Sunday continued a weekend trend of surprising saves, including a career-first by a Miami reliever, promoted before the game. Relievers finished with seven wins, though one was accompanied by a blown save, and converted six saves while suffering five losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
| Reliever | Save # | Pitches | Strike% | SwStr% | K:BB | BF |
| Trevor Megill | 15 | 29 | 72.4 | 17.2 | 3:0 | 5 |
| Mason Miller | 14 | 12 | 75 | 25 | 2:0 | 4 |
| Tanner Scott | 13 | 13 | 76.9 | 38.5 | 3:0 | 3 |
| Luke Jackson | 9 | 16 | 75 | 6.3 | 1:0 | 3 |
| Freddy Tarnok | 1 | 15 | 53.3 | 0 | 0:0 | 3 |
| Garrett Whitlock | 1 | 14 | 78.6 | 28.6 | 2:0 | 4 |
On the injury front, Will Vest had a rough outing, which ended after throwing a wild pitch and departing with the team’s trainer. He let his only inherited runner score and allowed three hits and three unearned runs while striking out one across two-thirds of the eighth. He was tagged with his first loss and a third blown save. After the game, it was reported he had an issue with his pinky finger:
This will be a tough one for fantasy managers setting weekly lineups, as the update will not arrive until Tuesday after testing is administered. Tommy Kahnle would be the immediate beneficiary if Vest misses time, and Alex Lange, whom you may recall, has begun his return-to-play protocols, facing live hitters. Until the plan for Vest gets revealed, the hierarchy will remain unchanged, but stashing Kahnle if he’s available makes sense.
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Option for June 16
- Bryan Abreu (HOU): Hader has pitched in consecutive contests.
Vulture Save Stashes for June 17
- Michael Kopech (LAD): If Scott pitches tonight, it’s back-to-back outings.
- Bryan Baker (BAL): If Félix Bautista pitches, it would be three appearances in four days.
- Reid Detmers (LAA): If Jansen pitches, it’s consecutive contests for the veteran closer.
Here are Sunday’s high-leverage events of interest.
Closer CliffsNotes
Boston Red Sox – Taking over at the top of the eighth with two runners on and one out, Garrett Whitlock not only stranded both, inducing an inning-ending double play groundout by Aaron Judge but remained in the game, recording his first save. He gets credit for 1.2 clean frames despite facing four batters, striking out two on 14 pitches (11 strikes – 78.6 Strike%) with four whiffs (28.6 SwStr%).
This extended his scoreless streak to seven games, during which he has posted a win, this save, and two holds with a 0.575 WHIP while recording 11 strikeouts versus two walks (30 K-BB%) through 8.2 innings.
- Brennan Bernardino gets credit for his second hold, allowing two hits and striking out one during one-third of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Greg Weissert | Garrett Whitlock
Cincinnati Reds – Finishing a four-run win, Tony Santillan worked around Gleyber Torres’ two-out single with a game-ending strikeout of Riley Greene. He threw 19 pitches (12 strikes – 63.2 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
- Emilio Pagán took over at the bottom of the eighth against the 5-6-7 lineup pocket. He allowed a two-out walk and retired Javier Báez on a flyout for a scoreless appearance on 10 pitches (50 Strike%) with one whiff for his second hold. This marked his second time entering a game during the eighth.
- Graham Ashcraft was awarded his fifth win despite allowing three hits and two earned runs while striking out one in the seventh.
This was a curious usage pattern and puts this bullpen on watch for a pending change. For now:
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Tony Santillan | Graham Ashcraft
Houston Astros – Tasked with the top of the tenth, Josh Hader retired the side against the Twins’ 9-1-2 lineup pocket and recorded a strikeout, stranding the “place” runner. He threw 13 pitches (69.2 Strike%) and generated five whiffs (38.5 SwStr%).
Hader collected his fourth win courtesy of a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. He has been scoreless in 11 of his last 12 appearances, recording three wins and converting all eight save chances with a 0.50 WHIP while striking out 21 versus two walks (44.1 K-BB%) across 12 innings.
- Bennett Sousa logged 1.2 scoreless frames and recorded two strikeouts.
- Shawn Dubin gave up two hits during two-third scoreless combined innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Bryan King
Kansas City Royals – With the score tied at the top of the ninth, Carlos Estévez was summoned, but he allowed Nick Kurtz’s lead-off solo home run and issued a walk before recording three outs, resulting in his second loss. He threw 27 pitches (16 strikes – 59.3 Strike%) and only induced one whiff while recording a strikeout. Here are his results:
This snapped his three-game scoreless streak but represents his second loss in five appearances.
- Lucas Erceg gave up a hit during 1.1 scoreless frames.
- Angel Zerpa navigated around a hit and a walk while striking out two for a scoreless combined inning.
- John Schreiber suffered his first blown save, giving up two hits, including Austin Wynns game-tying two-run home run.
Updated Hierarchy: Carlos Estévez | Lucas Erceg | John Schreiber
Los Angeles Dodgers – Locking down his 13th save, Tanner Scott fired a clean top of the ninth, striking out the side on 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9 Strike%) and generating five whiffs (38.5 SwStr%).
It’s only his second save this month, but he has been scoreless in five of his last six with a 0.333 WHIP and nine strikeouts (45 K-BB%) versus zero walks through six innings.
- Kirby Yates thought he had an inning-ending strikeout, but it was not called, and Daniel Johnson hit a pinch-hit home run. Yates still recorded his 11th hold and did record a strikeout.
- Alex Vesia worked a clean seventh and recorded a strikeout for his 12th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Tanner Scott | *Michael Kopech | Kirby Yates
*= closer-by-committee using a match-up-based approach.
Miami Marlins – Promoted as a reinforcement for an overworked leverage ladder, Freddy Tarnok recorded his first career save, finishing a two-run win over Washington. With one out, he hit José Tena with a pitch and then induced a game-ending double play groundout against Alex Call. He threw 15 pitches (8 strikes – 53.3 Strike%) without a whiff.
- Tyler Phillips tossed two scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out one for his first hold.
- Lake Bachar collected his third win, working two scoreless frames, yielding a hit, and striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Calvin Faucher | Anthony Bender | Ronny Henriquez
Milwaukee Brewers – Walking a tight rope at the top of the ninth, Trevor Megill held on for his 15th save despite allowing consecutive hits leading off the inning and uncorking a wild pitch (spiked a knuckle-curve), putting them into scoring position by striking out the next three batters, preserving a one-run win over the Cardinals. He threw 29 pitches (21 strikes – 72.4 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (17.2 SwStr%). His illustrator:
And his results, which were not on poorly placed pitches:
The good news is that he has converted his last three save chances despite giving up multiple hits in two of them. However, he has posted a 1.50 WHIP over his last 11 appearances, spanning ten innings.
- Nick Mears stranded a runner while retiring his only batter via strikeout for his eighth hold in the eighth.
- Jared Koenig allowed a solo home run among his two hits over two-thirds of the eighth, getting credit for his 11th hold.
- Abner Uribe worked a scoreless eighth, yielding a hit and striking out one for his 19th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Jared Koenig
Minnesota Twins – Entering at the bottom of the tenth with the score tied, Cole Sands suffered his third loss, allowing a walk and Mauricio Dubón’s walk-off RBI hit during one-third of an inning.
Jhoan Durán was tagged with his second blown save. He began the ninth by issuing Jeremy Peña a lead-off walk, a leverage mortal sin, followed by a stolen base, a Jose Altuve single, and a game-tying sacrifice fly. Durán finished with a hit, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one on 21 pitches (12 strikes – 57.1 Strike%) with three whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). His illustrator:
- Louis Varland worked two scoreless frames, giving up a hit and a hit batter for his 12th hold.
- Brock Stewart retired the side and recorded two strikeouts for his eighth hold during the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Louis Varland
Texas Rangers – Working in a third consecutive contest, Luke Jackson recorded his ninth save with a clean top of the ninth versus the White Sox 7-8-9 lineup pocket. He threw 16 pitches (75 Strike%) and induced one whiff (6.3 SwStr%) while recording one strikeout.
It’s his first save since April 28, and he has also posted two holds during his last three games.
- Cole Winn logged 1.2 scoreless frames, yielding two hits and striking out two for his second hold.
- Jacob Webb allowed Miguel Vargas’ solo home run among his two hits and issued a walk while striking out three over 1.1 innings for his sixth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Garcia | Chris Martin | Luke Jackson
The Athletics – Securing his 14th save, Mason Miller worked around a lead-off single with a flyout and two strikeouts, preserving a one-run margin. He threw 12 pitches (75 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (25 SwStr%).
He has been scoreless in six of his last seven outings, converting three saves with a 0.779 WHIP and eight strikeouts across 7.2 innings.
- Tyler Ferguson collected his second win, logging 1.1 clean frames and striking out two.
- T.J. McFarland allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout during two-thirds scoreless in the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Tyler Ferguson | T.J. McFarland
Quick Hits
- Baltimore Orioles: As the “bulk follower,” Cade Povich logged 3.2 innings, walking one and striking out four. Seranthony Domínguez took over at the top of the seventh, inheriting a bases-loaded situation, and recorded consecutive strikeouts while securing his eighth hold.
- Chicago Cubs: Called upon at the top of the tenth, Chris Flexen retired the side against Pittsburgh’s 7-8-9 lineup pocket and stranded the “place” runner. He collected his fourth win after his teammates’ walk-off rally at the bottom of the frame. Ryan Pressly fired a clean ninth and recorded two strikeouts on 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) without a whiff.
- Los Angeles Angels: Used during a lopsided loss, Kenley Jansen allowed two hits, including Jordan Westburg’s two-run home run, and recorded three strikeouts at the bottom of the eighth. He threw 19 pitches (14 strikes – 73.7 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (26.3 SwStr%).
- Philadelphia Phillies: Closing a seven-run win, Max Lazar worked a scoreless ninth despite issuing a walk. Jordan Romano navigated around a lead-off walk to Addison Barger for a scoreless eighth and recorded a strikeout on 21 pitches (60 Strike%) with three whiffs (14.3 SwStr%), facing the 3-4-5-6 hitters.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Suffering his fifth loss, David Bednar opened the bottom of the tenth by issuing Kyle Tucker an intentional walk, followed by him and the “place” runner stealing second and third base, putting both runners into scoring position. Bednar battled back while striking out Jon Berti but gave up Ian Happ’s walk-off RBI single. This snapped his nine-game scoreless streak.
- San Francisco Giants: An impromptu reliever game ensued following the team’s blockbuster trade for Rafael Devers. Joey Lucchesi was not listed on the pre-game roster but suffered his first loss, allowing three hits and two earned runs over two-thirds combined innings. Ryan Walker was tagged with his fourth blown save, letting both inherited runners score, allowing Andy Pages’ go-ahead three-run home run, putting an earned run on his ledger. He finished 1.2 innings with three strikeouts, but the damage had been done.
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