Thursday’s six-game slate resulted in two wins, though one was accompanied by a blown save, and two losses by relievers, with four saves converted. Here are the saves in condensed form:
As for the vulture options across today’s slate:
Vulture Save Options for 4.10.2026
- Ron Marinaccio (SD): Miller and Estrada should be unavailable for tonight’s game. Both have pitched in back-to-back games.
- Cole Sands (MIN): He will match up against Vlad Guerrero Jr. if it’s in the ninth with a lead; he should get the save opportunity, but it’s anybody’s guess in this bullpen.
- Jimmy Herget (COL): If going against the grain with the Rockies on the road, Vodnik threw 32 pitches over two innings last night.
For those interested in our premium option (ad-free content), please use this LINK; it is $30 and covers the season. Premium will operate 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.
If Mason Miller were a qualified pitcher, he would be tied with Tarik Skubal for 28th in strikeouts with 16. What sets the Padres’ closer apart from most of his competition as the best reliever in baseball is his ability to generate strikeouts. During a tied game on Thursday against the Rockies, he dispensed of their 5-6-7 lineup pocket on 10 pitches (90 Strike%) with an eye-popping seven whiffs while striking. out the side:
Beginning with his strikeouts this season:
He also extended his scoreless streak, dating back to August 26, 2025, to 27.2 innings:
Also from this contest, David Morgan stranded two runners at the top of the 11th, retiring five of six batters faced, one reached on a hit-by-pitch in the 12th, and collected his first win courtesy of a walk-off grand slam at the bottom of the inning.
Jeremiah Estrada allowed two hits, two unearned runs, and two walks while striking out one across 1.1 innings, spanning the tenth and 11th innings. He’s been working with reduced velocity, but help may be on the way:
The bullpen may get a boost with Jason Adam on the precipice of being activated (video), perhaps before tonight’s game.
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Thursday’s slate.
American League
Chicago White Sox
Securing his second save, Seranthony Domínguez navigated around a lead-off walk with a flyout and consecutive strikeouts against Maikel Garcia and Bobby Witt Jr., finishing a combined shutout in Kansas City. He threw 15 pitches (53.3 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
He owns a 1.50 WHIP with five strikeouts versus three walks across 4.2 innings this season. What must be monitored is his strike rate. He’s thrown 53 of 93 pitches for strikes (59 Strike%), and his 3-0 count percentage is at 9.1 percent to this point, almost double his rate from last season, while his 0-2 count percentage is down, at 18.2 percent. Command remains his Achilles heel.
- Jordan Leasure notched his third hold, walking one and striking out two in the eighth.
- Grant Taylor stranded two runners in the sixth and worked around two hits while striking out one in the seventh for his first hold during his first relief outing since March 29. He logged 1.1 scoreless frames for his first hold.
Detroit Tigers
Suffering his second loss, Will Vest allowed three hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out one during his two-thirds of the eighth inning. First, his illustrator:
And, his results:
It’s tough seeing past his 7.94 ERA and 1.59 WHIP, but it’s not as bad as it seems. His early BABIP is .353, forty points over his rate last season. He has a 3.38 SIERA and a 3.45 xERA while increasing his swinging strike percentage by almost two points. Bad BABIP luck can happen, but it should regress toward the mean for Vest. Of his 17 batted ball events this year, he’s only allowed one barrel and five hard hits (29.4 hard-hit percentage). His slider has been terrific, but the rest of his arsenal needs some fine-tuning. Stay the course, but with him on your bench.
Minnesota Twins
For only the third time in MLB history, a team recorded a four-game sweep with four different relievers recording a save:
Thursday’s save featured Eric Orze, who retired the side while striking out one against Detroit’s 7-8-9 lineup pocket with two pinch-hitters. He threw 14 pitches (85.7 Strike%) and induced one whiff. Newly acquired, Garrett Acton collected his first win and his first blown save, giving up a hit and an earned run while striking out two over his two innings of relief.
For those scoring at home, the Twins have five saves, by five different relievers. Which coincides with the team’s modus operandi for 2026, with credit to Matthew Leach’s Twins Report for MLB.com:
You have been warned about this previously; plan accordingly.
The Athletics
Shutting the door on his first save and completing a combined shutout, Hogan Harris retired the Yankees’ 3-4-5 lineup pocket, all left-handed, in order while striking out one. He threw 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
Justin Sterner worked a scoreless eighth, walking and striking out one on 21 pitches (66.7 Strike%) with two whiffs for his third hold. This marks three saves by three different relievers for the A’s this season. This is fun, right?
National League
Cincinnati Reds
Summoned at the bottom of the sixth, Brock Burke retired both batters and recorded one strikeout, keeping his team within reach.
He’s been scoreless through his first six outings with a 0.632 WHIP and seven strikeouts versus two walks (25 K-BB%) across six innings.
Colorado Rockies
Called upon at the bottom of the 12th, Valente Bellozo suffered his first loss. He issued two intentional walks after Fernando Tatis Jr.’s sacrifice bunt, and served up a walk-off grand slam by Xander Bogaerts.
- Brennan Bernardino allowed two hits and an unearned run while striking out one in the 11th, resulting in his first blown save.
- Victor Vodnik logged two innings, giving up a hit, an unearned run, and two walks during the ninth and tenth innings. He threw 32 pitches (50 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (12.5 SwStr%).
- Juan Mejia tossed a scoreless eighth, working around a hit and a walk while striking out one.
- Jaden Hill fired 1.2 clean frames and recorded two strikeouts.
Miami Marlins
Earning an old-school save, Tyler Phillips scattered two hits and issued a walk while recording four strikeouts over three scoreless frames, securing his first save of the season. This marks the ninth save this year of at least three innings, and the tenth with a reliever working at least 2.2 innings. He threw 37 pitches (27 strikes – 73 Strike%) and produced nine whiffs (24.3 SwStr%) against the Reds.
- Anthony Bender notched his second hold, giving up a hit and striking out one in a scoreless sixth.
Pete Fairbanks should be active for tonight’s game.
New York Mets
Taking over with two runners on and one out at the top of the seventh, Luke Weaver allowed a game-tying RBI double by Gabriel Montero, a go-ahead RBI fielder’s choice groundout, and an RBI triple, while recording two outs, resulting in his first blown save.
- Luis García replaced him in the eighth, allowing three hits, three earned runs, and a walk while retiring one batter, prompting his removal.
- Richard Lovelady let an inherited runner score and logged 1.2 scoreless frames while striking out one.
Some help may be on the way soon, courtesy of Anthony DiComo of MLB.com:
The team has 30 days to activate the veteran leverage reliever.
What to Watch For this Weekend
- Arizona Diamondbacks: How does Paul Sewald fare in Philadelphia, given his struggles with home runs?
- Baltimore Orioles: Can Ryan Helsley turn in a clean outing or two? Does Andrew Kittredge return and provide depth in the leverage ladder?
- Boston Red Sox: Tracking the velocity for Aroldis Chapman.
- Detroit Tigers: Will Kenley Jansen move into or take over third place All-Time in saves?
- Kansas City Royals: Any Carlos Estévez updates, about his, ahem, injury?
- Los Angeles Angels: Does Jordan Romano stay hot, and will Kirby Yates begin a rehab assignment?
- New York Yankees: Can David Bednar turn in a clean outing or two?
- Pittsburgh Pirates: How are Gregory Soto and Dennis Santana deployed against the Cubs?
- San Francisco Giants: Does Ryan Walker get the next save chance, or will he continue being the HLR? Will Keaton Winn or Caleb Kilian get an ancillary save? Updates on Joel Peguero and Sam Hentges?
- St. Louis Cardinals: Is Riley O’Brien the closer moving forward?
- Washington Nationals: Can this leverage ladder display some semblance of adequacy?
Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.
Statistical Credits: