Sunday’s 16-game slate resulted in seven wins by relievers, though one was accompanied by a blown save, eight saves, and seven losses. Despite a runner reaching third with one out at the top of the ninth, Atlanta held on for a one-run win, Minnesota’s closer has tweaked his pitch mix, and St. Louis swept the Mets.
Three Takeaways
(1) Raisel and quality of contact: In a pressure-packed top of the ninth, Raisel Iglesias navigated around a lead-off infield single by Andy Pages, who was replaced by pinch runner Hyesong Kim, who stole second and moved to third with one out. However, Iglesias retired the next two hitters via strikeout, locking down his sixth save while striking out three. He threw 22 pitches (19 strikes – 86.4 Strike%) and generated six whiffs (27.3 Swstr%).
He has a 1.00 WHIP with 15 strikeouts versus two walks (25.5 K-BB%) in 13 innings. Despite this strong showing, he has been struggling with contact this season and enters game action today with the fifth-highest barrels per plate appearance percentage (13.5 percent) among his peers. Of his 34 batted ball events, 15 have been hard hits (exit velocity of 95 miles-per-hour plus) and seven have been barrels (20.6 percent). This has created the spike in his expected weighted on-base average (xwOBA) which measures quality of contact plus strikeouts plus walks:
- Iglesias 2025: 8.8 pop-up percentage plus 2.9 percent weak contact = 11.7 percent poor contact-induced
- Iglesias 2025: 20.6 barrel percentage plus 8.8 percent solid contact = 29.4 percent good contact allowed
Producing more groundballs and reducing his hard hits should provide better outcomes, but right now, it’s a concern:
(2) Durán’s leaning into his splitter: Recording his fourth save and second in as many days, Jhoan Durán worked around a two-out infield single with a game-ending strikeout, preserving the one-run win. He threw nine pitches (88.9 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (44.4 SwStr%) versus the 7-8-9-1 batters in Boston.
He has a 1.11 WHIP with 17 strikeouts against eight walks (14.1 K-BB%) across 15.1 innings. When looking at his pitch usage patterns this season, one notes he’s throwing more split-fingered fastballs (38.9 percent) than any other pitch for the first time in his career. It may not jump off the page when seeing his season results, but this chart from Statcast shows his pitch use by game this year:
Through his first 16 games, his splitter has a .215 xBA, a 35.8 whiff percentage, and a 21.1 put-away percentage. It’s also helped produce a career-high 71.8 percent ground ball rate. This represents an intriguing small sample. He may record fewer strikeouts, but his ratios may benefit if he continues limiting hard contact.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Louis Varland
(3) Helsley rebounds: Handed a one-run lead during Game 1, Ryan Helsley navigated around Mark Vientos’ lead-off single with a strikeout, a lineout, and a game-ending pop-out, securing his fifth save. He threw 14 pitches (11 strikes – 78.6 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%).
This snapped his two-game streak of allowing at least a run. Through 12 games, he has a 1.50 WHIP with 11 strikeouts versus eight walks (5.7 K-BB%) in 12 innings. We have been monitoring his average pitch velocity this year, and here is his updated chart by game, with this outing’s uptick included:
Hopefully, this trend will continue as the weather warms. In Game 2, Michael McGreevy took over at the top of the fourth, stranding all three inherited runners, and logged 5.2 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out five for his first win. He threw 80 pitches (62.5 Strike%) and produced eight whiffs (10 SwStr%).
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Helsley | Phil Maton | Kyle Leahy
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for May 5
- Cade Smith (CLE): Clase has pitched on consecutive days.
- Daysbel Hernández (ATL): Iglesias has appeared in back-to-back games.
Vulture Save Stashes for May 6
- Abner Uribe (MIL): If Megill pitches on Monday, it will be two straight appearances.
- Jordan Romano (PHI): Alvarado threw 30 pitches on Sunday and should get two days off after.
- Jorge López (WSH): He threw two innings on Sunday and will be off Monday. If Finnegan pitches today, it will be back-to-back outings.
- Kyle Leahy (STL): He will be off Monday, and if Helsley pitches, it’s consecutive contests.
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest.
Closer CliffsNotes
Arizona Diamondbacks
Staked to a three-run lead at the bottom of the tenth, Jalen Beeks allowed two hits and an unearned run on Max Kepler’s sacrifice fly while recording his first save. Shelby Miller recorded consecutive strikeouts at the top of the ninth, then gave up Kyle Schwarber’s home run, followed by three straight singles, including Alec Bohm’s game-tying RBI one, resulting in his second blown save. Here is his pitch results chart:
However, he gets credit for his third win courtesy of his teammates’ rally.
- Ryan Thompson secured his fifth hold, giving up a hit in a scoreless eighth.
- Kevin Ginkel faced the heart of the Phillies’ lineup in the seventh, allowing a hit, an earned run, and a walk during his third hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Shelby Miller | *Kevin Ginkel | Ryan Thompson
*= closer-by-committee
Boston Red Sox
In order of appearance, Garrett Whitlock allowed two hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out two during his two innings. He suffered his second blown save, ceding a two-run lead after taking over at the top of the sixth. Justin Slaten gave up three hits, including Harrison Bader’s go-ahead RBI double and two earned runs, getting tagged with his third loss. He’s allowed six runs (five earned) in his last three appearances. Liam Hendriks retired the side and recorded a strikeout at the top of the ninth, facing the Twins’ top of the lineup. Based on recent performances, he has moved into the right-handed complement save spot over Slaten.
Updated Hierarchy: Aroldis Chapman | Liam Hendriks | Justin Slaten
Cleveland Guardians
Hanging on for his seventh save, Emmanuel Clase let the lead-off hitter reach second base on his fielding error, followed by Bo Bichette’s single, and a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. sacrifice fly cut the lead to one. Clase bore down, inducing a groundout and a game-ending George Springer strikeout, preserving the win. He finished with a hit and an unearned run, striking out one on 25 pitches (64 Strike%) with five whiffs (20 SwStr%).
He’s converted his last three save chances.
- Hunter Gaddis notched his tenth hold, working around a hit and a walk in a scoreless eighth.
- Cade Smith fired a clean seventh, striking out one and recording his eighth hold.
- Tim Herrin tossed a clean sixth for his sixth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Emmanuel Clase | Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis
Miami Marlins
With the score tied at the top of the ninth, Anthony Bender allowed two hits, including Tyler Soderstrom’s go-ahead RBI single, resulting in an earned run and a second loss. Bender recorded two strikeouts while throwing 16 pitches (11 strikes – 68.8 Strike%) with two whiffs (12.5 SwStr%).
- Calvin Faucher worked a scoreless eighth despite giving up a hit and a walk, facing the top of the lineup.
- Jesús Tinoco tossed a clean seventh, striking out one on 15 pitches (60 Strike%) with one whiff.
Hierarchy Remains: *Calvin Faucher | *Jesús Tinoco | Anthony Bender
*= closer-by-committee
Philadelphia Phillies
After allowing an earned run on a single and Randal Grichuk’s RBI double in the ninth, José Alvarado returned for the tenth when his team tied the game at the bottom of the inning. However, he suffered his first loss, giving up Josh Naylor’s RBI single, scoring the “place” runner, tossing a wild pitch, issuing a walk, and was removed after a sacrifice fly with one runner on. He finished with three hits, four runs (three earned), and a walk over 1.1 innings on 30 pitches (16 strikes – 53.3 Strike%) with two whiffs.
- Carlos Hernández let his only inherited runner score on a bases-loaded walk.
- Before the ninth, Joe Ross tossed a clean eighth, striking out one.
- Matt Strahm fired a clean seventh.
- Jordan Romano allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless seventh.
- Orion Kerkering stranded a runner and issued two walks during 1.1 scoreless innings.
Hierarchy Remains: *José Alvarado | *Jordan Romano | Orion Kerkering
*= floating closer concept
Tampa Bay Rays
Pete Fairbanks nailed down his eighth save by firing a clean bottom of the ninth and striking out the side. He threw 15 pitches (11 strikes – 73.3 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%) facing the Yankees’ 1-2-3 hitters.
- Edwin Uceta navigated around two hits and a walk for a scoreless eighth, though he let both inherited runners score during his sixth hold.
- Mason Montgomery also notched his fourth hold, stranded a runner, and retired both batters at the bottom of the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks | Edwin Uceta | Garrett Cleavinger
The Athletics
Sealing his first save of the season, Tyler Ferguson fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded one strikeout, protecting a one-run margin in Miami. He faced the 3-4-5 hitters and threw 11 pitches (63.6 Strike%) with two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%).
This extended his scoreless streak to ten games, and he’s posted a 0.60 WHIP over his last ten innings.
- Mitch Spence collected his first win, tossing 1.2 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Tyler Ferguson | Justin Sterner
Washington Nationals
Shutting the door on his 11th save, Kyle Finnegan fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts. He threw 13 pitches (61.5 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (30.8 SwStr%) facing the Reds’ 6-7-8 lineup pocket.
He has a 1.39 WHIP with 15 strikeouts against seven walks (13.5 K-BB%) through 13.2 innings.
- Jose A. Ferrer notched his ninth hold, giving up a hit during a scoreless eighth.
- Jorge López collected his fourth win, tossing two clean frames and striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Kyle Finnegan | Jose A. Ferrer | Jorge López
Quick Hits
- Chicago White Sox: Entering at the top of the fifth, Mike Vasil recorded 2.1 scoreless innings and issued a walk. He collected his first win from a rain-shortened contest, throwing 31 pitches (16 strikes – 51.6 Strike%) without a whiff.
- Cincinnati Reds: Taking over a tied contest at the top of the sixth, Graham Ashcraft suffered his third loss, allowing three hits and three earned runs during two-thirds of an inning. Taylor Rogers let both inherited runners score and retired one in the sixth.
- Houston Astros: Although he stranded two runners at the bottom of the fifth, Steven Okert suffered his first loss and first blown save, allowing two hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out one during a combined inning of relief against the White Sox.
- Kansas City Royals: Lucas Erceg notched his 11th hold, stranding a runner and retiring all three batters faced, the Orioles’ 6-7-8 hitters, on eight pitches (75 Strike%). Angel Zerpa collected his second win, logging 1.2 innings, allowing three hits and an earned run.
- Milwaukee Brewers: Closing a combined shutout, Trevor Megill navigated around Ian Happ’s lead-off single, followed by Kyle Tucker’s walk, retiring the next three batters, two via strikeout in a non-save capacity. Megill threw 22 pitches (13 strikes – 59.1 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (9.1 SwStr%). He has a 1.50 WHIP with 13 strikeouts versus six walks (16.7 K-BB%) in 9.1 innings. Abner Uribe fired a clean eighth and recorded a strikeout on 13 pitches.
- New York Mets: Appearing during a one-run loss in Game 2, Edwin Díaz navigated around two hits and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless bottom of the eighth. He entered versus the 7-8-9 lineup pocket and threw 14 pitches (11 strikes – 78.6 Strike%) with two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). He has a 1.31 WHIP with 21 strikeouts versus seven walks (25 K-BB%) through 13 innings, but last secured a save on April 26.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: During a shutout loss, Dennis Santana returned from the bereavement list and tossed a clean top of the eighth, striking out one. He threw eight pitches (75 Strike%) and induced one whiff. Tanner Rainey fired a clean seventh, striking out two in his team debut.
- San Diego Padres: Completing a combined shutout, Jason Adam navigated around two hits and recorded two strikeouts against the Pirates. He threw 21 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (19 SwStr%). He’s posted a 0.95 WHIP with 25 strikeouts against eight walks (22.4 K-BB%) across 19 innings.
- Texas Rangers: Capping a seven-run win over Seattle, Luke Jackson retired the side and recorded two strikeouts against the 4-5-6 lineup pocket. He threw 13 pitches (8 strikes – 61.5 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%). This was a much-needed clean appearance since he had allowed at least a run in three of his previous four games. He has a 1.42 WHIP with 11 strikeouts versus five walks (11.4 K-BB%) in 12 innings.
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