Wednesday’s full slate was reduced by inclement weather. There were three games postponed and one called during the sixth inning in Cincinnati. Still, relievers recorded three wins and six saves while getting tagged with three losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
| Reliever | Save # | Pitches | Strike% | SwStr% | K:BB | BF |
| Carlos Estévez | 20 | 12 | 58.3 | 8.3 | 0:0 | 3 |
| Emmanuel Clase | 16 | 14 | 10 | 7.1 | 1:0 | 4 |
| Kenley Jansen | 15 | 13 | 76.9 | 15.4 | 1:0 | 4 |
| Seth Halvorsen | 5 | 14 | 71.4 | 7.1 | 2:0 | 3 |
| Matt Strahm | 4 | 19 | 73.7 | 10.5 | 2:0 | 6 |
| Greg Weissert | 3 | 12 | 50 | 8.3 | 0:1 | 3 |
With two doubleheaders on tap, here are the vulture recommendations:
Vulture Save Options for June 19
- Hunter Gaddis (CLE): Clase and Smith have appeared in back-to-back games.
- Kirby Yates (LAD): Tanner Scott worked in three straight days between Sunday and Tuesday.
Doubleheader Options (listed alphabetically)
- Chicago White Sox – Preferred option: Cam Booser; YOLO: Grant Taylor
- Detroit Tigers – Preferred option: Tommy Kahnle; YOLO: Brenan Hanifee
- Pittsburgh Pirates – Preferred option: Dennis Santana; YOLO: Isaac Matson
- St. Louis Cardinals – Preferred option: Phil Maton; YOLO: Steven Matz
Vulture Save Stashes for June 20
- Steven Cruz (KC): If Estévez and Erceg pitch today, it will be consecutive contests.
Three Takeaways
(1) Suarez and contact: After his teammates tied the contest at the top of the ninth, Robert Suarez took over at the bottom of the frame, lined up against the Dodgers’ bottom third of the lineup. However, he did not make it that far. He retired Tommy Edman on a pop-up, followed by Will Smith’s pinch-hit walk-off home run, resulting in his third loss. It’s Suarez’s second consecutive outing, only recording one out during a loss, coinciding with his team’s recent struggles. His ERA stands at 3.48 through 32 games, accompanied by a 2.89 SIERA and a 3.65 xERA. His contact and Z-contact are slightly above last year’s results, and his swinging strike percentage is below. However, things are leveling up in terms of contact, manifesting in his 5.1 percent increase in hard hit percentage:
Expanding his sample size to the last 365 days, he has a 1.14 WHIP with a 78.4 contact percentage and 3.38 SIERA, setting a potential baseline for the remainder of this season.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Suarez | Jason Adam | Jeremiah Estrada
(2) Chapman in the eighth? Alex Cora warned us during the spring that he would use Aroldis Chapman against the toughest lineup pocket when necessary. He enacted this during yesterday’s win in Seattle, when he matched up against the top of the lineup and retired the side, striking out one on 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) with three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%) for his second hold.
Taking over against the 4-5-6 lineup pocket, Greg Weissert worked around Randy Arozarena’s one-out walk by inducing Dominic Canzone’s game-ending double play groundout for his third save. He threw 12 pitches (50 Strike%) and produced one whiff for his third save. Garrett Whitlock secured his sixth hold, firing a clean seventh and striking out one, extending his scoreless streak to eight games. One cannot overreact in this sort of usage pattern, but with the Giants on tap, plan on Chapman facing Rafael Devers in the late innings, putting Whitlock and Weissert potentially in line for ancillary saves this weekend as well.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Greg Weissert | Garrett Whitlock
(3) Strahm in the ninth? Handed a three-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, Matt Strahm made things interesting before posting his fourth save. He allowed Heriberto Hernandez’s lead-off double and Dane Myers’ RBI single while recording two strikeouts. With two outs, he gave up another single before a game-ending flyout at the wall in right field. Strahm threw 19 pitches (14 strikes – 73.7 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (10.5 SwStr%). This marked his second consecutive outing allowing multiple hits and an earned run. He’s also given up a run in three of his last four. Orion Kerkering notched his 11th hold, walking one and striking out two on 20 pitches (55 Strike%) with two whiffs (10 SwStr%), extending his scoreless streak to seven games. Yes, the “floating closer” concept remains alive and well for Rob Thomson, but using Strahm against a lineup pocket featuring three right-handed hitters seemed strange. It worked out this time, but barely, saved by a great catch at the fence by Nick Castellanos.
Hierarchy Remains: *Orion Kerkering | *Matt Strahm | Jordan Romano
*= “floating closer” concept
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Wednesday.
Closer CliffsNotes
Baltimore Orioles – Things went awry after taking an 8-0 lead after two innings. Taking over at the bottom of the fifth, Yennier Cano allowed four hits, four earned runs, and a walk during two-thirds of an inning.
- Seranthony Domínguez stranded his only inherited runner while logging 1.1 scoreless frames, scattering two hits.
- Andrew Kittredge suffered his first loss, giving up four hits, four earned runs, and a walk while striking out two at the bottom of the seventh.
- Bryan Baker worked a clean bottom of the eighth, striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Félix Bautista | Seranthony Domínguez | Bryan Baker
Cleveland Guardians – Sealing a two-run lead in San Francisco, Emmanuel Clase navigated around Mike Yastrzemski’s two-out single with a game-ending strikeout for his 16th save and second in as many days. He threw 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
He has been scoreless in nine of 10 appearances since May 28, converting six of seven save chances with a 1.44 WHIP and 11 strikeouts versus four walks (15.9 K-BB%) through 9.2 innings.
- Tim Herrin allowed a hit and tossed a scoreless eighth for his tenth hold.
- Cade Smith recorded two outs while issuing a walk and striking out two at the bottom of the seventh for his 14th hold.
- Matt Festa retired all three batters across the sixth and seventh innings, notching his fifth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Emmanuel Clase | Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis
Colorado Rockies – Shutting the door on his fifth save, Seth Halvorsen retired the side and recorded two strikeouts at the bottom of the ninth in Washington, finishing a two-run win. He threw 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and induced one whiff (7.1 SwStr%) facing the 7-8-9 lineup pocket.
He has converted a save in his last two outings, amid a modest four-game scoreless streak.
- Tyler Kinley notched his fourth hold, working a clean bottom of the eighth.
- Juan Mejia gave up a hit, an earned run, and a walk in the seventh, getting credit for his second hold.
- Jake Bird stranded two runners and retired his only batter in the sixth, securing his tenth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Seth Halvorsen | Victor Vodnik | Jake Bird
Kansas City Royals – Securing his American League-leading 20th save, Carlos Estévez retired the side against Texas’ top of the lineup on 12 pitches (7 strikes – 58.3 Strike%) and induced one whiff (8.3 SwStr%).
This marks his first save since June 8, and he has converted four of five chances this month.
- Steven Cruz notched his fifth hold, allowing a hit and striking out two in a scoreless bottom of the eighth.
- Lucas Erceg navigated around two hits and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless seventh, posting his 14th hold.
- John Schreiber stranded an inherited runner while retiring both batters, one via strikeout, in the sixth for his ninth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Carlos Estévez | Lucas Erceg | John Schreiber
Los Angeles Angels – Preserving a one-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, Kenley Jansen worked around Luis Rengifo’s error on Paul Goldschmidt’s grounder by retiring the next three batters, including a game-ending strikeout of Anthony Volpe for his 15th save. He threw 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%). It’s his first save since June 7 and his fourth this month.
- Connor Brogdon stranded two runners while retiring Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger for his second hold.
- Ryan Zeferjahn appeared in a third straight game, giving up a walk and a hit batter during his one-third of the eighth, getting credit for his 14th hold.
- Héctor Neris retired both batters and recorded a strikeout at the bottom of the seventh. He was awarded his third win, following his team’s rally at the top of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Reid Detmers | Ryan Zeferjahn
Tampa Bay Rays – Capping a crazy come-from-behind win, Pete Fairbanks retired the side while preserving a four-run lead. He threw 12 pitches (75 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%) while striking out one.
He has posted a 1.16 WHIP with 26 strikeouts through 29.1 innings.
- Forrest Whitley worked a clean eighth.
- Mason Montgomery collected his first win, firing a clean seventh and striking out one.
- Garrett Cleavinger logged two scoreless frames, hitting a batter and recording a strikeout.
- Edwin Uceta tossed a clean fourth, striking out one. He has been scoreless in nine of his last ten appearances.
Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks |Edwin Uceta | Mason Montgomery
Quick Hits
- Atlanta Braves: Completing a combined shutout and stranding an inherited runner, Raisel Iglesias retired his only batter on a fielder’s choice groundout, throwing two pitches, both strikes. He has been scoreless in his last four appearances.
- Los Angeles Dodgers: Taking the baton from Emmet Sheehan at the top of the fifth, Justin Wrobleski logged five innings, giving up four hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out three. He collected his second win courtesy of a walk-off home run at the bottom of the ninth, but the most significant part of his outing was providing the bullpen with a much-needed rest day.
- New York Yankees: A tough-luck loss for Fernando Cruz, though he allowed too much traffic. He stranded two runners at the top of the seventh, retiring two batters, but struggled with his command during the eighth, issuing three walks while striking out one before his removal. Tim Hill took over and induced a potential inning-ending groundout, but Anthony Volpe committed an error, letting the eventual game-winning run score. Hill logged 1.2 scoreless frames and recorded a strikeout while Cruz was tagged with his third loss.
- San Francisco Giants: Appearing during a loss, Camilo Doval fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded a strikeout while facing Cleveland’s 7-8-9 lineup pocket. He threw 14 pitches (9 strikes – 64.3 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (28.6 SwStr%). This was his first outing in a week, and he last posted a save on June 10.
- Toronto Blue Jays: Closing a seven-run margin, Chad Green worked around a hit and recorded a strikeout during a scoreless top of the ninth. Justin Bruihl allowed a hit while striking out two in a scoreless eighth. Yariel Rodríguez notched his ninth hold, logging two clean frames and striking out one on 21 pitches (12 strikes – 57.1 Strike%) with four whiffs (19 SwStr%).
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.
If you would like to leave a tip, please use this link for PayPal. Venmo can be sent to the address above.
Thanks for being part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.
Statistical Credits: