Relievers recorded two wins and seven saves while suffering three losses during Friday’s full slate.
| Reliever | Save # | Pitches | Strike% | SwStr% | K:BB |
| José Alvarado | 7 | 6 | 83.3 | 33.3 | 1:0 |
| Beau Brieske | 1 | 18 | 72.2 | 11.1 | 0:0 |
| Kyle Finnegan | 14 | 15 | 60 | 0 | 1:0 |
| Raisel Iglesias | 8 | 15 | 73.3 | 6.7 | 1:0 |
| Emilio Pagán | 10 | 16 | 62.5 | 18.8 | 1:0 |
| Cole Sands | 2 | 11 | 72.7 | 27.3 | 2:0 |
| Luke Weaver | 5 | 2 | 100 | 0 | 0:0 |
Three Takeaways
(1) Will Devin’s role be decided soon? Posting his second consecutive clean appearance, Devin Williams struck out the side at the top of the eighth against the Mets’ 3-4-5 lineup pocket. He had 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%).
And his pitch illustrator:
He’s been scoreless in seven of his last eight outings since April 28, recording a win and three holds across seven innings with the following results:
| Since 4.28 | Pitches | Strike% | K:BB | K-BB% | WHIP | SIERA | SwStr% | Contact% |
| Devin Williams | 106 | 63.2 | 11:4 | 25.9 | 0.86 | 2.66 | 17.9 | 57.8 |
These are aligned with his career rates, and Aaron Boone faces a tough decision. Will he keep Williams in a set-up capacity or switch Luke Weaver back into the HLR (highest-leveraged reliever) role and make Williams the closer again?
(2) Is Pressly on the road back? Since his epic meltdown against San Francisco on May 6, Ryan Pressly has recorded three scoreless appearances, two in lower-leveraged situations. He did strand three baserunners on May 13 with an inning-ending strikeout. Over his last three games, he’s allowed two hits and a walk while striking out three on 39 pitches (66.7 Strike%) with eight whiffs (20.5 SwStr%). Hitters have a .222/.300/.333 slash line in this limited sample despite a 33.3 line drive percentage. With the leverage ladder in flux, his upcoming outings may answer if he can find his way back into save chances. For now:
Adjusted Hierarchy: *Porter Hodge | *Brad Keller | *Drew Pomeranz
*= closer-by-committee with evolving roles
(3) Camilo’s streaking: Closing an eight-run win over The Athletics, Camilo Doval fired a clean top of the ninth while striking out the side against the 4-5-6 hitters. He threw 12 pitches (83.3 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (33.3 SwStr%).
This extended his scoreless streak to 16 games, during which he’s recorded a win, three saves, and six holds with the following results:
| Since 4.12 | Pitches | Strike% | K:BB | K-BB% | WHIP | SIERA | SwStr% | Contact% |
| Camilo Doval | 187 | 65.2 | 15:4 | 21.6 | 0.46 | 2.74 | 16 | 68.1 |
Those in SOLDS formats can reap the rewards of his stretch, but Ryan Walker remains atop of the hierarchy:
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Walker | Camilo Doval | Tyler Rogers
Another light forecast for the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for May 17
- Pierce Johnson (ATL): Iglesias has pitched in consecutive contests, and Hernández threw 23 pitches last night.
- Yennier Cano (BAL): Only if desperate since he’s been struggling recently, but Bautista threw 20 pitches in Friday’s loss and has not appeared on consecutive days yet.
Vulture Save Stashes for May 18
- Luis Mey (CIN): If Pagán, Santillan, and Ashcraft pitch today, it’s back-to-back games for the Reds’ leverage triumvirate. What better way to cut one’s teeth in a save situation than the White Sox?
- Jorge López (WSH): If Finnegan pitches today, it will be consecutive games and three in four days.
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Friday.
Closer CliffsNotes
Atlanta Braves – Entering with a three-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, Raisel Iglesias recorded his eighth save. His outing began by hitting Alex Bregman with a pitch and retired the next two batters, though an earned run scored on Trevor Story’s RBI single before a game-ending flyout. He finished with a hit and an earned run while striking out one on 15 pitches (11 strikes – 73.3 Strike%) with one whiff.
He’s allowed at least a run in four outings since May 8. Iglesias has a 1.42 WHIP with 20 strikeouts against four walks (20 K-BB%) through 18.1 innings.
- Daysbel Hernández notched his seventh hold, walking and striking out one in a scoreless eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Daysbel Hernández | Dylan Lee
Baltimore Orioles – In his first appearance since May 11, Félix Bautista displayed signs of rust, walking the first two batters he faced and allowing the go-ahead run on an infield single, not checking the runner who scored from second, resulting in his first loss. He finished with a hit, an earned run, and two walks on 20 pitches (35 Strike%) without a whiff.
- Keegan Akin suffered his first blown save, giving up James Wood’s game-tying solo home run and recording a strikeout at the top of the eighth.
- Bryan Baker stranded two runners and retired both batters via strikeout in the seventh for his second hold.
- Gregory Soto gave up a walk and struck out one while retiring two batters across the sixth and seventh innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Félix Bautista | Yennier Cano | Gregory Soto
Cincinnati Reds – Preserving a one-run lead, Emilio Pagán retired the side and recorded his tenth save, facing Cleveland’s 5-6-7 lineup pocket. He threw 16 pitches (62.5 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (18.8 SwStr%).
He has a 0.81 WHIP with 23 strikeouts versus six walks (21.3 K-BB%) through 21 innings.
- Tony Santillan allowed a solo home run by José Ramírez while posting his tenth hold.
- Graham Ashcraft worked a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and securing his sixth hold.
- Taylor Rogers worked a clean sixth for his fifth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Tony Santillan | Graham Ashcraft
Detroit Tigers – Summoned with a one-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, Beau Brieske held on for his first save, navigating around two, two-out hits with a game-ending groundout against Ernie Clement. Brieske threw 18 pitches (13 strikes – 72.2 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (11.1 SwStr%). He has a 1.54 WHIP with ten strikeouts versus four walks (9.6 K-BB%) in 13.2 innings.
- Tommy Kahnle gave up Bo Bichette’s solo home run and recorded two strikeouts for his fourth hold in the eighth.
- Brenan Hanifee logged 1.1 innings, giving up two hits and an earned run while striking out one for his fourth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Will Vest | *Tommy Kahnle | Tyler Holton
*= match-up-based approach
Houston Astros – Taking over with a four-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, Josh Hader allowed Josh Jung’s solo home run and recorded a strikeout in a non-save appearance. He threw 16 pitches (81.3 Strike%) and generated five whiffs (31.3 SwStr%).
This snapped his modest three-game scoreless streak, but he has a 0.89 WHIP with 27 strikeouts against five walks (29.3 K-BB%) across 19 innings.
- Bryan Abreu retired the side in the eighth on seven pitches. Bryan King fired a clean seventh, striking out one.
- Kaleb Ort was awarded his first win, tossing a clean sixth and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Bryan King
Los Angeles Angels – Protecting a four-run lead, Kenley Jansen allowed Will Smith’s lead-off single before retiring the next three batters, one via strikeout. He threw 11 pitches (81.8 Strike%), including his fastest pitch since 2023 (96.7 miles per hour), and induced one whiff.
He has a 1.42 WHIP with 12 strikeouts in 12 innings.
- Ryan Zeferjahn allowed Shohei Ohtani’s solo home run and issued a walk in the eighth, getting credit for his fourth hold.
- Héctor Neris stranded a runner and retired his only batter on a strikeout in the seventh, securing his second hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Brock Burke | Ryan Zeferjahn
Minnesota Twins – Completing the combined shutout, Cole Sands fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts for his second save. He threw 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (27.3 SwStr%).
- Griffin Jax notched his 13th hold, allowing a hit and striking out two in a scoreless eighth. He faced the top of the Brewers’ lineup. He’s been scoreless in seven of nine appearances this month with 11 strikeouts against two walks across 8.2 innings.
- Brock Stewart navigated around two hits and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless seventh, securing his fifth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Louis Varland
New York Yankees – Forced into action with two outs and two runners at the top of the ninth, Luke Weaver induced a game-ending flyout by Juan Soto, resulting in his fifth save, throwing only two pitches. He’s been scoreless in five of his six appearances in May while converting three of four save chances. He owns a 0.59 WHIP with 22 strikeouts versus six walks (21.9 K-BB%) across 20.1 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Luke Weaver | Devin Williams | Fernando Cruz
Philadelphia Phillies – Pressed into action with the bases loaded and one out at the top of the ninth, José Alvarado recorded a strikeout against Oneil Cruz and a game-ending groundout by Andrew McCutchen for his seventh save. He threw six pitches (83.3 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (33.3 SwStr%). This marked his first save since May 2, and he’s posted a 1.20 WHIP with 25 strikeouts against four walks (25 K-BB%) through 19.1 innings.
- Daniel Robert made the mess, giving up a hit, an earned run, and three walks while striking out one in one-third of the ninth.
- Jordan Romano notched his fifth hold, walking one during a scoreless eighth. He’s been scoreless over his last seven contests with eight strikeouts versus one walk (29.1 K-BB%) while recording three saves and two holds.
Hierarchy Remains: *Jordan Romano | *José Alvarado | Orion Kerkering
*= floating closer concept
Washington Nationals – Despite allowing Jackson Holliday’s lead-off single, Kyle Finnegan secured his 14th save with a scoreless ninth, including a strike-them-out and throw-them-out game-ending sequence. He threw 15 pitches (60 Strike%) without a whiff. He has a 1.38 WHIP with 17 strikeouts versus seven walks (14 K-BB%) in 16.2 innings. He’s converted all five save chances in May.
- Jorge López collected his fifth win, working around two hits and striking out one in a scoreless eighth.
- Jose A. Ferrer fired a clean seventh and recorded two strikeouts.
Hierarchy Remains: Kyle Finnegan | Jose A. Ferrer | Jorge López
Quick Hits
- Boston Red Sox: Trailing by one, Greg Weissert worked a clean top of the eighth. Liam Hendriks took over in the ninth, allowing two walks, resulting in two earned runs, and struck out one in two-thirds of the inning.
- Chicago Cubs: Daniel Palencia notched his fourth hold, working around Miguel Vargas’ lead-off single by retiring the next three batters in order. He threw 14 pitches (85.7 Strike%) without a whiff. He’s converted a hold in three straight appearances and been scoreless in his last eight since April 23 with 10 strikeouts against four walks and a 0.753 WHIP across 9.1 innings.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Although allowing two hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out one in 1.1 innings, Colin Holderman was credited with his second hold. Ryan Borucki replaced him at the bottom of the seventh, letting both inherited runners score while issuing two walks and hitting a batter without recording an out, resulting in his first loss and a second blown save. Tanner Rainey permitted two of three inherited runners to score and walked one in two-thirds of the seventh.
- Tampa Bay Rays: A rare meltdown by Mason Montgomery during an eventual loss. He only recorded one out at the bottom of the sixth, allowing a hit, three earned runs, and two walks while striking out one. He threw 21 pitches (9 strikes – 42.9 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
- Texas Rangers: Appearing for the third time in four days, Shawn Armstrong let his only inherited runner score, allowing two hits, including Christian Walker’s grand slam, four earned runs, and a walk, without retiring a batter. Armstrong was tagged with his first loss as a result.
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