Friday’s full slate resulted in eight wins by relievers, though one was accompanied by a blown save (Dennis Santana) versus five losses. There were six saves, covered in condensed form, though a chart cannot tell the whole story:
| Reliever | Save # | Pitches | Strike% | SwStr% | K:BB |
| Trevor Megill | 14 | 21 | 66.7 | 19 | 2:0 |
| Félix Bautista | 13 | 17 | 64.7 | 11.8 | 2:0 |
| Pete Fairbanks | 13 | 21 | 71.4 | 9.5 | 1:1 |
| David Bednar | 10 | 13 | 84.6 | 7.7 | 0:0 |
| Calvin Faucher | 6 | 21 | 66.7 | 4.8 | 1:0 |
| Robert Garcia | 5 | 23 | 65.2 | 26.1 | 1:2 |
For the save streamers, a light Saturday but Sunday may have more opportunities:
Vulture Save Option for June 14
- Ryan Pressly (CHC): Palencia has appeared in consecutive contests.
Vulture Save Stahses for June 15
- Seranthony Domínguez (BAL): If Bautista and Baker pitch today, it’s back-to-back appearances.
- Greg Weissert (BOS): If Chapman pitches today, it will be consecutive games.
- Lucas Erceg (KC): If Estévez gets used today, it’s two straight contests.
- Dennis Santana (PIT): He logged 1.2 innings last night and will be off today, putting him in line for Sunday if Bednar gets used for a second consecutive game today.
- Edwin Uceta (TB): He threw 35 pitches during a hold on Friday and will get today off. If Fairbanks pitches, it will be back-to-back appearances.
Three Takeaways
(1) Depleted in the desert: Not only will Justin Martinez undergo his second Tommy John surgery, but A.J. Puk suffered a setback during his return protocols:
During a four-run win over the Padres last night, Shelby Miller retired the side against the 4-5-6 lineup pocket on eight pitches (75 Strike%). Ryan Thompson worked a clean eighth and recorded a strikeout. Juan Morillo retired both batters, one via strikeout in the seventh. Miller will be a priority add if he was dropped in your league.
Hierarchy Remains: Shelby Miller | Jalen Beeks | Juan Morillo
(2) Saveless in Atlanta: This leverage ladder has not recorded a save since May 16, when Raisel Iglesias completed a two-run win over Boston. However, the reconfigured late-inning structure has a new pattern. Finishing an eight-run win, Dylan Lee gave up a two-out bloop single by Kyle Farmer before inducing a game-ending Orlando Arcia pop-out. He threw 14 pitches (64.3 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%) while recording one strikeout. Raisel Iglesias notched his first hold, giving up a hit and striking out one during a scoreless eighth. Enyel De Los Santos retired the side in the seventh and collected his second win after his teammates scored three runs at the bottom of the frame. Dylan Dodd stranded a runner, walking and striking out one during two-thirds of the sixth. Tentatively moving Lee atop the hierarchy based on consecutive appearances in the ninth:
Adjusted Hierarchy: *Dylan Lee | *Raisel Iglesias | Enyel De Los Santos
*= closer-by-committee
(3) Another Miller implosion: Taking over with a five-run lead, Mason Miller issued consecutive walks to Salvador Perez and Jac Caglianone, followed by Nick Loftin’s two-RBI triple. He also allowed a sacrifice fly before recording a strikeout and a game-ending pop-out, finishing a two-run win. He threw 25 pitches (56 Strike%) and only induced one whiff. This snapped his five-game scoreless streak and represents the third time he’s allowed three earned runs or more in a game this season. Through 24 games, he has a 1.27 WHIP with 41 strikeouts against 14 walks (26.5 K-BB%). Although his slider has been his best pitch, his four-seam fastball has been his pitch of preference despite its results by count leverage:
| Splits with 4-seam | Pitches | Usage% | AVG | xBA | SLG | xSLG | wOBA | xwOBA | Whiff% |
| Batter Ahead | 73 | 76 | .333 | .283 | .583 | .648 | .534 | .535 | 33.3 |
| Batter Behind | 65 | 30.7 | .087 | .111 | .087 | .120 | .104 | .127 | 63.6 |
It’s a game of constant adjustments. Hitters are keying on a location when ahead in the count, hunting fastballs against Miller. Here is his heatmap this year in this situation:
Command is not always throwing strikes; it’s where they are placed. In his defense, his workload has been sporadic, and multiple opponents have criticized his home pitching mound. Miller has converted 13 of 15 save chances, and his 5.55 ERA has a 2.51 SIERA, with a 3.43 xERA, providing hope for a positive trend as we advance. However, the four-seam must improve.
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Friday.
Closer CliffsNotes
Baltimore Orioles – Preserving a combined shutout and locking down his 13th save, Félix Bautista retired the side while recording two strikeouts. He threw 17 pitches (11 strikes – 64.7 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (11.8 SwStr%).
He extended his scoreless streak to five, during which he has converted all four save chances with a 1.00 WHIP and nine strikeouts versus four walks (25 K-BB%).
- Bryan Baker fired a clean eighth and recorded two strikeouts, securing his sixth hold.
- Gregory Soto allowed a hit while tossing a scoreless seventh, posting his 15th hold.
- Yennier Cano navigated around two hits and struck out one in a scoreless sixth for his 11th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Félix Bautista | Seranthony Domínguez | Bryan Baker
Boston Red Sox – After tossing a clean top of the tenth and recording one strikeout, Garrett Whitlock collected his fifth win following his team’s walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. He threw 17 pitches (11 strikes – 64.7 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
He has been scoreless in his last six games, recording two wins and two holds with a 0.714 WHIP and nine strikeouts versus two walks over seven innings.
Aroldis Chapman retired both batters in the ninth, keeping the game tied. Through seven appearances in June, he allowed one unearned run while posting a 0.333 WHIP with eight strikeouts against one walk (35 K-BB%) in six innings.
Updated Hierarchy: Aroldis Chapman | Greg Weissert | Garrett Whitlock
Miami Marlins – Closing a crazy contest, Calvin Faucher tossed a scoreless bottom of the ninth, working around Keibert Ruiz’s one-out single with consecutive groundouts for his sixth save. He threw 21 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and induced one whiff while recording one strikeout.
During his seven-game scoreless streak, he has converted all four save chances since May 28 with a 0.896 WHIP and four strikeouts versus one walk (11.1 K-BB%) across 7.2 innings.
- Anthony Bender stranded a runner and retired his only batter in the eighth, securing his ninth hold.
- Tyler Phillips was awarded his first win as the first reliever out of the bullpen. He recorded two outs and one strikeout at the bottom of the fourth.
Updated Hierarchy: Calvin Faucher | Anthony Bender | Ronny Henriquez
Milwaukee Brewers – Handed a two-run lead, Trevor Megill held on for his 14th save despite giving up Nolan Gorman’s one-out double and Victor Scott II’s RBI single with a game-ending strikeout. He threw 21 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (19 SwStr%) while recording two strikeouts.
The good news is that he has converted seven of eight save chances and recorded a win during his last eight appearances since May 22. However, he has posted a 1.375 WHIP with nine strikeouts versus four walks (14.3 K-BB%) and allowed at least a run in three.
- Abner Uribe secured his 18th hold, walking and striking out one during a scoreless eighth.
- Jared Koenig notched his tenth hold, yielding a hit and striking out two in the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Jared Koenig
Pittsburgh Pirates – Save number ten for David Bednar. He retired the side and stranded the “place” runner at the bottom of the tenth, preserving a one-run lead against the Cubs, facing the top of the batting order. He threw 13 pitches (11 strikes – 84.6 Stirke%) and induced one whiff.
This extends his scoreless streak to nine games, during which he has recorded a win, and six saves with a 0.222 WHIP and 11 strikeouts (37.9 K-BB%) across nine innings.
- Dennis Santana let one of two inherited runners score on a fielder’s choice groundout and logged 1.2 scoreless frames. He collected his second win and was charged with his first blown save.
- Caleb Ferguson allowed a hit, an earned run, and a walk but gets credit for his eighth hold.
- Carmen Mlodzinski worked two scoreless innings, scattering three hits and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: David Bednar | Dennis Santana | Caleb Ferguson
Tampa Bay Rays – Navigating around a hit and a walk, Pete Fairbanks induced a fielder’s choice groundout. He recorded a game-ending strikeout against Ronny Mauricio, securing his 13th save while preserving a two-run margin. He threw 21 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (9.5 SwStr%).
He has converted five of six save chances since May 23 with a 1.205 WHIP and five strikeouts versus five walks across 8.1 innings.
- Edwin Uceta notched his 12th hold, stranding two runners in the seventh while logging 1.2 scoreless frames, walking one, and striking out three.
- Garrett Cleavinger allowed a hit and a hit batter while striking out one during two-thirds of the seventh for his ninth hold.
- Mason Montgomery recorded two outs, walking and striking out one in the sixth for his ninth hold.
- Eric Orze was awarded his first win, tossing a scoreless fifth, yielding a hit, and striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks |Edwin Uceta | Mason Montgomery
Texas Rangers – Working into and then out of trouble, Robert Garcia recorded his fifth save, giving up Andrew Benintendi’s lead-off double and walking Miguel Vargas before recording consecutive flyouts. However, he walked pinch-hitter Austin Slater before a game-ending strikeout of Michael A. Taylor, preserving the two-run win. He threw 23 pitches (15 strikes – 65.2 Strike%) and generated six whiffs (26.1 SwStr%).
- Cole Winn tossed a scoreless eighth for his first hold.
- Chris Martin stranded two runners and retired both batters, one via strikeout for his tenth hold.
- Hoby Milner was credited with his eighth hold despite allowing three hits and an earned run during one-third of the seventh.
- Luke Jackson notched his first hold, yielding a hit and striking out one in the sixth.
- Jacob Webb collected his fourth win, logging two scoreless frames, allowing a hit, and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Garcia | Chris Martin | Shawn Armstrong
Quick Hits
- Chicago Cubs: Tasked with the top of the tenth, Drew Pomeranz allowed a hit and a walk before a go-ahead sacrifice fly scored the “place” runner, resulting in his first loss. Daniel Palencia worked a scoreless ninth, walking and striking out one on 12 pitches (7 strikes – 58.3 Strike%) with two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%).
- Cleveland Guardians: After tossing a scoreless bottom of the sixth, Tim Herrin remained in for the seventh but issued Cal Raleigh a lead-off walk, followed by Jorge Polanco’s go-ahead two-run home run, resulting in his removal and second loss.
- Colorado Rockies: Another day, another collapse for this team’s leverage ladder. Jake Bird allowed two hits, including Michael Harris II’s game-tying three-run home run and a walk, while striking out one at the bottom of the sixth, resulting in his second blown save. Victor Vodnik followed suit, giving up Marcell Ozuna’s go-ahead three-run home run in the seventh, getting tagged with his second loss.
- Detroit Tigers: As the “bulk follower,” Keider Montero logged five innings, allowing seven hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out four. Tyler Holton stranded a runner while retiring all three batters across the sixth and seventh innings for his seventh hold.
- Kansas City Royals: Pitching during an eventual loss, Carlos Estévez retired the side at the top of the ninth on six pitches (66.7 Strike%) without a whiff. He has a modest three-game scoreless streak.
- Minnesota Twins: Appearing in a loss, Griffin Jax tossed a scoreless bottom of the seventh, walking one and striking out three. He threw 17 pitches (11 strikes – 64.7 Strike%) and generated six whiffs (35.3 SwStr%).
- New York Mets: Entering with two runners on and one out at the top of the sixth, Max Kranick let both score, suffering his first blown save. He also gave up three hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out one during his 1.2 innings, resulting in his second loss.
- New York Yankees: Taking over at the bottom of the ninth with a runner on and one out, Tim Hill stranded him. Returning for the tenth, he induced a groundout by Jarren Duran, intentionally walked Rafael Devers, and recorded a strikeout of Marcelo Mayer but suffered his second loss after allowing Carlos Narváez’s walk-off hit off of the Green Monster. Fernando Cruz navigated around two walks and struck out two during 1.1 scoreless frames.
- San Francisco Giants: Finishing a four-run win over the Dodgers, Ryan Walker worked a scoreless bottom of the ninth, walking and striking out one versus the 2-3-4-5 hitters. Tyler Rogers retired the side in the eighth.
- Seattle Mariners: Taking over at the top of the seventh, Carlos Vargas retired the side against Cleveland’s 6-7-8 lineup pocket while striking out one and collected his second win courtesy of a four-run rally at the bottom of the inning.
- Washington Nationals: Despite his team losing by two, Kyle Finnegan allowed a hit and tossed a scoreless top of the ninth.
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