In Monday’s eight-game slate, relievers recorded two wins and six saves while suffering only one loss and one blown save. Today’s takeaways focus on a Yankees’ reliever turning in a much-needed clean appearance, a breakout performance by a Reds’ reliever, and what to do with Miami’s leverage ladder.
Three Takeaways
(1) Progress for Devin: Taking over at the bottom of the eighth with his team down by a run, Devin Williams retired the side and recorded one strikeout facing Baltimore’s 5-6-7 lineup pocket. He threw 14 pitches (9 strikes – 64.3 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%):
His “Airbender” had better shape and with improved command of his four-seam fastball, he will find his past form:
In Bryan Hoch’s game recap for MLB.com, he shared Aaron Boone’s thoughts about his struggling closer, and eventual return to the role:
Until then:
Hierarchy Remains: Luke Weaver | Fernando Cruz | Mark Leiter Jr.
(2) Graham’s crackling slider: During an eventual two-run win over St. Louis, Graham Ashcraft fired a clean seventh, striking out the side on 14 pitches (11 strikes – 78.6 Strike%) and generating five whiffs (35.7 SwStr%). It was his most dominant outing as a reliever.
Four of his five whiffs resulted from his slider, which has a 27.3 swinging strike percentage after this appearance, with a 61.5 K-BB percentage and a .069 weighted on-base average (wOBA). Overall, the transition has been going well for Ashcraft, but in this contest, he leaned into his slider for the first time:
Overall, he’s posted a 20.6 hard hit percent rate allowed and a .218 expected batting average. He’s also produced strong quality of contact results:
- 5.9 pop-up percentage plus 11.8 weak contact = 17.7 percent poor contact induced
- Zero solid contact plus 2.7 barrel percentage = 2.9 percent good contact allowed
Those with room for a save stash should make room for Ashcraft; his time as the Reds’ closer gets expedited with more outings like this. His team’s hierarchy will be updated below.
(3) Is there fantasy value in Miami’s bullpen? Through 28 games, the Marlins have converted five of nine save opportunities, with Calvin Faucher (two) and Jesús Tinoco (two) tied for the team lead in saves. First-year manager Clayton McCullough has maintained he will mix and match during the late innings by lineup pockets and not use his relievers in defined roles. This caps the fantasy ceiling for either reliever. Though there will be bursts of production, with Miami only projected for 60 more wins, what type of volume can fantasy managers mine? When viewing the underlying numbers, and Fangraphs’ Win Probability Added results, if forced to choose, we lean toward Tinoco:
In last night’s game against the Dodgers, Ronny Henriquez took over at the bottom of the tenth with a one-run lead but was tagged with his first loss and a blown save, issuing a walk, recording an out on a sacrifice bunt, followed by Tommy Edman’s walk-off, two-RBI single. Calvin Faucher worked a scoreless ninth, walking one and striking out three while facing the Dodgers’ 3-4-5-6 hitters. Jesús Tinoco navigated around a lead-off single for a scoreless eighth, including strikeouts of Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts.
Updated Hierarchy: *Jesús Tinoco | *Calvin Faucher | Anthony Bender
For the save streamers, a light forecast:
Vulture Save Options for April 29
- Yennier Cano (BAL): Bautista pitched last night, so he will not be considered available tonight until he appears in consecutive games.
- Grant Holman (ATH): Miller and Ferguson have pitched in consecutive games. Justin Sterner could also be in the mix, but Holman has been in save situations previously.
Vulture Save Stashes for April 30
- Reed Garrett (NYM): The Mets have been cautious with Edwin Díaz’s usage patterns; if he pitches tonight, he may be unavailable tomorrow, especially with an elevated pitch count.
- Dylan Lee (ATL): If Iglesias and Hernández pitch tonight, it will be back-to-back games in Coors.
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Monday.
Closer CliffsNotes
Atlanta Braves
Closing out a three-run win at Coors, Raisel Iglesias allowed a two-out double and recorded a game-ending strikeout for his fifth save. He threw nine pitches (88.9 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
This snapped a two-game streak, allowing at least a run for the veteran closer. He owns a 1.091 WHIP with 10 strikeouts against two walks (18.2 K-BB%) through 11 innings.
- Daysbel Hernández notched his fourth hold, navigating around a hit and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless bottom of the eighth.
- Pierce Johnson retired the side and recorded a strikeout in the seventh, securing his second hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Daysbel Hernández | Dylan Lee
Baltimore Orioles
Entering a one-run contest against the Yankees’ top-of-the-lineup, Félix Bautista retired the side and recorded two strikeouts en route to his fourth save. He threw 14 pitches (8 strikes – 57.1 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
He’s been scoreless in his last six games and converted all four saves. He’s posted a 1.38 WHIP with 10 strikeouts versus six walks (11.5 K-BB%) in eighth innings.
- Gregory Soto stranded a runner in the seventh, then struggled in the eighth, allowing three hits and two earned runs while striking out two for his sixth hold.
- Yennier Cano allowed two hits and an unearned run during his one-third of the seventh.
- Keegan Akin retired all four batters, striking out three after entering at the top of the sixth.
Cincinnati Reds
Locking down his eighth save, Emilio Pagán retired the side on seven pitches (85.7 Strike%) without a whiff, preserving a two-run win over the Cardinals.
He faced the 2-3-4 lineup pocket and has converted his last four save opportunities. He has a 0.49 WHIP with 14 strikeouts against two walks (24 K-BB%) through 14.1 innings.
- Tony Santillan notched his eighth hold, tossing a clean top of the eighth and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Tony Santillan | Graham Ashcraft
Houston Astros
Preserving a three-run win, Josh Hader worked around Dillon Dingler’s two-out double with a game-ending strikeout for his eighth save. He threw 14 pitches (85.7 Strike%) and generated five whiffs (35.7 SwStr%) while recording two strikeouts.
He has a 0.71 WHIP with 19 strikeouts versus two walks (30.7 K-BB%) through 14 innings.
- Kaleb Ort allowed a hit, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out one in the eighth.
- Bryan Abreu stranded a runner and retired his only batter via strikeout for his ninth hold.
- Bryan King issued a walk and struck out one in two-thirds scoreless of the seventh for his eighth hold.
- Steven Okert collected his first win, firing a clean sixth and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Bryan King
Los Angeles Dodgers
Despite letting the “place” runner score on an RBI double, Kirby Yates emerged with his third win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the tenth. He allowed one hit and an unearned run on six pitches (66.7 Strike%) without a whiff.
Tanner Scott tossed a scoreless ninth, giving up a lead-off single, inducing a double play groundout, and recording a strikeout on 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) with three whiffs (27.3 SwStr%).
He has a 0.93 WHIP with 14 strikeouts (25.9 K-BB%) through 15 innings.
- Evan Phillips retired the side in the seventh.
- Anthony Banda suffered his first blown save, letting both inherited runners score after issuing a walk and serving up a game-tying Dane Myers grand slam at the top of the sixth. He finished with a hit, two earned runs, and a walk during his 1.2 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: *Tanner Scott | *Kirby Yates | Evan Phillips
*= match-up-based with a preferred save share
New York Mets
Not all saves are converted equally, and José Ureña gets credit for his first this season and the sixth of his career. He logged three innings, allowing seven hits, five earned runs, and a walk while striking out three during a lopsided win in Washington.
- Max Kranick worked a scoreless bottom of the sixth, yielding a hit and striking out one on 12 pitches (91.7 Strike%) with one whiff.
Hierarchy Remains: Edwin Díaz | Reed Garrett | Huascar Brazobán
The Athletics
Securing his ninth save, Mason Miller navigated around Marcus Semien’s lead-off walk with a groundout, a strikeout, and a game-ending strikeout, preserving a one-run win in Texas. He threw 16 pitches (50 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (12.5 SwStr%).
He’s appeared in consecutive games and three of the last four. He’s recorded 22 strikeouts against two walks (50 K-BB%) and a 0.727 WHIP across 11 innings.
- Tyler Ferguson retired the side for his sixth hold at the bottom of the eighth.
- Mitch Spence stranded a runner and logged 1.1 scoreless innings, yielding a hit and a walk, notching his second hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Tyler Ferguson | Justin Sterner
Quick Hit
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Per this post by Damon Allred of Arizona Sports, Kevin Ginkel will be activated before tonight’s game, with Drey Jameson being optioned as the according move. Ginkel has resided in Torey Lovullo’s circle of trust and could be a factor in save situations soon with a strong return from his rehab outings:
Updated Hierarchy: Justin Martinez | Shelby Miller | Kevin Ginkel
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