Sunday was a strange slate, featuring five blowouts (games decided by five or more runs), including three shutouts. Relievers recorded four wins and six saves while suffering three losses and three blown saves. Bullpens remain in flux within the National League Central, which will be today’s takeaways focus.
Three Takeaways
(1) Is Alexis ready? Logging five minor league appearances at Triple-A, Alexis Díaz was in the clubhouse before Sunday’s win against Pittsburgh. However, he has not been activated:
Reading between the lines of quotes is challenging without the full context of the conversations. Before delving into Díaz’s minor league outcomes, his and Francona’s thoughts in a thread:
Fact-checking Díaz throwing the ball down the middle finds he did throw 61 of his 102 pitches for strikes at Triple-A. He produced a 2.00 WHIP with eight strikeouts against four walks (15.4 K-BB%) and an 18.6 percent swinging strike rate. Will his competitive level rise against MLB hitters? It’s possible. It makes sense easing him into leverage situations once he’s activated, but roles in the Reds’ bullpen seem far from resolved.
(2) Bednar back soon? Beginning with a quote from Ben Cherington during a radio interview:
Yesterday, David Bednar posted his fourth clean appearance at Triple-A, though it was his first without recording a strikeout:
In these outings, he has five strikeouts (41.7 K-BB%), a 72 percent strike rate, and a 16 percent swinging strike rate. It feels like the Pirates could use some positive momentum, perhaps he gets promoted soon?
(3) Second opinions and Milwaukee, a strange combination: Recalling last spring, Devin Williams was diagnosed with a back issue by team doctors but sought a second opinion, which identified stress fractures, resulting in him missing the entire first half last year. Trevor Megill underwent an MRI on his knee, which was reported clean by team physicians:
However, in an update yesterday:
Whether clean or nothing alarming, Megill seeking out a second opinion feels disconcerting.
In the short term, fantasy managers can stash or stream Abner Uribe. Although the bullpen could not hold a one-run lead in Arizona yesterday, the structure hinted at Uribe being in line for the save. He has worked 7.2 innings with eight strikeouts versus three walks (17.2 K-BB%) and a 1.04 WHIP through seven games. He’s recorded a 64.9 percent contact rate allowed, and a 13 percent swinging strike rate while throwing strikes 61 percent of his pitches. He’s also shown signs of improvement with a 20.7 0-2 count percentage, up 5.5 points versus last season. Getting ahead in counts yields whiffs with his slider (29.4 SwStr%) and ensures success during leverage situations. Stay tuned.
For the save streamers, recommendations are light for today’s 10-game slate:
Vulture Save Options for April 14
- Justin Slaten (BOS): Chapman has pitched in back-to-back games and in four of the previous five.
- Abner Uribe (MIL): Trevor Megill is seeking a second opinion on his knee, and may be unavailable in tonight’s contest.
- Yimi García (TOR): Hoffman threw 24 pitches over a two-inning appearance on Sunday. Last year, he threw 24-plus pitches four times and pitched the next day once.
Vulture Save Stashes for April 15
- Daniel Lynch IV (KC): If Estévez and Erceg pitch today, it will be consecutive contests.
- Camilo Doval (SF): If Walker works in today’s game, it will be back-to-back outings.
Here are the leverage events of interest from Sunday’s contests.
Closer CliffsNotes
Arizona Diamondbacks
Matched up against Milwaukee’s 7-8-9 hitters, A.J. Puk held on for his third save, but dealt with traffic in an uneven outing. He recorded a strikeout against Vinny Capra, hit Joey Ortiz with a pitch, and he stole second, followed by a walk to a pinch hitter, putting two on with one out. Puk bore down, striking out Brice Turang and Jackson Chourio. He threw 24 pitches (62.5 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (16.7 SwStr%).
He’s posted a 1.17 WHIP with 10 strikeouts against two walks (30.8 K-BB%) through six innings. Justin Martinez faced the 4-5-6 hitters, lined up against William Conteras. He retired the side and recorded two strikeouts on 18 pitches (11 strikes – 61.1 Strike%) with one whiff for his second hold. He has a 0.53 WHIP with nine strikeouts (42.9 K-BB%) over 5.2 innings.
Jalen Beeks collected his first win, allowing a hit and striking out one in a scoreless top of the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: *Justin Martinez | *A.J. Puk | Shelby Miller
*= match-up-based approach
Baltimore Orioles
Matt Bowman suffered his first loss when he was called into action at the top of the tenth. He allowed two hits and an unearned run against Toronto.
- Yennier Cano was tagged with his first blown save, letting his only inherited runner score at the top of the eighth on a Bo Bichette single. Cano finished 1.1 scoreless innings, scattering two hits.
- Gregory Soto gets credit for his second hold despite giving up three hits and three earned runs in two-thirds of the eighth.
- Seranthony Domínguez logged 1.1 clean frames, stranded two runners in the sixth, and recorded one strikeout for his second hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Félix Bautista | Yennier Cano | Serathony Domínguez
Boston Red Sox
Handed a two-run lead, Aroldis Chapman secured his third save, giving up a hit and striking out two in a scoreless ninth. He threw 18 pitches (14 strikes – 77.8 Strike%) and generated five whiffs (27.8 SwStr%).
He has appeared four times in five days. He’s posted a 1.29 WHIP with 11 strikeouts versus four walks (24.1 K-BB%) through seven innings.
- Garrett Whitlock let his only inherited runner score, allowing two hits and recording a strikeout in two-thirds of the eighth.
During his second rehab outing at Triple-A, Liam Hendriks worked a scoreless first inning, walking and striking out one on 18 pitches (10 strikes – 62.5 Strike%) with three whiffs (16.7 SwStr%). He maxed out at 95 m.p.h. with his four-seam fastball.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Justin Slaten | Garrett Whitlock
Chicago Cubs
Securing his fourth save, Ryan Pressly turned in his first clean appearance. Entering against the Dodgers’ 8-9-1 lineup pocket, he recorded a strikeout against Kiké Hernández then induced consecutive groundouts by Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani on seven pitches, all strikes, with one whiff (14.3 SwStr%).
He still owns a negative 11.3 K-BB percentage and a 2.13 WHIP across eight innings, but this was a positive step forward.
- Porter Hodge nailed down his fifth hold with a clean eighth, striking out two. He’s posted a 1.25 WHIP with 11 strikeouts versus three walks (24.2 K-BB%) through eight innings.
- Julian Merryweather notched his fourth hold with a scoreless seventh, walking and striking out one.
- Ethan Roberts collected his first win. He stranded an inherited runner and recorded two outs at the bottom of the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Pressly | Porter Hodge | Julian Merryweather
Houston Astros
Appearing for the first time since April 8, Josh Hader finished a four-run win despite allowing two hits and recorded a strikeout during a scoreless top of the ninth against the Angels. He threw 13 pitches (92.3 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
He’s posted a 0.75 WHIP with 11 strikeouts against two walks (30 K-BB%) across eight innings.
- Bryan Abreu secured his fourth hold, logging 1.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit, and striking out three. He stranded two runners at the top of the seventh.
- Bryan King notched his third hold, giving up a hit and striking out two over two-thirds of the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Bryan King
Kansas City Royals
Working around Steven Kwan’s lead-off single, Carlos Estévez retired Cleveland’s 2-3-4 hitters via strikeout, throwing 21 pitches (66.7 Strike%) with four whiffs (19 SwStr%) for his fifth save.
He’s converted his last four save chances and posted a 1.14 WHIP with nine strikeouts against four walks (16.1 K-BB%) through seven innings.
- Lucas Erceg notched his sixth hold, striking out Nolan Jones at the top of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Carlos Estévez | Lucas Erceg | Daniel Lynch IV
Los Angeles Dodgers
Entering at the top of the seventh with the score tied, Blake Treinen suffered his second loss, allowing Pete Crow Armstrong’s go-ahead solo home run, and a two-out single by Matt Shaw while striking out three. He threw 20 pitches (70 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
Hierarchy Remains: *Tanner Scott | *Blake Treinen | Kirby Yates
*= closer-by-committee
Miami Marlins
Taking over at the top of the sixth, Ronny Henriquez retired the side on four pitches, all strikes, and collected his first win after his team took the lead at the bottom of the frame.
- Jesús Tinoco navigated around a hit and a walk while striking out one for a scoreless seventh, securing his second hold.
- Anthony Bender gave up a hit and a walk during a scoreless eighth.
- Tyler Phillips allowed a hit, an earned run, and a walk while striking out two, closing a seven-run win.
Adjusted Hierarchy: Calvin Faucher | Anthony Bender | Ronny Henriquez
Minnesota Twins
Taking over with a four-run lead at the top of the ninth, Jhoan Durán retired the side and recorded a strikeout facing Detroit’s 5-6-7 hitters. He threw 10 pitches (80 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
He still has not recorded a save but has a 0.95 WHIP with five strikeouts versus three walks through 6.1 innings.
- Griffin Jax notched his third hold, striking out the side against the 2-3-4 lineup pocket on 17 pitches (12 strikes – 70.6 Strike%) with eight whiffs (47.1 SwStr%).
- Cole Sands issued a walk during a scoreless seventh, securing his second hold.
- Louis Varland struck out the side in the sixth for his first hold. His results may yield a larger leverage role soon.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Cole Sands
San Francisco Giants
Locking down his fourth save, Ryan Walker retired the side and recorded a strikeout while facing the Yankees’ 9-1-2 lineup pocket. He threw 18 pitches (11 strikes – 61.1 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
He’s been scoreless in his last six appearances and has a 0.57 WHIP with six strikeouts against one walk (19.3 K-BB%) over seven innings.
- Tyler Rogers allowed Jazz Chisolm Jr.’s solo home run while securing his fifth hold in the eighth.
- Hayden Birdsong logged two clean frames, striking out three for his third hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Walker | Camilo Doval | Tyler Rogers
Seattle Mariners
Taking over the American League lead in saves, Andrés Muñoz closed out his sixth, giving up a one-out Josh Smith single and recording two strikeouts. He threw 18 pitches (55.6 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (16.7 SwStr%).
He remains scoreless and has a 1.13 WHIP with 12 strikeouts versus four walks (25.8 K-BB%) through eight innings.
- Trent Thornton worked a clean eighth, striking out one for his third hold.
- Carlos Vargas notched his first hold with a clean seventh, striking out one.
- Gabe Speier retired the side for his second hold in the sixth.
Updated Hierarchy: Andrés Muñoz | Trent Thornton | Gabe Speier
Toronto Blue Jays
Exacting some revenge from the offseason news cycle, Jeff Hoffman earned his second win, tossing two scoreless frames, including the bottom of the tenth. He allowed a hit and recorded four strikeouts, throwing 24 pitches (75 Strike%) and generating six whiffs (25 SwStr%).
He has a 0.64 WHIP with 13 strikeouts against one walk (36.4 K-BB%) through 9.1 innings.
- Yimi García fired a clean eighth, striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Jeff Hoffman | Yimi García | Chad Green
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