Relievers had a highly successful slate on Wednesday, posting five wins and nine saves while only suffering three losses and one blown save. While one reliever works his way back to Boston, a second-year reliever notched his second save. Plus, what is going on with Griffin Jax?
Three Takeaways
(1) Slaten secures his second: Preserving a combined shutout, Justin Slaten fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts for his second save. He threw 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%).
He has a 0.71 WHIP with five strikeouts versus one walk (15.4 K-BB%) over seven innings. After previously recommending him as a vulture, Alex Cora decided yesterday was the better off-day for Aroldis Chapman. Here are the usage patterns entering this contest:
Liam Hendriks expects he will be activated this weekend despite this rehab outing on Wednesday being postponed. How he slots into the leverage ladder will be determined then.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Justin Slaten | Garrett Whitlock
(2) Jax’s early struggles: Griffin Jax suffered the slate’s only blown save, allowing four hits and three earned runs at the top of the eighth against the Mets. No matter his batted ball data covered next, he cannot leave these pitches in the heart of the strike zone:
Like other relievers, he’s working with an inflated batting average on balls in play (.435), allowing more quality contact. Through his first 25 batted ball events, he’s allowed three barrels (12 percent barrel rate) but an alarming 60 percent hard-hit rate. Of a more significant concern, he’s only produced a 32 groundball percentage down from 52.1 percent in 2024 while allowing a pull air percentage of 44 versus 14.1 percent last season. Hopefully this is a command and sequencing issue. He still ranks in the top-10 among qualified relievers with a 20 percent swinging strike rate and has a 27 K-BB percentage. Monitor his results closely and focus on ground balls induced and depressing hard hits against.
Also from this contest, after working a scoreless top of the tenth and issuing a walk, Cole Sands collected his second win courtesy of a walk-off rally at the bottom of the frame. Jhoan Durán worked a scoreless ninth, walking one and recording two strikeouts. He threw 19 pitches (11 strikes – 57.9 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (21.1 SwStr%).
He has posted a 0.96 WHIP with eight strikeouts versus four walks (11.7 K-BB%) over 8.1 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Cole Sands
(3) Great Scott, that’s six saves: Discerning what the “brunt” of saves meant referring to Tanner Scott has resulted in six saves in the team’s first 20 games. This pace will not continue, but over a 162-game season, that’s 48.6. During his save last night, he worked around a one-out single and recorded all three outs via strikeout. He threw 11 pitches, all strikes, and generated six whiffs (54.5 SwStr%) in a dominant outing.
He’s posted ten strikeouts (27 K-BB%) and a 0.90 WHIP through ten innings. If he reaches 30-plus saves, he was undervalued in preseason drafts.
Hierarchy Remains: *Tanner Scott | *Blake Treinen | Kirby Yates
*= match-up-based approach
Another light forecast for the save streamers, though Mark Leiter Jr. picked up the win yesterday:
Vulture Save Option for April 17
- Chris Martin (TEX): Jackson has appeared in consecutive games, and Martin was not used last night.
Vulture Save Stashes for April 18
- Tyler Ferguson (ATH): If Miller pitches today, it will be back-to-back outings.
- Ryne Stanek (NYM): If Díaz works today, it’s consecutive contests presuming Stanek will be unavailable today.
- Seranthony Domínguez (BAL): If Félix Bautista pitches today, he will be off on Friday. Cano pitched yesterday, and if he’s used again, he will also be out on Friday.
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Wednesday’s slate.
Closer CliffsNotes
Arizona Diamondbacks
Finishing a four-run win in Miami, Justin Martinez retired the side on eight pitches (75 Strike%) without a whiff against the 8-9-1 hitters. He’s posted a 0.45 WHIP with nine strikeouts (37.5 K-BB%) over 6.2 scoreless innings.
A.J. Puk allowed two hits and an earned run while striking out one in the eighth. He matched up with the 3-4-5 lineup pocket, though there were two pinch-hitters for the left-handed batters. Puk threw 15 pitches (80 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He has a 1.29 WHIP with 11 strikeouts versus two walks through seven innings.
- Shelby Miller notched his third hold, walking one and striking out two in a scoreless seventh.
- Jalen Beeks stranded a runner and struck out his only batter, securing his first hold in the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: *Justin Martinez | *A.J. Puk | Shelby Miller
*= closer-by-committee
Baltimore Orioles
Although Félix Bautista warmed up for the ninth, he did not pitch after his teammates scored four runs at the bottom of the eighth. Keegan Akin closed the eight-run win with a clean top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts.
- Yennier Cano notched his third hold, stranding two runners despite issuing a walk by inducing an inning-ending double-play aided by runners’ interference. He threw 14 pitches (8 strikes – 57.1 Strike%) and produced one whiff.
- Gregory Soto gets credit for his third hold, giving up two hits and striking out one in one-third of the eighth.
- Bryan Baker secured his first hold, stranded a runner in the sixth, and tossed 1.1 scoreless innings, scattering two hits and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Félix Bautista | Yennier Cano | Seranthony Domínguez
Milwaukee Brewers
Finishing a four-run win, Trevor Megill allowed a one-out single, then induced a game-ending double play groundout by pinch hitter Kerry Carpenter. Megill threw seven pitches (71.4 Strike%) and induced one whiff (14.3 SwStr%).
He has a 1.288 WHIP with eight strikeouts against four walks (16 K-BB%) over 5.2 innings.
- Jared Koenig fired a clean eighth and recorded one strikeout.
- Grant Anderson navigated around a hit and a walk while striking out three in a scoreless seventh.
- Abner Uribe notched his fifth hold, stranding a runner despite giving up a hit, and recorded a strikeout in one-third of the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Jared Koenig
New York Mets
Taking over at the bottom of the tenth, Reed Garrett suffered his first loss, allowing Ty France’s lead-off RBI single, scoring the “ghost” runner in Minnesota.
Edwin Díaz worked a scoreless ninth, issuing a walk and striking out two. He threw 16 pitches (50 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (25 SwStr%).
He has a 1.65 WHIP with nine strikeouts against five walks (12.9 K-BB%) across 6.2 innings.
- A.J. Minter fired a clean eighth, striking out two.
- Ryne Stanek navigated around a hit and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless seventh.
- José Buttó gave up four hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out two over 1.2 innings.
San Diego Padres
Shutting the door on his MLB-leading eighth save, Robert Suarez retired the Cubs’ 3-4-5 hitters in order on eight pitches (75 Strike%) without a whiff.
He’s posted a 0.56 WHIP with 10 strikeouts against two walks (25 K-BB%) over eight innings.
- Wandy Peralta allowed two hits and an earned run while striking out one in the eighth for his second hold.
- Jeremiah Estrada fired a clean seventh, striking out two, and secured his fifth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Suarez | Jason Adam | Jeremiah Estrada
San Francisco Giants
In order of appearance, Lou Trivino collected his first win, taking over at the top of the fifth. He tossed two scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out two.
- Camilo Doval worked a clean seventh and recorded a strikeout. He threw 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He’s been scoreless in his last three appearances.
- Spencer Bivens finished the seven-run win with two scoreless innings, walking one and striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Walker | Camilo Doval | Tyler Rogers
Seattle Mariners
An American League-leading seventh save for Andrés Muñoz. He retired the side in Cincinnati on 19 pitches (13 strikes – 68.4 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
He’s posted a 1.00 WHIP with 12 strikeouts versus four walks (23.5 K-BB%) over nine innings.
- Gabe Speier allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless eighth, securing his third hold.
- Carlos Vargas let his only inherited runner score, giving up two hits and recording a strikeout in a scoreless seventh for his second hold.
- Troy Taylor debuted with a rough outing. He opened the seventh, allowing three hits and three earned runs without retiring a batter.
- Trent Thornton tossed a scoreless sixth, yielding a hit and striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Trent Thornton | Gabe Speier
St. Louis Cardinals
Save number three for Ryan Helsley, who worked around Isaac Paredes’ one-out walk with a pop-out and a game-ending lineout by Yainer Diaz. Helsley threw 21 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (19 SwStr%).
He’s been scoreless in his last three appearances, but his WHIP sits at 1.57 with nine strikeouts against six walks (9.6 K-BB%) through seven innings this season.
- Phil Maton fired a clean eighth, striking out one for his fourth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Helsley | Phil Maton | JoJo Romero
Texas Rangers
Securing his sixth save, Luke Jackson retired the side against the Angels’ 4-5-6 hitters on six pitches (83.3 Strike%) with one whiff (16.7 SwStr%).
This marked his first save since April 5, and he’s posted a 1.23 WHIP with six strikeouts against two walks (12.1 K-BB%) across 7.1 innings.
- Jacob Webb retired all four batters and stranded two runners in the seventh while striking out one for his fourth hold.
- Shawn Armstrong notched his second hold, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings, giving up a hit, hitting a batter, and striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Luke Jackson | Chris Martin | Robert Garcia
The Athletics
Slamming the door on his fifth save, Mason Miller fired a clean bottom of the ninth, striking out the side on 12 pitches (75 Strike%) and generating four whiffs (33.3 SwStr%).
He’s retired 12 out of 21 batters via strikeout (57.1 K%) and converted all five save chances with a 0.67 WHIP over six innings.
- Tyler Ferguson stranded the bases loaded in the seventh and tossed 1.1 scoreless innings, walking and striking out one for his fourth hold.
- José Leclerc was awarded his first hold despite giving up a hit and two walks while striking out one in two-thirds of the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Tyler Ferguson | José Leclerc
Toronto Blue Jays
Although he did not complete the combined shutout, Jeff Hoffman posted his fourth save, allowing Drake Baldwin’s solo home run and striking out one in an eventual two-run win over Atlanta. He threw 19 pitches (14 strikes – 73.7 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (15.8 SwStr%).
He has a 0.68 WHIP with 14 strikeouts against one walk (35.8 K-BB%) across 10.1 innings.
- Yimi García notched his third hold, striking out all four batters and stranding a runner in the seventh on 18 pitches (66.7 Strike%) with four whiffs (22.2 SwStr%).
- Nick Sandlin gave up a hit and recorded a strikeout over two-thirds scoreless in the seventh for his second hold.
- Brendon Little issued a walk and struck out three in a scoreless sixth, securing his sixth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Jeff Hoffman | Yimi García | Chad Green
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