Monday’s 10-game slate resulted in three wins and three losses by relievers, with only one save converted.
As for the vulture options across today’s slate, options are limited:
Vulture Save Options for 4.14.2026
- Bryan King (HOU): Just trying to speak this into existence.
- Chase Silseth (LAA): He was wild in his last outing, but Romano threw 25 pitches last night, and Pomeranz has pitched in back-to-back games.
Vulture Save Stashes for 4.15.2026
- Shawn Armstrong (CLE): If Smith pitches again today, it will be consecutive contests
- Anthony Nunez (BAL): If Helsley and Garcia are used in tonight’s game, it will be back-to-back outings for both relievers.
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Capping his team’s comeback, Ryan Helsley locked down his fifth save, retiring the side and recording two strikeouts against Arizona. He threw 12 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (25 SwStr%).
He’s converted all five save chances this year and been scoreless over his last three. This, however, was his first clean outing this season, and as his illustrator shows, he placed his second pitches well:
For the season, he owns a 1.738 WHIP with nine strikeouts against four walks (16.7 K-BB%) through 6.1 innings. If he’s going to continue with outings like this, he needs better outcomes from his slider and split-fingered fastball. Through seven games:
- Helsley’s Slider: 40 pitches thrown, 20 K-BB%, .382 wOBA, 15 percent swinging strike rate
- Helsley’s Split-finger: 8 pitches thrown, 0 K-BB%, .455 wOBA, 25 percent swinging strike rate
- Rico Garcia fired a clean eighth and secured his fourth hold.
- Albert Suárez was awarded his first win, giving up four hits, three earned runs, and a walk during his two innings of relief.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Helsley | Rico Garcia | Grant Wolfram
Three Takeaways
Romano’s implosion: Timing remains a key to prolonged success in fantasy baseball, and the first blown save suffered by Jordan Romano could be an unfortunate one. He took over with a two-run lead against the Yankees and suffered his first loss and a first blown save without recording an out. His outing began with a Jazz Chisolm Jr. single, followed by a game-tying two-run home run by Trent Grisham, a José Caballero double, and a stolen base, putting the go-ahead run on third. Romano proceeded to walk Austin Wells, and with a full count on Ryan McMahon, spiked a four-seam fastball, scoring Caballero from third. He threw 25 pitches (48 Strike%) and induced one whiff. First, his illustrator:
And, his results:
His WHIP rose from 0.40 to 1.40 as a result of this outing. Given that his ERA would rise as well, his current 4.04 SIERA and 1.74 xERA provide a wide range of predictive data for the remainder of his season. Is this an isolated incident or a preview of coming attractions? Kirby Yates may be on the precipice of a minor league rehab assignment, and once it begins, a timeline for his return will ensue. Romano has a window to remain the closer, but if more outings like this occur, it provides Yates a pathway to save chances when he’s ready.
Hierarchy Remains: Jordan Romano | Drew Pomeranz | Chase Silseth
Changing the narrative for Edwin: It’s been a whirlwind of news regarding Edwin Díaz. First, he was unavailable because of velocity concerns after a rough outing last Friday against Texas. Then, Dave Roberts would not answer if his closer would have been available on Sunday after he was not available on Saturday. In the latest report, he’s making progress. Was it his knee?
There has been a dip in his velocity:
Through six games, he’s posted a 6.00 ERA with a 3.07 SIERA, a 3.14 xERA, and a 1.67 WHIP. His four-seamer has a .471 wOBA and a 4.8 percent swinging-strike rate. For his career, he’s recorded a .301 wOBA and a 14 percent swinging strike rate with his fastball. It’s a small sample, and one that will be monitored. Fantasy players should track his velocity, command, and usage patterns moving forward. He may not be logging back-to-back appearances, given the depth in his leverage ladder, out of necessity nursing the knee injury, and with eyes on the marathon a baseball season presents. Stay tuned.
Hierarchy Remains: Edwin Díaz | Tanner Scott | Alex Vesia
Can we trust the bullpen in the Bronx? While the Yankees were passive in the free agent reliever market, the depth remains a question mark, and it’s only April. This can be turned around, but using Win Probability Added as our guide, the ranks 28th after last night’s walk-off win, ahead of only Washington and Houston’s leverage ladders. Not exactly a ringing endorsement. The Yankees’ relievers have a -1.21 WPA, and only six teams have suffered more than the unit’s combined 11 meltdowns. Entering tonight’s contest, here are the WPAs for each Yankees reliever:
Help may not arrive via trade this early in the season, but when Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón can return to the rotation, two of Luis Gil, Will Warren, and Ryan Weathers could be transitioned into a relief role. Plus, Carlos Lagrange received Dellin Betances comparisons all spring; he may be injected into the bullpen by mid-May or early June if these leverage struggles continue.
Hierarchy Remains: David Bednar | Camilo Doval | Fernando Cruz
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Monday’s slate.
American League
Cleveland Guardians
Getting work with a six-run lead, Cade Smith allowed Alec Burleson’s two-out double, then retired Jordan Walker on a game-ending flyout. He threw 18 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and produced one whiff.
He’s been scoreless in three of his last four appearances, posting a 7:2 K:BB (29.4 K-BB%) over his last four innings. Plus, he’s starting to hone his four-seam fastball placement high-and-inside to right-handed hitters and away from left-handed batters:
- Hunter Gaddis made his season debut, giving up two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one in the eighth.
- Erik Sabrowski fired a clean seventh.
- Tim Herrin worked around a hit and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Cade Smith | Shawn Armstrong | Erik Sabrowski
Quick Hits
- Houston Astros: Appearing during a loss, J.P. France allowed two hits during two scoreless frames.
- Minnesota Twins: Closing out a seven-run win over the Red Sox, Garrett Acton gave up two walks and recorded three strikeouts across two scoreless frames.
- Seattle Mariners: Pressed into action at the top of the eighth, Matt Brash stranded both inherited runners, inducing an inning-ending lineup by Isaac Paredes, recording his second hold. Cole Wilcox worked a scoreless ninth while issuing a walk, closing out a four-run lead.
- The Athletics: Entering with two runners on and two outs at the top of the eighth, Luis Medina stranded both and worked 1.1 scoreless frames, walking and striking out one. Jack Perkins gave up five hits, four earned runs, and a walk while striking out four across his 1.2 innings.
National League
Los Angeles Dodgers
Closing out a combined shutout, Tanner Scott worked around Marcus Semien’s lead-off single with a pop-out and a game-ending double play groundout by Francisco Lindor. He threw eight pitches (75 Strike%) without a whiff. He’s been scoreless in eight of nine appearances this season, posting a 0.652 WHIP with eight strikeouts against no walks (29.6 K-BB%) across 7.2 innings. He remains a viable stream option for saves.
Miami Marlins
In order of appearance, Andrew Nardi took over at the bottom of the fifth and was awarded his first win, retiring the side while striking out one in Atlanta. He did let one of two inherited runners score.
- Calvin Faucher issued three walks and recorded two strikeouts during two-thirds of the sixth.
- John King stranded all three inherited runners, retiring his only batter in the sixth for his first hold.
- Lake Bachar logged two scoreless frames, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out four.
- Anthony Bender closed out a six-run lead with a scoreless ninth, giving up a hit and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks | Anthony Bender | Calvin Faucher
Quick Hits
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Taking over with a one-run lead at the bottom of the seventh, Jonathan Loáisiga hit Taylor Ward with a pitch, then served up Pete Alonso’s go-ahead two-run home run, and after a two-out walk, was removed. He suffered his first loss and a third blown save as a result.
- New York Mets: In a shutout loss, Craig Kimbrel tossed a scoreless bottom of the sixth while yielding a hit. Joey Gerber made his MLB debut, logging two scoreless frames, scattering two hits and walking one while striking out five.
- Philadelphia Phillies: Sealing a six-run margin against the Cubs, Orion Kerkering logged 1.1 scoreless frames. He stranded two runners at the top of the eighth. He finished with a hit and three strikeouts while throwing 18 pitches (83.3 Strik%) with two whiffs (11.1 SwStr%).
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Finishing off a lopsided win over Washington, Evan Sisk worked two scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out three.
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