Wednesday’s full slate provided many turbulent outings and close contests. Relievers recorded eight wins and seven losses while converting six saves. However, there were five blown saves, though the roughest appearances were by closers in non-save capacities.
Three Takeaways
(1) Edwin’s velocity: Working with reduced velocity, Edwin Díaz struggled in a non-save appearance at the top of the ninth against Miami. His outing began with a lead-off walk, followed by a wild pitch, putting Xavier Edwards at second base. After a flyout, Jonah Bride produced an RBI single, and Matt Mervis launched a two-run home run. Díaz remained in the game, getting a groundout, but issued another walk, prompting his removal. He finished with two hits against, three earned runs, and two walks while throwing 30 pitches (53.3 Strike%) with four whiffs (13.3 SwStr%) over two-thirds of the ninth.
He has a 1.50 WHIP, six strikeouts versus two walks (18.2 K-BB%), and a 1.50 WHIP in 4.2 innings. As the chart illustrates, his velocity has been trending in the wrong direction.
Hierarchy Remains: Edwin Díaz | A.J. Minter | Ryne Stanek
(2) Devin’s traffic concerns: Taking over a shutout at the bottom of the ninth, Devin Williams struggled with his command, issuing a lead-off walk, then recording consecutive strikeouts. However, things turned when Javier Báez singled, putting runners on the corners. Williams walked Trey Sweeney and plated the Tigers’ first run on a wild pitch, followed by Zach McKinstry’s two-RBI single, forcing a pitching change. He threw 33 pitches (18 strikes – 54.5 Strike%) and only induced three whiffs (9.1 SwStr%).
He allowed two hits, three earned runs, and two walks while striking out two in two-thirds of the ninth. It’s a small sample, but Williams has a 3.00 WHIP with five strikeouts against four walks across three innings. His 56.4 strike percentage has contributed to his 22.2 percent walk rate, representing a small sample but one worth tracking. Mark Leiter Jr. secured his first save, getting Justyn-Henry Malloy’s game-ending flyout. Luke Weaver tossed a scoreless eighth, notching his second hold, giving up a hit and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Devin Williams | Luke Weaver | Mark Leiter Jr.
(3) Halvorsen’s meltdown: Fantasy managers dread closers getting in work during lopsided contests; a case in point is Seth Halvorsen. He allowed two hits, six runs (three earned), and three walks while striking out one over one-third of the ninth, nuking ratios for teams who added him over the weekend. He threw 28 pitches (13 strikes – 46.4 Strike%) and induced two whiffs. After this outing, he has a 1.85 WHIP with five strikeouts against four walks across 4.1 innings. It’s tough trusting young relievers in Coors, and outings like this can be avoided, but issuing consecutive walks leading off any inning usually results in rough outings for high-leverage relievers. Tread lightly with this bullpen.
Hierarchy Remains: Seth Halvorsen | Victor Vodnik | Tyler Kinley
Vulture Save Options for April 10
- Orion Kerkering (PHI): Alvarado threw 30 pitches during yesterday’s win, and Kerkering was warming in case he was needed for the save.
- Cade Smith (CLE): Clase, Gaddis, and Sewald have all appeared in consecutive games.
- Pierce Johnson (ATL): If going against the Phillies, Iglesias, Hernández, and Lee worked in back-to-back games, and will be unavailable today.
- Yimi García (TOR): Hoffman logged two innings last night and has pitched in two of the previous three days.
- Manuel Rodríguez (TB): Deep league flier, Fairbanks has worked in consecutive games, and Uceta has struggled in recent outings.
Vulture Save Stash for April 11
- Griffin Jax (MIN): If Durán pitches today, he will be unavailable tomorrow, putting Jax in line for the save.
Closer CliffsNotes
American League
Boston Red Sox
Suffering his first loss, Josh Winckowski let the “ghost” runner score despite retiring the side at the top of the 11th on a sacrifice fly by Bo Bichette.
- Greg Weissert worked a clean tenth.
- Aroldis Chapman tossed a scoreless ninth, giving up a hit and striking out two on 14 pitches (9 strikes – 64.3 Strike%) with three hits (21.4 SwStr%). He’s posted a 1.07 WHIP with six strikeouts versus three walks (16.6 K-BB%).
- Justin Slaten retired the side in the eighth.
- Justin Wilson stranded a runner while retiring his only batter in the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Justin Slaten | Garrett Whitlock
Cleveland Guardians
Working into and out of trouble, Emmanuel Clase held on for his first save, allowing three hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out two. He benefited from a baserunner pulling up lame, making the last out trying to score. It’s been a struggle with batting average on balls in play regression and reliance on pitches away in this outing.
He threw 23 pitches (16 strikes – 69.6 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (17.4 SwStr%). He’s posted a 1.83 WHIP with six strikeouts against one walk (16.7 K-BB%) through six innings.
- Tim Herrin stranded a runner and walked one while recording one out in the eighth for his second hold.
- Jakob Junis gave up a walk and struck out one in two-thirds of the eighth for his first hold.
- Hunter Gaddis worked a scoreless seventh, giving up a hit and striking out two, securing his fourth hold.
- Paul Sewald collected his first win. He stranded two runners in the fifth and logged 1.1 scoreless frames, walking one while striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Emmanuel Clase | Cade Smith | Paul Sewald
Detroit Tigers
In order of appearance, Tyler Holton entered at the top of the sixth and stranded both inherited runners. During his 1.2 innings, he allowed three hits, including Ben Rice’s two-run home run in the seventh, and recorded two strikeouts, resulting in his first loss.
- Will Vest worked a scoreless eighth, walking and striking out one.
- John Brebbia gave up a hit, two runs (one earned), and a walk while striking out one in the ninth.
Hierarchy Remains: *Tommy Kahnle | *Will Vest | *Tyler Holton
*= match-up-based approach
Houston Astros
Making his third appearance in four days, Bryan Abreu allowed a lead-off single by Donovan Solano and a one-out Miles Mastrobuoni single, then a fielder’s choice groundout loaded the bases. Julio Rodríguez drove in the game-tying runs with a two-RBI double, and a walk reloaded the bases. Abreu induced a fielder’s choice groundout, getting the runner at home, but walked in the winning run while facing Randy Arozarena, resulting in his first loss and a second blown save. He threw 30 pitches (18 strikes – 60 Strike%) and produced four whiffs.
- Steven Okert let all three inherited runners score, giving up Arozarena’s grand slam, but gets credit for a hold during his inning of work in the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Bryan King
Minnesota Twins
Completing a combined shutout, Jhoan Durán issued a walk while throwing 15 pitches (60 Strike%) without a whiff. He lost the save chance when his team tacked on a run at the top of the ninth. He has a 1.38 WHIP with four strikeouts against three walks across 4.1 innings.
- Griffin Jax secured his second hold, allowing a hit during a scoreless eighth on 10 pitches, all strikes, and producing three whiffs (30 SwStr%). He has a 1.71 WHIP with six strikeouts versus one walk during 4.2 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Cole Sands
Seattle Mariners
Highlighting the flaws of a statistic, Casey Lawrence allowed four hits, two earned runs, and a walk over three innings but collected his first win courtesy of a walk-off rally.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Trent Thornton | Gregory Santos
Tampa Bay Rays
Closing a one-run win, Pete Fairbanks recorded his second save, walking one and striking out one in a scoreless ninth against the Angels. He threw 15 pitches (7 strikes – 46.7 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%). He owns a 1.40 WHIP with seven strikeouts against three walks (19 K-BB%) through five innings.
- Mason Montgomery allowed a solo home run during his first hold at the top of the eighth (Kyren Paris).
- Manuel Rodríguez notched his first hold with a clean seventh, striking out one.
- Kevin Kelly tossed a scoreless sixth, walking one and striking out one for his first hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Pete Fairbanks | Edwin Uceta | Mason Montgomery
Toronto Blue Jays
Securing his first save and the second of his career, Nick Sandlin retired the side and recorded a strikeout at the bottom of the 11th while facing the 8-9-1 lineup pocket.
Jeff Hoffman earned his first win, tossing two scoreless frames. He issued an intentional walk (Wilyer Abreu) and racked up three strikeouts while throwing 20 pitches (80 Strike%) with six whiffs (30 SwStr%).
He lowered his WHIP to 0.68 and has posted nine strikeouts versus one walk (30.8 K-BB%) over 7.1 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Jeff Hoffman | Yimi García | Chad Green
National League
Atlanta Braves
Opening the top of the ninth with the score tied, Raisel Iglesias made one mistake, giving up Trea Turner’s solo home run, and recorded all three outs via strikeout, resulting in his second loss. He threw 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%).
- Daysbel Hernández worked a scoreless eighth, walking and striking out one.
- Dylan Lee gave up two hits, including Bryce Harper’s two-run home run, and registered two strikeouts.
- Pierce Johnson let his only inherited runner score, giving up two hits during two-thirds scoreless in the sixth.
- Aaron Bummer logged 1.1 innings, allowing a hit and an earned run while striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Daysbel Hernández | Dylan Lee
Cincinnati Reds
Taking over a tied game at the bottom of the tenth, Emilio Pagán induced a flyout by Heliot Ramos, then served up a walk-off, Mike Yastrzemski’s two-run home run, resulting in his first loss.
He gave up a hit and two runs (one earned) in one-third of an inning. He has a 0.56 WHIP with three strikeouts against one walk (10.5 K-BB%) across 5.1 innings.
- Ian Gibaut retired the side at the bottom of the ninth.
- Tony Santillan suffered his first blown save, allowing Wilmer Flores’ game-tying solo home run during his 1.2 innings.
- Scott Barlow was credited with his second hold, stranding two runners despite yielding a hit during two-thirds scoreless combined innings.
Hierarchy Remains: *Emilio Pagan | *Tony Santillan | Graham Ashcraft
*= match-up-based approach
Los Angeles Dodgers
Protecting a one-run lead and navigating around traffic, Blake Treinen recorded his second save with a scoreless ninth in Washington. He allowed a one-out bloop single, issued a walk, and bore down retiring CJ Abrams and James Wood on consecutive groundouts. Treinen threw 18 pitches (50 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
- Alex Vesia recorded his fourth hold, walking and striking out one in a scoreless eighth.
- Tanner Scott matched up with the top of the lineup and retired them in order, striking out two on 12 pitches (83.3 Strike%) with four whiffs (33.3 SwStr%). He’s posted a 0.86 WHIP with six strikeouts (24 K-BB%) over seven innings.
- Kirby Yates collected his first win, firing a clean sixth and recording two strikeouts.
Hierarchy Remains: *Tanner Scott | *Blake Treinen | Kirby Yates
*= match-up-based approach
Miami Marlins
Forced into action with a runner on and one out at the bottom of the seventh, Anthony Bender induced a groundout, followed by an inning-ending flyout, preserving the shutout. He returned for the eighth, retiring the side. He logged 1.2 clean frames on 19 pitches (13 strikes – 68.4 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (10.5 SwStr%) for his first hold. He has a 0.38 WHIP and two strikeouts versus two walks across 5.1 innings.
- Lake Bachar finished the shutout with a clean ninth, striking out one in a non-save capacity.
This will not endear new manager Clayton McCullough to fantasy players, but using Bender in the highest-leveraged moment secured the win.
Updated Hierarchy: Anthony Bender | Lake Bachar | Anthony Veneziano
Milwaukee Brewers
Wrapping up a lopsided victory, Grant Anderson was awarded his first win. He tossed two scoreless frames, scattering two hits, and recorded three strikeouts.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Joel Payamps | Abner Uribe
Philadelphia Phillies
Collecting his second win, José Alvarado stranded a runner at the bottom of the eighth, and held on for a scoreless ninth, working around two hits and recording two strikeouts. He threw 30 pitches (70 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (10 SwStr%).
His 1.26 WHIP accompanies 12 strikeouts against two walks (37 K-BB%) through 6.1 innings.
- Orion Kerkering was warming and would have entered if Alvarado had not retired Sean Murphy.
- Joe Ross suffered his first blown save, allowing two hits, including Austin Riley’s game-tying solo home run, during his 1.2 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: *José Alvarado | *Orion Kerkering | Matt Strahm
*= floating closer concept
Pittsburgh Pirates
After logging 1.2 scoreless innings, though Justin Lawrence only stranded one of two inherited runners in the 12th inning, he emerged with his first win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the 13th. He allowed a hit and a walk (intentional) while striking out two on 26 pitches (61.5 Strike%) with three whiffs (11.5 SwStr%).
- During his combined inning, Ryan Borucki gave up an unearned run and an intentional walk.
- Dennis Santana worked two scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out one on an efficient 13 pitches (11 strikes – 84.6 Strike%) with two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%). He has a 1.09 WHIP with four strikeouts against three walks through 7.1 innings.
- Caleb Ferguson stranded two runners at the top of the eighth, giving up a hit and recording a strikeout in a combined inning.
Updated Hierarchy: Dennis Santana | Caleb Ferguson | Justin Lawrence
San Diego Padres
Nailing down his sixth save, Robert Suarez worked around a lead-off walk by inducing a double play groundout and a game-ending flyout, facing the A’s 3-4-5 lineup pocket. He threw seven pitches (3 strikes – 42.9 Strike%) without a whiff.
He has a 0.33 WHIP with seven strikeouts against two walks (25 K-BB%) over six shutout innings.
- Jason Adam notched his fifth hold, tossing a scoreless eighth, walking one and striking out two.
- Jeremiah Estrada fired a clean seventh, striking out one for his third hold.
- Adrian Morejon gave up a hit during a scoreless sixth for his second hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Suarez | Jason Adam | Jeremiah Estrada
San Francisco Giants
Keeping the game tied at the top of the tenth, Erik Miller benefits from a walk-off rally at the bottom of the frame for his first win. He stranded the “ghost” runner by retiring the side and striking out one.
Ryan Walker worked a clean ninth and recorded one strikeout on 11 pitches (63.6 Strike%) without a whiff. He’s posted a 0.67 WHIP with five strikeouts versus one walk (17.4 K-BB%) over six innings.
- Tyler Rogers fired a clean eighth, striking out the side.
- Randy Rodríguez tossed a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and striking out one.
- Lou Trivino stranded two of three inherited runners, walking in a run and striking out one in the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Walker | Camilo Doval | Tyler Rogers
St. Louis Cardinals
Entering at the bottom of the 13th, Chris Roycroft took over, issued two walks, and loaded the bases. After inducing a fielder’s choice groundout by Andrew McCutchen, he gave up Joey Bart’s walk-off single, resulting in his second loss.
- Steve Matz suffered his first blown save, giving up a hit and an unearned run while striking out one in the 12th.
- Ryan Helsley navigated around an intentional walk and a hit with the runner being thrown out at home and recorded one strikeout in a scoreless 11th. He threw 10 pitches (70 Strike%) and induced two whiffs. He’s posted a 1.80 WHIP with nine strikeouts versus five walks (17.4 K-BB%) over five innings.
- JoJo Romero walked one during a scoreless tenth.
- Ryan Fernandez allowed a hit and struck out two in a scoreless ninth.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Helsley | Phil Maton | JoJo Romero
Washington Nationals
Handed a one-run lead at the top of the seventh, Eduardo Salazar allowed a game-tying home run among his three hits against, resulting in two earned runs, his first loss, and a blown save during his two-thirds of an inning.
- Jorge López stranded two runners and logged 1.1 clean frames, striking out one.
- Lucas Sims gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless top of the ninth.
Hierarchy Remains: Kyle Finnegan | Jorge López | Jose A. Ferrer
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