Monday’s small slate was reduced by one with a rainout in Washington. Relievers recorded four wins and five saves while suffering three losses. Instead of takeaways today, each team’s leverage events will be highlighted.
But first, for the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for May 6
- Ryne Stanek (NYM): Díaz, Garrett, and Brazobán pitched on consecutive days.
- Justin Sterner (ATH): Miller has logged 55 pitches in two outings over the past three days, and Ferguson has appeared in three straight.
- Matt Brash (SEA): Muñoz has thrown 46 pitches while working two of the previous three games.
- Steven Matz (STL): Helsley, Maton, and Leahy have appeared in back-to-back contests.
Doubleheader Options
- Cleveland Guardians: Preferred vulture – Cade Smith; YOLO – Matt Festa
- Washington Nationals: Preferred vulture – Jorge López; YOLO – Lucas Sims
Vulture Save Stashes for May 7
- Lucas Erceg (KC): If Estévez pitches today, it’s consecutive appearances.
- Jason Adam (SD): If Suarez works today, it’s back-to-back games.
Closer CliffsNotes
Kansas City Royals
Securing his tenth save and preserving a combined shutout, Carlos Estévez worked around a two-out single with a game-ending flyout. He only needed eight pitches (87.5 Strike%) and did not induce a whiff.
This extended his scoreless streak to five games, and he’s posted a 1.13 WHIP with 13 strikeouts against nine walks (6 K-BB%) across 15.2 innings.
- Daniel Lynch IV notched his second hold, giving up a hit during a scoreless eighth.
- Steven Cruz allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless seventh, notching his third hold.
- John Schreiber worked a clean sixth, striking out two for his third hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Carlos Estévez | Lucas Erceg | Daniel Lynch IV
Los Angeles Dodgers
Entering against the 3-4-5 lineup lane in Miami, Kirby Yates recorded his first save, retiring the side on 16 pitches (62.5 Strike%) with four whiffs (25 SwStr%) while striking out two.
He has a 1.04 WHIP with 28 strikeouts against five walks (34.8 K-BB%) through 16.1 innings.
- Tanner Scott issued his first walk of the season, stranded a runner, and recorded a strikeout in two-thirds scoreless in the eighth for his fourth hold. He owns a 0.90 WHIP with 16 strikeouts versus one walk (25 K-BB%) over 16.2 innings.
- Evan Phillips worked a scoreless seventh, scattering two hits.
- Alex Vesia stranded two runners and recorded a strikeout in two-thirds of the sixth.
There has not been a set usage pattern for Phillips and Yates so they will be deployed by lineup lanes-based match-ups in each series. This makes it more challenging to mine ancillary saves from each reliever.
Updated Hierarchy: *Tanner Scott | *Kirby Yates | *Evan Phillips
*= match-up-based approach with a primary save share
Milwaukee Brewers
Although he warmed up for a save chance, Trevor Megill stopped throwing once his teammates plated two runs at the bottom of the eighth. Joel Payamps finished the four-run win, allowing a hit and recording two strikeouts in the ninth. He threw 19 pitches (12 strikes – 63.2 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (15.8 SwStr%).
- Grant Anderson gave up a hit during a scoreless eighth, securing his first hold.
- Jared Koenig notched his fifth hold, giving up a hit and striking out one in a scoreless seventh.
- Nick Mears stranded all three inherited runners, retiring both batters, one via strikeout in the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Jared Koenig
New York Mets
Working around a fielding error allowing the lead-off hitter to reach, Edwin Díaz benefited from a caught stealing at second, followed by a flyout and a game-ending Corbin Carroll strikeout, closing out a one-run win and his eighth save. He threw 13 pitches (8 strikes – 61.5 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
Across 14 innings, he has a 1.21 WHIP with 22 strikeouts versus seven walks (25.4 K-BB%).
- Reed Garrett notched his tenth hold, navigating around two hits and striking out two in a scoreless eighth, though he let all three inherited runners score in the process.
- Dedniel Núñez had an inauspicious debut, issuing three walks that resulted in three earned runs without recording an out on 18 pitches (33.3 Strike%).
- Huascar Brazobán secured his fifth hold, logging two scoreless frames and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Edwin Díaz | Reed Garrett | Huascar Brazobán
New York Yankees
At the top of the seventh, Fernando Cruz stranded two runners for his sixth hold, getting his only out at home but not retiring a batter. Devin Williams was awarded his second hold but issued Tyler Wade a one-out walk, followed by Brandon Lockridge’s single and a strikeout against Fernando Tatis Jr., before a two-out walk caused his removal. He threw 21 pitches (52.3 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (14.3 SwStr%), finishing with a hit, three earned runs, and two walks while striking out two in two-thirds of an inning. Once again, he struggled with his command:
In Bryan Hoch’s game recap for MLB.com, Williams attributed his struggles to the conditions of the mound:
Whether it’s count leverage or mechanical, it’s been a rough transition for Williams in New York:
Things went from bad to worse when Luke Weaver took over with the bases loaded and two outs, letting all three score on Manny Machado’s two-RBI double and Xander Bogaert’s two-RBI single, resulting in his first loss and first blown save.
Weaver also issued a walk, putting two hits and an earned run on his ledger in one-third of the eighth. Tim Hill tossed a clean top of the ninth.
Hierarchy Remains: Luke Weaver | Devin Williams | Fernando Cruz
San Diego Padres
Shutting the door on his MLB-leading 14th save, Robert Suarez retired the side and recorded two strikeouts against the Yankees’ 6-7-8 lineup pocket. He threw 13 pitches (69.2 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (115.4 SwStr%).
He’s posted a 0.56 WHIP with 18 strikeouts versus four walks (25 K-BB%) across 16 innings.
- Jeremiah Estrada recorded his eighth hold, allowing a hit and striking out one in a scoreless eighth.
- Ryan Bergert collected his first win, retiring the side and striking out one in the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Suarez | Jason Adam | Jeremiah Estrada
Seattle Mariners
Taking over a tied game at the bottom of the 11th, Casey Legumina recorded an out on a sacrifice bunt, issued consecutive intentional walks, and suffered his first loss on Jacob Wilson’s walk-off single up the middle.
Andrés Muñoz was tagged with his first blown save, allowing his first run on the season, albeit unearned. Wilson led off with an RBI single, tying the game, followed by a walk and three consecutive strikeouts. Muñoz threw 28 pitches (17 strikes – 60.7 Strike%) and induced two whiffs.
He’s posted a 0.82 WHIP with 23 strikeouts versus eight walks (23.4 K-BB%) through 17 innings.
- Trent Thornton worked two scoreless frames, allowing two hits and a walk.
- Collin Snider gave up a hit and an earned run in the seventh.
- Carlos Vargas logged two scoreless innings, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Matt Brash | Gabe Speier
St. Louis Cardinals
Another white-knuckle ride during a save chance for Ryan Helsley. He took over with a three-run lead at the top of the ninth, allowing Adam Frazier’s lead-off single, then induced a groundout, followed by a strikeout, before Oneil Cruz singled, putting runners at the corners. Helsley bore down and benefited from a long foul ball, producing a game-ending strikeout of Bryan Reynolds for his sixth save. He threw 19 pitches (14 strikes – 73.7 Strike%) while getting two whiffs (10.5 SwStr%).
He has a 1.54 WHIP with 13 strikeouts versus eight walks (8.6 K-BB%) in 13 innings. His velocity ticked up, but he’s still allowing too much contact.
- Phil Maton notched his eighth hold, yielding a hit and striking out one in a scoreless eighth.
- Kyle Leahy tossed a scoreless seventh, walking and striking out one.
- Gordon Graceffo collected his second win, retiring the side in the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Helsley | Phil Maton | Kyle Leahy
The Athletics
After retiring the side and stranding the “place” runner, Hogan Harris collected his first win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the frame. He threw 16 pitches (62.5 Strike%) and induced one whiff against Seattle.
- Tyler Ferguson let the “place” runner score on consecutive flyouts and struck out one in the tenth.
- Mason Miller worked a scoreless ninth despite issuing two walks and recording one strikeout on 27 pitches (14 strikes – 51.9 Strike%) with five whiffs (18.5 SwStr%). He has a 1.02 WHIP with 26 strikeouts against six walks (36.4 K-BB%) over 13.2 innings.
- Mitch Spence stranded two runners in the eighth, retiring his only batter.
- Grant Holman allowed three hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one in 1.2 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Tyler Ferguson | Justin Sterner
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