Closer Monkey’s Leverage Ledger | 6.12.2026

Thursday’s seven-game slate featured four reliever wins, four saves, and one loss, with zero blown saves. Here are the saves in condensed form:

There have been 516 saves this season by 166 different pitchers. 

As for the vulture options during today’s slate, again, only if you must: 

Vulture Save Options for 6.12.2026

  • Jakob Junis (TEX): Latz has appeared in back-to-back games and logged three innings in them. 

Vulture Save Stashes for 6.13.2026

  • Alex Vesia (LAD): If Scott is used tonight, it’s consecutive appearances and three in four days. 
  • Yennier Cano (BAL): If Garcia and Kittredge are used in tonight’s game, it will be back-to-back outings for them. 

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Baltimore Orioles

Preserving a two-run lead against Seattle, Andrew Kittredge recorded his first save of the season, working around an error, letting Julio Rodríguez reach base with consecutive groundouts by Josh Naylor and Randy Arozarena. He only threw six pitches, all strikes, without a whiff. He had allowed a run in his two previous outings.

  • Grant Wolfram retired his only batter, Colt Emerson, and stranded two runners for his seventh hold.
  • Rico Garcia allowed two hits and recorded two outs, getting credit for his ninth hold.
  • Tyler Wells logged three scoreless frames, walking one and striking out four, resulting in his first win.

This was a break from past usage patterns, and recent struggles by Garcia have made it necessary. Since his last save on June 4, he has allowed at least a run in two of the next three contests, resulting in a loss and a hold in yesterday’s outing. Through four games in June, he has given up four hits and three runs (two earned). 

Help may be on the way, though a return date has not been shared. Ryan Helsley gave up a hit and recorded three strikeouts (link) in his first rehab outing at Triple-A. He threw 14 pitches (12 strikes – 85.7 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (35.7 SwStr%): 

In this post by Jake Rill, he forecasts a return in late June: 

Updated Hierarchy: *Rico Garcia | *Andrew Kittredge | Yennier Cano

*= closer-by-committee

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

American League

Texas Rangers – Understanding the home scorer determines who gets the decision, Jacob Latz logged two clean frames and recorded three strikeouts while collecting his second win. Even though the go-ahead run was scored at the top of the third, he was deemed the most effective reliever in this contest. He threw 15 pitches (14 strikes – 93.3 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%). This marked his sixth two-inning relief appearance this season, and seventh requiring four or more outs.

  • Cole Winn was awarded his sixth hold, walking one during a scoreless seventh inning.
  • Robby Ahlstrom stranded a runner at the bottom of the fifth and worked 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing a hit and striking out one.

Although the team insists it will try to limit multiple-inning outings by Latz, he has already recorded three two-inning saves. The last Rangers reliever with four two-inning saves was Jeff Russell in 1991. The good news is that he has taken over the closer role, recording saves in five of his last six appearances, seven of his last 10, and 10 of his last 14. 

Hierarchy Remains: Jacob Latz | Jakob Junis | Cole Winn

Quick Hits

  • Detroit Tigers: Finishing off a combined shutout, Beau Brieske retired the side, including a game-ending ABS strikeout. Tyler Holton logged 1.2 innings, yielding a hit and striking out two. 
  • Kansas City Royals: Appearing in an eventual loss, Beck Way tossed two scoreless innings, giving up two hits and striking out four. 

National League

Los Angeles Dodgers – Taking over at the bottom of the eighth with a runner on and two outs, Tanner Scott induced an inning-ending flyout against Brandon Lowe, then returned for the ninth, striking out the side against the Pirates’ 3-4-5 lineup pocket, securing his seventh save. He threw 18 pitches (13 strikes – 72.2 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (22.2 SwStr%). 

It can be frustrating having him on your roster, but outings like this remind us of his upside. He has posted a 0.759 WHIP with 35 strikeouts against three walks (29.6 K-BB%) across 29 innings.

  • Edgardo Henriquez allowed three hits and two earned runs while striking out one during two-thirds of the eighth, creating the save chance.
  • Jack Dreyer was awarded his third win after firing a clean seventh and striking out two.
  • Alex Vesia stranded a runner and notched his tenth hold, striking out his only batter in the sixth.

Hierarchy Remains: Tanner Scott | Alex Vesia | Blake Treinen

Miami Marlins – Locking down his eighth save, Pete Fairbanks fired a clean top of the ninth, preserving a combined shutout against Arizona while recording two strikeouts. He threw 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9 Strike%) and induced one whiff while facing the 4-5-6 hitters

Through 11 games since his return from the injured list, this marked his third clean outing, and he’s posted a 1.50 WHIP with 14 strikeouts versus seven walks (15.6 K-BB%) over ten innings.

  • Calvin Faucher tossed a clean eighth, striking out two for his sixth hold.
  • Anthony Bender allowed a hit and a walk while striking out three, securing his seventh hold.
  • Michael Petersen worked a clean sixth, striking out one for his ninth hold.

Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks | Michael Petersen | Anthony Bender

New York MetsShutting the door on his ninth save, Devin Williams retired the side and recorded two strikeouts, protecting a one-run lead at the top of the ninth. He threw 16 pitches (75 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (18.8 SwStr%) against the Cardinals’ 7-8-9 batters

It’s his first save since May 27. Over his last 16 games, he owns a 0.867 WHIP with 22 strikeouts versus eight walks (25 K-BB%) while converting all seven save opportunities.

  • Luke Weaver worked a clean eighth, securing his eighth hold.
  • Brooks Raley was awarded his second win, walking and striking out one during a scoreless seventh.
  • A.J. Minter stranded two runners in the fifth and retired all four batters.

Hierarchy Remains: Devin Williams | Luke Weaver | Brooks Raley

Quick Hits

  • Arizona Diamondbacks: Getting in work, Paul Sewald allowed a one-out single by Otto Lopez and a stolen base, but recorded a strikeout, followed by an inning-ending flyout. He has been scoreless in eight of his last nine appearances, recording two wins and six saves with a 0.44 WHIP and eight strikeouts versus one walk (22.6 K-BB%) across nine innings. 
  • St. Louis Cardinals: Summoned at the bottom of the fifth, George Soriano stranded a runner and logged 1.1 clean frames while striking out one. JoJo Romero suffered his second loss, allowing a go-ahead home run by Juan Soto at the bottom of the seventh. Romero also pitched 1.1 innings and recorded a strikeout. 

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