Although there was one postponed game on Wednesday, relievers recorded six wins and eighth saves while suffering five losses. Here are the saves in condensed form, including a career first:
| Reliever | Save # | Pitches | Strike% | SwStr% | K:BB |
| Kyle Finnegan | 17 | 18 | 77.8 | 22.2 | 1:0 |
| Félix Bautista | 11 | 17 | 52.9 | 17.6 | 0:1 |
| Pete Fairbanks | 11 | 18 | 72.2 | 16.7 | 0:0 |
| Tommy Kahnle | 8 | 7 | 71.4 | 14.3 | 0:0 |
| David Bednar | 7 | 21 | 57.1 | 23.8 | 2:0 |
| Justin Martinez | 5 | 37 | 45.9 | 13.5 | 4:4 |
| Tyler Kinley | 2 | 15 | 60 | 20 | 1:0 |
| Randy Rodríguez | 1 | 6 | 83.3 | 33.3 | 1:0 |
Daysbel Hernandez (ATL) left his outing early with what’s being reported as a pinky cramp, so there is no change in the hierarchy yet, though Craig Kimbrel can opt out of his minor league contract if another team wants to sign him.
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for June 5
- Shelby Miller (ARI): If he’s available, he will be in line for the save after Martinez threw 37 pitches last night.
- Seranthony Domínguez (BAL): Bautista has appeared in consecutive contests.
- Tommy Kahnle (DET): Once again, if he’s a free agent, he could be worth the stream after Vest logged two innings during yesterday’s contest.
- Eric Orze (TB): Fairbanks, Uceta, and Montgomery have all pitched in back-to-back games.
Doubleheader Options
- Kansas City: Preferred option – Taylor Clarke; YOLO – Steven Cruz
- St. Louis: Preferred option – Phil Maton; YOLO – Matt Svanson
Vulture Save Stashes for June 6
- Cade Smith (CLE): If Clase pitches today, it’s back-to-back contests.
- Yariel Rodríguez (TOR): If Hoffman makes an appearance today, it will be consecutive days.
- Jose A. Ferrer (WSH): If Finnegan works in today’s game, it’s two straight for the veteran.
During Wednesday’s 14-game slate, these situations stood out.
Three Takeaways
(1) Lovullo and leverage: It’s tough justifying how Justin Martinez was deployed last night, especially given he missed time with shoulder fatigue earlier this season. He took over at the bottom of the eighth with two runners on and one out. Martinez recorded a strikeout against Michael Harris II, intentionally walked Ronald Acuña Jr. to load the bases, and was at a 3-1 count versus Austin Riley before striking him out, ending the threat. He returned for the ninth and issued Matt Olson a lead-off walk, moved him to second on a wild pitch, registered a strikeout, walked Ozzie Albies, induced a fielder’s choice groundout, hit a batter, loading the bases again, then walked in a run. Bearing down with two outs, ended the game with another Harris II strikeout, notching his fifth hold. He threw a season-high 37 pitches (17 strikes – 45.9 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (13.5 SwStr%).
As one can see, Martinez did not have command of his splitter, and after an elevated pitch count, he will be unavailable for at least two days. It seems like fantasy managers understand fatigue in a usage pattern like this better than Torey Lovullo. With this in mind, here is Martinez’s velocity chart from this outing:
(2) Randy remains electric: Taking over with two runners on and one out, Randy Rodríguez recorded his first career major league save by striking out Jackson Merrill and inducing a game-ending pop-out by Gavin Sheets. He threw six pitches (83.3 Strike%) and generated two whiffs (33.3 SwStr%).
This extended his scoreless streak to 14 games, during which he has two wins, this save, and four holds with a 0.544 WHIP while striking out 23 versus three walks (40 K-BB%). He’s not yet in the hierarchy, but continued outings and usage patterns like this mean he could emerge as the next in line very soon. Rodríguez and a few other relievers of interest were highlighted in our May in Review post.
(3) Bednar’s seventh: Securing his seventh save, David Bednar worked around a one-out Yainer Diaz single by retiring the next two batters, finishing a combined shutout. He threw 21 pitches (12 strikes – 57.1 Strike%) and generated five whiffs (23.8 SwStr%) while recording two strikeouts.
He owns a modest five-game scoreless streak, during which he has converted three saves with a 0.40 WHIP and five strikeouts (29.4 K-BB%) over five innings. Braxton Ashcraft logged two scoreless frames, giving up a hit and striking out three for his first hold. He could earn a larger leverage soon with continued appearances like this one. Monitor his results closely.
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Wednesday.
Closer CliffsNotes
Baltimore Orioles – Although dealing with traffic at the bottom of the ninth, Félix Bautista navigated around a one-out single by Randy Arozarena, followed by Mitch Garver’s walk by inducing Leody Tavares’ pop-out and a game-ending flyout while facing Rowdy Tellez. Bautista threw 17 pitches (9 strikes – 52.9 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (17.6 SwStr%).
The good news is that he has been scoreless in five of his past six appearances with a 1.167 WHIP and eight strikeouts versus four walks (16 K-BB%). However, he has only thrown 62 of his 100 pitches for strikes in these games.
- Gregory Soto notched his 13th hold, issuing a walk and recording three strikeouts in a scoreless bottom of the eighth.
- Seranthony Domínguez fired a clean seventh while striking out two for his fifth hold.
- Yennier Cano collected his first win, stranded a runner, and retired both hitters in the sixth, one via strikeout.
Hierarchy Remains: Félix Bautista | Seranthony Domínguez | Bryan Baker
Cleveland Guardians – Completing a combined shutout, Emmanuel Clase navigated around Ben Rice’s single and Cody Bellinger’s ground-rule double by recording all three outs via strikeout. He threw 20 pitches (75 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (20 SwStr%).
He has a four-game scoreless streak and has been scoreless in 10 of his last 11 appearances with a 0.748 WHIP with 14 strikeouts versus two walks (29.2 K-BB%) through 10.2 innings.
- Hunter Gaddis retired the side in the eighth.
- Tim Herrin stranded a runner and logged 1.1 clean frames for his ninth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Emmanuel Clase | Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis
Colorado Rockies – Securing his second save and first since April 20, Tyler Kinley retired the side and recorded one strikeout at the bottom of the ninth, preserving a sweep in Miami. He faced the 2-3-4 lineup pocket, throwing 15 pitches (60 Strike%) and producing three whiffs (20 SwStr%).
- Victor Vodnik notched his first hold, firing a clean eighth and striking out one.
- Jake Bird let one of two inherited runners score, giving up an RBI fielder’s choice groundout by Jesús Sánchez and getting the last out on a throw to home following a double. He gets credit for his seventh hold during two-thirds of the seventh.
Updated Hierarchy: Zach Agnos | Seth Halvorsen | Tyler Kinley
Detroit Tigers – Preserving the one-run margin, Tommy Kahnle posted his eighth save, retiring the side against the White Sox 6-7-8 lineup pocket on seven pitches (71.4 Strike%) and one whiff (14.3 SwStr%).
It’s his first save since May 28, and he has been scoreless in his last five appearances.
Will Vest worked around a hitter reaching on an error with a double play and retired his last five batters, three via strikeout, throwing 18 pitches (77.8 Strike%) with four whiffs (22.2 SwStr%).
He has recorded two wins and five saves over his last eight games with a 0.753 WHIP and eight strikeouts versus two walks (16.6 K-BB%) across 9.1 innings.
- Tyler Holton let one of three inherited runners score and, despite not allowing a hit while striking out one during 1.2 scoreless frames, gets tagged with his third blown save.
Hierarchy Remains: *Will Vest | *Tommy Kahnle | Tyler Holton
*= closer-by-committee with a preferred save share (Vest)
Minnesota Twins – Finishing a five-run win, Jhoan Durán fired a clean bottom of the ninth while recording two strikeouts. He threw 12 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (25 SwStr%).
He owns a modest four-game scoreless streak but has not converted a save since May 27.
- Brock Stewart tossed a clean eighth, striking out two.
- Griffin Jax notched his 15th hold, striking out the side in the seventh on 13 pitches (69.2 Strike%) with six whiffs (46.2 SwStr%).
- Louis Varland navigated around a hit and a walk with three strikeouts during a scoreless sixth, securing his tenth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Louis Varland
Tampa Bay Rays – Despite losing his six-game scoreless streak, Pete Fairbanks held on for his 11th save during an eventual one-run win. After recording two quick outs, Josh Smith reached on a throwing error, advanced to second on defensive indifference, and scored on Wyatt Langford’s RBI single before a game-ending groundout by Corey Seager. Fairbanks threw 18 pitches (13 strikes – 72.2 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (16.7 SwStr%).
He has converted his last three save opportunities.
- Edwin Uceta allowed a walk and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless eighth for his tenth hold.
- Mason Montgomery notched his eighth hold, giving up a hit and striking out three in the seventh.
- Manuel Rodríguez worked a scoreless sixth, yielding a hit and striking out one for his ninth hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Pete Fairbanks |Edwin Uceta | Mason Montgomery
Washington Nationals – Snapping a three-game streak of allowing at least a run, Kyle Finnegan navigated around two hits by inducing Kyle Tucker’s game-ending groundout, preserving a combined shutout during his 17th save. He threw 18 pitches (77.8 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (22.2 SwStr%).
Since May 1, he has converted eight of nine save chances with a 1.10 WHIP and six strikeouts versus one walk (12.5 K-BB%) across ten innings.
- Brad Lord recorded his second hold, issuing a walk while tossing a scoreless top of the eighth.
Updated Hierarchy: Kyle Finnegan | Jose A. Ferrer | Brad Lord
Quick Hits
- Atlanta Braves: Appearing in a loss, Raisel Iglesias allowed two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one at the top of the ninth. With one out, Tim Tawa doubled and Ketel Marte produced a two-out RBI single, scoring him. Iglesias threw 20 pitches (50 Strike%) and induced one whiff. Since May 3, he has allowed at least a run in seven of 12 appearances with a 1.626 WHIP across 12.1 innings.
- Boston Red Sox: Benefiting from a walk-off rally, Cooper Criswell collected his first win after tossing 1.2 scoreless innings while walking one and striking out two.
- Chicago White Sox: In order of appearance, Mike Vasil took over at the top of the second, logging 3.2 scoreless frames while scattering two hits and striking out three. Steven Wilson stranded two runners at the top of the fifth and tossed 1.1 scoreless, walking and striking out one. Brandon Eisert suffered his first loss, allowing a hit and an earned run while striking out one in the seventh. Jordan Leasure worked around a hit and a walk for a scoreless eighth.
- Los Angeles Angels: Entering a tied game at the bottom of the eighth, Brock Burke let his only inherited runner score after issuing a walk and allowing a game-tying RBI single by Rafael Devers before recording two outs, resulting in his second blown save. Returning for the ninth, he gave up Abraham Toro’s one-out single and a walk-off home run by Cedanne Rafaela, handing him his first loss.
- Miami Marlins: During a one-run loss, Janson Junk logged four innings, allowing a hit and an earned run while striking out six on 50 pitches (74 Strike%) with nine whiffs (18 SwStr%).
- Milwaukee Brewers: As the “bulk follower,” Quinn Priester earned his third win, tossing five innings, giving up two hits, an earned run, and three walks while striking out four. Nick Mears finished the eight-run win with a scoreless ninth despite yielding a hit.
- New York Yankees: In his first appearance back from the injured list, Fernando Cruz allowed two hits, including Kyle Manzardo’s solo home run, and recorded three strikeouts on 18 pitches (14 strikes – 77.8 Strike%) with five whiffs (27.8 SwStr%).
- Philadelphia Phillies: Entering a tied game at the bottom of the ninth, Jordan Romano retired Bo Bichette on a pop-out, then allowed Vlad Guerrero Jr.’s one-out single and a stolen base before striking out Addison Barger. But with two outs, Alejandro Kirk hit a walk-off double, resulting in Romano’s second loss. He threw 20 pitches (70 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (10 SwStr%). He has allowed a run in his last two games.
- San Diego Padres: With two runners on and no outs at the bottom of the seventh, Jason Adam allowed a one-out single loading the bases, then gave up Heliot Ramos’ game-tying RBI double, followed by Jung Hoo Lee’s go-ahead sacrifice fly, resulting in his second loss and first blown save. He finished with two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one. Wandy Peralta tossed a clean bottom of the eighth.
- Seattle Mariners: Forced into action at the top of the seventh with a runner on first and two outs, Carlos Vargas issued Coby Mayo a walk and gave up Heston Kjerstad’s go-ahead two-RBI triple before inducing an inning-ending groundout, resulting in his fourth loss and a third blown save.
- Toronto Blue Jays: Summoned with two outs at the top of the ninth, Jeff Hoffman allowed a single by Alec Bohm before retiring Nick Castellanos on a groundout. He collected his fifth win courtesy of a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning after only throwing seven pitches. He has been scoreless in four of his last five appearances, recording this win and three saves.
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