Saturday was a strange slate with a mix of shutouts and some lopsided contests. Relievers recorded five and seven saves while suffering four losses. Here are the condensed recaps of the saves:
| Reliever | Save # | Pitches | Strike% | SwStr% | K:BB |
| Carlos Estévez | 16 | 14 | 64.2 | 0 | 0:0 |
| Jeff Hoffman | 13 | 18 | 66.7 | 5.6 | 1:1 |
| Emmanuel Clase | 12 | 10 | 70 | 10 | 0:0 |
| Ryan Helsley | 12 | 15 | 73.3 | 40 | 2:0 |
| Félix Bautista | 10 | 23 | 47.8 | 13 | 3:2 |
| Daniel Palencia | 5 | 15 | 73.3 | 13.3 | 1:0 |
| Calvin Faucher | 4 | 18 | 61.1 | 11.1 | 0:0 |
Faucher has recorded back-to-back saves, although Miami’s usage patterns remain fluid under new manager Clayton McCullough; however, the hierarchy has shifted once again. Washington designated Jorge López for assignment and will rely more on its younger relievers.
With only seven games on Monday, there are limited vulture save opportunities:
Vulture Save Options for June 1
- Seranthony Domínguez (BAL): Bautista has logged 52 pitches over the previous two days.
- Griffin Jax (MIN): Durán has appeared in consecutive contests.
- Dennis Santana (PIT): Bednar has worked in back-to-back games, though his pitch count has only been 17.
Three Takeaways
(1) Hoffman back on the hot seat: The good news is that Jeff Hoffman recorded his 13th save during a one-run win over The Athletics. However, he issued a one-out walk sandwiched between two outs, then allowed Brent Rooker’s two-run home run and Tyler Soderstrom’s double before a game-ending lineout up the middle.
Hoffman finished with two hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out one, throwing 18 pitches (66.7 Strike%) with one whiff. Through 10 appearances in May, he has allowed multiple runs in four games, 14 hits (five home runs), and 15 earned runs with 14 strikeouts against six walks (16 K-BB%), resulting in a 2.00 WHIP. Here are his splits by month:
| Split | IP | Saves/Opps | K:BB | K-BB% | WHIP | SwStr% | BAbip | wOBA | SIERA |
| Mar/Apr | 15.1 | 6/6 | 22:1 | 39.6 | 0.59 | 18.5 | .241 | .178 | 1.15 |
| May | 10 | 7/10 | 14:6 | 16 | 2.00 | 14.1 | .360 | .474 | 3.53 |
Beneath his 6.04 ERA lies a 2.17 SIERA and a 2.61 xERA. He has already matched his home run total from last year (six). He may need a reset or a couple of lower-leveraged outings, but if Ernie Clement did not make a diving play up the middle yesterday, this could have been a fourth blown save. Hoffman’s walk rate must improve, along with better results across his arsenal. Monitor this closely in June.
Although he does not receive much fantasy attention, Yariel Rodríguez stranded both inherited runners at the top of the seventh and retired all four batters, two via strikeout, for his seventh hold. He’s amid an 11-game scoreless streak, spanning 15.1 innings with 16 strikeouts against two walks (28.6 K-BB%) and a 0.446 WHIP.
Hierarchy Remains: Jeff Hoffman | Yariel Rodríguez | Chad Green
(2) “The Mountain” and efficiency, part 2: Despite throwing a season-high 29 pitches last night, Félix Bautista received the call with a two-run lead at the top of the ninth. He responded, but it was a grind recording his tenth save while working around two walks while striking out three in a scoreless appearance. He threw 23 pitches (11 strikes – 47.8 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (13 SwStr%).
Although he allowed at least a run in five of his ten outings in May, he converted five of six save chances with a 1.546 WHIP and 13 strikeouts versus eight walks (11.6 K-BB%) over 9.2 innings. Now, fantasy managers await how he responds following this heavy usage pattern. Unless his command improves, the WHIP may not.
(3) Yankees splits in May: Appearing for the first time in five days, Luke Weaver took over at the bottom of the seventh with his team down by 13 runs against the Dodgers’ 4-5-6 lineup pocket. He retired the first two batters, one via strikeout, then allowed Andy Pages’ solo home run and induced an inning-ending pop-out. Weaver threw 14 pitches (9 strikes – 64.2 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). He has allowed a home run in two of his last three games and finished May with a 0.855 WHIP while recording 10 strikeouts against two walks (18.2 K-BB%) over 11.2 innings.
Devin Williams entered with the bases loaded and one out at the bottom of the sixth. He induced an inning-ending double play groundout by Miguel Rojas. He was scoreless in 10 of 12 appearances in May, posting a 1.028 WHIP with 16 strikeouts versus four walks (27.9 K-BB%) through 10.2 innings. There is no imminent change in the hierarchy, but June will be an intriguing month for this leverage ladder.
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest.
Closer CliffsNotes
Chicago Cubs –Nailing down his fifth save, Daniel Palencia retired the side and recorded a strikeout while facing the Reds’ 9-1-2 lineup pocket. He threw 15 pitches (11 strikes – 73.3 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%).
He has converted a save in his last five appearances and finished May with a 0.75 WHIP and 15 strikeouts versus three walks (26.6 K-BB%) through 12 innings.
- Brad Keller collected his second win, tossing a clean top of the eighth ahead of his team’s two-run rally at the bottom of the inning.
- As the “bulk follower,” Ben Brown logged six scoreless frames, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out nine.
Hierarchy Remains: Daniel Palencia | Brad Keller | Drew Pomeranz
Cleveland Guardians – Locking down his 12th save, Emmanuel Clase fired a clean top of the ninth, needing only 10 pitches (70 Strike%), and induced one whiff.
He converted all seven save chances in May while posting a 0.654 WHIP with 10 strikeouts versus two walks (19.5 K-BB%) across 10.2 innings.
- Cade Smith retired the side and recorded two strikeouts at the top of the eighth for his 11th hold.
- Logan T. Allen worked a clean seventh, striking out two, and collected his third win after a two-run rally at the bottom of the inning.
Hierarchy Remains: Emmanuel Clase | Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis
Kansas City Royals – Preserving a one-run win and a combined shutout, Carlos Estévez worked around Colt Keith’s two-out single with a game-ending groundout by Riley Greene for his 16th save. He threw 14 pitches (64.2 Strike%) without a whiff.
He was scoreless in nine of ten appearances in May, recording a win and converting all seven save chances with a 0.971 WHIP and 10 strikeouts against one walk (22.5 K-BB%) in 10.1 innings.
- John Schreiber collected his second win, issuing a walk and striking out two in a scoreless top of the eighth, ahead of the game’s only run at the bottom of the inning.
Hierarchy Remains: Carlos Estévez | Lucas Erceg | John Schreiber
Miami Marlins – Protecting a 1-0 lead, Calvin Faucher navigated around Heliot Ramos’ two-out single with a game-ending groundout against Jung Hoo Lee for his fourth save. He threw 18 pitches (11 strikes – 61.1 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (11.1 SwStr%).
He has recorded a save in consecutive outings.
- Anthony Bender notched his seventh hold, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out one in the eighth inning.
- Ronny Henriquez stranded two runners at the top of the sixth while retiring all four batters, two via strikeout, securing his seventh hold.
Updated Hierarchy: *Calvin Faucher | *Anthony Bender | *Ronny Henriquez
*= closer-by-committee
Minnesota Twins – Summoned at the bottom of the fifth with the bases loaded and no outs, Louis Varland stranded all three, retiring all three batters faced, two via strikeout.
- Brock Stewart notched his sixth hold with a clean sixth while striking out one.
- Jorge Alcala was tagged with his first blown save, allowing two hits, including J.P. Crawford’s go-ahead two-run home run and a walk.
- Justin Topa retired the side in the eighth.
- Griffin Jax kept the game tied, navigating around two hits and a walk (intentional – Cal Raleigh) with an inning-ending strikeout.
- Jhoan Durán fired a clean bottom of the tenth and recorded a strikeout on 14 pitches (57.1 Strike%) with two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%), extending his scoreless streak to four games.
- Cole Sands suffered his second loss. A sacrifice bunt moved the “place” runner to third, and a fielder’s choice ground ball scored him.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Louis Varland
St. Louis Cardinals – Ending the month on a high note, Ryan Helsley retired Rangers’ 2-3-4 hitters in order while recording two strikeouts and his 13th save. He threw 15 pitches (11 strikes – 73.3 Strike%) and generated six whiffs (40 SwStr%).
He has a modest four-game scoreless streak and finished May with nine saves, a 1.273 WHIP, and 13 strikeouts versus three walks (20.8 K-BB%) through 11 innings.
- Phil Maton issued a walk during a scoreless eighth, securing his 11th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Helsley | Phil Maton | JoJo Romero
Quick Hits
- Arizona Diamondbacks: In an eventual loss, Shelby Miller retired the side and recorded a strikeout at the top of the ninth. He has been scoreless in four of his last five appearances and has not posted a save since May 19.
- Detroit Tigers: Taking over a scoreless contest at the bottom of the eighth, Beau Brieske allowed two hits, including Vinnie Pasquantino’s RBI single, resulting in his second loss.
- Los Angeles Angels: Entering at the bottom of the sixth, Héctor Neris retired his only batter, recording his fifth hold. Ryan Zeferjahn suffered his first loss and a second blown save, allowing three hits, three earned runs, and a walk during two-thirds of the seventh.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Capping a combined shutout, David Bednar fired a clean bottom of the ninth while striking out one on 17 pitches (10 strikes – 58.8 Strike%) with one whiff. He faced the Padres’ 1-2-3 lineup pocket and has a four-game scoreless streak. Through 13 appearances in May, he had two losses, three saves, and a hold with a 1.11 WHIP while striking out 16 against two walks (29.1 K-BB%) across 11.2 innings.
- San Diego Padres: Making his MLB debut, Bradgley Rodriguez stranded two runners at the top of the seventh and logged 1.2 scoreless frames, walking and striking out one. He threw 25 pitches (44 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
- Seattle Mariners: Perhaps being the last reliever available, Collin Snider collected his second win, pitching the tenth and 11th innings, stranding both “place” runners with help from his defense. He allowed two hits and a walk while striking out one. Carlos Vargas suffered his second blown save on a self-inflicted throwing error, letting Byron Buxton reach third on a wild throw to first base on an infield hit. He gave up two hits and an unearned run while striking out one in the ninth, appearing for a third straight contest. Jackson Kowar worked a scoreless eighth, giving up a hit.
- The Athletics: Making his first appearance since May 25, Mason Miller retired the side and recorded a strikeout against Toronto’s 4-5-6 lineup pocket. He threw 12 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He allowed at least a run in five of nine outings in May, posting a 2.069 WHIP with 15 strikeouts versus eight walks (15.9 K-BB%) across 8.2 innings.
- Washington Nationals: Finishing a four-run win, Cole Henry worked two scoreless innings, allowing a hit and two walks while striking out two. He threw 32 pitches (15 strikes – 46.9 Strike%) with four whiffs (12.5 SwStr%). Jose A. Ferrer tossed a scoreless bottom of the seventh while facing Arizona’s 2-3-4 lineup pocket. He hit Ketel Marte with a pitch, induced a ground ball double play, and an inning-ending groundout by Josh Naylor. Before this game, the team designated Jorge López for assignment.
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