Saturday’s slate resulted in four reliever wins, eight saves, three losses, and only three blown saves, one of which was a prominent one by the Brewers in Milwaukee. This leads off today’s takeaways.
Three Takeaways
(1) Megill’s knee and command must be monitored: Pressed into action with one out and a runner on third, Trevor Megill walked Garrett Hampson on four pitches, putting runners on the corners, followed by a two-RBI double by Corbin Carroll and a walk. Megill suffered his first blown save, allowing Jake McCarthy’s game-tying RBI single, then intentionally walked Josh Naylor ahead of a walk-off sacrifice fly, resulting in his first loss. He threw 17 pitches (8 strikes – 47.1 Strike%) without a whiff.
He finished with two hits, three earned runs, and three walks over one-third of an inning.
His WHIP rose to 1.71, and he has recorded eight strikeouts against four walks (18.2 K-BB%) across 4.2 innings. And fantasy managers must also monitor his knee:
Joel Payamps allowed a hit, two earned runs, and a walk during one-third of the ninth. Nick Mears fired a clean eighth, striking out one on 11 pitches for his first hold. Jared Koenig notched his second hold with a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and striking out two. Abner Uribe worked a scoreless sixth, walking and striking out one for his third hold.
Adjusted Hierarchy: Trevor Megill | Nick Mears | Abner Uribe
(2) Clase vs. BAbip: Facing the Royals’ 2-3-4 lineup pocket with a five-run lead, Emmanuel Clase ran into trouble during a non-save outing. He allowed four consecutive hits, resulting in two earned runs at the top of the ninth.
He threw 24 pitches (19 strikes – 79.2 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (12.5 SwStr%) but had too many pitches at the heart of the strike zone. He has only converted one of two save chances with a 2.143 WHIP and seven strikeouts against one walk (16.2 K-BB%) across seven innings. In this year’s limited sample, he has a .481 batting average on balls in play (BAbip) versus his career rate of .255, and only allowed one barrel, though his hard hit rate is ten points over last season. His contact percentage is below last year’s and his 2.98 SIERA sits over three runs below his current ERA. He will improve, but the 2024 iteration of Clase may not resurface this season.
Adjusted Hierarchy: Emmanuel Clase | Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis
(3) The “Airbender” vs. hard contact: In a non-save appearance, Devin Williams navigated around a lead-off walk and a double, putting runners at second and third with consecutive strikeouts, followed by a game-ending groundout against the Giants’ top-of-the-order. He threw 19 pitches (12 strikes – 63.2 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (15.8 SwStr%).
With only one save in his first four games, he’s posted a 2.75 WHIP with seven strikeouts against five walks (8.7 K-BB%). Of more significant concern, he’s allowed more barrels (three) in four games than last year (two), facing 65 fewer hitters, resulting in a robust 54.4 hard-hit percentage:
He will improve, but he needs to be better than a .520 weighted on-base average by his four-seam fastball.
Hierarchy Remains: Devin Williams | Luke Weaver | Mark Leiter Jr.
For the save streamers, in order of preference:
Vulture Save Options for April 13
- Tony Santillan (CIN): Pagán has pitched consecutive days plus four of the previous five.
- Yennier Cano (BAL): With Bautista’s workload being managed, he will not appear on consecutive days until further notice. The only caveat is that Cano may match up with Bichette and Guerrero Jr. before the ninth.
- Justin Slaten (BOS): Chapman has pitched in three of the previous four games.
- Nick Mears (MIL): He worked a clean eighth before last night’s ninth-inning meltdown with Abner Uribe in the sixth. Uribe is the preferred stash in the long term, but Mears lines up for the save chance if provided today.
- Pierce Johnson (ATL): Iglesias has pitched in four of the previous five days.
Vulture Save Stashes for April 14
- Ryne Stanek (NYM): If Edwin pitches today, he may be unavailable on Monday. He’s thrown 24 and 30 pitches in his two previous appearances.
- Matt Strahm (PHI): If Alvarado, Romano, and Kerkering pitch today, it will be consecutive outings for all three.
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Saturday’s contests.
Closer CliffsNotes
Atlanta Braves
Called upon for the fourth time in five days, Raisel Iglesias allowed Jonathan Aranda’s two-out solo home run and induced a game-ending flyout by Christopher Morel for his second save. Iglesias threw nine pitches (66.7 Strike%) and produced one whiff (11.1 SwStr%).
- Dylan Lee collected his first win, navigating around two hits and a walk in a scoreless bottom of the eighth.
- Daysbel Hernández gave up two hits and an earned run while striking out one in the seventh.
- Rafael Montero escaped the bases loaded with no outs for a scoreless sixth while recording one strikeout.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Daysbel Hernández | Dylan Lee
Baltimore Orioles
It did not come easy, but Félix Bautista recorded his first save in 597 days, navigating around two walks with a game-ending strikeout of Bo Bichette. Bautista threw 20 pitches (55 Strike%) and induced two whiffs after taking over against the 6-7-8 lineup pocket.
His WHIP sits at 2.00 through four appearances, and he’s posted four strikeouts against five walks (-5 K-BB%). This is a positive step, but there are still lingering command concerns.
- Gregory Soto retired the side and recorded a strikeout for his first hold in the eighth.
- Yennier Cano took over with a runner at second and no outs in the seventh. He allowed a single, let the runner score in a double play groundout by Bo Bichette, and induced an inning-ending groundout by Vlad Guerrero Jr. for his second hold.
- Bryan Baker collected his first win, yielding a hit, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one in a combined inning of relief.
Hierarchy Remains: Félix Bautista | Yennier Cano | Seranthony Domínguez
Boston Red Sox
If there’s one flaw for the flamethrowing southpaw, it’s command issues. Aroldis Chapman took over a tied game at the bottom of the ninth and issued Luis Robert Jr. a lead-off walk, a leverage no-no. After a strikeout, Robert Jr. stole second, and pinch-hitter Brooks Baldwin provided an RBI walk-off single. Chapman suffered his first loss, giving up a hit, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one in one-third of the ninth. He threw 16 pitches (11 strikes – 68.8 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (18.8 SwStr%).
He has a 1.33 WHIP with nine strikeouts versus four walks (20 K-BB%) and a 16 percent walk rate through six innings. Justin Slaten retired the side at the bottom of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Justin Slaten | Garrett Whitlock
Chicago White Sox
Another instance of a statistic being fluky, Tyler Gilbert was awarded his first win after retiring his only batter at the top of the ninth, ahead of his team’s walk-off rally. Jordan Leasure did the heavy lifting, logging 1.2 scoreless frames, yielding a hit, and striking out two on 23 pitches (13 strikes – 56.5 Strike%) with four whiffs (17.4 SwStr%).
Cincinnati Reds
Shutting the door on his fourth save, Emilio Pagán retired the side against the Pirates’ 5-6-7 hitters on 14 pitches (57.1 Strike%) with two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%).
His 0.411 WHIP accompanies five strikeouts against one walk (16 K-BB%) through 7.1 innings. Tony Santillan recorded his fourth hold, retiring all four batters, one via strikeout, and stranding an inherited runner at the top of the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: *Emilio Pagán | *Tony Santillan | Graham Ashcraft
Los Angeles Angels
Working around a one-out single by Jeremy Peña, Kenley Jansen converted his fourth save with a scoreless ninth, finishing a three-run win in Houston. He threw 17 pitches (11 strikes – 64.7 Strike%) without a whiff while striking out one.
He has posted seven strikeouts against two walks (21.7 K-BB%) with a 1.00 WHIP through six innings.
- Ryan Zeferjahn served up Isasc Paredes’ solo home run and recorded two strikeouts in the eighth.
- Brock Burke fired a clean seventh on 10 pitches.
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Brock Burke | Ryan Zeferjahn
Miami Marlins
As the Marlins’ bullpen turns landed on Calvin Faucher in the ninth. He retired the side while recording one strikeout for his first save, preserving a one-run win. He threw 15 pitches (11 strikes – 73.3 Strike%) and induced one whiff against the Nationals’ 9-1-2 hitters.
He’s posted a 1.69 WHIP with four strikeotus against four walks across 5.1 innings.
- Ronny Henriquez secured his third hold, firing a clean eighth and striking out one.
- Anthony Veneziano let both inherited runners score but was credited with his fourth hold, allowing a hit over two-thirds of the seventh.
- Jesús Tinoco returned from the injured list, giving up a hit, two earned runs, and a walk over two-thirds combined innings for his first hold.
Adjusted Hierarchy: *Calvin Faucher | *Anthony Bender | Ronny Henriquez
*= closer-by-committee
Minnesota Twins
Logging a non-save appearance, Jhoan Durán retired the side at the top of the eighth. He threw 12 pitches (66.7 Strike%) without a whiff. He has not received a save chance through his first six appearances and posted a 1.13 WHIP with four strikeouts against three walks over 5.1 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Cole Sands
Philadelphia Phillies
Not only did José Alvarado record his third save, but he was efficient, retiring the side on 11 pitches (81.8 Strike%) with two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%).
He owns a 1.09 WHIP with 13 strikeouts versus two walks (36.6 K-BB%) across 7.1 innings.
- Jordan Romano tossed a scoreless eighth, inducing the team’s fifth double play groundout for his second hold.
- Orion Kerkering stranded both inherited runners while retiring both batters, one via strikeout, at the bottom of the seventh, securing his third hold.
Adjusted Hierarchy: *José Alvarado | *Orion Kerkering | Jordan Romano
*= floating closer concept
San Diego Padres
Navigating around a lead-off single by Zac Veen and a one-out hit by Kyle Farmer, Robert Suarez recorded two strikeouts while completing the combined shutout for his MLB-leading seventh save, though Fernando Tatis Jr. made a terrific game-ending catch. Suarez threw 12 pitches (83.3 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (33.3 SwStr%).
He’s recorded a 0.57 WHIP with nine strikeouts against two walks (28 K-BB%) through seven innings.
- Jason Adam secured his sixth hold, allowing a hit and striking out two in a scoreless eighth.
- Jeremiah Estrada worked a scoreless seventh, walking and striking out one for his fourth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Suarez | Jason Adam | Jeremiah Estrada
Tampa Bay Rays
Entering a tied game at the top of the ninth, Cole Sulser suffered his first loss, allowing four hits, including a two-run home run by Michael Harris II.
- Hunter Bigge gave up three hits, including two solo home runs and a walk at the top of the eighth for his first blown save.
- Edwin Uceta stranded two runners while retiring his only batter via strikeout for his second hold.
- Garrett Cleavinger was credited with his first hold despite giving up a hit and a walk while striking out one in one-third of the seventh.
- Manuel Rodriguez logged 1.1 innings, allowing three hits, including a solo home run, and recorded two strikeouts for his second hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks | Edwin Uceta | Mason Montgomery
The Athletics
Securing his fourth save, Mason Miller worked around a two-out Tyrone Taylor single with a game-ending groundout, preserving the two-run win over the Mets. He threw 15 pitches (11 strikes – 73.3 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%).
Of his 18 batters faced this year, he’s recorded nine strikeouts against one walk (44.4 K-BB%) with a 0.80 WHIP across five innings.
- Tyler Ferguson notched his third hold, walking one and striking out two in a scoreless eighth.
- Justin Sterner logged 1.2 scoreless frames while striking out one for his third hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Tyler Ferguson | José Leclerc
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