Monday’s seven-game slate provided plenty of actionable, high-leverage content and results. Relievers recorded four wins and five saves, including a career-first, while suffering three losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
| Reliever | Save # | Pitches | Strike% | SwStr% | K:BB | BF |
| Aroldis Chapman | 13 | 13 | 76.9 | 53.8 | 3:0 | 3 |
| Seth Halvorsen | 4 | 15 | 53.3 | 0 | 0:0 | 3 |
| Kirby Yates | 2 | 10 | 90 | 0 | 0:0 | 3 |
| Orion Kerkering | 1 | 12 | 75 | 8.3 | 1:0 | 3 |
| Hunter Strickland | 1 | 1 | 100 | 0 | 0:0 | 1 |
Hierarchical Update – Philadelphia Phillies
Understanding Phillies manager Rob Thomson prefers not to label a reliever the closer while operating his “floating closer” concept; they are deployed in matchup-based circumstances, depending on the situation and lineup. Even though Jordan Romano recorded seven saves in 12 appearances between April 27 and May 29, he has been appearing in lower-leverage outings since allowing a run in three consecutive games at the onset of June. His struggles opened the door for larger leverage roles by his teammates.
Last night, Orion Kerkering retired the side and recorded a strikeout, throwing 12 pitches (75 Strike%) with one whiff at the bottom of the ninth in Miami, preserving a three-run lead for his first career save.
This extended his scoreless streak to six, during which he posted this save and a win with a 0.877 WHIP while striking out seven against two walks (17.4 K-BB%) across 5.2 innings. Matt Strahm allowed two hits and an earned run on a sacrifice fly, getting credit for his ninth hold. Jordan Romano tossed a scoreless seventh, hitting a batter and recording two strikeouts while securing his sixth hold. Taijuan Walker notched his first hold, retiring the side and striking out one in the sixth.
From a fantasy lens, Kerkering has moved up Rob Thomson’s trust tree. It’s tough designating anyone as the closer in this leverage ladder, but if Kerkering is on waivers, it’s time to make the move and hope he emerges as the preferred option. This remains listed as a shared situation, and we await how it will evolve.
Adjusted Hierarchy: *Orion Kerkering | *Matt Strahm | *Jordan Romano
*= “floating closer” concept with Kerkering potentially taking over the preferred save share.
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for June 17
- Michael Kopech (LAD): Scott, Yates, and Vesia have all pitched in consecutive contests.
- Tyler Ferguson (ATH): Miller has appeared in back-to-back games.
- Reid Detmers (LAA): Jansen has pitched the two previous days.
Vulture Save Stashes for June 18
- Garrett Whitlock (BOS): If Chapman pitches tonight, it will be consecutive appearances.
- Mark Leiter Jr. (NYY): If Williams works in tonight’s game, it’s back-to-back games.
Here are the remaining high-leverage events of interest from Monday.
Closer CliffsNotes
Boston Red Sox – Shutting the door on his 13th save and a combined shutout, Aroldis Chapman fired a clean bottom of the ninth in Seattle by striking out the side. He threw 13 pitches (76.9 Strike%) and generated seven whiffs (53.8 SwStr%) while facing the 5-6-7 lineup pocket.
Through eight outings in June, he has converted all five save chances, allowing an unearned run and a minuscule 0.286 WHIP with 11 strikeouts versus one walk (43.5 K-BB%) across seven innings.
- Greg Weissert worked around two walks and recorded a strikeout in the eighth for his 13th hold.
- Justin Wilson notched his tenth hold, walking and striking out one in the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Greg Weissert | Garrett Whitlock
Colorado Rockies – Handed a two-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, Seth Halvorsen navigated around Luis García Jr.’s lead-off walk by inducing a double play grounder by Brady House and a game-ending Josh Bell groundout for his fourth save. He threw 15 pitches (8 strikes – 53.3 Strike%) without a whiff.
It’s his second save this month, during which he has been scoreless in five of six appearances with a 1.00 WHIP and six strikeouts against two walks (19.9 K-BB%) through six innings.
- Victor Vodnik collected his second win, issuing a walk during a scoreless eighth.
- Jimmy Herget tossed a scoreless seventh.
- Juan Mejia logged 1.1 clean frames and recorded two strikeouts.
Updated Hierarchy: Seth Halvorsen | Victor Vodnik | Jake Bird
Los Angeles Angels – Summoned with the bases loaded and two outs at the bottom of the 11th, Hunter Strickland induced a game-ending fielder’s choice groundout against Anthony Volpe for his first save of 2025 and the 30th of his career. Brock Burke began the 11th by issuing Aaron Judge an intentional walk, recorded an out, had a hitter reach on a fielder’s choice, cutting down the “place” runner at home, and was removed after Jazz Chisolm’s single, getting credit for his ninth hold.
- Ryan Zeferjahn collected his fourth win, retiring the side and striking out one during the tenth.
- Kenley Jansen navigated around Giancarlo Stanton’s lead-off double with two strikeouts and a fielder’s choice groundout. He threw 22 pitches (18 strikes – 81.8 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (18.2 SwStr%).
- Reid Detmers worked a scoreless eighth, walking and striking out one. He has been scoreless in his last 12 appearances, posting a 0.917 WHIP with 19 strikeouts versus five walks (31.1 K-BB%).
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Reid Detmers | Ryan Zeferjahn
Los Angeles Dodgers – Capping his team’s comeback rally, Kirby Yates notched his second save by retiring San Diego’s 6-7-8 lineup pocket in order on 10 pitches (90 Strike%) without a whiff.
He has been scoreless in four of five appearances in June, recording a win, this save, and three holds.
- Tanner Scott faced the 3-4-5 hitters during the highest-leveraged moment at the top of the eighth, retiring them in order while striking out one on seven pitches, all strikes, without a whiff. He’s given up an unearned run during his last seven games with a 0.286 WHIP and ten strikeouts (43.5 K-BB%).
- Michael Kopech notched his second hold, yielding a hit and striking out one during a scoreless seventh.
- Alex Vesia stranded a runner while retiring both batters in the sixth, one via strikeout for his 13th hold.
Updated Hierarchy: *Tanner Scott | *Kirby Yates | *Michael Kopech
*= closer-by-committee using a match-up-based approach.
New York Yankees – Forced into a two-inning outing, Jonathan Loáisiga suffered his first loss, giving up Nolan Schanuel’s one-out RBI double at the top of the 11th. He navigated around an intentional walk (Mike Trout) and another walk with consecutive lineouts. He finished with a hit, an unearned run, and two walks while striking out two.
- Devin Williams gave up two hits and recorded a strikeout during a scoreless top of the ninth, keeping the game tied. He threw 18 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (22.2 SwStr%).
- Fernando Cruz stranded his only inherited runner, striking out his only batter at the top of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Devin Williams | Mark Leiter Jr. | Fernando Cruz
The Athletics – Matched up against Houston’s 4-5-6 lineup pocket at the top of the ninth during a tied contest, Mason Miller retired the side and recorded two strikeouts. He collected his first win courtesy of a walk-off home run at the bottom of the inning. He threw 10 pitches (70 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (40 SwStr%).
Emerging from his rough patch, he has been scoreless in seven of eight appearances since May 25 with a 0.805 WHIP and 10 strikeouts versus four walks (19.4 K-BB %) across 8.2 innings.
- J.T. Ginn logged three scoreless frames, giving up a hit and striking out five.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Tyler Ferguson | T.J. McFarland
Washington Nationals – Taking over with a one-run lead against Colorado’s 3-4-5 lineup pocket, Kyle Finnegan suffered his fifth blown save, giving up Hunter Goodman’s lead-off home run, Thairo Estrada’s one-out single, followed by Sam Hilliard stealing second as the pinch runner, and scoring on Mickey Moniak’s go-ahead two-run home run, resulting in his second loss. He finished with three hits and three earned runs while recording two strikeouts. Both hitters turned on inside pitches:
This snapped his four-game scoreless streak in June. Through 26 games, he has a 1.31 WHIP with 21 strikeouts in 26 innings.
- Brad Lord logged two clean frames while striking out two. He threw 22 pitches (16 strikes – 72.7 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (22.7 SwStr%).
Hierarchy Remains: Kyle Finnegan | Jose A. Ferrer | Brad Lord
Quick Hits
- Baltimore Orioles: Appearing during a loss, Gregory Soto fired a clean bottom of the sixth, striking out the side on 18 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and generating five whiffs (27.8 SwStr%). Colin Selby logged two scoreless frames, scattering two hits and striking out five.
- Houston Astros: Called upon at the bottom of the ninth during a tied game, Bryan Abreu issued Brent Rooker a lead-off walk, followed by Nick Kurtz’s walk-off two-run home run, resulting in his third loss. This snapped Abreu’s eight-game scoreless streak since May 24. Bryan King worked a scoreless eighth, allowing a hit and striking out one.
- Tampa Bay Rays: During his team debut, Forrest Whitley finished a six-run win over the Orioles by retiring the side on 12 pitches (75 Strike%) with one whiff while facing the 1-2-3 hitters.
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