Monday’s slate featured two wins by relievers, seven saves, with two only requiring three pitches, and four losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
As for the vulture option during today’s slate:
Vulture Save Option for 5.5.2026
- Cole Sulser (TB): Baker has appeared in consecutive contests.
- Ryan Walker (SF): Both Kilian and Winn have worked in back-to-back games.
- Anthony Bender (MIA): Faucher has pitched the two previous days, and Phillips logged three innings on Sunday.
- Greg Weissert (BOS): Chapman and Whitlock have logged outings in back-to-back days.
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It was not a storybook beginning for Caleb Kilian during his first career save chance, allowing a leadoff home run by Ramón Laureano. However, the cagey veteran rebounded by striking out Fernando Tatis Jr., inducing a groundout against Jackson Merrill, then recording a game-ending strikeout of Manny Machado. He threw 18 pitches (13 strikes – 72.2 Strike%) and generated seven whiffs (38.9 SwStr%).
He has posted a 1.00 WHIP with 18 strikeouts versus eight walks (15.6 K-BB%) across 16 innings. In this outing, he did groove a four-seam fastball that resulted in the home run:
His use of the four-seam has varied this season:
Keeping his four-seam elevated or at the four corners of the strike zone would be preferred, but his secondary pitches have been effective in generating whiffs. He has produced a 22.7 swinging strike percentage with his knuckle-curve and a minuscule .136 weighted on-base average with it. However, his slider has a 25 percent swinging-strike rate and a .410 wOBA. Refining his fastball location and improving his results with the slider may determine his fantasy ceiling. However, for save-starved fantasy managers, he’s a worthy dart.
- Keaton Winn retired the side against the 7-8-9 lineup pocket on eight pitches for his seventh hold.
- Ryan Walker was warming up during the seventh inning, but was not needed.
It was not from Tony Vitello, but this note by Alex Pavlovic for NBC Sports Bay Area proves encouraging:
But Vitello has previously led fantasy players astray with his usage patterns, so this will be monitored closely. Prior to this contest, the team placed Erik Miller (back) on the 15-day injured list, though it’s projected as a minimum stint.
Updated Hierarchy: *Caleb Kilian | *Keaton Winn | Ryan Walker
*= closer-by-committee
Three Takeaways
Pagán’s third blown save: Suffering his third blown save in only his 14th appearance this season, Emilio Pagán allowed Pete Crow-Armstrong’s leadoff triple, recorded a strikeout, gave up Nico Hoerner’s game-tying sacrifice fly, then served up Michael Conforto’s walk-off home run, resulting in his first loss. He threw 16 pitches (11 strikes – 68.8 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (12.5 SwStr%). First, his illustrator:
And, his results:
He’s allowed at least a run in three of his last four games, multiple runs in back-to-back outings. Through 14 innings, he’s posted a 1.429 WHIP with 11 strikeouts against six walks (8.1 K-BB%). Pagán did not suffer his third blown save until June 21 last year, during his 32nd game. Following the game, Terry Francona cited that his closer’s velocity has rebounded, but compared to last year, it’s still down one tick:
His command is slightly off, and he’s not only allowing more contact but also allowing the quality of it to increase. Including yesterday’s outing, he has a 77.2 percent contact rate allowed, up almost five percent versus last year, and his hard-hit rate has spiked to 56.8 percent through his first 44 batted ball events. Repeating last year’s breakout was not expected, but his 4.72 xERA and 4.98 SIERA do not signal a complete 180 from his early results. His next few appearances should be closely monitored.
For now:
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Tony Santillan | Graham Ashcraft
Kenley resurfaced: Making his first appearance in four days after missing time with a groin injury, Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless top of the ninth. He allowed a walk and recorded a strikeout while throwing 10 pitches (50 Strike%) with one whiff.
His velocities were down by one tick, and his command was, dare I say, erratic?
Injuries can affect the kinetic chain, so the veteran closer may not be out of the woods yet. Getting in work proves encouraging, but those who added Kyle Finnegan should let this play out before cutting him.
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Kyle Finnegan | Brant Hurter
Return of the closers’ heads to Triple-A: Both Carlos Estévez and Josh Hader are scheduled for Triple-A appearances this evening. Their outings will be scrutinized, but the key factors will be getting through them healthy while keeping tabs on their command and velocity. Stay tuned.
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Monday’s slate.
American League
Boston Red Sox
Slamming the door on his seventh save, Aroldis Chapman fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded a strikeout while facing Detroit’s 5-6-7 lineup pocket. He threw 13 pitches (9 strikes – 69.2 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%).
This outing extended his scoreless streak to eight games, during which he’s posted a 0.652 WHIP with 11 strikeouts versus two walks (31 K-BB%) over 7.2 innings.
- Garrett Whitlock was credited with his sixth hold despite allowing two hits, two earned runs, and a walk with two strikeouts during the bottom of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Garrett Whitlock | Greg Weissert
New York Yankees
In order of appearance, Jake Bird stranded three inherited runners, recording an inning-ending strikeout against Jeremiah Jackson for his fourth hold.
- Tim Hill allowed a hit and struck out two in a scoreless seventh.
- Camilo Doval gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless eighth.
- Paul Blackburn yielded a hit during a scoreless ninth, finishing a lopsided win.
Hierarchy Remains: David Bednar | Camilo Doval | Fernando Cruz
Seattle Mariners
Capping his team’s rally, Andrés Muñoz worked around Dominic Smith’s two-out single with a game-ending groundout against Drake Baldwin, securing his seventh save. He threw 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%) while recording two strikeouts. He bounced back from a blown save on Saturday and has converted seven of nine opportunities this year with a 1.357 WHIP and 23 strikeouts against six walks (27.9 K-BB%) through 14 innings.
- Eduard Bazardo navigated around a hit and recorded a strikeout over two-thirds of the eighth for his fifth hold.
- Jose A. Ferrer allowed a hit and struck out one, tossing 1.1 scoreless frames while notching his third hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Eduard Bazardo | Jose A. Ferrer
Tampa Bay Rays
With two runners on and two outs, Bryan Baker took over and preserved the four-run lead by retiring Kazuma Okamoto on a game-ending flyout, securing his ninth save. He threw two of three pitches for strikes without a whiff. His scoreless streak reached six games, and he has been scoreless in eight of his last nine, converting seven of eight save chances. Casey Legumina created the chaos, allowing three hits during two-thirds of the ninth.
- Cole Sulser fired a clean eighth, striking out one.
- Kevin Kelly stranded a runner and recorded a strikeout in his two-thirds of the seventh.
- Ian Seymour was credited with his eighth hold, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Bryan Baker | Cole Sulser | Garrett Cleavinger
Quick Hits
- Baltimore Orioles: Called upon at the bottom of the sixth, Yennier Cano allowed José Caballero’s RBI double, scoring one of two inherited runners during his two-thirds scoreless combined innings. Keegan Akin retired both batters in the seventh, before the game got out of hand.
- Chicago White Sox: Sealing a combined shutout, Sean Newcomb fired two clean frames and recorded four strikeouts against the Angels. He threw 28 pitches (18 strikes – 64.3 Strike%) and induced two whiffs.
- Detroit Tigers: Entering at the top of the seventh, Ricky Vanasco suffered his first loss and a blown save, giving up three hits, four earned runs, and a walk during two-thirds of an inning.
- Houston Astros: Appearing in a loss, Bennett Sousa tossed a scoreless top of the ninth against the Dodgers’ 7-8-9 lineup pocket. Bryan Abreu allowed a hit and recorded three strikeouts in the eighth, throwing 18 pitches (66.7 Strike%) with three whiffs (16.7 SwStr%). Kai-Wei Teng logged two scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out two.
- Kansas City Royals: Closing out a four-run lead, Alex Lange allowed a hit during a scoreless top of the ninth against Cleveland. Matt Strahm fired a clean eighth on seven pitches.
National League
Chicago Cubs
After striking out the side at the top of the ninth, Ryan Rolison collected his second win courtesy of a walk-off rally at the bottom of the frame. He threw 14 pitches (9 strikes – 64.3 Strike%) and induced one whiff while facing the Reds’ 1-2-3 lineup pocket.
- Ben Brown issued Nathaniel Lowe a leadoff walk, followed by the pinch-runner stealing second, and scoring on an RBI single by Spencer Steer. Brown finished with a hit, an earned run, and a walk with one strikeout on his ledger.
- Phil Maton stranded a runner and retired his only batter in the seventh.
- Hoby Milner allowed a walk during two-thirds of the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Daniel Palencia | Phil Maton | Ben Brown
New York Mets
Nailing down his fourth save, Devin Williams fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded one strikeout against the Rockies’ 4-5-6 lineup pocket. He threw eight pitches (87.5 Strike%) and generated eight whiffs (37.5 SwStr%).
Despite his early struggles, he’s on a four-game scoreless streak, including three clean appearances, and has allowed only one hit while recording five strikeouts (41.7 K-BB%) over his last four innings.
- Craig Kimbrel notched his first hold, giving up a hit and striking out one during a scoreless eighth.
- David Peterson collected his first win as the “bulk reliever,” logging four innings, allowing three hits and two earned runs while striking out six.
Hierarchy Remains: Devin Williams | Luke Weaver | Brooks Raley
Philadelphia Phillies
Completing the combined shutout, Brad Keller navigated around a leadoff single by Kyle Stowers with a double play groundout, gave up another single, then induced a game-ending groundout against Liam Hicks for his second save. He threw 10 pitches (70 Strike%) without a whiff. He will return to the eighth inning with Jhoan Duran being activated before Tuesday’s tilt.
- José Alvarado fired a clean eighth, striking out one, and earned his fifth hold.
- Tanner Banks worked a clean seventh, striking out one for his second hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Jhoan Duran | Brad Keller | José Alvarado
St. Louis Cardinals
Summoned to stifle a rally at the top of the ninth, Riley O’Brien took over with a runner on and one out against the Brewers. He induced a groundout by Tyler Black and a game-ending flyout by Andrew Vaughn, securing his tenth save, needing only three pitches (all strikes). He owns a 0.941 WHIP with 19 strikeouts versus one walk (26.9 K-BB%) through 17 innings.
- Gordon Graceffo made the mess, allowing three hits and two earned runs over one-third of the ninth.
- Ryne Stanek fired a clean eighth and recorded a strikeout.
- JoJo Romero notched his tenth hold, working around a hit and a walk during a scoreless seventh.
- George Soriano let one of the two inherited runners score, giving up a hit and a walk with one strikeout across two-thirds combined innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Riley O’Brien | JoJo Romero | George Soriano
Quick Hits
- Atlanta Braves: Suffering his second loss and a first blown save, Tyler Kinley took over at the bottom of the sixth, issuing a one-out walk and giving up a go-ahead two-run, two-out home run by J.P. Crawford.
- Colorado Rockies: During an eventual loss, Brennan Bernardino retired the side at the top of the ninth. Juan Mejia fired two clean frames and recorded five strikeouts.
- Los Angeles Dodgers: Finishing a five-run lead in Houston, Jack Dreyer worked around a hit and struck out two in a scoreless bottom of the ninth. Blake Treinen fired a clean eighth, striking out the side. Kyle Hurt issued a walk and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless seventh.
- Miami Marlins: Logging two scoreless frames during a shutout loss, Lake Bachar allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout. Calvin Faucher gave up a hit and struck out one during a scoreless seventh. John King retired both batters and stranded a runner in the sixth.
- Milwaukee Brewers: Amid an eventual loss, DL Hall stranded a runner, retiring five of six batters faced, two via strikeouts during 1.2 scoreless frames.
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Statistical Credits: