Thursday featured 11 games with relievers recording three wins and six saves while suffering five losses and one blown save. Our three takeaways return with notes on the following bullpens: St. Louis, Tampa Bay, and Washington, followed by game recaps and what to watch for in today’s contests.
For those interested in our premium option (ad-free content), please use this LINK; it is $30 and covers the season. This will be run via Substack for 2026. Please include your preferred email address, and we will manually add you to our ad-free list. You can also Venmo the $30 to @gjewett9.
Recording his first save for the Angels, and his first since May 29, 2025, Jordan Romano preserved a combined shutout in Houston, walking and striking out one at the bottom of the ninth. He threw 12 pitches (50 Strike%) and induced one whiff (8.3 SwStr%).
Drew Pomeranz retired the side on 12 pitches (66.7 Strike%) for his first hold in the eighth, facing Houston’s 3-4-5 lineup pocket.
- Chase Silseth stranded both inherited runners while retiring his only batter in the seventh, securing his first hold.
- Walbert Ureña earned his first MLB hold despite giving up a hit and a walk while striking out one over two-thirds of the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: *Jordan Romano | *Drew Pomeranz | Ryan Zeferjahn
*= closer-by-committee
So far, so good for those who targeted Romano in last weekend’s first FAAB-run.
Three Takeaways
Sleepless in St. Louis? Oli Marmol suggested he was comfortable using any of his four high-leverage relievers for saves this season. In the team’s first opportunity, he called upon Ryne Stanek. Holding on for his first save since July 22, 2025, he navigated around three walks with a game-ending strikeout, closing out a two-run lead against the Rays. He threw 26 pitches (12 strikes – 46.2 Strike%) and generated six whiffs (23.1 SwStr%).
This perfectly reflects the “Stanek experience” during high-leverage events. Riley O’Brien stranded both runners in the seventh and worked 1.1 scoreless frames, allowing a hit and striking out two, resulting in his first win. JoJo Romero was credited with a hold after allowing two hits during two-thirds scoreless in the seventh. Matt Svanson had a rough outing, giving up three hits and three earned runs while retiring one batter in the sixth. O’Brien had the best outing of the four high-leverage options. Will he get the next save chance, or will fantasy players be frustrated by Marmol’s matchup machinations? This feels like a quagmire unless someone emerges as the clear choice.
Updated Hierarchy: *Ryne Stanek | *JoJo Romero | *Riley O’Brien
*= closer-by-committee
Jax in the sixth inning? Being used as the “highest leveraged reliever,” Griffin Jax was tagged with a blown save, allowing both inherited runners to score. One on a sacrifice fly, followed by a go-ahead two-run home run by Alec Burleson, putting an earned run on his ledger during his two-thirds of the sixth inning. The game was in the balance, but the veteran reliever could not stem the tide:
Things went sideways when Ian Seymour took over with a six-run lead at the bottom of the sixth, allowing five hits that resulted in five earned runs without recording an out. Garrett Cleavinger replaced him, letting his only inherited runner score, giving up two hits and two earned runs while retiring one batter, resulting in his first loss while being credited with a hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Griffin Jax | *Garrett Cleavinger | *Bryan Baker
*= closer-by-committee
Beeter in the eighth with a four-run lead? Closing out a six-run margin against the Cubs, Cionel Pérez fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts facing the 2-3-4 lineup pocket. He threw 12 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (25 SwStr%). Clayton Beeter held on for a scoreless eighth, working around two walks and recording a strikeout on 24 pitches (50 Strike%) with two whiffs (8.3 SwStr%).
He was deployed against the 6-7-8-9-1 hitters in this outing. Brad Lord collected his first win, giving up four hits and an earned run while striking out one across 2.1 innings. What cannot be ignored in this usage pattern, Pérez was lined up for a potential save chance against the Cubs’ top of the lineup that features a left-handed lead-off hitter, a switch hitter with a weaker platoon side as a right-handed batter, and a left-handed cleanup hitter. Accruing saves on a team projected for fewer than 70 wins will be tough enough; adding a matchups-based approach caps his potential save total. Stay tuned.
Hierarchy Remains: *Clayton Beeter | *Cionel Pérez | *Cole Henry
*= closer-by-committee
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Thursday’s slate.
American League
Baltimore Orioles
Protecting a one-run lead, Ryan Helsley navigated around a two-out single and recorded all three outs via strikeout for his first save as an Oriole. He threw 19 pitches (13 strikes – 68.4 Strike%) and generated six whiffs (31.6 SwStr%), mixing in four split-fingered fastballs.
- Tyler Wells gave up Byron Buxton’s triple and a sacrifice fly, striking out one in the eighth, securing his first hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Ryan Helsley | Tyler Wells | Grant Wolfram
Boston Red Sox
Shutting the door on a combined shutout and his first save of the season, Aroldis Chapman fired a clean bottom of the ninth in Cincinnati. He threw 11 pitches (54.5 Strike%) without a whiff.
His velocities were down slightly, but it’s early.
- Working around Sal Stewart’s two-out double, Garrett Whitlock notched his first hold and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless eighth.
- Justin Slaten tossed a scoreless seventh, walking one and striking out two for his first hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Arodlis Chapman | Garrett Whitlock | Greg Weissert
Cleveland Guardians
Locking down his first save, Cade Smith retired the side and recorded a strikeout. He threw 13 pitches (9 strikes – 69.2 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%).
- Erik Sabrowski notched his first hold, retiring all four batters faced, three via strikeout.
- Shawn Armstrong gave up a solo home run and struck out two during two-thirds of the seventh for his first hold.
- Connor Brogdon was awarded his first win after tossing a scoreless sixth, giving up a hit and striking out one.
Updated Hierarchy: Cade Smith | Shawn Armstrong | Erik Sabrowski
Minnesota Twins
Entering at the bottom of the sixth, Kody Funderburk suffered his first loss. He recorded two outs, then allowed a hit at the bottom of the seventh, resulting in a run. Justin Topa took over, letting his only inherited runner score and an earned run on his ledger, giving up two hits. Taylor Rogers gave up a double and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless bottom of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: *Cole Sands | *Taylor Rogers | Justin Topa
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Chicago White Sox: During a blowout loss, Jordan Leasure turned in the only scoreless relief appearance, retiring the side on 11 pitches in Milwaukee.
- Detroit Tigers: Finishing a six-run win over San Diego, Will Vest retired the side and recorded a strikeout at the bottom of the ninth on seven pitches (85.7 Strike%) with one whiff (14.3 SwStr%). Tyler Holton stranded both inherited runners while issuing a walk and retiring two batters in the eighth.
- Houston Astros: Entering at the top of the fifth, A.J. Blubaugh suffered his first loss, allowing two hits, including a solo home run (Mike Trout) and striking out three over 2.1 innings.
- Seattle Mariners: With the score tied at the top of the seventh, Gabe Speier allowed three hits, including a go-ahead two-RBI double by José Ramírez, resulting in his first loss.
- Texas Rangers: Appearing in a loss, Carter Baumler made his MLB debut, working a scoreless bottom of the eighth, giving up a hit, a hit batter, and a walk while striking out one in Philadelphia.
National League
Philadelphia Phillies
Pressed into action with a runner on and one out, Jhoan Duran recorded a strikeout, let the inherited runner score on an RBI single, and induced a game-ending groundout for his first save. He threw 12 pitches (75 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (33.3 SwStr%) during his scoreless two-thirds of an inning outing.
The “Durantula” not only secured the win, he made some history:
Kyle Backhus allowed three hits, including a two-run home run by Jake Burger, and three earned runs during his one-third of the ninth.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Duran | Brad Keller | José Alvarado
Pittsburgh Pirates
As the seventh pitcher used in this contest, Dennis Santana worked a scoreless bottom of the eighth, walking and striking out one against the Mets’ 6-7-8-9 hitters. He threw 18 pitches (11 strikes – 61.1 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
Gregory Soto fired a clean seventh, striking out two on eight pitches (all strikes) with five whiffs (62.5 SwStr%) versus the 3-4-5 lineup pocket.
- Justin Lawrence allowed two solo home runs in the sixth.
- Isaac Mattson retired only two batters, yielding three hits, two earned runs, and two walks while striking out one.
- Mason Montgomery gave up a hit, two earned runs, and three walks, with two strikeouts over his 1.1 innings.
Updated Hierarchy: *Dennis Santana | *Gregory Soto | Justin Lawrence
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Chicago Cubs: As the “bulk follower,” Ben Brown allowed three hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out three across his 3.1 innings.
- Cincinnati Reds: Suffering his first loss, Pierce Johnson allowed two hits and an earned run during one-third of the seventh versus Boston. Sam Moll stranded a runner, retiring all three batters faced in a combined inning of work.
- New York Mets: Although Devin Williams began throwing lightly at the top of the ninth, Luis García finished a win over the Pirates. It was not easy; he allowed three hits and two earned runs while striking out two in the eventual four-run win. Tobias Myers logged three innings, giving up a solo home run (Ryan O’Hearn) and striking out one for his first hold.
- San Diego Padres: During an eventual loss, Bradgely Rodriguez tossed two clean frames and recorded three strikeouts against the Tigers, throwing 20 pitches (70 Strike%) with seven whiffs (35 SwStr%).
What to Watch For, March 27
- The Athletics: Who gets the first save chance? How are relievers used leading up to the ninth?
- Toronto Blue Jays: How does Jeff Hoffman look? Is he throwing fewer four-seam fastballs?
- Colorado Rockies: Does Victor Vodnik get the first save opportunity? Can he rebound from a rough spring?
- Miami Marlins: Will Pete Fairbanks get the ninth or be used as the highest-leverage reliever against the toughest lineup pocket?
- Kansas City Royals: The velocity for Carlos Estévez remains the focal point.
- Atlanta Braves: It’s going to be Raisel Iglesias versus Robert Suarez throughout the season. How does each pitch in leverage events early this season?
Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.
Statistical Credits: