There was some Friday night chaos across a bevy of high-leverage events, in particular, a wild contest in Arizona with multiple lead changes preceding a ninth-inning meltdown by Diamondback relievers:
Relievers recorded four wins and secured nine saves while suffering three losses last night. Our takeaways feature a Cubs reliever “getting in work,” Bednar used in the eighth, and Arizona’s collapse.
Three Takeaways
(1) Pressly needs more work: In a column ($) for The Athletic, Sahadev Sharma shared Tommy Hottovoy’s thoughts about the recent implosion by Ryan Pressly. He inferred that the veteran reliever needed more consistent work, hence his appearance at the bottom of the sixth last night, with his team trailing by five runs. He faced the top of the Mets’ lineup, allowing Francisco Lindor’s single and walking Juan Soto while striking out one in a scoreless appearance. He threw 19 pitches (11 strikes – 57.9 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (15.8 SwStr%).
And his results:
Fantasy players prefer clarity and are known to rage-drop a struggling closer after a historically bad appearance. However, there are no assurances Porter Hodge will receive the next save chance, even if he should. In the long term, this is the solution unless the team adds a reliever before the trade deadline. For now, it feels like Pressly remains in the high-leverage mix and until he appears ahead of Hodge:
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Pressly | Porter Hodge | Daniel Palencia
(2) Bednar’s as the opening act for Santana: Musical pun aside, in the first save situation under the guidance of new manager Don Kelly, David Bednar was used at the bottom of the eighth with a 3-0 lead, entering against Atlanta’s 9-1-2 lineup pocket. He notched his third hold, navigating around two hits and striking out three, throwing 23 pitches (16 strikes – 69.6 Strike%) with two whiffs (8.7 SwStr%).
Although Dennis Santana could not complete the combined shoutout, he finished a one-run win for his fourth save. He allowed Eli White’s lead-off triple and induced a groundout before Michael Harris II produced a sacrifice fly. With two outs, Alex Verdugo singled, took second on defensive indifference, and scored on Drake Baldwin’s RBI single before a game-ending flyout by Ozzie Albies. Santana gave up three hits and two earned runs on 22 pitches (13 strikes – 59.1 Strike%) with two whiffs (9.1 SwStr%).
This hierarchy was trending toward Bednar resuming his closer role, but this usage pattern keeps it as:
Hierarchy Remains: *David Bednar | *Dennis Santana | Caleb Ferguson
*= closer-by-committee
(3) A nightmare in the ninth for Arizona: Called upon with two runners on and one out, Ryan Thompson allowed Shohei Ohtani’s three-run home run, putting an earned run on his ledger during two-thirds of the ninth. Kevin Ginkel suffered his first loss and blown save, giving up four hits, five earned runs, and a hit batter while striking out one in one-third of the ninth, nuking his fantasy manager’s ratios.
He’s allowed at least a run during four of his five appearances this month. Shelby Miller worked a scoreless eighth, yielding a hit and striking out one for his sixth hold.
His assignment in this contest was taking on the top of the Dodgers’ lineup during the highest-leveraged situation to prevent them from turning the lineup over. It worked initially but ended up being a tactical half-measure. Jalen Beeks notched his sixth hold, recording two outs, one via strikeout in the seventh. Cristian Mena logged 3.2 scoreless frames, issuing one walk and striking out five in his MLB debut.
For those seeking a positive update, this tweet shares Justin Martinez, who has been throwing, and A.J. Puk, who is asymptomatic and trending toward throwing soon, though no timeframe for a return has been set.
Updated Hierarchy: *Shelby Miller | *Jalen Beeks | Kevin Ginkel
*= match-up-based approach
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for May 10
- Chad Green (TOR): Hoffman has pitched in three of the previous four games, and García threw 28 pitches last night.
- Bryan Baker (BAL): He was warming before Cano took over, but he’s pitched in consecutive games, and Bautista has not worked in back-to-back games yet.
Vulture Save Stash for May 11
- Jason Adam (SD): If Suarez pitches today, it’s consecutive appearances at Coors.
- Tayler Scott (HOU): If Hader gets deployed today, he will have appeared in back-to-back contests.
- Taylor Clarke (KC): If Estévez and Erceg are used today, each reliever will have worked in two straight games.
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Friday.
Closer CliffsNotes
Baltimore Orioles
Shutting the door on his seventh save, Félix Bautista retired the side and recorded two strikeouts against the Angels’ 3-4-5 lineup pocket, finishing a three-run win. He threw 12 pitches (75 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%).
This extended his scoreless streak to nine games since April seven, during which he’s converted seven saves with 11 strikeouts against three walks (25 K-BB%) and a 0.556 WHIP in nine innings.
- Keegan Akin stranded two runners and retired his only batter in the eighth for his sixth hold.
- Yennier Cano allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one in one-third of the eighth, getting credit for his eighth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Félix Bautista | Yennier Cano | Gregory Soto
Boston Red Sox
Summoned at the top of the 12th, Sean Newcomb suffered his fourth loss, recording an out on a sacrifice bunt, followed by Freddy Fermin’s walk-off RBI single.
- Brennan Bernardino stranded two runners and retired his only batter in the 11th.
- Garrett Whitlock was tagged with his third blown save, giving up a hit, an unearned run, and a walk while striking out two in two-thirds of the 11th.
- Aroldis Chapman fired a clean tenth, striking out two on 16 pitches (62.5 Strike%) and producing two whiffs (12.5 SwStr%).
- Justin Slaten retired all four batters faced and stranded two at the bottom of the eighth.
- Justin Wilson gave up a hit and a walk while striking out two in two-thirds of the eighth.
- Greg Weissert issued two walks but escaped with a scoreless seventh.
Updated Hierarchy: Aroldis Chapman | Liam Hendriks | Justin Slaten
Chicago White Sox
In order of appearance, Jordan Leasure worked a scoreless sixth, giving up a hit and striking out two, securing his fifth hold on 12 pitches (83.3 Strike%) with four whiffs (33.3 SwStr%).
- Caleb Freeman allowed two hits, including a solo home run, and recorded one out, resulting in his first blown save in the seventh.
- Cam Booser allowed a hit and struck out one in two-thirds of the seventh, collecting his first win when his teammates rallied for three runs at the bottom of the frame.
- Steven Wilson worked around two walks for a scoreless eighth and notched his fourth hold.
- Brandon Eisert tossed a scoreless ninth, walking and striking out one, preserving a four-run margin.
Hierarchy Remains: *Jordan Leasure | *Cam Booser | *Steven Wilson
*= closer-by-committee
Detroit Tigers
Locking down his fourth save, Will Vest fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded one strikeout, preserving a one-run win while facing the Rangers’ 2-3-4 lineup pocket. He threw 10 pitches (90 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (20 SwStr%).
He has a 1.00 WHIP with 19 strikeouts versus seven walks (18.2 K-BB%) across 17 innings.
- Tommy Kahnle allowed a hit during a scoreless eighth, securing his third hold. He’s posted a 0.75 WHIP with 13 strikeouts in 13.2 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: *Will Vest | *Tommy Kahnle | Tyler Holton
Houston Astros
Converting his ninth save and preserving a combined shutout, Josh Hader navigated around a one-out Tyler Stephenson double with consecutive strikeouts. He threw 20 pitches (65 Strike%) and generated seven whiffs (35 SwStr%) while recording three strikeouts.
He’s posted a 0.882 WHIP with 25 strikeouts versus four walks (31.3 K-BB%) across 17 innings.
- Bryan Abreu allowed a hit and a walk while striking out two in a scoreless eighth, securing his tenth hold.
- Bryan King fired a clean eighth and recorded a strikeout for his tenth hold.
- Kaleb Ort stranded a runner and retired his only batter in the sixth, notching his first hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Bryan King
Kansas City Royals
Benefiting from a walk-off at the bottom of the 12th, Steven Cruz earned his first career win. He stranded a runner while retiring both batters faced at the top of the inning, including a strikeout of Abraham Toro.
- Daniel Lynch IV gave up a hit and an unearned run during 1.1 innings between the 11th and 12th.
- Carlos Estévez fired a clean top of the tenth and recorded a strikeout on 16 pitches (75 Strike%) with two whiffs (12.5 SwStr%) facing the 7-8-9 hitters.
- Lucas Erceg worked 1.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit against the heart of the batting order.
- John Schreiber gave up a hit and recorded a strikeout in two-thirds of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Carlos Estévez | Lucas Erceg | Daniel Lynch IV
Los Angeles Dodgers
Sealing a come-from-behind rally, Tanner Scott retired the side and recorded two strikeouts at the bottom of the ninth for his ninth save. He threw 19 pitches (12 strikes – 63.2 Strike%) and induced two whiffs.
He’s been scoreless in his last six outings, and this marks his first save since April 20. He has a 0.802 WHIP with 19 strikeouts against one walk (27.3 K-BB%) over 18.2 innings.
- Alex Vesia allowed two solo home runs in the eighth but gets credited with his first win.
- Luis García logged 1.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out one.
Updated Hierarchy: *Tanner Scott | *Kirby Yates | Alex Vesia
*= match-up-based approach with a primary save share
Minnesota Twins
Securing his second save, Danny Coulombe retired the side against the Giants’ 1-2-3 lineup pocket, recording two strikeouts on nine pitches (88.9 Strike%) with two whiffs (22.2 SwStr%). This extended the team’s six-game win streak, and Coulombe remains scoreless through 17 appearances, spanning 15.1 innings.
- Louis Varland notched his sixth hold, stranding a runner and retiring both batters in the eighth. He’s been scoreless in his last four games and five of six this month.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Louis Varland
San Diego Padres
Forced into action with two runners on and one out at Coors, Robert Suarez induced a game-ending double play groundout against Sean Bouchard, securing his MLB-leading 15th save. He threw three pitches, all strikes, and produced one whiff (33.3 SwStr%). He owns a 0.565 WHIP with 18 strikeouts against four walks (22.9 K-BB%) across 17.2 innings. He’s converted 17 straight save opportunities since September 22, 2024.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Suarez | Jason Adam | Jeremiah Estrada
Tampa Bay Rays
With the leverage ladder running on fumes, Eric Orze filled in capably, converting his second save while working around a two-out single and recording a strikeout in a scoreless ninth. He threw 15 pitches (66.7 Strike%) without a whiff. He has a 1.35 WHIP with eight strikeouts against six walks across 13.1 innings.
- Cole Sulser suffered his first blown save, allowing a hit, an earned run, and two walks with one strikeout at the top of the eighth, but was awarded his first win courtesy of a rally at the bottom of the inning.
- Mason Montgomery fired a clean seventh and recorded two strikeouts for his sixth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks | Edwin Uceta | Garrett Cleavinger
Toronto Blue Jays
Bouncing back with a scoreless bottom of the ninth, Jeff Hoffman posted his eighth save while preserving a three-run win in Seattle. He let J.P. Crawford reach on a wild pitch after a strikeout but recorded a strikeout of Jorge Polanco and a game-ending fielder’s choice groundout against Julio Rodríguez. Hoffman threw 18 pitches (14 strikes – 77.8 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (22.2 SwStr%) while striking out three.
- Yimi García worked into then out of trouble, loading the bases on a hit and two walks before retiring the next three batters for his fifth hold.
- Brendon Little logged 1.2 scoreless frames, stranded one of two inherited runners in the sixth, allowing a hit and striking out three for his eighth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Jeff Hoffman | Yimi García | Chad Green
Quick Hits
- Colorado Rockies: Working a scoreless top of the ninth during an eventual loss, Jake Bird issued a walk and recorded a strikeout. Zach Agnos allowed two hits and an earned run while striking out one in the eighth. Seth Halvorsen fired a clean seventh and recorded two strikeouts on 14 pitches (9 strikes – 64.3 Strike%) with four whiffs (28.6 SwStr%).
- Los Angeles Angels: Getting in work, Kenley Jansen gave up an RBI triple by Gunnar Henderson, scoring his only inherited runner and recording two outs in a non-save capacity.
- Milwaukee Brewers: Jared Koenig suffered his first loss, giving up two hits, an earned run, and two walks, including one with the bases loaded while striking out two in two-thirds of the eighth. Joel Payamps stranded three runners, striking out his only batter in the eighth.
- Philadelphia Phillies: Tossing a scoreless bottom of the eighth during a shutout loss, Orion Kerkering allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout on 19 pitches (14 strikes – 73,7 Strike%) with two whiffs.
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