Closer Monkey’s Leverage Ledger | 6.10.2026

Tuesday’s slate featured nine reliever wins, two accompanied by a blown save, six saves, seven losses, and five blown saves. Here are the saves in condensed form, noting that none of these relievers were drafted in most leagues during the preseason: 

There have been 505 saves this season by 164 different pitchers. 

As for the vulture options during today’s slate, I do not feel great about any of them: 

Vulture Save Options for 6.10.2026

  • Robert Suarez (ATL): Iglesias logged 1.2 innings last night. Didier Fuentes will also be in play for a multi-inning outing with vulture win potential. 
  • Brad Keller (PHI): Duran has worked in back-to-back games. 
  • Tyler Rogers (TOR): Varland has pitched in three of the last four and in four of the previous six days. 
  • Sam Bachman (LAA): Yates has appeared in consecutive contests. 
  • Gus Varland (WSH): Beeter has been used in back-to-back games. 

Longshots for the desperate

  • Tyler Wells (BAL): Playing a hunch. 
  • Wandy Peralta (SD): The entire bullpen has been overworked over the previous five days. 

Vulture Save Stashes for 6.11.2026

  • Kyle Finnegan (DET): If Will Vest is used for more than three outs, Finnegan’s in play for Thursday. 
  • Lucas Erceg (KC): If he was dropped in your league and Lange pitches today, it will be two straight for him. 

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Kansas City Royals

Sealing a two-run lead against Texas, Alex Lange navigated around a four-pitch leadoff walk to Jake Burger and a wild pitch moving him to second with a flyout and consecutive strikeouts, securing his fourth save. Lange threw 19 pitches (10 strikes – 52.6 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (15.8 SwStr). 

At one point in his outing, he threw six consecutive balls, but he recovered with a strong finish. He has converted a save in his last four appearances and has been scoreless over his last nine since May 20, posting a 1.08 WHIP with 11 strikeouts versus three walks (23.5 K-BB%) through 8.1 innings.

  • John Schreiber retired both batters, one via strikeout, for his fourth hold.
  • Daniel Lynch IV allowed a hit and an earned run during his combined inning.
  • Steven Cruz collected his first win, tossing 1.1 scoreless frames and striking out two.

Updated Hierarchy: *Alex Lange | *Lucas Erceg | Daniel Lynch IV

*= closer-by-committee

Three Takeaways

Shifting away from Seranthony? Despite letting the “courtesy runner” score at the top of the tenth on Mauricio Dúbon’s leadoff single, Grant Taylor retired the next three batters and collected his second win courtesy of a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. He also worked the top of the ninth against Atlanta’s top of the lineup, giving up an infield hit by Michael Harris II and striking out Ozzie Albies. All told, Taylor allowed two hits and an unearned run with a strikeout on 21 pitches (18 strikes – 85.7 Strike%) with three whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). He lost his five-game scoreless streak but has this win and a save in his last two appearances. Seranthony Domínguez worked a scoreless top of the eighth, issuing a walk while facing the 7-8-9 batters. This marks his third consecutive game in either the seventh or eighth inning. He threw 13 pitches (5 strikes – 38.5 Strike%) without a whiff. 

Updated Hierarchy: *Grant Taylor | *Seranthony Domínguez | Bryan Hudson

*= closer-by-committee

Musing about Miami: In a non-save capacity, Pete Fairbanks finished off a late rally and a four-run lead, working around a one-out walk and a two-out single by LuJames Groover with a game-ending lineout against Tommy Troy. He threw 24 pitches (15 strikes – 62.5 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (8.3 SwStr%). He has allowed multiple baserunners in consecutive outings and has posted a 1.667 WHIP with 12 strikeouts against seven walks over nine innings since returning from the injured list on May 16. His SIERA (3.67) and xERA (3.59) represent hope for better outings, but he has only recorded two clean innings in this ten-game sample. Traffic with an inflated BABIP plus a rising walk rate makes for white-knuckle rides during save appearances. 

Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks | Michael Petersen | Anthony Bender

Hope for the Reds, but still on alert: Handed a two-run lead at the bottom of the 11th, Zach Maxwell shut the door on his first career save, retiring the Padres’ 9-1-2 batters in order on nine pitches (77.8 Strike%) without a whiff. It’s a step in the right direction for the reliever, but he allowed four earned runs in his previous appearance on June 5. Tejay Antone suffered his first blown save, letting the “courtesy runner” score at the bottom of the tenth on Samad Taylor’s RBI single and recording two strikeouts. He collected his first win as a result of his team’s two-run rally in the 11th. Sam Moll stranded two runners despite allowing a hit and struck out two during two-thirds of the ninth. Tony Santillan allowed two hits and recorded a strikeout, getting three outs between the eighth and ninth innings. 

Updated Hierarchy: *Tony Santillan | *Zach Maxwell | *Tejay Antone

*= closer-by-committee

Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Tuesday’s slate. 

American League

New York Yankees – Taking over at the bottom of the eighth with two on and one out, Fernando Cruz stranded both runners, recording a strikeout against Travis Bazzana and an inning-ending lineout by José Ramírez. Returning for the ninth, Cruz worked around Chase DeLauter’s walk by striking out the next three batters, securing his first save of the season. He threw 25 pitches (60 Strike%) and induced four whiffs (16 SwStr%) while recording four strikeotus across 1.2 scoreless frames.

  • Jake Bird allowed a hit and a walk during one-third of the eighth, getting credit for his seventh hold.
  • Camilo Doval was awarded his first win, yielding a hit while working a scoreless seventh. 

Hierarchy Remains: David Bednar | Fernando Cruz | Camilo Doval

Seattle Mariners – One of the last members available in the bullpen, Nick Davila, took over with a two-run lead at the bottom of the tenth. He hit Blaze Alexander with a pitch, followed by an RBI single by Leody Taveras, then bore down, inducing a popout by Coby Mayo, recorded an out on a fielder’s choice throw to home, and a game-ending strikeout of Tyler O’Neill. He threw 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%) while recording his first career save.

  • Jose A. Ferrer suffered his second blown save, but was awarded his first win. He allowed three hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out one at the bottom of the ninth, throwing a season-high 42 pitches.
  • Gabe Speier retired the side for his eighth hold in the eighth.

Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Matt Brash | Jose A. Ferrer

Tampa Bay Rays – Locking down his 18th save, Bryan Baker retired the side against the Red Sox 4-5-6 batters. He threw 13 pitches (7 strikes – 53.8 Strike%) without a whiff. He’s been scoreless over his last nine appearances and has converted all seven save chances while posting a 0.778 WHIP with seven strikeouts versus three walks across nine innings.

  • Kevin Kelly notched his 14th hold, tossing a clean eight against the top of the lineup. 

Hierarchy Remains: Bryan Baker | Kevin Kelly | Garrett Cleavinger

The Athletics – Providing his teammates with much-needed rest, Mason Barnett notched his career save, firing two clean frames and striking out four against the Brewers. He threw 31 pitches (20 strikes – 64.5 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (16.1 SwStr%). Through his first three relief outings, he owns a 0.75 WHIP with 12 strikeouts against four walks (27.6 K-BB%) across eight scoreless innings.

  • Elvis Alvarado notched his fourth hold, stranding two runners in the sixth and retiring all four batters via strikeout on 20 pitches (70 Strike%) with three whiffs (15 SwStr%).

Hierarchy Remains: *Hogan Harris | *Justin Sterner | *Mark Leiter Jr. 

*= closer-by-committee

Toronto Blue JaysAlthough Louis Varland let the go-ahead run score at the top of the ninth, he collected his third win courtesy of a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. Varland’s outing began with a leadoff walk of Bryce Harper, a leverage no-no, followed by a strikeout and a groundout, but a Bryson Stott double scored an earned run. He threw 16 pitches (9 strikes – 56.3 Strike%) without a whiff. This snapped his nine-game scoreless streak and represents only the second earned run he’s allowed all season.

  • Mason Fluharty worked a clean eighth, striking out one.
  • Jeff Hoffman gave up a hit and recorded two strikeouts in the seventh.

Hierarchy Remains: Louis Varland | Tyler Rogers | Jeff Hoffman 

Quick Hits

  • Baltimore Orioles: Tasked with the top of the tenth, Rico Garcia allowed a go-ahead, two-run home run by Randy Arozarena, resulting in his first loss. He has allowed at least a run in consecutive outings. 
  • Boston Red Sox: Making his return from the injured list, Garrett Whitlock worked a scoreless bottom of the eighth, giving up a hit and striking out one on 17 pitches (14 strikes – 82.4 Strike%) with three whiffs (17.5 SwStr%). 
  • Cleveland Guardians: With the score tied at the top of the seventh, Tim Herrin allowed Jazz Chisolm Jr.’s go-ahead solo home run and issued a walk while striking out one, resulting in his second loss. 
  • Detroit Tigers: Kyle Finnegan logged 1.2 scoreless frames, issuing a walk and striking out three. He stranded all three inherited runners in the seventh, getting his ninth hold. Tyler Holton hit a batter, allowed a hit, and recorded a strikeout during one-third of the seventh. Drew Anderson stranded two runners in the sixth, walking one and striking out two of his three batters in the sixth, securing his fourth hold. 
  • Los Angeles Angels: Wrapping up a nine-run victory over the Astros, Kirby Yates fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts on 12 pitches (83.3 Strike%) with four whiffs (33.3 SwStr%) facing three pinch-hitters as a result of the lopsided contest. 
  • Texas Rangers: In an eventual loss, Robby Ahlstrom allowed a hit in a scoreless bottom of the eighth. Cole Winn stranded a runner and retired both batters in his first outing since returning from the injured list. 

National League

Atlanta Braves – With the score tied at the bottom of the ninth, Raisel Iglesias retired the side and recorded a strikeout. However, upon his return for the tenth with a one-run lead, he gave up a two-out, walk-off two-run home run by Braden Montgomery, resulting in his first loss. He finished with a hit, two runs (one earned), and two strikeouts across 1.2 innings on 24 pitches (75 Strike%) with one whiff.

  • Robert Suarez tossed a clean eighth.
  • Carlos Carrasco suffered his first blown save, giving up four hits, an earned run, and a walk during his 1.2 innings.
  • Dylan Dodd tossed 1.2 scoreless frames, walking two and striking out one.

Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Robert Suarez | Dylan Lee

Philadelphia Phillies – Perfect no more, Jhoan Duran entered with a one-run lead at the bottom of the ninth in Toronto, but suffered his first blown save and third loss. He had converted his first 16 save chances this season. However, his outing began with an infield single by Jesús Sánchez, who was replaced by pinch runner Myles Straw, who stole second. Yohendrick Piñango followed with a single, and Daulton Varsho replaced him, stealing second, putting runners on second and third. A spiked pitch scored the game-tying run, and a walk-off RBI single by Brandon Valenzuiela plated the winning run. Duran did not record an out, allowing three hits and two earned runs.

  • José Alvarado retired both batters, one via strikeout, in the eighth.
  • Orion Kerkering logged 1.1 scoreless frames, striking out two.

Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Duran | Brad Keller | Orion Kerkering

San Diego PadresTasked with the top of the 11th, Yuki Matsui suffered his first loss, allowing a one-out, two-run home run by Sal Stewart, resulting in his first loss of the season.

  • Bradgely Rodriguez gave up two hits and an unearned run in the tenth, while recording two strikeouts.
  • Mason Miller fired a clean top of the ninth, striking out two on 14 pitches (9 strikes – 64.3 Strike%) with four whiffs (28.6 SwStr%).
  • Jason Adam issued two walks and struck out one in a scoreless eighth.
  • Adrian Morejon logged 1.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out three.

Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Jason Adam | Adrian Morejon

Washington Nationals – As the first reliever in, Brad Lord collected his fourth win despite letting both inherited runners score at the bottom of the fifth. He logged 2.2 scoreless frames, scattering two hits and issuing two walks while striking out one. He has been scoreless in his last five appearances, spanning 11 innings, recording a 0.909 WHIP with nine strikeouts against six walks.

  • Richard Lovelady stranded all three inherited runners and retired his only batter in the seventh for his fifth hold.
  • Clayton Beeter notched his third hold, firing a clean bottom of the eighth while striking out one.
  • Orlando Ribalta allowed Bryce Eldridge’s solo home run, closing out the game in the ninth.

Hierarchy Remains: *Clayton Beeter | *Gus Varland | *Brad Lord

*= closer-by-committee

Quick Hits

  • Arizona Diamondbacks: After his teammates tied the game, Brandyn Garcia allowed two hits, a hit batter, four earned runs, and a walk during two-thirds of the eighth, handing him his first loss. 
  • Colorado Rockies: Closing out a four-run lead against the Cubs, Jaden Hill allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout at the top of the ninth. Antonio Senzatela allowed a hit and a walk with one strikeout in the eighth, facing the 3-4-5-6-7 batters
  • Pittsburgh Pirates: Suffering his first loss, Wilber Dotel allowed five hits, six earned runs, and a walk without recording an out at the top of the seventh against the Dodgers. 
  • San Francisco Giants: Appearing in a loss, Erik Miller did not retire a batter, giving up a hit, an earned run, and two walks during the top of the seventh. His WHIP has reached 1.707 through his first 19.1 innings as a result. 

Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well. 

Statistical Credits:

Fangraphs.com

Baseball-Reference.com

BaseballSavant.com

BrooksBaseball.net