Friday’s slate was reduced by one postponement, and the rain cut another game short. Relievers recorded four wins and converted eight saves while suffering three losses and two blown saves. Two relievers held on for saves despite traffic on the bases, and one team probably worth avoiding for saves is the focus of today’s takeaways.
Three Takeaways
(1) Velocity remains down for Díaz: Handed a three-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, Edwin Díaz held on for his third save, but it was another bumpy ride while working with reduced four-seam fastball velocity.
Facing the top of the Athletics lineup, he issued Lawrence Butler a lead-off walk, recorded a strikeout, and issued a second walk. Shea Langeliers produced an RBI double with two on and one out, and then JJ Bleday scored a second run on a sacrifice fly. Díaz induced a game-ending groundout but finished with a hit against, two earned runs, and two walks while striking out one on 24 pitches (11 strikes – 45.8 Strike%) with two whiffs.
His WHIP sits at 1.76 with seven strikeouts versus four walks (10.7 K-BB%) through 5.1 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Edwin Díaz | A.J. Minter | Ryne Stanek
(2) Kahnle hangs on: Tommy Kahnle allowed three hits, including Ty France’s RBI single at the bottom of the ninth, an earned run, and recorded one strikeout for his second save. He threw 18 pitches (14 strikes – 77.8 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (16.7 SwStr%). However, can he continue using one pitch?
He has five strikeouts (26.3 K-BB%) and a 0.60 WHIP through five innings. He’s also thrown 71 pitches this season; 63 have been change-ups (88.7%), producing a 12.7 swinging strike percentage and a .148 weighted on-base average (wOBA). Will hitters adjust? If they do, will his WHIP rise like the three hits in this outing?
Hierarchy Remains: *Tommy Kahnle | *Will Vest | *Tyler Holton
*= match-up-based approach
(3) The Marlins are a mess for fantasy players: In order of appearance, Lake Bachar recorded his third hold, walking one during a scoreless combined inning. He stranded a runner at the top of the sixth. Anthony Veneziano stranded a runner in the seventh, but struggled during the eighth. He allowed a hit and a walk before his removal. He gets credit for his third hold while absorbing two earned runs on his ledger. Anthony Bender was summoned with two on and no outs, put gasoline on the fire; he allowed two hits, including a bases-clearing, pinch-hit double by Nathaniel Lowe, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one in the eighth, resulting in his first loss and a blown save. Calvin Faucher warmed in case of a rally for the save chance, but Luisbert Arias gave up two hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out one in the ninth. Assessing how a first-year manager will operate his relievers during high-leverage events can prove challenging, but this feels like Old Mother Hubbard going to the cupboard; the shelf may be bare for fantasy managers searching for consistent saves in this bullpen.
Adjusted Hierarchy: *Anthony Bender | *Calvin Faucher | Lake Bachar
*= closer-by-committee
Vulture Save Options for April 12
- Tony Santillan (CIN): Pagán has pitched in three of the previous four games.
- Ryne Stanek (NYM): Díaz struggled last night and has thrown 54 pitches in the previous three days, which may make him unavailable for today’s contest.
- Manuel Rodríguez (TB): Fairbanks has appeared in three of the previous four. If Matt Olson’s pocket lines up for the ninth, Mason Montgomery may also be a factor, but I’m hedging on the right-handed hitters being the focus.
Vulture Save Stashes for April 13
- Alex Vesia (LAD): If Scott, Treinen, and Yates pitch today, it will be consecutive outings, leaving Vesia against Tucker on Sunday.
- Gregory Santos (SEA): If Muñoz pitches today, it will be back-to-back appearances.
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Friday’s contests.
Closer CliffsNotes
American League
Cleveland Guardians
Tim Herrin took over with two runners and two outs at the top of the fifth. He stranded both, collecting his second win, yielding a hit during 1.1 scoreless frames. Cade Smith fired a clean seventh and recorded two strikeouts on 10 pitches (80 Strike%) with three whiffs (30 SwStr%). This was his best outing of the season, and he secured his fourth hold.
- Hunter Gaddis notched his fifth hold, giving up a hit and striking out one in a scoreless eighth.
- Triston McKenzie finished a combined shutout, working around a walk at the top of the ninth in a non-save capacity.
Hierarchy Remains: Emmanuel Clase | Cade Smith | Paul Sewald
Minnesota Twins
Once again, Rocco Baldelli made all the wrong moves, or at least it feels this way. Danny Coulombe stranded a runner and retired his only batter via strikeout in the fifth.
- Jorge Alcala took over at the top of the sixth, allowing two hits, four earned runs, and two walks without recording an out, resulting in his second loss.
- Justin Topa let both inherited runners score, yielding two hits and an unearned run for his first blown save over 1.2 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Cole Sands
Seattle Mariners
After allowing a lead-off single, Andrés Muñoz bore down, recording a strikeout and a game-ending double play groundout for his fifth save. He threw 14 pitches (64.3 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
He has 10 strikeouts against four walks (22.2 K-BB%) and a 1.14 WHIP in seven innings.
- Carlos Vargas earned his first win. He allowed a hit during a scoreless eighth ahead of his team’s two-run rally at the bottom of the frame.
- Gabe Speier gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless seventh.
- Trent Thornton suffered his first blown save, giving up three hits, including a game-tying two-run home run by Josh Jung.
Adjusted Hierarchy: Andrés Muñoz | Gregory Santos | Gabe Speier
Tampa Bay Rays
Securing his third save, Pete Fairbanks worked around Drake Baldwin’s one-out double with consecutive groundouts, closing the three-run win. He threw 17 pitches (70.6 Strike%) with one whiff.
He’s posted a 0.83 WHIP with seven strikeouts against three walks (16 K-BB%) through six innings.
- Edwin Uceta allowed two solo home runs and recorded a strikeout at the top of the eighth. His 1.579 WHIP in his first 5.2 innings may soon shift him into lower-leverage outings.
- Mason Montgomery fired a clean seventh, striking out one on eight pitches, all strikes, with three whiffs (37.5 SwStr%).
Adjusted Hierarchy: Pete Fairbanks | Edwin Uceta | Mason Montgomery
Texas Rangers
With the score tied at the bottom of the eighth, Chris Martin allowed two hits, including Cal Raleigh’s go-ahead two-run home run, and recorded a strikeout, resulting in his second loss. He’s allowed six runs (two earned) over his last two games.
Hierarchy Remains: Luke Jackson | Chris Martin | Robert Garcia
National League
Cincinnati Reds
Emilio Pagán shut the door on his third save, preserving a two-run margin. He threw 11 pitches (63.6 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%).
He has a 0.47 WHIP with five strikeouts against one walk (19 K-BB%) over 6.1 innings.
- Graham Ashcraft recorded his third hold, tossing two scoreless frames. He allowed a hit and a walk while striking out two on 31 pitches (17 strikes – 54.8 Strike%) with two whiffs.
- Taylor Rogers gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless sixth for his second hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Emilio Pagán | *Tony Santillan | Graham Ashcraft
*= closer-by-committee
Los Angeles Dodgers
Shutting the door on his fourth save, Tanner Scott retired the side on 16 pitches (75 Strike%) without a whiff while facing the Cubs’ 9-1-2 hitters, including Kyle Tucker.
Scott has a 0.75 WHIP with six strikeouts (21.4 K-BB%) through eight innings.
- Blake Treinen worked a clean eighth for his third hold.
- Kirby Yates recorded two strikeouts while retiring the side in the seventh, securing his second hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Tanner Scott | *Blake Treinen | Kirby Yates
*= match-up-based approach
Milwaukee Brewers
Making his first appearance in a week, Trevor Megill worked around a walk and recorded two strikeouts while finishing a combined shutout in Arizona. He threw 20 pitches (60 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (20 SwStr%).
He’s posted a 0.69 WHIP with eight strikeouts against one walk (43.8 K-BB%) across 4.1 innings.
- Jared Koenig notched his first hold, retiring the side and striking out one in the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Joel Payamps | Abner Uribe
St. Louis Cardinals
Completing a combined shutout, Ryan Helsley worked around Trea Turner’s lead-off single with two groundouts and a game-ending flyout for his second save. He threw seven pitches (85.7 Strike%) without a whiff.
He has a 1.67 WHIP with nine strikeouts against five walks (14.8 K-BB%) across six innings.
- Phil Maton fired a clean eighth, securing his third hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Helsley | Phil Maton | JoJo Romero
Washington Nationals
Despite allowing Otto Lopez’s lead-off double, Kyle Finnegan notched his fifth save, recording a strikeout, followed by consecutive groundouts, preserving the three-run margin. He threw nine pitches (88.9 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
He’s recorded six strikeouts against four walks (6.9 K-BB%) with a 1.58 WHIP across 6.1 innings.
- Jose A. Ferrer secured his third hold, yielding a hit and striking out one in a scoreless eighth.
- Lucas Sims was awarded his first win. He navigated around two walks for a scoreless seventh, ahead of his team’s rally at the top of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Kyle Finnegan | Jorge López | Jose A. Ferrer
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