Thursday’s split slate provided four reliever wins and five saves versus four losses and two blown saves. Arizona closed out its first save with its co-closers on the injured list; the Reds demoted their projected Opening Day closer, and another save for a Rockies’ rookie.
Three Takeaways
(1) Is it Miller time? Preserving a two-run lead and recording his first save, Shelby Miller retired the side on eight pitches (62.5 Strike%) without a whiff.
He’s posted a 0.59 WHP with 15 strikeouts versus four walks (22 K-BB%) through 13.2 innings. Kevin Ginkel allowed two hits, including Juan Soto’s solo home run, and issued a walk while striking out three on 34 pitches (19 strikes – 55.9 Strike%) and induced two whiffs. However, he entered against the Mets’ top of the order. Ryan Thompson gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless seventh, securing his fourth hold. Torey Lovullo maintained in his pregame presser he will mix and match in the late innings, meaning Miller and Ginkel may share saves. Stay tuned.
Updated Hierarchy: *Shelby Miller | *Kevin Ginkel | Ryan Thompson
(2) Alexis shipped to Louisville: One of the easiest fades this preseason was Alexis Díaz. His past command issues and Terry Francona as his manager did not feel like a match. After a rough spring, the team placed Díaz on the injured list and let him get extra outings at Triple-A. Once activated, things did not go well. Through six games, he allowed more home runs (4) than strikeouts (3) and posted a 2.167 WHIP in six innings. It seems like he needs a fresh start with a new franchise. Here are his trends courtesy of Fangraphs:
(3) Agnos secured his second save: Appearing on consecutive days and securing the save in both, Zach Agnos retired the side and preserved a one-run at San Francisco. He threw 11 pitches (63.6 Strike%) without a whiff against the 7-8-9 lineup pocket.
He’s posted a 0.82 WHIP with one strikeout through 7.1 innings and now leads the team in saves. However, this is not a robust save environment, especially with half of the team’s games in Coors. Beneath his 0.00 ERA lies a 3.51 xERA and a 5.38 SIERA, setting up a range of regression for the reliever. The good news is that he’s only recorded one strikeout despite a 14.3 swinging strike percentage. His arsenal may translate, but he’s purely a road-stream play until a larger sample size occurs.
Adjusted Hierarchy: *Zach Agnos | *Seth Halvorsen | Tyler Kinley
*= closer-by-committee
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for May 2
- Will Vest (DET): Kahnle has pitched in consecutive games.
- Jalen Beeks (ARI): Miller, Ginkel, and Thompson have worked in back-to-back contests.
- Seth Halvorsen (COL): Agnos has appeared in the previous two games.
Vulture Save Stashes for May 3
- Tyler Ferguson (ATH): It will be consecutive outings if Miller appears tonight.
- Porter Hodge (CHC): He will be off today, and if Pressly pitches, it will be back-to-back games for the veteran closer.
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Thursday.
Closer CliffsNotes
Chicago Cubs
Finishing a five-run win, Ryan Pressly retired the side against the Pirates’ 6-7-8 hitters on 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9 Strike%) without a whiff.
Since April 8, he’s posted a seven-game scoreless streak with three strikeouts against one walk and a 0.571 WHIP through seven innings.
- Porter Hodge notched his sixth hold, allowing a hit, an unearned run, and a walk in the eighth.
- Julian Merryweather tossed a clean seventh, securing his seventh hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Pressly | Porter Hodge | Julian Merryweather
Cleveland Guardians
Despite letting the “place” runner score at the top of the tenth, Kolby Allard collected his first win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning.
- Tim Herrin logged 1.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and a walk.
- Joey Cantillo gave up a hit and a walk while striking out one during two-thirds scoreless of the eighth.
- Hunter Gaddis was tagged with his second blown save, permitting his only inherited runner to score, allowing two hits and a walk with one strikeout in two-thirds of the seventh.
- Jakob Junis gets credit for his third hold, giving up three hits and two earned runs across two-thirds combined innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Emmanuel Clase | Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis
Cincinnati Reds
Taking over at the top of the fifth, Graham Ashcraft fired three clean frames and recorded four strikeouts while collecting his second win. He threw 31 pitches (26 strikes – 83.9 Strike%) and generated six whiffs (19.4 SwStr%).
He owns a 1.09 WHIP with 17 strikeouts against seven walks (15.9 K-BB%) across 15.2 innings.
- Taylor Rogers worked a clean eighth, striking out one.
- Luis Mey debuted with a clean top of the ninth and recorded one strikeout on 15 pitches (66.7 Strike%) without a whiff.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Tony Santillan | Graham Ashcraft
Los Angeles Angels
Taking over at the top of the sixth with a two-run lead, Brock Burke retired the side and recorded a strikeout for his fourth hold.
- Ryan Zeferjahn tossed a clean seventh but returned for the eighth, allowing Gleyber Torres’ lead-off single before being removed.
- Reid Detmers not only let his only inherited runner score but also gave up three hits, four earned runs, and a walk during one-third of the eighth, resulting in his second loss and a first blown save. Zeferjahn finished with a hit, an earned run, and a strikeout in his combined inning of relief, getting credit for his third hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Brock Burke | Ryan Zeferjahn
Minnesota Twins
Suffering his second loss and second blown save, Justin Topa allowed a game-tying RBI single by José Ramírez, who stole second. After an intentional walk (Kyle Manzardo), he allowed Angel Martinez’s walk-off single.
Jhoan Durán escaped with a scoreless ninth, allowing two hits and a walk while recording three strikeouts. He threw 24 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and induced four whiffs (16.7 SwStr%).
- Griffin Jax fired a clean eighth versus the Guardians’ 2-3-4 lineup pocket and recorded two strikeouts on 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) with two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%).
- Louis Varland worked a clean seventh, striking out one against the 8-9-1 hitters.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Louis Varland
San Francisco Giants
In order of appearance, Camilo Doval took over at the top of the seventh and retired both batters, recording his second hold. He only threw seven pitches (57.1 Strike%) and induced one whiff (14.3 SwStr%) versus Kyle Farmer and Nick Martini. This marks consecutive outings during the seventh inning.
- Tyler Rogers entered against the 9-1-2 pocket. He allowed Brenton Doyle’s one-out single, followed by a stolen base and Jordan Beck’s RBI double, tying the game. With two outs, Hunter Goodman’s RBI single plated the go-ahead run, resulting in Rogers’ first loss and first blown save, snapping his eight-game scoreless streak.
- Randy Rodríguez tossed a scoreless ninth, walking one and striking out two.
Updated Hierarchy: Ryan Walker | Camilo Doval | Tyler Rogers
The Athletics
Nailing down his tenth save, Mason Miller retired the side and recorded one strikeout for his tenth save. He threw nine pitches (66.7 Strike%) and produced one whiff. He has a 0.67 WHIP with 23 strikeouts against two walks (48.8 K-BB%) across 12 innings.
- Justin Sterner tossed a clean eighth and recorded a strikeout for his fifth hold.
- T.J. McFarland faced one opponent and retired him via strikeout, stranding two runners and recording his third hold.
- Mitch Spence was credited with his third hold, giving up a hit and a walk over two-thirds scoreless.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Tyler Ferguson | Justin Sterner
Toronto Blue Jays
Securing his second save, Yimi García retired the side and recorded two strikeouts at the top of the ninth, finishing a two-run win over the Red Sox. He threw 12 pitches (75 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (25 SwStr%).
This extends his scoreless streak to eight games, spanning 8.2 innings, giving up three hits and two walks while registering 12 strikeouts (32.2 K-BB%).
- Mason Fluarty collected his second win, logging 1.1 clean innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Jeff Hoffman | Yimi García | Chad Green
Washington Nationals
Although he allowed a two-out triple, Kyle Finnegan recorded his tenth save by inducing a game-ending lineout, closing a two-run win over the Phillies. He threw eight pitches (62.5 Strike%) without a whiff.
He has a 1.50 WHIP with 13 strikeouts against seven walks (10.7 K-BB%) over 12.2 innings.
- Jorge López notched his third hold, giving up a hit and a walk during a scoreless eighth.
- Jose A. Ferrer logged two scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out three.
Hierarchy Remains: Kyle Finnegan | Jose A. Ferrer | Jorge López
Quick Hits
- Boston Red Sox: During the bottom of the eighth, Justin Slaten suffered his second loss and a first blown save. After recording an out, he allowed a single, followed by Bo Bichette’s double and Vlad Guerrero Jr.’s go-ahead three-run home run. Slaten threw 29 pitches (17 strikes – 58.6 Strike%) and induced four whiffs. He has given up at least a run in consecutive outings.
- Detroit Tigers: Tommy Kahnle matched up with the Angels’ 2-3-4 lineup pocket and retired the side while striking out two for his second hold. He threw 11 pitches (81.8 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%). He has a 0.55 WHIP with 12 strikeouts against three walks (19.6 K-BB%) across 12.2 innings.
- Milwaukee Brewers: Letting his rookie wear one, Pat Murphy kept Craig Yoho in during a pivotal combined inning of relief. He allowed three hits and five earned runs while walking four.
- Philadelphia Phillies: Pressed into action with runners on first and third with two outs, Orion Kerkering let one score during a double steal and retired his only batter via strikeout at the top of the sixth.
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Statistical Credits: