Thursday’s slate was reduced by one game when Boston postponed against Baltimore. While each team’s bullpen received much-needed rest in Beantown, relievers recorded five wins and three saves while suffering three losses. Three closers were also tagged with blown saves: Jeff Hoffman, Robert Suarez, and Kyle Finnegan. Here are the saves from yesterday:
| Reliever | Save # | Pitches | Strike% | SwStr% | K:BB |
| Trevor Megill | 8 | 15 | 66.7 | 0 | 1:0 |
| Luke Weaver | 7 | 10 | 70 | 20 | 1:0 |
| Jordan Romano | 6 | 10 | 80 | 30 | 2:0 |
Before delving into yesterday’s action, three relievers of interest for the save streamers (if available):
Vulture Save Options for May 23
- Devin Williams (NYY): Going to the well again after Weaver was used in a third consecutive contest, he will be unavailable in Colorado tonight.
- Abner Uribe (MIL): Megill has pitched in back-to-back games and four of the previous five.
- Yimi García (TOR): Hoffman threw 23 pitches during his blown save and could receive tonight off as he looks for a reset.
Doubleheader Options
- Baltimore Orioles: Preferred option – Andrew Kittredge; YOLO – Bryan Baker
- Boston Red Sox: Preferred option – Justin Slaten; YOLO – Garrett Whitlock
Because of the limited seven-game slate, there will not be takeaways today, but the notes will more detailed for the teams below.
Closer CliffsNotes
Atlanta Braves – Tasked with a tied score at the bottom of the tenth, Dylan Lee recorded an out on a sacrifice bunt and allowed Amed Rosario’s RBI single, resulting in his third loss.
Raisel Iglesias retired the side against the Nationals’ 5-6-7 lineup pocket in the ninth on nine pitches (66.7 Strike%) with one whiff (11.1 SwStr%).
He has a 1.34 WHIP with 20 strikeouts versus four walks (19.3 K-BB%) across 19.1 innings. He also had a decline in his average pitch velocities in this appearance, which can be seen in this chart from Statcast, displaying his average velocities by game this season:
His xERA does not portend positive regression, and he has an expected weighted on-base average (xwOBA) of .300 or higher with each of his pitches this year. Increased traffic on the bases and working with reduced velocity must be something fantasy managers monitor closely as June approaches:
- Daysbel Hernández issued a walk and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless eighth.
- Pierce Johnson navigated around two hits and struck out one during a scoreless seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Daysbel Hernández | Dylan Lee
Cleveland Guardians – Finishing a combined shutout, Matt Festa retired the side and recorded a strikeout in Detroit.
Cade Smith notched his tenth hold after taking over a bases-loaded situation at the bottom of the eighth, striking out the side while facing the 2-3-4 hitters. He threw 15 pitches (11 strikes – 73.3 Strike%) and generated seven whiffs (46.7 SwStr%) in a dominant performance, during which he shifted the game’s momentum.
- Tim Herrin allowed two hits and a walk without recording an out at the bottom of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Emmanuel Clase | Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis
Los Angeles Angels – In order of appearance, Hunter Strickland let one of three inherited runners score at the bottom of the fifth on a bases-loaded walk, then induced a pop-out. He worked a scoreless sixth, working around a hit and a walk. He collected his first win despite giving up a hit and two walks across 1.1 scoreless frames.
- Reid Detmers notched his second hold, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out one.
- Ryan Zeferjahn secured his eighth hold, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out one.
- Connor Brogdon closed out a five-run win with a clean bottom of the ninth, recording two strikeouts.
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Héctor Neris | Ryan Zeferjahn
Milwaukee Brewers – Securing his eighth save, Trevor Megill retired the side and recorded one strikeout, preserving a three-run win. He threw 15 pitches (66.7 Strike%) without a whiff while facing the 4-5-6 lineup pocket of the Pirates’.
He has allowed one unearned run during his last ten appearances and converted six save opportunities with nine strikeouts against four walks (13.9 K-BB%) and a 1.00 WHIP.
- Carlos Rodriguez recorded his first major league win as the “bulk follower,” logging 3.1 innings, giving up five hits, three earned runs, and four walks while striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Nick Mears
New York Yankees – Preserving a combined shutout and a one-run margin, Luke Weaver not only recorded his seventh save but became the first Yankees’ reliever to appear in three straight games since Aroldis Chapman in September 2021. He retired the side, recorded one strikeout on ten pitches (70 Strike%), and produced two whiffs (20 SwStr%). He posted a win and two saves in this three-day span while throwing an efficient 18 pitches (66.7 Strike%) with two whiffs (11.1 SwStr%) across 2.1 clean frames with one strikeout.
Through 21 appearances, he’s only allowed one unearned run while recording a 0.53 WHIP with 23 strikeouts versus six walks (21.5 K-BB%) over 22.2 innings.
Devin Williams locked down his fifth hold, retiring the side and striking out one.
He extended his scoreless streak to seven games with two wins, three holds, a 0.476 WHIP, and 10 strikeouts across 6.1 innings. In these outings, he has posted a 39.2 K-BB percentage, a 69.1 strike percentage, and an 18.6 percent swinging strike rate. But will he return as the closer? Time will tell; for now, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it, may be Aaron Boone’s mantra.
- Mark Leiter Jr. navigated around two hits and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless seventh for his seventh hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Luke Weaver | Devin Williams | Jonathan Loásiga
Philadelphia Phillies – Shutting the door on his sixth save, Jordan Romano fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts, preserving a combined shutout in Colorado. He threw 10 pitches (80 Strike%) and generated three whiffs (30 SwStr%).
This extended his scoreless streak to nine games since April 27, during which he has recorded five saves, two holds, and a 0.44 WHIP with 13 strikeouts versus one walk (40 K-BB%) through nine innings.
- Matt Strahm allowed a lead-off single by Brenton Doyle, then retired the next three batters.
- Orion Kerkering took over with two runners on and two outs at the bottom of the seventh. He induced an inning-ending pop-out by Hunter Goodman on one pitch, securing his seventh hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Jordan Romano | Matt Strahm | Orion Kerkering
*= floating closer concept with a preferred save share (Romano)
San Diego Padres – Taking over at the bottom of the 11th, Jeremiah Estrada allowed Daulton Varsho’s lead-off triple, scoring the “place” runner, intentionally walked Addison Barger, induced a flyout, followed by Nathan Lukes’ walk-off opposite-field single, resulting in his third loss and a second blown save.
Robert Suarez suffered his second blown save, giving up Jonathan Clase’s lead-off RBI single at the top of the tenth and Alejandro Kirk’s one-out single before recording a strikeout and an inning-ending flyout by Vlad Guerrero Jr., keeping the game tied. Suarez threw 16 pitches (87.5 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (12.5 SwStr%).
- Jason Adam navigated around two walks for a scoreless bottom of the ninth.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Suarez | Jason Adam | Jeremiah Estrada
Toronto Blue Jays – After stranding a runner and retiring his only batter at the top of the 11th, Braydon Fisher collected his first win courtesy of a walk-off at the bottom of the inning. Brendon Little let the “place” runner score in the tenth and 11th innings, giving up two hits and recording two strikeouts across 1.2 innings.
Jeff Hoffman was tagged with his second blown save, issuing Jackson Merrill a lead-off walk, a leverage no-no, and allowing Gavin Sheets’ game-tying two-run home run.
Hoffman bore down, retiring the next three batters, two via strikeout. He threw 23 pitches (13 strikes – 56.5 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (13 SwStr%).
In a word, May has been rough. He’s made nine appearances and allowed multiple runs in four, totaling 13 earned across seven innings. What does not make sense, his 30.4 K-BB percentage ranks sixth-best among his peers, and his 1.90 SIERA represents one of the larger disparities in ERA-SIERA:
| Name | ERA | SIERA | ERA-SIERA |
| Noah Murdock | 13.24 | 5.55 | 7.69 |
| Eduardo Salazar | 9.77 | 4.11 | 5.66 |
| Jeff Hoffman | 6.04 | 1.90 | 4.14 |
| Joel Payamps | 8.35 | 4.21 | 4.14 |
| George Soriano | 8.35 | 4.23 | 4.12 |
| Chris Stratton | 7.94 | 4.04 | 3.90 |
| Jordan Romano | 6.87 | 3.07 | 3.80 |
| Ryan Thompson | 7.50 | 3.71 | 3.79 |
| Reid Detmers | 7.52 | 3.82 | 3.70 |
| Griffin Jax | 4.98 | 1.75 | 3.23 |
| Brandon Eisert | 5.79 | 2.80 | 2.99 |
| Jose A. Ferrer | 6.15 | 3.27 | 2.88 |
| Jorge Alcala | 7.27 | 4.39 | 2.88 |
| Devin Williams | 6.50 | 3.65 | 2.85 |
| Mason Englert | 6.00 | 3.16 | 2.84 |
| Angel Zerpa | 5.89 | 3.13 | 2.76 |
| Ryne Nelson | 5.32 | 2.75 | 2.57 |
| Mason Miller | 4.50 | 1.94 | 2.56 |
He’s decreased his contact allowed in the strike zone, but his .319 batting average on balls in play (BAbip) and 57.9 strand percentage are at career lows as a reliever. There is no quick fix unless he improves his split-finger and slider in his upcoming appearances.
- Yimi García gave up a hit during a scoreless ninth, securing his sixth hold.
- Chad Green took over at the top of the sixth, yielding a hit and retiring two batters for his fourth hold.
- Mason Fluharty notched his third hold, retiring all three batters and recording one strikeout.
- Yariel Rodríguez fired 1.1 clean frames, striking out three across the fifth and sixth innings. He owns an eight-game scoreless streak with 13 strikeouts versus one walk (33.3 K-BB%), a 0.455 WHIP, and a 16.8 percent swinging strike rate across 11 innings. He’s only posted four holds, but his leverage role in this bullpen should be rising soon.
Hierarchy Remains (for now): Jeff Hoffman | Yimi García | Chad Green
Washington Nationals – Entering at the top of the tenth, Jackson Rutledge induced a flyout, allowed an infield single, put runners at the corners, and produced an inning-ending double play groundout. He collected his first win courtesy of a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning.
Kyle Finnegan was tagged with his second blown save during the top of the ninth. He gave up Sean Murphy’s lead-off single, recorded a pop-out on a bunt, then Austin Riley reached on a fielder’s choice error instead of a potential game-ending double play. Matt Olson lined an RBI double, with a runner thrown out at home, but the unearned run tied the contest. Finnegan threw 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
- Jorge López retired the side in the eighth for his fifth hold.
- Jose A. Ferrer allowed two hits, an earned run, and recorded a strikeout for his 11th hold in the seventh.
- Cole Henry fired a clean sixth, striking out one, and secured his second hold. He’s been scoreless through nine appearances in May with two holds, eight strikeouts versus three walks (13.5 K-BB%), and a 0.485 WHIP across 10.1 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Kyle Finnegan | Jose A. Ferrer | Jorge López
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: