Thursday’s six-game slate only provided one win by a reliever and two saves.
| Reliever | Save # | Pitches | Strike% | SwStr% | K:BB |
| Shawn Armstrong | 2 | 13 | 53.8 | 15.4 | 0:0 |
| Raisel Iglesias | 7 | 10 | 70 | 0 | 0:0 |
For the save streamers, a light forecast:
Vulture Save Option for May 16
- Griffin Jax (MIN): Duran and Varland have appeared in consecutive contests.
Vulture Save Stash for May 17
- Shawn Armstrong (TEX): Even if Jackson or Martin pitch tonight, it’s unlikely either will be used in back-to-back games coming off of injury issues.
Here are the leverage notes of interest from Thursday.
Closer CliffsNotes
Atlanta Braves
Securing his seventh save, Raisel Iglesias worked around an infield single with a groundout and a game-ending double play grounder, preserving a three-run win over Washington. He faced the 6-7-8 lineup pocket and threw 10 pitches (70 Strike%) without a whiff.
He has a 1.44 WHIP with 19 strikeouts versus four walks (20 K-BB%) through 17.1 innings. This snapped a streak of three games of allowing at least a run.
- While recording his eighth hold, Dylan Lee gave up three hits, including CJ Abrams’ solo home run.
- Pierce Johnson walked one during a scoreless seventh, notching his fifth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Daysbel Hernández | Dylan Lee
Cincinnati Reds
Finishing a six-run win, Luis Mey fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts. He threw 12 pitches (7 strikes – 58.3 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (25 SwStr%).
He has a 0.68 WHIP with 11 strikeouts versus three walks (29.6 K-BB%) in 7.1 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Tony Santillan | Graham Ashcraft
Los Angeles Dodgers
Taking over at the top of the sixth during a lopsided contest, Justin Wrobleski was awarded his first win, logging four scoreless frames. He allowed one hit, recorded four strikeouts on 45 pitches (32 strikes – 71.1 Strike%), and produced six whiffs (13.3 SwStr%). Anthony Banda worked a scoreless fifth, walking and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: *Tanner Scott | *Kirby Yates | Alex Vesia
*= match-up-based approach with a primary save share
Minnesota Twins
Completing a combined shutout, Jhoan Durán navigated around consecutive two-out singles with a game-ending strikeout in a non-save capacity. He threw 27 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and induced two whiffs.
He’s posted a 1.03 WHIP with 25 strikeouts against nine walks (18.6 K-BB%) across 21.1 innings.
- Louis Varland tossed a scoreless eighth, giving up a hit and striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Louis Varland
Texas Rangers
Preserving a 1-0 margin and taking the baton from Jacob deGrom, Shawn Armstrong worked around a two-out walk with a game-ending pop-out for his second save. He threw 13 pitches (7 strikes – 53.8 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%).
He’s converted a save in consecutive appearances, filling in for Luke Jackson.
Hierarchy Remains: Luke Jackson | Chris Martin | Robert Garcia
Until Jackson or Martin return to game action, it appears Armstrong has ascended into the right-handed leverage complement to Garcia.
Closer Monkey Emails for 2025
This year, the daily emails will change. Those interested in daily free updates with links should subscribe to our page at Substack. Subscribers to the former site will not transfer over; readers must register using the new link.
Premium subscribers can still use this link for daily, ad-free content or submit a $25 payment via Venmo to @gjewett9.
Thanks for being part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.
Statistical Credits: