Friday’s 14-game slate featured three reliever wins, three losses, and seven saves in nine opportunities. There were elevated pitch counts, some velocity concerns, and more notes of interest covered in today’s post.
Three Takeaways
(1) Should Pressly be on the “hot seat”? – Walking the wire during the top of the ninth, Ryan Pressly held on for his third save, preserving a two-run win over the Padres. However, he issued a one-out walk, followed by a single, before inducing a fielder’s choice groundout and a game-ending strikeout against Jake Cronenworth. Pressly threw 33 pitches (17 strikes – 51.5 Strike%), getting only one whiff.
He has a 2.60 WHIP with two strikeouts versus five walks (-12 K-BB%) through five innings. He will be unavailable on Saturday, which opens the door for his potential competition for future saves. Segue alert: Porter Hodge notched his fourth hold, allowing a hit and striking out one over two-thirds scoreless in the eighth.
He’s posted a 1.29 WHIP with a 6:2 K:BB (21.1 K-BB%) across 4.2 innings. Change may be afoot soon for the ninth inning.
Hierarchy Remains (for now): Ryan Pressly | Porter Hodge | Julian Merryweather
(2) Romano’s reduced velocity – A white-knuckle ride at the top of the ninth for Jordan Romano ended with his first save since May 29, 2024. It began with a lead-off walk, a high-leverage no-no, followed by Tommy Edman’s two-run home run, a strikeout of Teoscar Hernández, and a walk to Will Smith. Romano bore down, striking out pinch-hitter Max Muncy and a game-ending caught stealing at second base. He threw 22 pitches (10 strikes – 45.5 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (13.6 SwStr%).
He has a 1.75 WHIP with six strikeouts against three walks (15.8 K-BB%) through four innings. It could have been weather-related, but his velocity was down this outing, and inconsistent:
A more significant concern may be Romano’s command. Through his first four games, he’s only thrown 43 strikes of his 76 pitches (56.6 Strike%).
Updated Hierarchy: *José Alvarado | *Jordan Romano | Orion Kerkering
*= “floating closer” concept
(3) J-Mart splitter shines during his first save – With a two-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, Justin Martinez entered against the Nationals’ 4-5-6 lineup pocket. He navigated around a two-out single by Josh Bell and recorded a strikeout, securing his first save. He threw 15 pitches (60 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
He’s posted a 0.81 WHIP with six strikeouts (40 K-BB%) through 3.2 innings.
A.J. Puk notched his first hold, yielding a hit and striking out one while facing the 9-1-2-3 hitters in the eighth. He has a 1.25 WHIP with six strikeouts versus one walk (29.4 K-BB%) over four innings.
Hierarchy Remains: *A.J. Puk | *Justin Martinez | Shelby Miller
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Here are the remaining high-leverage events of interest from Friday’s slate.
Closer CliffsNotes
Boston Red Sox
With two runners on and one out, Aroldis Chapman took over at the top of the ninth versus the Cardinals. He issued pinch-hitter Luken Baker a walk, then induced a game-ending double play groundout by Iván Herrera for his second save, thwarting the bases-loaded threat and protecting a four-run win. He threw 10 pitches (50 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (20 SwStr%).
He has a 1.50 WHIP with two strikeouts and two walks across 2.2 innings through three games.
- Cooper Criswell created the mess, giving up three hits and three runs (two earned) in one-third of the ninth.
- Brennan Bernardino fired a clean eighth, striking out the side.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Justin Slaten | Garrett Whitlock
Cincinnati Reds
Making his first appearance on consecutive days, Graham Ashcraft stranded a runner and retired his only batter in the fifth.
- Taylor Rogers tossed a scoreless sixth, walking and striking out one.
- Brent Suter fired a clean seventh, striking out one.
- Tony Santillan allowed a walk and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless bottom of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: *Emilio Pagán | *Tony Santillan | Graham Ashcraft
*= closer-by-committee
Cleveland Guardians
In a non-save appearance, Emmanuel Clase took over with a four-run lead. He allowed Logan O’Hoppe’s solo home run with one out, then with two outs, Kyren Paris singled, advanced on defensive indifference, and scored on an RBI double by Jo Adell. Clase finished with three hits against and two earned runs on 27 pitches (22 strikes – 81.5 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (11.1 SwStr%). He has a 1.75 WHIP (.375 BAbip), two strikeouts (10 K-BB%), and a blown save in his first four games.
- Hunter Gaddis gave up a hit and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless eighth, notching his third hold.
- Paul Sewald worked around two hits and struck out one for his first hold in the seventh.
- Cade Smith secured his third hold with a clean sixth, striking out two.
- Tim Herrin collected his first win, navigating around a hit and a walk while striking out two in a scoreless fifth.
Hierarchy Remains: Emmanuel Clase | Cade Smith | Paul Sewald
Colorado Rockies
Taking over at the top of the 11th, Angel Chivilli suffered his first loss, giving up two hits, three earned runs (two earned), and a walk over two-thirds of an inning. Jake Bird stranded a runner and retired his only batter in the 11th.
- Seth Halvorsen fired two scoreless innings, yielding a hit and striking out two between the ninth and tenth innings. He threw 20 pitches (60 Strike%) and generated six whiffs (30 SwStr%). He’s posted a 0.75 WHIP with four strikeouts against one walk (21.5 K-BB%) over four innings.
- Victor Vodnik allowed a walk during a scoreless eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Seth Halvorsen | Victor Vodnik | Tyler Kinley
Kansas City Royals
After his teammates plated five runs at the bottom of the eighth, Carlos Estévez stopped warming up for the save chance. Chris Stratton closed out the six-run win instead, issuing a walk and striking out one in a scoreless ninth.
- Lucas Erceg navigated around a hit with an inning-ending double play groundout for his second hold in the eighth.
- Hunter Harvey fired a clean seventh, striking out two for his first hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Carlos Estévez | Lucas Erceg | Hunter Harvey
Los Angeles Dodgers
With his team trailing, Kirby Yates took over at the bottom of the seventh. He allowed two hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning. He has a 1.06 WHIP with 10 strikeouts against one walk but only one hold through five outings.
- Luis García stranded a runner and tossed 1.1 scoreless frames, walking and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: *Tanner Scott | *Blake Treinen | Kirby Yates
*= match-up-based approach
Milwaukee Brewers
Securing his first save, Trevor Megill worked around a one-out bloop single and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless ninth, preserving a one-run win over the Reds. He threw 17 pitches (10 strikes – 58.8 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (17.6 SwStr%). He’s posted a 0.606 WHIP with six strikeouts (50 K-BB%) through 3.1 innings.
- Joel Payamps let both inherited runners score, yielding a hit during two-thirds scoreless in the eighth, notching his first hold.
- Bryan Hudson was awarded his second hold despite giving up a hit and two unearned runs in one-third of the eighth.
- Notching his first hold, Abner Uribe gave up two hits during 1.1 scoreless frames.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Joel Payamps | Abner Uribe
New York Yankees
Making a non-save appearance back from paternity leave, Devin Williams finished a five-run win with a scoreless bottom of the ninth, issuing a walk and striking out one. He threw 18 pitches (50 Strike%) without a whiff, displaying some signs of rust. This marked his second appearance, and he’s posted a 2.00 WHIP with three strikeouts versus two walks in two innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Devin Williams | Luke Weaver | Mark Leiter Jr.
San Francisco Giants
Benefiting from a walk-off rally at the bottom of the 11th, Spencer Bivens earned his first win, giving up a hit, an unearned run, and two walks while striking out one over two innings.
- Ryan Walker allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless ninth, keeping the game tied. He threw 20 pitches (60 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He has a 0.75 WHIP with three strikeouts against one walk (12.5 K-BB%) through four innings.
- Tyler Rogers gave up a hit during a scoreless eighth.
- Erik Miller scattered two hits and walked one in a scoreless seventh.
- Camilo Doval suffered his first blown save, giving up three hits and three unearned runs while striking out one in the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Walker | Camilo Doval | Tyler Rogers
Seattle Mariners
Summoned with a one-run lead at the bottom of the 11th, Carlos Vargas suffered his first loss and a blown save, allowing a one-out walk, a stolen base, and a two-out, two-RBI walk-off single by Willy Adames.
- Andrés Muñoz issued an intentional walk and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless tenth. He threw 18 pitches (62.5 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (16.7 SwStr%). He has a 1.50 WHIP with seven strikeouts versus four walks (17.7 K-BB%) over four innings.
- Gregory Santos worked around a hit and a walk for a scoreless ninth.
- Trent Thornton gave up a hit and struck out one in the eighth.
- Gabe Speier fired a clean seventh, striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Trent Thornton | Gregory Santos
Texas Rangers
Slamming the door on his fourth save, Luke Jackson fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts against the Rays. He threw 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%). He’s posted a 1.395 WHIP with five strikeouts versus two walks (15.8 K-BB%) through 4.1 innings.
- Robert Garcia allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless eighth for his fourth hold.
- Chris Martin let an inherited runner score, giving up a hit and striking out one in two-thirds scoreless in the seventh, securing his third hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Luke Jackson | Chris Martin | Robert Garcia
The Athletics
Handed a three-run lead at the bottom of the 11th, Mason Miller issued a lead-off walk, induced a double play groundout, and a game-ending strikeout of Ezequiel Tovar for his second save. He threw 12 pitches (41.7 Strike%) and produced one whiff. He’s posted a 0.67 WHIP with six strikeouts against one walk (50 K-BB%) through three innings.
- Noah Murdock collected his first career win, tossing two scoreless frames while walking two and striking out three.
- José Leclerc suffered his second blown save, allowing two hits and an earned run while striking out two in the eighth.
- Tyler Ferguson navigated around two hits for a scoreless seventh and his second hold.
- Justin Sterner notched his first hold, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out three in the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Tyler Ferguson | José Leclerc
Vulture Save Options for April 5
- Porter Hodge (CHC) – Pressly threw 33 pitches yesterday and barely held on for the save.
- Jared Koenig (MIL) – Megill and Uribe have appeared in three of the previous four days, Payamps has pitched in consecutive games.
Vulture Save Stashes for April 6
- Yennier Cano (BAL) – If Félix Bautista pitches today, he will be off on Sunday.
- Justin Slaten (BOS) – Chapman logged a save on Friday; if he pitches today, it will be three appearances in four days.
- Luke Weaver (NYY) – Williams pitched on Friday, and if he’s used on Saturday, it’s back-to-back outings.
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