Tuesday’s full slate was a productive one for relievers. They recorded four wins and nine saves while only suffering one loss and two blown saves. Alexis Díaz debuted for the Reds, but spotty command cut his outing short, covered in today’s takeaways.
Three Takeaways
(1) Alexis returns, but his command did not: After warming up for a potential low-leverage appearance, the Reds rallied for four runs at the bottom of the fifth, putting Alexis Díaz on the mound with a two-run lead instead at the top of the sixth. He walked Leo Rivas leading off the inning, induced a lineout to left field, and after Rivas stole second, Díaz walked J.P. Crawford, putting two runners on with one out. He battled back and recorded a strikeout against Dylan Moore before being removed. He threw 26 pitches (53.8 Strike%) and induced four whiffs (15.4 SwStr%).
This aligns with his strike rate at Triple-A before his promotion and likely keeps him out of save situations until it improves, which may not happen. Graham Ashcraft stranded both inherited runners in the sixth and logged 1.1 scoreless frames, walking (intentional – Julio Rodríguez) and striking out one for his fourth hold. Tony Santillan notched his fifth hold, firing a clean eighth and striking out one. Protecting a four-run lead in a non-save capacity, Emilio Pagán retired the side and recorded two strikeouts during a clean top of the ninth. He threw 12 pitches (75 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (25 SwStr%). Despite the roster changes before this game, he will remain the preferred save share.
Updated Hierarchy: *Emilio Pagán | *Tony Santillan | Graham Ashcraft
*= match-up-based approach
(2) Alvarado in the eighth?: Handed a two-run lead at the top of the ninth and facing the Giants’ 7-8-9 hitters, Matt Strahm retired the side while striking out one for his first save. He only needed seven pitches (85.7 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (28.6 SwStr%). José Alvarado took over in the eighth, matching up with the top of the lineup, and allowed three consecutive hits, including an RBI single by Jung Hoo Lee. Alvarado bore down, inducing a pop-up, a strikeout, and an inning-ending flyout for his second hold. Jordan Romano tossed a clean seventh, striking out one for his third hold. Orion Kerkering collected his second win, stranding one of two inherited runners while recording two outs in the sixth, one via strikeout. Fantasy managers will accrue saves by Alvarado throughout the season, but he will be deployed against the toughest pockets or against a team’s best left-handed hitter when needed by Rob Thomson, resulting in multiple relievers in play for ancillary save opportunities.
Hierarchy Remains: *José Alvarado | *Orion Kerkering | Jordan Romano
*= floating closer concept
(3) Durán removes the seal and closes the deal: Taking over with a three-run lead, Jhoan Durán had the lead-off batter reach on a fielding error, then induced consecutive groundouts. However, Luisangel Acuña singled with two outs, putting runners at the corners before a game-ending strikeout of Francisco Lindor, resulting in Durán’s first save. He threw 16 pitches (13 strikes – 81.3 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (25 SwStr%). Note the velocity spike during a save compared with past results working in lower leverage appearances:
He has a 0.95 WHIP with six strikeouts versus three walks (10 K-BB%) through 7.1 innings. Griffin Jax notched his fourth hold, yielding a hit and striking out one in a scoreless eighth. Cole Sands let one of two inherited runners score, walking one during two-thirds scoreless at the top of the seventh for his third hold. The White Sox are the only team without a save this season with Minnesota converting its first.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Cole Sands
For the save streamers, another light forecast because of usage patterns and days off:
Vulture Save Options for April 16
- Mark Leiter Jr. (NYY): Williams and Weaver had appeared in consecutive contests.
- Griffin Jax (MIIN): Durán has pitched in three of the previous four days.
Vulture Save Stashes for April 17
- Hunter Gaddis (CLE): If Clase pitches today, it will be back-to-back appearances.
- Yennier Cano (BAL): If Félix Bautista pitches in today’s game, he will be unavailable on Thursday.
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Tuesday’s slate.
Closer CliffsNotes
Boston Red Sox
A fantasy fan favorite, Aroldis Chapman recorded his fourth save, retiring one batter via strikeout at the bottom of the ninth, stranding a runner, and preserving a three-run win on five pitches (60 Strike%) with one whiff (20 SwStr%). He has a 1.23 WHIP with 12 strikeouts versus four walks (26.7 K-BB%) over 7.1 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Justin Slaten | Garrett Whitlock
Chicago Cubs
Representing the fifth reliever summoned, Caleb Thielbar took over at the top of the tenth with a one-run lead. He retired the 8-9 hitters, issued Fernando Tatis Jr. an intentional walk, and induced a game-ending Luis Arraez flyout for his first save.
Ryan Pressly collected his first win after firing a clean bottom of the ninth and recording one strikeout on 16 pitches (11 strikes – 68.8 Strike%) with one whiff. He’s posted consecutive clean appearances and has converted all four save chances this year with a 1.89 WHIP and four strikeouts versus four walks (-5 K-BB%).
- Porter Hodge allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless eighth.
- Julian Merryweather retired the side and struck out one in the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Pressly | Porter Hodge | Julian Merryweather
Cleveland Guardians
Navigating around a one-out “hit,” Emmanuel Clase notched his second save with a scoreless ninth and recorded one strikeout. He threw 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%).
He has a 2.00 WHIP with eight strikeouts against one walk (17.1 K-BB%) through eight innings.
- Cade Smith stranded a runner at the bottom of the seventh but struggled in the eighth. He finished with three hits and two earned runs while striking out three.
- Paul Sewald stranded a runner in the sixth, striking out his only batter.
Updated Hierarchy: Emmanuel Clase | Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis
Colorado Rockies
Getting in work during a loss, Seth Halvorsen allowed three hits, including Freddie Freeman’s RBI single, and issued a walk. Halvorsen threw 26 pitches (19 strikes – 73.1 Strike%) and induced four whiffs (15.4 SwStr%). He has converted one save this year and posted a 2.05 WHIP with six strikeouts versus six walks through 6.1 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Seth Halvorsen | Victor Vodnik | Tyler Kinley
Houston Astros
Preserving a combined shutout, Josh Hader shut the door on his fourth save with a clean ninth and recorded one strikeout against the Cardinals. He threw 10 pitches (70 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (40 SwStr%).
He’s posted 12 strikeouts against two walks (30.3 K-BB%) with a 0.67 WHIP across nine innings.
- Bryan Abreu allowed a hit during a scoreless eighth for his fifth hold.
- Bryan King notched his fourth hold, giving up a hit during a scoreless seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Bryan King
Los Angeles Dodgers
Although Tanner Scott was warming up for the save opportunity, Luis García took over at the top of the ninth with a four-run lead after his teammates plated a run in the bottom of the eighth. He retired the Rockies in order and recorded a strikeout, finishing the four-run win.
- Alex Vesia secured his fifth hold, walking one during a scoreless eighth.
- Kirby Yates navigated around a hit and a walk while striking out three in a scoreless seventh for his fourth hold.
- Jack Dreyer collected his second win, logging 1.2 scoreless frames after replacing Landon Knack during the top of the fifth. Dreyer issued a walk and recorded four strikeouts.
Hierarchy Remains: *Tanner Scott | *Blake Treinen | Kirby Yates
*= match-up-based approach
Milwaukee Brewers
In order of appearance, Jared Koenig stranded a runner at the top of the sixth and logged 1.1 clean frames while striking out two for his third hold. Abner Uribe retired both batters in the seventh, one via strikeout for his fourth hold. He threw seven pitches (71.4 Strike%) and induced one whiff (14.3 SwStr%).
He has a 0.96 WHIP with nine strikeouts versus three walks (19.3 K-BB%) over 8.1 innings.
- Nick Mears fired a clean eighth, striking out two.
- Grant Anderson closed the combined shutout with a clean ninth, striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Jared Koenig
New York Yankees
Securing his third save and first clean appearance, Devin Williams recorded a strikeout while throwing 16 pitches (11 strikes – 68.8 Strike%) with three whiffs (18.8 SwStr%).
He has posted a 2.17 WHIP with eight strikeouts against four walks (6.4 K-BB%) through six innings.
- Luke Weaver stranded two runners in the seventh and retired all four batters while striking out one for his fifth hold. He was efficient, needing only 11 pitches (90.9 Strike%), and produced two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%).
Hierarchy Remains: Devin Williams | Luke Weaver | Mark Leiter Jr.
San Diego Padres
Matched up against the Cubs 6-7-8 hitters at the top of the tenth, Yuki Masui suffered his first loss. He allowed Nico Hoerner’s lead-off triple, scoring the “ghost” runner, then bore down, retiring the next three hitters, two via strikeout.
- Robert Suarez worked around Michael Busch’s two-out double with an inning-ending Dansby Swanson strikeout. He threw 22 pitches (17 strikes – 77.3 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (13.6 SwStr%). He has a 0.63 WHIP with 10 strikeouts versus two walks (27.6 K-BB%) across eight innings.
- Jason Adam tossed a scoreless eighth, walking and striking out one.
- Jeremiah Estrada fired a clean seventh, striking out two.
- Adrian Morejon was tagged with his first blown save, letting one of two inherited runners score, yielding a hit in a scoreless sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Suarez | Jason Adam | Jeremiah Estrada
The Athletics
Finishing a lopsided win, Mitch Spence logged three scoreless frames, scattering two hits and striking out two for his first save. He threw 37 pitches (26 strikes – 70.3 Strike%) and induced five whiffs.
- Justin Sterner tossed a scoreless sixth, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out two. He’s recorded 14 strikeouts against five walks through 9.1 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Tyler Ferguson | José Leclerc
Washington Nationals
Completing the combined shutout and locking down his sixth save, Kyle Finnegan retired the side and recorded two strikeouts at the bottom of the ninth in Pittsburgh. He threw 19 pitches (12 strikes – 63.2 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
He’s posted eight strikeouts against four walks (12.5 K-BB%) with a 1.299 WHIP through 7.2 innings.
- Jose A. Ferrer notched his fourth hold, allowing a hit and striking out two in a scoreless eighth.
Updated Hierarchy: Kyle Finnegan | Jose A. Ferrer | Jorge López
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