yimi García | Chad Green
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