Monday’s slate featured 11 games, which resulted in multiple storylines. Luke Jackson left his save chance after being hit by a comebacker and will be considered day-to-day until further results are shared, though his X-ray came back negative. Relievers for both teams were let down by their defense in the Pirates and Mets game, decided by a walk-off at the bottom of the ninth. And regression came calling for the Padres closer. Relievers posted five wins, though two were accompanied by a blown save, and converted five saves while suffering four losses.
| Reliever | Save # | Pitches | Strike% | SwStr% | K:BB |
| Ryan Helsley | 8 | 13 | 69.2 | 30.8 | 2:0 |
| Carlos Estévez | 12 | 16 | 75 | 12.5 | 1:0 |
| Shelby Miller | 2 | 9 | 77.8 | 11.1 | 1:0 |
| Drew Pomeranz | 1 | 16 | 62.5 | 6.3 | 2:0 |
| Jacob Webb | 1 | 11 | 54.5 | 0 | 0:0 |
Three Takeaways
(1) Suarez struggles with his command: Appearances like this happen occasionally for a closer. Robert Suarez took over at the top of the ninth with a two-run lead and recorded a strikeout before allowing a one-out Luis Rengifo single. Then the wheels came off the bus when the closer issued four consecutive walks and departed with a tied contest for his first blown save. He entered this outing, allowing four walks against his first 61 batters (6.6 BB%), which rose to 11.9 percent after this contest. Alek Jacob replaced him and gave up Taylor Ward’s grand slam, handing Suarez his first loss and a final line of one hit, five earned runs, four walks, and a strikeout in one-third of the ninth. He threw 33 pitches (16 strikes – 48.5 Strike%) and only induced one whiff. Here is his pitch illustrator from last night:
This is the result when a reliever reliant on his four-seam fastball cannot locate. He has a 0.83 WHIP with 19 strikeouts versus eight walks (16.4 K-BB%) across 18 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Suarez | Jason Adam | Jeremiah Estrada
(2) Iglesias deserved better, but: After recording an out, Raisel Iglesias allowed Keibert Ruiz’s single, followed by Luis García Jr.’s single, but induced a fielder’s choice groundout, placing the runners at second and third with two outs. Even though Iglesias produced a potential game-ending groundout, Nick Allen’s throwing error on an infield hit scored both runners (one unearned), resulting in his third blown save. He collected his third win because of a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. He threw 28 pitches (17 strikes – 60.7 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (10.7 SwStr%). Here are his pitch results from last night:
The good news is that he emerged victorious, but he allowed multiple hits in an outing for the fifth time in his last eight appearances. He owns a 1.35 WHIP through 16.1 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Daysbel Hernández | Dylan Lee
(3) Are the Cubs in full fluid mode? Recording his first save since August 11, 2020, Drew Pomeranz tossed a scoreless top of the ninth, allowing Connor Norby’s single before producing a game-ending strikeout. Pomeranz threw 16 pitches (62.5 Strike%) and induced one whiff while registering two strikeouts.
This felt like a match-up-based approach, with him facing Kyle Stowers leading off the inning. He remains unscored upon through eight games this season, posting a 0.52 WHIP with eight strikeouts against two walks (21.5 K-BB%) across 7.2 innings. Daniel Palencia secured his third hold, tossing a scoreless eighth, walking one and striking out two. He owns an eight-game scoreless streak with 10 strikeouts versus four walks over eight innings. Porter Hodge had appeared in the previous two games and was unavailable, but Ryan Pressly was not involved after pitching in a low leverage situation last Friday. Here are the recent usage patterns for the Cubs:
How Craig Counsell structures his upcoming save situations will be telling. For now:
Hierarchy Remains: *Porter Hodge | *Ryan Pressly | Daniel Palencia
*= closer-by-committee (roles in flux)
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for May 13
- Jason Adam (SD): Suarez threw 33 pitches last night.
- Pierce Johnson (ATL): Iglesias has appeared in back-to-back games, throwing 41 pitches between them.
- Jacob Webb (TEX): With Jackson unavailable with swelling in his elbow from a comeback hit and Martin and Garcia having pitched in consecutive games, it’s Webb for the save chance if provided tonight.
Vulture Save Stashes for May 14
- John Schreiber (KC): If Estévez and Erceg pitch tonight, it’s back-to-back games.
- Phil Maton (STL): If Helsley appears tonight, it will be consecutive contests and three in the last four days.
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Monday.
Closer CliffsNotes
Arizona Diamondbacks
Protecting a one-run lead, Shelby Miller nailed down his second save, retiring the side against the Giants’ 5-6-7 lineup pocket and recording one strikeout. He threw nine pitches (77.8 Strike%) and induced one whiff (11.1 SwStr%). Through five outings this month, he has been scoreless in four, converting two of three save opportunities. He has a 0.85 WHIP with 20 strikeouts versus five walks (21.7 K-BB%) in 17.2 innings.
- Jalen Beeks notched his seventh hold, walking one and striking out one at the bottom of the eighth versus the top of the lineup.
Hierarchy Remains: Shelby Miller | Jalen Beeks | Ryan Thompson
Kansas City Royals
Securing his 12th save, Carlos Estévez worked around Jose Altuve’s lead-off single with two flyouts sandwiched around a strikeout for a scoreless ninth, preserving a two-run win. He threw 16 pitches (75 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (12.5 SwStr%).
He’s posted a 1.16 WHIP with 17 strikeouts against nine walks (9.9 K-BB%) across 19 innings. Plus, his velocity has been ticked up in this outing:
- Lucas Erceg let his only inherited runner score on a fielder’s choice groundout while retiring both batters in the eighth, notching his MLB-leading 13th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Carlos Estévez | Lucas Erceg | Daniel Lynch IV
New York Mets
With a one-run lead at the top of the ninth, Huascar Brazobán allowed Alexander Canario’s lead-off single, followed by a Francisco Lindor error and a sacrifice bunt placed runners at second and third. The game-tying run (unearned) scored on an infield single, but Brazobán bore down and produced an inning-ending double play groundout by Bryan Reynolds. He was saddled with his second blown save but collected his second win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the frame.
- Dedniel Núnez notched his first hold, retiring the side in the eighth.
- José Buttó let his only inherited runner score, allowing a walk and striking out one in a scoreless seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Edwin Díaz | Ryne Stanek | Reed Garrett
Pittsburgh Pirates
Entering a tied game at the bottom of the ninth, David Bednar recorded a strikeout. Francisco Lindor reached on an error, moved to third on Juan Soto’s single, and scored the game-winning run (unearned) on Pete Alonso’s walk-off sacrifice fly. Bednar got behind in the count (3-1) and challenged him with a four-seam fastball right down the middle, which was an interesting approach.
This resulted in his fourth loss, as he allowed a hit and an unearned run and recorded a strikeout on 11 pitches (72.7% Strike Rate) with one whiff.
Since April 19, Bednar has made 11 appearances and posted a 0.935 WHIP with 16 strikeouts versus one walk (34.9 K-BB%) while allowing three runs (two earned). If the first grounder is fielded, this may have ended differently. It’s a game of inches.
- Colin Holderman worked 1.1 scoreless, giving up a hit and a walk.
- Caleb Ferguson was tagged with his second blown save, allowing a hit, a hit batter, and two earned runs while striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: *David Bednar | *Dennis Santana | Caleb Ferguson
St. Louis Cardinals
For the first time this season, Ryan Helsley retired the side during a save opportunity, slamming the door on his eighth save and striking out two while preserving a one-run win against Philadelphia. He faced the 8-9-1 lineup pocket and threw 13 pitches (69.2 Strike%) with four whiffs (30.8 SwStr%).
He’s produced a 1.53 WHIP with 16 strikeouts against ten walks (9 K-BB%) across 15 innings. He’s been scoreless in four straight, recording a save in each.
- JoJo Romero stranded two runners and retired Bryson Stott on an inning-ending flyout for his fifth hold.
- Kyle Leahy collected his first win, logging 2.1 scoreless frames, yielding two hits and striking out two. This extended his scoreless streak to nine games, spanning 11.2 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Helsley | Phil Maton | Kyle Leahy
Texas Rangers
Forced into action after a comebacker knocked Luke Jackson from the contest, Jacob Webb stranded his inherited runner with a scoreless ninth for his first save. He allowed a one-out single by Michael Toglia and walked Sean Bouchard, loading the bases before inducing a game-ending Kyle Farmer double-play groundout. Webb threw 11 pitches (54.5 Strike%) without a whiff. This represents his first save since May 8, 2024.
- Chris Martin notched his ninth hold, retiring the side and striking out one at the top of the eighth. He owns a 0.91 WHIP with 23 strikeouts in 18.2 innings.
- Robert Garcia stranded a runner, walking and striking out one in two-thirds scoreless in the seventh. He and Martin will share save chances based on match-ups if Jackson misses time.
After the game, Bruce Bochy reported Jackson’s elbow swelled up but was non-committal about an IL-stint.
Updated Hierarchy: *Luke Jackson | *Chris Martin | *Robert Garcia
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Cleveland Guardians: Jakob Junis collected his first win, entering at the top of the fourth and navigating around two hits and a walk.
- Los Angeles Angels: Capping a come-from-behind rally during the top of the ninth, Kenley Jansen fired a clean bottom of the frame while recording two strikeouts against the Padres’ 8-9-1 lineup pocket. He threw 17 pitches (12 strikes – 70.6 Strike%) without a whiff. He has a 1.27 WHIP with 11 strikeouts against two walks (19.6 K-BB%) through 11 innings. Brock Burke collected his fourth win despite allowing a hit and an earned run at the bottom of the eighth.
- New York Yankees: Called upon with two outs and a three-run lead at the bottom of the eighth, Devin Williams took over with two outs. He allowed Randy Arozarena’s single, then retired Rowdy Tellez via flyout for his third hold. The save chance was removed once his teammates scored three runs at the top of the ninth. He threw four pitches, all strikes, and induced one whiff (25 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in five of his last six games since April 28, with eight strikeouts against four walks (19.1 K-BB%) across five innings.
- Philadelphia Phillies: Taking over a tied game at the top of the seventh, Matt Strahm made one mistake, allowing Masyn Winn’s go-ahead solo home run, resulting in his second loss. Strahm also recorded a strikeout while throwing 12 pitches (75 Strike%) and induced one whiff. Orion Kerkering fired a clean eighth and struck out one.
- Washington Nationals: Called upon with a runner on second and one out, Andrew Chafin allowed Alex Verdugo’s walk-off RBI single, scoring his inherited runner. Jackson Rutledge gets tagged with his first loss, allowing a hit and an earned run while striking out one over 1.1 innings.
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