Tuesday’s full slate resulted in five reliever wins and four losses while they converted nine of 12 save chances. Pittsburgh deployed Dennis Santana in the first save chance since demoting David Bednar, and multiple relievers prepared for a save chance and pitched in a non-save capacity when their teams added runs during the eighth inning.
In 2024, Raisel Iglesias recorded more than three outs in seven games; his first was on July 8. He took over last night for a potential five-out save but suffered a loss instead, covered in our three takeaways.
Three Takeaways
(1) Atlanta’s leverage ladder: Atlanta has applied pressure on its closer but did not address reliever needs this offseason after losing Joe Jiménez to knee surgery, evidenced by Tuesday’s usage pattern. Iglesias took over with one runner and one out at the bottom of the eighth with a 2-0 count. Upon entry, Will Smith walked, though it was charged to Daysbel Hernández, and with two outs, Max Muncy doubled, driving in both inherited runners, tying the game, and handing Iglesias his first blown save. At the bottom of the ninth, Shohei Ohtani launched a walk-off home run, giving Iglesias his first loss. He finished with two hits against, and one earned run while striking out two on 22 pitches (17 strikes – 77.3 Strike%) with four whiffs (18.2 SwStr%). He has a 1.00 WHIP with three strikeouts over two innings. Hernández gets credit for his first hold, allowing a hit, two earned runs, and a walk during two-thirds combined innings. Dylan Lee gave up a hit and struck out one during an inning of work for his second hold. Pierce Johnson notched his first hold, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out one in two-thirds of the sixth.
(2) Faucher flounders: Taking over with a three-run lead at the top of the eighth, Calvin Faucher suffered his first blown save, allowing three hits, including a game-tying Pete Alonso three-run home run. Faucher has a 2.00 WHIP with two strikeouts against three walks through three games. Part of the problem has been the command:
It’s a limited sample, but he has a 5.64 SIERA, a 2:3 K:BB (-7.1 K-BB%), a 56.8 strike percentage, and an 83.9 percent contact rate allowed.
(3) Suarez shoving: Perhaps the fading Robert Suarez was ill-advised. He retired the side and recorded one strikeout against Cleveland’s 6-7-8 lineup pocket while securing his third save. He threw 12 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (25 SwStr%). He’s posted a 0.33 WHIP with four strikeouts against one walk (27.3 K-BB%) over three innings. This outing aligned with his usage patterns last year, but he has diversified his pitches this season:
Of his 50 pitches, here are his splits through three games:
- Four-seam fastball: 36 percent usage rate, 16.7 swinging strike percentage
- Change-up: 34 percent usage rate, 23.5 swinging strike percentage
- Sinker: 30 percent usage rate, 13.3 swinging strike percentage
Will he maintain these gains or revert to his heavy four-seam fastball use?
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Here are the remaining high-leverage events of interest from Wednesday’s slate.
Closer CliffsNotes
American League
Boston Red Sox
Completing a combined shutout, Aroldis Chapman secured his first save, working around a one-out walk and striking out one in Baltimore. He threw 18 pitches (11 strikes – 61.1 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (16.7 SwStr%). He has a 1.00 WHIP with two strikeouts versus one walk through two innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Justin Slaten | Garrett Whitlock
Cleveland Guardians
Getting in work during a loss, Emmanuel Clase allowed a two-out infield single during a scoreless bottom of the eighth.
He threw nine pitches (77.8 Strike%) and induced one whiff (11.1 SwStr%).
- Cade Smith retired the side in the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Emmanuel Clase | Cade Smith | Paul Sewald
Kansas City Royals
Suffering his second loss, Sam Long issued a walk and the “ghost” runner scored on a bunt single in walk-off fashion at the bottom of the 11th in Milwaukee.
- Carlos Estévez was tagged with his first blown save in the tenth. He allowed a lead-off Jackson Chourio double, intentionally walked Christian Yelich, and balked both runners up a base before inducing a lineup, recording a strikeout, and an inning-ending popout. He threw 27 pitches (15 strikes – 55.6 Strike%) and only induced one whiff.
- Daniel Lynch IV tossed a clean ninth, striking out one.
- John Schreiber tossed a scoreless eighth, walking one and striking out two.
- Lucas Erceg stranded two runners, retiring both batters, one via strikeout in two-thirds of the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Carlos Estévez | Lucas Erceg | Hunter Harvey
Minnesota Twins
Logging a non-save outing, Jhoan Durán allowed a hit, recorded a strikeout on 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%), and induced one whiff. He has a 3.00 WHIP with two strikeouts and two walks through two innings.
Seattle Mariners
A white-knuckle ride in high leverage with Andrés Muñoz resulted in a one-run win and his third save. His outing began with consecutive walks before inducing a strikeout. However, with one out, he gave up a Dillon Dingler single, loading the bases, then produced a fielder’s choice forceout at home and a game-ending strikeout. Muñoz threw 25 pitches (52 Strike%) and generated five whiffs (20 SwStr%). He has a 1.67 WHIP with five strikeouts versus three walks through three games.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Trent Thornton | Gregory Santos
Texas Rangers
Securing his third save, Luke Jackson worked around TJ Friedl’s one-out single with a strikeout and a game-ending groundout by Elly De La Cruz. Jackson threw 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) without a whiff. He has a 1.818 WHIP with three strikeouts against two walks across 3.1 innings.
- Chris Martin allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless eighth, notching his second hold.
- Robert Garcia fired a clean seventh, striking out two for his third hold.
- Jacob Webb retired the side in the sixth for his second hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Luke Jackson | Chris Martin | Robert Garcia
Toronto Blue Jays
Jeff Hoffman made his fourth appearance in five days and held on for his third save. He allowed three hits and an earned run while striking out one. His save ended on a caught stealing. He threw 10 pitches (80 Strike percentage) and induced one whiff.
Following this outing, he has a 1.00 WHIP with five strikeouts (33.3 K-BB%) over four innings.
- Yimi García notched his first hold with a clean eighth, striking out one.
- Chad Green retired both batters in the seventh for his first hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Jeff Hoffman | Yimi García | Chad Green
National League
Arizona Diamondbacks
Forced into action with two runners on and no outs at the bottom of the ninth, A.J. Puk induced a flyout by Jazz Chisolm Jr., then allowed Anthony Volpe’s three-run home run, before retiring his last two batters, one via strikeout for his second save. Puk gave up a hit and recorded one strikeout on 14 pitches (9 strikes – 64.3 Strike%) while generating four whiffs (28.6 SwStr%). He has a 1.25 WHIP with five strikeouts against one walk (30.8 K-BB%) through three innings.
- Ryan Thompson recorded a strikeout in the eighth but gave up two hits, resulting in two earned runs without retiring a batter in the ninth.
Hierarchy Remains: *Justin Martinez | *A.J. Puk | Shelby Miller
*= match-up-based approach
Colorado Rockies
Taking over at the bottom of the eighth with the bases loaded, Seth Halvorsen allowed two of three to score, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out one in two-thirds of an inning. He threw 12 pitches (5 strikes – 41.7 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%).
Hierarchy Remains: Seth Halvorsen | Victor Vodnik | Tyler Kinley
Los Angeles Dodgers
Remaining undefeated courtesy of a walk-off rally benefited Jack Dreyer. He collected his first career win after tossing two clean frames and recording one strikeout versus Atlanta on 22 pitches (15 strikes – 68.2 Strike%) with one whiff.
- Kirby Yates allowed a hit and struck out two in a scoreless seventh.
- Ben Casparius logged two scoreless innings, giving up two hits and a walk while striking out three.
Hierarchy Remains: *Tanner Scott | *Blake Treinen | Kirby Yates
*= match-up-based approach
Milwaukee Brewers
After stranding the “ghost” runner at the top of the 11th, Jared Koenig collected his first win on a walk-off bunt at the bottom of the frame.
- Abner Uribe allowed Michael Massey’s RBI single with one out in the tenth and recorded two strikeouts on 12 pitches (83.3 Strike%) with three whiffs (25 SwStr%).
- Trevor Megill gave up a double by Jonathan India at the top of the ninth and struck out three. He threw 18 pitches (13 strikes – 72.2 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (16.7 SwStr%). He’s posted a 0.43 WHIP with five strikeouts (62.5 K-BB%) across 2.1 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Joel Payamps | Abner Uribe
New York Mets
Summoned with two runners and one out at the bottom of the 11th, Huascar Brazobán retired both batters, one via strikeout, for his first save against his former team. He threw seven pitches (71.4 Strike%) without a whiff. Danny Young was credited with his first hold, yielding a hit, an unearned run, and a walk while striking out one in one-third of the 11th.
- José Buttó collected his first win, retiring all six batters faced.
- Edwin Díaz took over against the Marlins’ top-of-the-lineup, with the score tied at the bottom of the eighth. He navigated around a lead-off single, a stolen base, and a wild pitch with a strikeout, a fielder’s choice play at home, and a caught stealing. Díaz threw 16 pitches (9 strikes – 56.3 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (12.5 SwStr%).
Philadelphia Phillies
After warming for a potential save chance, per the broadcast, José Alvarado tossed a scoreless ninth, allowing a two-out double by Hunter Goodman and recording two strikeouts, preserving a four-run win. He threw 13 pitches (8 strikes – 61.5 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He’s posted a 0.67 WHIP with seven strikeouts against one walk (54.5 K-BB%) through three innings.
- Matt Strahm recorded his first hold, walking two and striking out two in a scoreless eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: *Jordan Romano | *José Alvarado | Orion Kerkering
*= match-up-based approach
Pittsburgh Pirates
Finishing a two-run win, Dennis Santana matched his save total from last year, working a scoreless ninth despite issuing a two-out walk (Jonathan Aranda). He threw 24 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (12.5 SwStr%). He has a 1.515 WHIP with three strikeouts against three walks through 3.1 innings.
- Ryan Borucki notched his third hold, stranding a runner and striking out his only batter in the eighth.
- Colin Holderman allowed a hit, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one in two-thirds of the eighth for his first hold.
Adjusted Hierarchy: Dennis Santana | Colin Holderman | Ryan Borucki
San Francisco Giants
Facing the top of Houton’s lineup with a three-run lead, Camilo Doval nailed down his second save, retiring the side on 10 pitches (60 Strike%) with one whiff. He’s turned in three clean outings with a 65.7 strike percentage.
- Tyler Rogers notched his third hold with a clean eighth, striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Walker | Camilo Doval | Tyler Rogers
St. Louis Cardinals
Awarded his first win, JoJo Romero logged 1.1 scoreless frames, striking out one and stranding a runner at the top of the eighth. His entrance coincided with a meltdown by the Angels’ bullpen. Romero threw 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Helsley | Phil Maton | JoJo Romero
Vulture Save Options, April 3
- Joel Payamps (MIL): Megill and Uribe have appeared in two consecutive games.
- Justin Martinez (ARI): Puk has pitched in back-to-back contests.
Vulture Save Stash, April 4
- Graham Ashcraft (CIN): If Emilio Pagán and Tony Santillan pitch today, it will be two straight appearances.
Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.
Statistical Credits: