Another day, and more shutouts, four to be exact. Friday’s slate featured six games decided by five runs or more. Relievers recorded five wins and six saves while suffering four losses. Saves came in varied forms, with one save only requiring facing one batter, and another lasting five innings. Here are the saves in condensed form:
| Reliever | Save # | Pitches | Strike% | SwStr% | K:BB | BF |
| Josh Hader | 22 | 3 | 100 | 0 | 0:0 | 1 |
| Tanner Scott | 18 | 16 | 62.5 | 6.3 | 1:1 | 5 |
| Camilo Doval | 13 | 16 | 68.8 | 12.5 | 2:0 | 3 |
| Jhoan Durán | 12 | 9 | 77.8 | 11.1 | 1:0 | 3 |
| Devin Williams | 11 | 15 | 73.3 | 20 | 1:0 | 3 |
| Alan Rangel | 1 | 71 | 69 | 9.9 | 4:1 | 21 |
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for June 28
- Kirby Yates (LAD): Scott has worked in consecutive contests and three of the previous four.
- Anthony Bender (MIA): Faucher and Henriquez have pitched in three of the past four days.
Vulture Save Stash for June 29
- Bryan Abreu (HOU): If Hader pitches today, it’s back-to-back appearances and four in the last five.
Monkey Merch
Closer Monkey t-shirts, long-sleeve tees, polos, a quarter-zip, and trucker hats are available for order through July 11 at this LINK.
Here are the leverage events of interest from Friday.
Closer CliffsNotes
Houston Astros – Summoned with a runner on second and two outs, Josh Hader induced a game-ending lineout by Ian Happ, sealing the three-run win while throwing three pitches for his 22nd save. Making his 13th appearance this month, he has a 4-1 record while converting all eight saves with a 0.551 WHIP and 21 strikeouts against one walk (43.5 K-BB%) through 12.2 innings.
- Bennett Sousa logged 1.2 innings, giving up a hit, an earned run, and a walk while striking out three.
- Steven Okert stranded a runner and retired both batters in the seventh, one via strikeout.
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Bryan King
Los Angeles Dodgers – After striking out Bobby Witt Jr., Tanner Scott allowed a hit, a walk, and a single, loading the bases, but pulled a “Houdini,” by inducing a game-ending double play groundout by Jac Caglianone, recording his 18th save. He threw 16 pitches (62.5 Strike%) and produced one whiff. First, his illustrator:
And his results:
He has been scoreless in seven of his last eight games, converting all six save chances while posting a 0.843 WHIP with eight strikeouts versus two walks (20.7 K-BB%) across 8.1 innings.
- Alex Vesia hit a batter during a scoreless eighth for his 16th hold.
- Anthony Banda was credited with his fifth hold, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out one in one-third of the seventh.
- Lou Trivino was awarded his third win, tossing 1.2 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Tanner Scott | Kirby Yates | Michael Kopech
*= closer-by-committee with a preferred save share (Scott)
Miami Marlins – In order of appearance, Ronny Henriquez took over at the bottom of the fifth, with a runner on, and allowed Geraldo Perdomo’s two-run home run, then settled in, recording consecutive strikeouts. He finished with a hit and an earned run while striking out three, collecting his fourth win.
- Cade Gibson notched his third hold despite giving up Alek Thomas’ solo home run during his two-thirds of an inning.
- Calvin Faucher issued a walk and recorded a strikeout for his fourth hold, tossing two-thirds scoreless in the seventh.
- Anthony Bender retired the side in the eighth, securing his 13th hold.
- Tyler Phillips allowed three hits, three runs (two earned), and a walk while striking out one in the ninth, barely maintaining his four-run lead upon entry.
Hierarchy Remains: Calvin Faucher | Ronny Henriquez | Anthony Bender
Milwaukee Brewers – Finishing a four-run win over the Rockies, Grant Anderson fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts.
- Abner Uribe let both inherited runners score in the eighth, allowing a two-RBI double by Braxton Fulford on a ball just missed by Isaac Collins, then retired the next two batters via strikeout, securing his MLB-leading 22nd hold.
- Jared Koenig gave up two hits and two earned runs during one-third of the eighth, getting credit for his 14th hold.
- Nick Mears logged 1.1 scoreless frames, yielding two hits and striking out two for his tenth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Jared Koenig
Minnesota Twins – Closing his 12th save with a clean bottom of the ninth, Jhoan Durán preserved a three-run win in Detroit while recording a strikeout. He threw nine pitches (77.8 Strike%) and induced one whiff (11.1 SwStr%).
Through 11 games in June, he has two losses and converted three of four save chances while posting a 1.20 WHIP with 10 strikeouts versus three walks (15.9 K-BB%) across ten innings.
- Griffin Jax allowed three hits and an earned run while striking out three in the eighth.
- Louis Varland worked around a hit and a walk while striking out one.
- Danny Coulombe stranded a runner and retired his only batter in the sixth for his third hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Louis Varland
New York Yankees – Slamming the door on his 11th save and a combined shutout, Devin Williams fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded one strikeout against the A’s. He threw 15 pitches (11 strikes – 73.3 Strike%) and produced three hits (20 SwStr%).
This extended his scoreless streak to eight games, during which he has converted all five save opportunities while posting a 0.39 WHIP with nine strikeouts (32.1 K%) and no walks through 7.2 innings.
- Luke Weaver tossed a clean eighth, striking out one and securing his seventh hold.
- Fernando Cruz notched his ninth hold, retiring the side and striking out one in the seventh.
- Tim Hill worked a scoreless sixth, yielding a hit and striking out one.
This marks consecutive games Williams has pitched the ninth, and Weaver was in the eighth when both have appeared. Once can be a mistake, but two is a trend, which may be the case for their roles moving forward.
Hierarchy Remains: *Devin Williams | *Luke Weaver | Fernando Cruz
*= closer-by-committee
San Francisco Giants – Handed a three-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, Camilo Doval recorded his 13th save, retiring the side while striking out two against the White Sox. He threw 16 pitches (11 strikes – 68.8 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (12.5 SwStr%).
This snapped a two-game streak of giving up multiple runs. Doval has a loss and converted seven of eight save chances in June, posting a 2.00 WHIP with 13 strikeouts against eight walks across 12 innings.
- Tyler Rogers tossed a clean eighth, securing his 18th hold.
- Randy Rodríguez notched his 11th hold, issuing a walk during a scoreless seventh.
- Ryan Walker stranded a runner and retired both batters in the sixth for his seventh hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Camilo Doval | Randy Rodríguez | Tyler Rogers
Seattle Mariners – As one of the last relievers standing during the 12-inning contest, Eduard Bazardo collected his third win, tossing two scoreless frames despite allowing three walks (one intentional) and striking out one in Texas.
Andrés Muñoz was tagged with his fifth blown save. He took over at the bottom of the tenth with a one-run lead and intentionally walked Corey Seager, induced a fly-out, moving the “place” runner to third, followed by Adolis García’s game-tying sacrifice fly, scoring an unearned run.
- Matt Brash worked a scoreless ninth, giving up a hit and striking out two.
- Casey Legumina tossed 1.1 clean frames, striking out three.
- Gabe Speier allowed two hits and an earned run, resulting in his third blown save.
- Carlos Vargas notched his tenth hold with a scoreless combined inning, yielding a hit.
Hierarchy: Andrés Muñoz | Matt Brash | Carlos Vargas
Texas Rangers – Tasked with the top of the 12th against Seattle, Shawn Armstrong suffered his third loss. He retired the first two batters via flyout, then gave up a go-ahead single by Miles Mastrobuoni, scoring the “place” runner.
- Luke Jackson tossed two innings, stranding one of two “place” runners, yielding a hit, hitting a batter, and a walk while striking out one.
- Robert Garcia fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded a strikeout on 15 pitches (11 strikes – 73.3 Strike% with three whiffs (20 SwStr%).
- Chris Martin worked a scoreless eighth, giving up a hit.
- Hoby Milner allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Garcia | Luke Jackson | Chris Martin
Washington Nationals – Entering a tied game at the bottom of the sixth, Brad Lord logged 1.2 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out one. He was awarded his second win after his teammates took the lead for good at the top of the seventh. In 13 outings this month, he has this win and five holds with a 0.809 WHIP across 17.1 innings.
- Jose A. Ferrer notched his 15th hold, stranding two runners in the seventh and retiring all four batters faced.
- Zach Brzykcy closed the six-run victory with a clean ninth, striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Kyle Finnegan | Jose A. Ferrer | Brad Lord
Quick Hits
- Arizona Diamondbacks: During an eventual loss, Juan Morillo gave up two hits and an earned run at the top of the sixth, ending his nine-game scoreless streak. Kevin Ginkel fired a clean seventh, striking out the side.
- Atlanta Braves: Pitching during a blowout loss, Dylan Lee tossed a scoreless top of the eighth, allowing a walk and striking out two. This extended his scoreless streak to 13 games, during which he has 0.408 WHIP with 19 strikeouts against two walks (34 K-BB%).
- Baltimore Orioles: Wrapping up a lopsided victory, Kade Strowd logged two scoreless innings, yielding a hit and striking out one. Keegan Akin allowed three hits and an earned run while striking out one in the seventh. Seranthony Domínguez notched his 11th hold, retiring the side in the sixth.
- Chicago White Sox: Taking over at the top of the fifth, Tyler Alexander worked three innings, allowing three hits, two earned runs, and two walks while striking out two, resulting in his eighth loss.
- Cincinnati Reds: Called upon with runners at second and third with no out at the top of the ninth, Taylor Rogers induced a pop-out by Luis Arraez, struck out Tyler Wade, and issued consecutive walks, losing the combined shutout before a game-ending strikeout.
- Los Angeles Angels: In a back-and-forth contest, Brock Burke let his only inherited runner score, allowing two hits and striking out one at the top of the sixth, resulting in his third blown save. Sam Bachman suffered his first loss, giving up a hit, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one at the top of the seventh.
- Philadelphia Phillies: Logging five innings of a lopsided combined shutout, Alan Rangel recorded his first career save in his second appearance as a major leaguer. He scattered six hits and issued one walk while striking out four on 71 pitches (49 strikes – 69 Strike%) with seven whiffs (9.9 SwStr%). Taijuan Walker was awarded his third win, tossing two scoreless frames, giving up a hit and two walks while striking out one.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Securing his second hold, Isaac Mattson stranded two runners at the top of the sixth, and allowed a hit while striking out three during 1.1 scoreless frames.
- Tampa Bay Rays: Tagged with his first loss and a first blown save, Eric Orze gave up four hits and three earned runs while striking out one across the fourth and fifth innings against Baltimore.
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: