Closer Monkey’s Leverage Ledger | 5.27.2026

Tuesday’s slate featured three reliever wins, seven saves, and two losses, without any blown saves. Here are the saves in condensed form: 

There have been 419 saves this season, by 141 different pitchers. 

As for the vulture options during today’s slate: 

Vulture Save Options for 5.27.2026

  • Richard Lovelady (WSH): He’s recorded a save in three of his previous six appearances, though nothing is guaranteed with this bullpen. 
  • José Alvarado (PHI): Duran, Keller, and Kerkering have all appeared in consecutive contests. 
  • Travis Adams (MIIN): Gómez has allowed at least a run in his last two outings, and with the team using multiple relievers, Adams could be in line for a save chance, if provided, today. 

Vulture Save Stashes for 5.28.2026

  • Phil Maton (CHC): If Palencia pitches today, it will be back-to-back appearances. 
  • Sam Bachman (LAA): If Yates and Silseth pitch today, it will mark consecutive outings. 

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Although his personal scoreless streak was snapped, Raisel Iglesias survived a white-knuckle ride in Boston, closing out an eventual one-run margin for his ninth save, and 27th straight since July 28, 2025. Taking over with a three-run lead, he allowed Mickey Gasper’s leadoff single, then Nick Sogard’s double, recorded a strikeout, then let both runners score on Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s two-RBI single, and Jarren Duran’s single. Bearing down, Iglesias produced a fielder’s choice groundout and a game-ending groundout. He threw 25 pitches (68 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (8 SwStr%), finishing with four hits and two earned runs in this outing.

Through 16 games, spanning 16.2 innings, he owns a 0.90 WHIP with 20 strikeouts against three walks (27 K-BB%). His 1.08 ERA is accompanied by a 2.23 SIERA and a 1.65 xERA, signaling this was a migration toward the mean.

  • Robert Suarez fired a clean bottom of the eighth, striking out one, and secured his seventh hold.
  • Dylan Lee gave up a solo home run and recorded a strikeout over his 1.1 innings, notching his ninth hold.
  • Didier Fuentes let his only inherited runner score, yielding a hit and a walk while getting credit for his third hold during two-thirds of the sixth.

Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Robert Suarez | Dylan Lee

Three Takeaways

Muñoz and moonshots: Spoiling the combined shutout in a non-save outing, Andrés Muñoz allowed two hits, including a solo home run by Tyler Soderstrom, and recorded a strikeout at the bottom of the ninth during an eventual three-run win against the A’s. He threw 19 pitches (13 strikes – 68.4 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (21.1 SwStr%). This snapped his five-game scoreless streak, and he’s now allowed four home runs through his first 20.2 innings; he only gave up two last year across 62.1 innings. Three of his home runs this year have been against his slider, tying a career-high set in 2024 with his best pitch. However, in 2024, the three home runs came over 117 plate appearances, whereas this year it has been only 59 through last night’s outing. This may be an isolated situation when he misses with the slider, beginning with his illustrator from last night:

It’s actually been his struggles with the four-seam (.523 wOBA) that cause him to throw his slider for strikes. This should be monitored moving forward.

Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Jose A. Ferrer | Matt Brash

Motown meltdowns: Entering at the top of the seventh with two runners on and one out, Will Vest struck out Jorge Soler and induced an inning-ending flyout against Wade Meckler. Returning for the eighth, he allowed a one-out single by Oswald Peraza, an RBI two-out double by Logan O’Hoppe, then loaded the bases on a single and a walk, followed by Vaughn Grissom’s grand slam. This resulted in his fourth loss and a third blown save, putting four hits, five earned runs, and a walk with one strikeout on his ledger. Tyler Holton served up José Siri’s solo shot at the top of the ninth, while retiring the other three Angels via strikeout.

After this contest, the Tigers have the worst bullpen Win Probability Added in the majors and are tied for the fourth-most meltdowns (34) with Toronto. It seemed like overkill to have three relievers on the Opening Day roster who had recorded 20 or more saves in the previous season, but it has not resulted in a dominant bullpen by any means. Through 55 games, here are their statistics of interest:

  • Kenley Jansen: 14.1 IP, 7-for-11 in save chances, 5.02 ERA, 3.54 SIERA, 4.10 xERA, 19:8 K:BB (18.6 K-BB%), 1.19 WHIP
  • Will Vest: 16 IP, five holds and three blown saves, 7.88 ERA, 3.40 SIERA, 3.14 xERA, 17:7 K:BB (13.9 K-BB%). 1.50 WHIP
  • Kyle Finnegan: 24.2 IP, 1 save, six holds, three blown saves, 1.82 ERA, 6.02 SIERA, 4.45 xERA, 15:19 K:BB (-3.8 K-BB%), 1.62 WHIP

This triumvirate must improve if the team is going to make a run when Tarik Skubal returns. Otherwise, Drew Anderson may earn a larger leverage role in the coming weeks.

Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Will Vest | Kyle Finnegan

Patience and Palencia: It’s been a season of streaks for the Cubs, who are in the midst of a 10-game losing streak for the first time since 2022, and have reeled off two separate 10-game winning streaks this season. Daniel Palencia has not recorded a save since May 14. As a team, Chicago is one of seven teams with 17 save opportunities (saves plus blown saves) this season, with 22 representing the league average. This may not placate fantasy players, but saves can come in bunches, and Palencia’s due for a run. Here’s hoping this takes place.

Hierarchy Remains: Daniel Palencia | Phil Maton | Caleb Thielbar

Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Tuesday’s slate.

American League

Los Angeles Angels

After his team tacked on a run at the top of the ninth, Kirby Yates logged a non-save appearance, working around a leadoff walk of Dillon Dingler with consecutive flyouts and a game-ending strikeout against Spencer Torkelson. He threw 16 pitches (7 strikes – 43.8 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (12.5 SwStr%).

He’s been scoreless in six of eight outings this season, posting a 1.09 WHIP with 10 strikeouts against four walks (18.8 K-BB%) across 7.1 innings.

  • Chase Silseth worked a scoreless eighth and recorded a strikeout for his fifth hold.
  • José Fermin stranded two runners in the sixth while retiring all four batters faced, three via strikeout, collecting his second win.

Updated Hierarchy: Kirby Yates | Chase Silseth | Sam Bachman

Minnesota Twins

Presented a three-run lead at the bottom of the 11th, Yoendrys Gómez recorded his third save, allowing an unearned run on a two-out single by Chase Meidroth. He threw 18 pitches (11 strikes – 61.1 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (16.7 SwStr%). He’s the fourth reliever with two saves for the Twins this year, he also notched one for the Rays.

  • Taylor Rogers gave up a hit and recorded a strikeout in the tenth, collecting his first win.
  • Andrew Morris stranded two runners and retired both batters in the ninth.
  • Anthony Banda gave up a hit and a walk during a scoreless two-thirds combined innings.

Hierarchy Remains: *Yoendrys Gómez | *Eric Orze | *Anthony Banda

*= closer-by-committee

Texas Rangers

Summoned with a runner on and two outs at the top of the eighth, Jacob Latz recorded an inning-ending strikeout of Brice Matthews. Returning for the ninth, he allowed Jeremy Peña’s one-out solo home run, and recorded two strikeotus during his 1.1 innings, securing his sixth save. He threw 14 pitches (85.7 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (28.6 SwStr%) while recording two strikeouts.

  • Jalen Beeks created the save situation, allowing three hits, including two home runs, and two earned runs while striking out one across two-thirds of the eighth.
  • Jakob Junis worked a clean seventh.

Hierarchy Remains: Jacob Latz | Jakob Junis | Chris Martin

Quick Hits

  • Chicago White Sox: Tasked with the top of the 11th, Tyler Davis suffered his second loss, giving up two hits, three runs (two earned), and a walk while striking out one. Bryan Hudson worked a scoreless tenth, yielding a hit and striking out two, benefiting from a runner being thrown out at home. Sean Newcomb worked two scoreless frames, giving up a hit and striking out two. 
  • New York Yankees: Putting the finishing touches on a lopsided win over the Royals, Ryan Yarbrough tossed three scoreless frames, scattering two hits and issuing a walk for his first save of the season. He threw 44 pitches (29 strikes – 65.9 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (9.1 SwStr%). 
  • Toronto Blue Jays: As the “bulk follower,” Spencer Miles collected his second win, logging 4.1 innings, giving up three hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out two. Adam Macko retired both batters in the sixth, securing his third hold.

National League

Arizona Diamondbacks

The good news is that Paul Sewald notched his 13th save even though he allowed Willy Adames’ solo home run at the bottom of the ninth during an eventual two-run contest. He threw 19 pitches (14 strikes – 73.9 Strike%) and induced one whiff. In May, he’s converted six of seven save opportunities while posting a 0.75 WHIP with 10 strikeouts versus three walks (19.5 K-BB%) across 9.1 innings.

  • Juan Morillo gave up a hit, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one in the eighth. He has allowed a run in three straight outings.
  • Kevin Ginkel served up a solo shot by Eric Haase and recorded two strikeouts in the seventh.

Hierarchy Remains: Paul Sewald | Kevin Ginkel | Taylor Clarke

Cincinnati Reds

Closing out a five-run lead against the Mets, Tony Santillan retired the side at the bottom of the ninth on 10 pitches (70 Strike%) without a whiff. Brock Burke stranded a runner and retired his only batter in the eighth. Pierce Johnson allowed a hit during two-thirds scoreless in the eighth. Sam Moll tossed 1.2 scoreless frames and recorded two strikeouts.

It was a non-save situation. However, Terry Francona runs a stable leverage ladder, which means Santillan may receive the next save chance despite his recent spike in home runs allowed (six in his previous seven appearances. Stay tuned, and tread lightly.

Updated Hierarchy: *Tony Santillan | *Graham Ashcraft | *Pierce Johnson

*= closer-by-committee

Philadelphia Phillies

Displaying no signs of fatigue, Jhoan Duran shut the door on his 11th save, firing a clean bottom of the ninth while striking out two in San Diego. He threw 14 pitches (7.4 Strike%) and racked up an eye-popping seven whiffs, working on back-to-back days, and the fourth time in five days.

He has been scoreless in eight of his last nine games, posting a 0.889 WHIP with 16 strikeouts against two walks (41.2 K-BB%) across nine innings.

  • Brad Keller gave up two hits, including a solo home run by Ramón Laureano, and a walk while striking out one, getting credit for his seventh hold.
  • Orion Kerkering tossed a scoreless seventh, walking one and striking out three for his fourth hold. 

Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Duran | Brad Keller | Orion Kerkering

Quick Hits

  • Milwaukee Brewers: Completing a combined shutout, Trevor Megill allowed a hit during the top of the ninth, facing the Cardinals’ 5-6-7-8 lineup pocket. Abner Uribe navigated around a hit and a walk while striking out two against the top of the lineup. He threw 23 pitches (11 strikes – 47.8 Strike%) without a whiff.
  • New York Mets: Making his season debut, A.J. Minter fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts while yielding a hit, throwing 16 pitches (62.5 Strike%) with three whiffs (18.8 SwStr%). 
  • Washington Nationals: Taking the baton from Cade Cavalli and recording his first save of the season, Mitchell Parker allowed three hits, two earned runs, a hit batter, and one walk while striking out five across three innings. It’s rarely pretty, but he’s recorded at least four outs in 10 of his 12 appearances this season. He threw 47 pitches (32 strikes – 68.1 Strike%) and induced five whiffs (10.6 SwStr%) in this outing.

Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well. 

Statistical Credits:

Fangraphs.com

Baseball-Reference.com

BaseballSavant.com

BrooksBaseball.net