Tuesday’s slate was beneficial to the save streamers, with three vulture recommendations coming through, though one allowed two earned runs. Relievers recorded five wins and nine saves last night while suffering seven losses. Here is the condensed view of Tuesday’s saves:
| Reliever | Save # | Pitches | Strike% | SwStr% | K:BB |
| Ryan Helsley | 11 | 13 | 84.6 | 23.1 | 2:0 |
| Jhoan Durán | 9 | 21 | 52.4 | 9.5 | 1:1 |
| Jordan Romano | 7 | 11 | 72.7 | 9.1 | 1:0 |
| Will Vest | 7 | 21 | 61.9 | 9.5 | 1:0 |
| David Bednar | 6 | 14 | 71.4 | 14.3 | 2:0 |
| Devin Williams | 6 | 19 | 57.9 | 5.3 | 0:0 |
| Robert Garcia | 3 | 15 | 73.3 | 20 | 2:0 |
| Reed Garrett | 2 | 23 | 65.2 | 30.4 | 3:1 |
| Jeremiah Estrada | 1 | 24 | 70.8 | 20.8 | 2:0 |
For the save streamers, there is a light forecast for the next two days:
Vulture Save Options for May 28
- Tommy Kahnle (DET): Vest has appeared in consecutive contests and three of the last four games.
- Griffin Jax (MIN): Durán has worked in three of the previous four days while tossing 62 pitches.
- Ronny Henriquez (MIA): I’m hoping he gets the next save chance while Clayton McCullough plays reliever roulette.
Vulture Save Stashes for May 29
- Tanner Banks (PHI): If Romano, Strahm, and Kerkering pitch tonight, it’s consecutive appearances for the Phillies’ high-leverage triumvirate.
Three Takeaways
(1) D-Will wilts in the ninth: Incapable of preserving the combined shutout, Devin Williams did record his fifth save, the first since April 17, despite allowing three hits, including Yoan Moncada’s solo home run at the bottom of the ninth, resulting in two earned runs. First, his illustrator:
And his results:
This outing snapped his eight-game scoreless streak. It seemed like he was building momentum for an eventual return into a save share, but his ninth-inning ERA sits at 12.41 through 8.2 innings with a paltry 1.9 K-BB% and an inflated 2.413 WHIP. In the eighth, he’s posted a 0.875 WHIP with a 3.38 ERA and 35.5 K-BB%. As a result, Luke Weaver remains atop the hierarchy:
Hierarchy Remains: Luke Weaver | Devin Williams | Jonathan Loáisiga
(2) Garcia taking over in Texas: Completing a combined shutout against Toronto, Robert Garcia nailed down his third save with a clean top of the ninth while striking out two. He threw 15 pitches (11 strikes – 73.3 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (20 SwStr%) facing the 9-1-2 lineup pocket.
This snapped a three-game streak of allowing at least a run, and he has converted his last two save opportunities. He has posted a 2.35 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP through 27 games, and his ratio predictors are primarily in line (3.56 SIERA and 3.14 xERA). Garcia could generate more whiffs if he threw more sliders. Fantasy managers will monitor his results against right-handed hitters and how Texas handles the roster when Jon Gray returns. For now, it appears the southpaw has taken over as Bruce Bochy’s preferred option for save chances.
(3) Jax back on track: Fantasy baseball remains a marathon, not a sprint. Over a month ago, Griffin Jax was struggling. However, he has bounced back with aplomb, allowing two hits and one walk during his last six appearances while facing 21 batters (0.50 WHIP and a 57.1 K-BB%). He fired a clean bottom of the eighth last night, striking out the side on 14 pitches (63.4 Strike%) while generating four whiffs (28.6 SwStr%):
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Tuesday.
Closer CliffsNotes
Boston Red Sox – Tasked with a tied game at the bottom of the tenth, Liam Hendriks suffered his second loss, issuing a walk and allowing two hits, including Christian Yelich’s walk-off grand slam. He has given up multiple runs in three of his last five appearances.
Aroldis Chapman could not close out a combined shutout at the bottom of the ninth. He gave up Yelich’s lead-off double, issued a walk, and, with one out, the game-tying run on Sal Frelick’s single before recording the last two outs of the inning. Chapman was tagged with his first blown save, yielding two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one. He threw 19 pitches (12 strikes – 63.2 Strike%) and only induced two whiffs (10.5 SwStr%).
- Justin Slaten notched his fourth hold, tossing 1.1 scoreless frames, walking, and striking out one.
- Justin Wilson worked 1.1 clean innings and recorded a strikeout for his fifth hold.
Adjusted Hierarchy: Aroldis Chapman | Justin Slaten | Justin Wilson
Detroit Tigers – Working into and then out of trouble, Will Vest recorded his seventh save, although he could not complete the combined shutout. He allowed a lead-off single by Heliot Ramos, followed by Wilmer Flores’ RBI double, then bore down retiring the next three batters, including a game-ending strikeout of Willy Adames. Vest threw 21 pitches (13 strikes – 61.9 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (9.5 SwStr%).
This snapped his six-game scoreless streak, but he has converted seven of nine save chances while producing a 1.04 WHIP and 28 strikeouts versus nine walks (18.2 K-BB%) through 26 innings.
- Chase Lee logged two scoreless frames, scattering two hits and striking out one for his first hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Will Vest | *Tommy Kahnle | Tyler Holton
*= closer-by-committee with a preferred save share (Vest)
Minnesota Twins – Sealing a two-run win in Tampa Bay, Jhoan Durán worked around a one-out walk by retiring the next two batters for a scoreless ninth. He also recorded one strikeout, throwing 21 pitches (11 strikes – 52.4 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (9.5 SwStr%).
Through 13 appearances in May, he has converted seven of eight save chances with 18 strikeouts against five walks (23.2 K-BB%) and a 1.31 WHIP in 13 innings.
- Griffin Jax fired a clean bottom of the eighth, striking out the side on 14 pitches (9 strikes – 64.3 Strike%) with four whiffs (28.6 SwStr%). He’s on a six-game scoreless streak and recorded multiple strikeouts in five (13:1 K:BB).
- Louis Varland allowed a hit and an earned run in the seventh, getting credit for his ninth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Louis Varland
New York Mets – Summoned at the top of the eighth with a runner and one out, Reed Garrett retired both batters via strikeout. He returned for the ninth and worked around a one-out walk for his second save across 1.2 scoreless frames. He finished with three strikeouts while throwing 23 pitches (15 strikes – 65.2 Strike%) and generated seven whiffs (30.4 SwStr%).
He’s notched a save in two of the last three days.
- José Castillo was credited with his first hold, allowing a hit and striking out one during two-thirds scoreless combined innings.
- José Buttó gave up three hits and two earned runs in his combined inning of relief, getting credit for his second hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Edwin Díaz | Reed Garrett | Ryne Stanek
Philadelphia Phillies – Preserving the combined shutout and recording his seventh save, Jordan Romano retired the side while striking out one against Atlanta’s 8-9-1 lineup pocket. He threw 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) and induced one whiff (9.1 SwStr%).
Since April 29, he has been scoreless in ten of 11 appearances while converting six saves and two holds with 16 strikeouts versus two walks and a 0.748 WHIP through 10.2 innings.
- Matt Strahm notched his eighth hold, walking and striking out one during a scoreless eighth.
- Orion Kerkering worked a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and striking out one for his ninth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Jordan Romano | Matt Strahm | Orion Kerkering
*= floating closer concept with a preferred save share (Romano)
Pittsburgh Pirates – Locking down his sixth save, David Bednar fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts while facing Arizona’s 1-2-3 lineup pocket. He threw 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%).
He has converted a save in three of his last four appearances since May 20.
- Dennis Santana worked a clean bottom of the eighth against the 7-8-9 lineup pocket, striking out two on 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) with two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%).
- Joey Wentz collected his second win, logging 3.2 innings, giving up three hits and an earned run while striking out four. He did allow all three inherited runners to score upon entry at the bottom of the fourth, then settled in.
Hierarchy Remains: *David Bednar | *Dennis Santana | Caleb Ferguson
*= match-up-based approach
San Diego Padres – Taking over at the top of the eighth, Jeremiah Estrada stranded a runner on an inning-ending lineout, then returned for a scoreless ninth, yielding a one-out single by Agustín Ramírez, by retiring the next two batters, including Kyle Stowers on a game-ending strikeout for his first save. Estrada threw 24 pitches (17 strikes – 70.8 Strike%) and generated five whiffs (20.8 SwStr%).
- Yuki Matui notched his second hold, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out one during a scoreless combined inning.
- Sean Reynolds stranded a runner at the top of the sixth and logged 1.1 scoreless frames, scattering two hits while securing his first hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Suarez | Jason Adam | Jeremiah Estrada
St. Louis Cardinals – Securing his 11th save, Ryan Helsley allowed a two-out single during a scoreless bottom of the ninth in Baltimore. He recorded two strikeouts while throwing 13 pitches (11 strikes – 84.6 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%).
He has been scoreless in seven of his last eight games, posting a win while converting all seven save chances with 11 strikeouts versus three walks (22.8 K-BB%) and a 1.375 WHIP through eight innings.
- Phil Maton tossed a clean eighth and recorded a strikeout for his ninth hold.
- Steven Matz collected his third win, logging 1.1 scoreless frames, giving up a hit and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Helsley | Kyle Leahy | Phil Maton
Quick Hits
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Things went sideways quickly at the top of the eighth for Kevin Ginkel, resulting in four hits, five earned runs, and a walk while striking out one over one-third of the inning during his third loss. Jalen Beeks could not stem the tide, letting his only inherited runner score, giving up a hit, two runs (one earned) on Bryan Reynolds’ three-run home run.
- Baltimore Orioles: Bryan Baker entered at the top of the eighth and gave up three hits, including one home run and a walk, resulting in three earned runs and his first loss.
- Chicago Cubs: Entering at the top of the tenth, Chris Flexen stranded the “place” runner but let him score on a single and a fielder’s choice groundout in the 11th. However, he collected his third win following his teammates’ two-run rally at the bottom of the frame. He finished with a hit and an unearned run while striking out one during his two innings.
- Colorado Rockies: Extended for a second inning, Tyler Kinley suffered his second loss, allowing a stolen base by the “place” runner (Pete Crow-Armstrong), followed by Michael Busch’s game-tying RBI, issued Nico Hoerner a walk, and the walk-off RBI single by Matt Shaw at the bottom of the 11th. Zach Agnos tossed a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded a strikeout on eight pitches (75 Strike%) with one whiff (12.5 SwStr%).
- Kansas City Royals: Called upon at the top of the fifth during a bases-loaded situation, and one out, Taylor Clarke stranded all three. However, he suffered his first loss, giving up Elly De La Cruz’s go-ahead solo home run. Clarke finished his 2.2 innings with three strikeouts and only one hit.
- Los Angeles Dodgers: In order of appearance, Jack Dreyer took over at the bottom of the sixth and retired all four batters, securing his fourth hold. Ben Casparius fired 1.2 clean frames and recorded three strikeouts for his sixth hold. He threw 20 pitches (75 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (15 SwStr%). Across his last three relief outings, he has racked up ten strikeouts against one walk (56.2 K-BB%) in five innings.
- Miami Marlins: Called upon at the bottom of the fourth, Cade Gibson suffered his third loss, allowing a hit, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one over 1.1 innings. Anthony Bender let his only inherited runner score, yielding consecutive singles at the bottom of the fifth, including Luis Arraez’s RBI one before retiring Manny Machado, ending the inning.
- Milwaukee Brewers: After stranding two runners and retiring both batters faced, one via strikeout, at the top of the tenth, Rob Zastryzny collected his first win courtesy of a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning.
- San Francisco Giants: Appearing during a loss, Tristan Beck worked two clean frames and recorded three strikeouts on 23 pitches (15 strikes – 65.2 Strike%) with four whiffs (17.4 SwStr%).
- Tampa Bay Rays: In an eventual loss, Eric Orze fired a clean top of the ninth, striking out the side on 14 pitches (85.7 Strike%) with three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%).
- Toronto Blue Jays: Taking over a tied game at the bottom of the eighth, Chad Green suffered his first loss, allowing two hits, two runs (one earned), and a walk while striking out one. Yariel Rodríguez logged two scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out one. He owns a nine-game scoreless streak with 14 strikeouts against one walk (30.9 K-BB%) through 13 innings.
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