Tuesday’s full slate provided seven reliever wins, though one was accompanied by a blown save, seven losses, and eight saves versus five blown saves. There was one three-inning save and though we prefer clarity, two bullpens remain match-up-based, covered in today’s takeaways.
Three Takeaways
(1) Reds hierarchy remains fluid: After Tony Santillan recorded a one-out save on Monday, Emilio Pagán finished a combined shutout last night, retiring the Giants’ 3-4-5 hitters in order on seven pitches (85.7 Strike%) without a whiff for his second save. He has a 0.40 WHIP with three strikeouts against one walk (11.8 K-BB%) in five innings.
Graham Aschraft secured his second hold, scattering two hits and striking out two over two scoreless frames. He threw 20 pitches (90 Strike%) and induced two whiffs. He’s posted a 0.91 WHIP with three strikeouts and a walk (11.1 K-BB%) across 5.1 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: *Emilio Pagán | *Tony Santillan | Graham Ashcraft
*= closer-by-committee
(2) Arizona plays match-ups versus Baltimore: Justin Martinez took over against the Orioles’ 5-6-7 lineup pocket with a one-run lead at the top of the ninth. He worked around a hit batter (Tyler O’Neill) for his second save while recording one strikeout, throwing nine pitches (66.7 Strike%), and inducing one whiff. He has a 0.64 WHIP with seven strikeouts (38.9 K-BB%) through 4.2 innings.
A.J. Puk faced the top of the lineup and matched up with Gunnar Henderson, giving up a one-out single by Adley Rutschman and two stolen bases by pinch runner Jorge Mateo but cutting him down at home on a comebacker before recording an inning-ending strikeout for his second hold. He threw 18 pitches (13 strikes – 72.2 Strike%) and produced two whiffs.
Hierarchy Remains: *Justin Martinez | *A.J. Puk | Shelby Miller
*= match-up-based approach
(3) Cut Clevinger: Called on at the bottom of the eighth to face José Ramirez, Mike Clevinger induced an inning-ending flyout. Then, the wheels came off the bus. After his first up-down as a reliever, he lost his command. His ninth began with Carlos Santana’s single, followed by consecutive walks (Kyle Manzardo and Jhonkensy Noel), loading the bases. Remaining in the game, Clevinger walked Nolan Jones, scoring the game-winning run, resulting in his second loss. He threw 31 pitches (51.6 Strike%) and only induced two whiffs.
His WHIP reached three after this appearance, and he has issued seven walks against two strikeouts. It’s time to cut bait despite showing glimpses of hope during spring appearances.
Updated Hierarchy: *Jordan Leasure | *Cam Booser | *Fraser Ellard
*= match-up-based approach
For those streaming for saves in daily leagues:
Vulture Save Options for April 9
- Bryan Abreu (HOU) – Following an extra-inning game with Hader logging two innings, Abreu will be in line for the save chance, if provided today.
- Trent Thornton (SEA) – He represents one of the rested relievers in this leverage ladder and Muñoz has worked in consecutive contests.
Vulture Save Stash Options for April 10
- Daniel Lynch IV (KC) – If the Royals’ leverage triumvirate pitches today, it will be three appearances in four days.
- Mason Montgomery (TB) – If Fairbanks appears today, it will be back-to-back outings.
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Tuesday’s contests.
Closer CliffsNotes
American League
Cleveland Guardians
After firing a scoreless top of the ninth during a tied game, Emmanuel Clase collected his second win courtesy of a walk-off walk. He threw nine pitches (88.9 Strike%) and generated five whiffs (55.6 SwStr%) while recording two strikeouts. Luis Robert Jr. reached on a throwing error leading off and stole second but was stranded. He has a 1.40 WHIP with four strikeouts (16.7 K-BB%) through five innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Emmanuel Clase | Cade Smith | Paul Sewald
Detroit Tigers
Taking over at the top of the seventh, Brant Hurter finished a combined shutout and recorded his second save, logging three innings. He allowed two hits and a walk while striking out three. He threw 40 pitches (65 Strike%) and produced nine whiffs (22.5 SwStr%). Across three games, spanning 6.2 innings, he has a 1.05 WHIP with six strikeouts versus one walk. Meet your saves leader for the Tigers through their first 11 contests.
Hierarchy Remains: *Tommy Kahnle | *Will Vest | *Tyler Holton
*= match-up-based approach
Houston Astros
Finishing a one-run win at the bottom of the 12th, Steven Okert retired the side and recorded two strikeouts in Seattle for his first save of the season and the second of his career. Ryan Gusto collected his first win, walking one during a scoreless 11th. Josh Hader tossed two clean frames and recorded two strikeouts on 22 pitches (16 strikes – 72.7 Strike%) with six whiffs (27.3 SwStr%).
Although his manager promised fewer extended outings, he’s already logged two two-inning outings in the team’s first 11 contests. Hader has a 0.57 WHIP with 10 strikeouts against two walks (32 K-BB%) across seven innings. Bryan King tossed 1.1 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out three.
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Bryan King
Kansas City Royals
Summoned with two outs, Daniel Lynch IV retired his only batter for his first save of the season, second of his career on two pitches. John Schreiber collected his first win, giving up two hits and striking out one over 1.2 scoreless frames. Angel Zerpa allowed a hit during a scoreless seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Carlos Estévez | Lucas Erceg | Hunter Harvey
Los Angeles Angels
Despite some shoddy defense, Kenley Jansen navigated around a missed play at third by Luis Rengifo, resulting in a lead-off single, followed by a stolen base, then a misplayed bunt single, putting runners on the corner with no outs. However, the veteran closer bore down, inducing a fielder’s choice groundout, throwing the runner out at home, and consecutive strikeouts for his third save. Jansen threw 20 pitches (75 Strike%) and generated five whiffs (25 SwStr%).
He has a 1.00 WHIP with six strikeouts versus two walks (21.1 K-BB%) through five innings.
- Brock Burke earned his second win, yielding a hit, hitting a batter, and striking out two in a scoreless eighth.
- Garret McDaniels stranded a runner but issued two walks and recorded a strikeout over two-thirds of the seventh.
- Ben Joyce suffered his second blown save, allowing four hits and three earned runs in one-third of the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Ben Joyce | Brock Burke
Minnesota Twins
A tough luck loss for Griffin Jax. He entered a tied game at the bottom of the eighth, inducing a Jonathan India pop-out, then a groundball by Bobby Witt Jr. was thrown away, putting him on third with one out. Vinnie Pasquantino followed with a fielder’s choice groundout, scoring Witt and handing Jax an unearned run. Jax retired three of four batters, throwing 12 pitches (83.3 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%).
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Cole Sands
Seattle Mariners
At the top of the 12th, Jesse Hahn suffered his first loss. After a sacrifice bunt, he gave up a go-ahead RBI single and finished with a hit, an unearned run, and three walks (all intentional) with two strikeouts over two innings. Andrés Muñoz tossed a scoreless tenth, yielding a hit and striking out one on nine pitches (77.8 Strike%) with three whiffs (33.3 SwStr%).
He’s posted a 1.17 WHIP with nine strikeouts versus four walks (20.8 K-BB%) through six innings.
- Carlos Vargas worked a clean ninth, striking out one.
- Gabe Speier retired the side in the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Trent Thornton | Gregory Santos
Tampa Bay Rays
During a tied game at the top of the ninth, Pete Fairbanks gave up a pinch-hit single by Logan O’Hoppe, and he advanced to second on a fielder’s choice groundout, then was replaced by a pinch runner. With two outs, Luis Rengifo singled, scoring the go-ahead run and handing Fairbanks his first loss. He allowed two hits and an earned run, striking out one on 16 pitches (75 Strike%) and producing five whiffs (31.3 SwStr%).
Edwin Uceta suffered his first blown save, giving up a hit, an earned run, and two walks (one intentional) in the eighth. He’s struggled early and owns a 1.50 WHIP with three walks versus two strikeouts over 4.2 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks | Edwin Uceta | Garrett Cleavinger
Texas Rangers
Without much help from his defense, Chris Martin was tagged with his first loss despite only giving up one hit and one walk (intentional – Kyle Tucker), resulting in four runs (zero earned) over two-thirds of the eighth. Leody Taveras misread an Ian Happ leadoff fly ball, Jon Berti reached on a fielder’s choice with an error charged to Josh Jung, and Dansby Swanson’s single gave the Cubs the lead. Hoby Milner replaced Martin, letting two inherited runners score on Pete Crow-Armstrong’s single.
Hierarchy Remains: Luke Jackson | Chris Martin | Robert Garcia
National League
Atlanta Braves
Breaking the ice in 2025, Raisel Iglesias secured his first save, working around a two-out walk of Bryce Harper with a game-ending Alec Bohm pop-out, preserving a two-run win. Iglesias threw 15 pitches (53.3 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%).
Through three games, he’s posted a 1.00 WHIP with three strikeouts against one walk (16.7 K-BB%).
- Daysbel Hernández collected his first win, stranding a runner in the seventh and retiring all four batters, two via strikeout.
- Dylan Lee issued a walk and recorded two outs in the seventh.
- Enyel De Los Santos logged 1.1 scoreless innings, walking one and striking out two.
Updated Hierarchy: Raisel Iglesias | Daysbel Hernández | Dylan Lee
Chicago Cubs
Finishing a four-run win, Ryan Pressly navigated around two hits, aided by a caught stealing, during a scoreless ninth. He threw 14 pitches (12 strikes – 85.7 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%). He has a 2.43 WHIP with six walks against two strikeouts (-11.7 K-BB%).
- Porter Hodge stranded a runner in the seventh but gave up two hits, including a game-tying Josh Jung RBI triple, while recording three strikeouts. He threw 24 pitches (19 strikes – 79.2 Strike%) and induced five whiffs (20.8 SwStr%) while getting tagged with his second blown save and collecting his first win.
- Julian Merryweather was credited with his third hold, giving up three hits and two earned runs while striking out one in two-thirds of the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Pressly | Porter Hodge | Julian Merryweather
Miami Marlins
Entering at the bottom of the fifth with the score tied, Calvin Faucher allowed Hayden Senger’s lead-off single, then Francisco Lindor reached on a fielder’s choice with an error, and with one out, Pete Alonso walked, loading the bases. Brandon Nimmo delivered a two-RBI double, and after a groundout, Faucher was removed with two runners still on base. Xzavion Curry let both score on a Starling Marte two-RBI single, resulting in Faucher suffering his first loss, giving up two hits, four runs (one earned), and a walk over two-thirds of the fifth. He has a 2.08 WHIP with four walks and three strikeouts across 4.1 innings, and he’s drifting further away from high-leverage appearances.
Hierarchy Remains (for now): Anthony Bender | Calvin Faucher | Anthony Veneziano
Philadelphia Phillies
In order of appearance, Matt Strahm took over with the bases loaded and one out in the sixth. He allowed a sacrifice fly and recorded a strikeout but was tagged with his first blown save. Orion Kerkering issued Marcell Ozuna a lead-off walk in the seventh, a leverage no-no, moved him up a base with a wild pitch, induced a groundout, and then gave up Austin Riley’s go-ahead RBI double. Kerkering finished with a hit against, an earned run, and two walks, resulting in his first loss.
Hierarchy Remains: *José Alvarado | *Orion Kerkering | Matt Strahm
*= floating closer concept
St. Louis Cardinals
Taking over with a runner on second and one out at the bottom of the ninth, Phil Maton gave up Tommy Pham’s RBI single and recorded two outs for his first save. This marked his first save with the Cardinals and his first since September 2 last year. He threw 14 pitches (8 strikes – 57.1 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%).
- JoJo Romero allowed two hits, resulting in two earned runs over one-third of the ninth, creating the save opportunity.
- Patrick Leahy fired 1.2 clean frames and recorded three strikeouts.
- Steven Matz hit a batter and tossed 1.1 scoreless innings, striking out one.
Do not overreact to Ryan Helsley’s not being used; he threw 37 pitches on Sunday and received an extra day of rest.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Helsley | Phil Maton | JoJo Romero
Washington Nationals
Being the first reliever out of the bullpen provided Colin Poche his first win of the season. He stranded a runner and retired all three batters at the top of the fourth, striking out the side against the Dodgers’ 5-6-7 hitters.
- Oscar Ribalta gets credit for his first hold, logging three innings, giving up three hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out three.
- Jackson Rutledge worked the final two frames, allowing three hits, an earned run, and two walks while striking out five.
Hierarchy Remains: Kyle Finnegan | Jorge López | Jose A. Ferrer
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