Friday did not feature a full slate of games but it provided a bevy of high-leverage events of interest. A.J. Hinch acknowledged frustrated fantasy players, Pete Fairbanks complained about the baseballs in Colorado, Kenley Jansen moved into sixth place all-time in saves, and vulture options too, covered in today’s Monkey Bytes.
Detroit Tigers – Just when it felt safe trusting a Tigers reliever, matching-up by lineup pockets appears. IDuring a tied game in the eighth, Jason Foley faced the 3-4-5 lineup pocket, retiring the side in order while recording two strikeouts on nine pitches (77.8 Strike%) with two whiffs (22.2 SwStr%) and collected his second win courtesy of a rally in the bottom of the frame. Andrew Chafin opened the ninth but gave up two walks while striking out one over two-thirds scoreless before getting lifted, resulting in his second hold. Alex Lange entered with two runners on, striking out his only batter faced on four pitches (75 Strike%) and getting one whiff (25 SwStr%) for his first save this season. All four of these relievers have appeared on consecutive days.
Hierarchy remains: *Jason Foley | *Shelby Miller | *Andrew Chafin
*=closer-by-committee
Kansas City Royals – Taking over in the top of the ninth with two runners on and one out, James McArthur induced a game-ending double play groundout by Andrew Vaughn for his first save of the season, throwing only two pitches. Will Smith gets credit for his first hold, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out one in one-third of the ninth. Key here, he was pulled from this outing, which puts his “closer” role in question moving forward. Chris Stratton collected his first win, tossing a scoreless eighth, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out one. John Schreiber stranded a runner and recorded two outs in the seventh, walking one and striking out one. There’s a chance manager Mike Quatraro shifts into a match-up-based approach, but McArthur may emerge with primary save share with consistent outings moving forward. He’s the preferred addition if he was dropped or available in your league.
Updated Hierarchy: *James McArthur | *Will Smith | John Schreiber
* = closer-by-committee
American League (Game Recaps from April 5)
Baltimore Orioles – Nailing down his first save, Craig Kimbrel fired a clean ninth, striking out two while preserving a three-run win in Pittsburgh. He threw 13 pitches (9 strikes – 69.2 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%). Yennier Cano retired the side in order in the eighth, recording two strikeouts for his first hold on 11 pitches (63.6 Strike%) with two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%).
Updated Hierarchy: Craig Kimbrel | Yennier Cano | Danny Coulombe
Boston Red Sox – Facing the 3-4-5 lineup pocket, Kenley Jansen converted his third save of the year, and 423rd of his career, putting him into sixth place all-time. He fired a clean ninth and recorded one strikeout on 18 pitches (13 strikes – 72.2 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (11.1 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless over four outings with six strikeouts versus five walks. Isaiah Campbell notched his second hold, retiring the side in order in the eighth. Chris Martin suffered his first blown save and collected his first win, giving up two hits and an earned run while striking out two. This snapped his 24-game scoreless streak, but he’s only allowed two earned runs over his last 38.2 innings.
Updated Hierarchy: Kenley Jansen | Chris Martin | Isaiah Campbell
Chicago White Sox – Still within his high-leverage learning curve, Michael Kopech suffered his first loss, issuing Salvador Perez a one-out walk, who was replaced by pinch runner Dairon Blanco, who promptly stole second base, and scored on an RBI single by MJ Melendez. Kopech bounced back recording consecutive strikeouts, but he must be more aggressive, and efficient in the strike zone. He threw 31 pitches (17 strikes – 54.8 Strike%) while producing six whiffs (19.4 SwStr%). Steven Wilson retired all four batters faced, three via strikeout on 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9 Strike%) with three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%). John Brebbia recorded two outs but left after re-injuring his calf. It’s being reported as minor, but he may be unavailable the rest of the weekend.
Updated Hierarchy: *Michael Kopech | *Steven Wilson | Jordan Leasure
* = closer-by-committee
Seattle Mariners – After his team rallied for two runs tying the game in the top of the ninth, Andrés Muñoz struggled in the bottom of the inning, walking four of five batters faced, suffering his first loss of the year. He threw 26 pitches (9 strikes – 34.6 Strike%) with one whiff. There were some close calls, but the strike zone was consistently tight all evening. Ryne Stanek allowed three hits and an earned run while striking out one in the eighth.
Hierarchy remains: Andrés Muñoz | Ryne Stanek | Gabe Speier
Tampa Bay Rays – In a wild finish at Coors Field, Pete Fairbanks suffered his first loss after walking all three batters faced, resulting in three earned runs against his ledger. He threw 17 pitches (29.4 Strike%) without getting a whiff. One wonders if the cold weather played a part with his Raynaud’s syndrome affecting his command issues. Jason Adam took over the bases-loaded situation, striking out his first batter faced before serving up a walk-off grand slam by Ryan McMahon, resulting in his first blown save. Colin Poche was tagged with his first blown save in the sixth, allowing three hits, including a two-run home run by Ezequiel Tovar.
Hierarchy remains: Pete Fairbanks | Jason Adam | Colin Poche
Toronto Blue Jays – Recording his first save since May 2, 2022, Chad Green closed out his former team while navigating around two hits for a scoreless ninth, preserving a shutout win. He threw 12 pitches (75 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He’s logged three outings this year, posting a 1.50 WHIP with one strikeout over 3.1 innings. Trevor Richards fired 1.1 clean frames and recorded three strikeouts for his first hold. Génesis Cabrera secured his first hold, walking one during two-thirds scoreless in the seventh. Yimi García collected his first win, retiring both batters faced in the sixth, one via strikeout.
Updated Hierarchy: Chad Green | Yimi García (HLR) | Génesis Cabrera
National League (Game Recaps from April 5)
Arizona Diamondbacks – Entering in the bottom of the 10th, Scott McGough suffered his loss, giving up a walk-off single by Travis d’Arnaud. Kevin Ginkel was tagged with his first blown save, allowing two hits, two runs (one earned), and recording two strikeouts over 1.1 innings. This double by Jarred Kelenic scored the game-tying run. Ginkel threw 21 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and generated six whiffs (28.6 SwStr%).
Hierarchy remains: Kevin Ginkel | Ryan Thompson | Scott McGough
Atlanta Braves – Working a scoreless top of the 10th, Pierce Johnson collected his second win courtesy of a walk-off rally in the bottom of the frame. He gave up a walk and recorded two strikeouts, throwing 14 pitches (8 strikes – 57.1 Strike%) and inducing two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). Raisel Iglesias tossed a scoreless ninth, yielding a hit, needing only 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) without a whiff.
Hierarchy remains: Raisel Iglesias | A.J. Minter | Pierce Johnson
Chicago Cubs – Hanging on for his first save, Adbert Alzolay navigated around consecutive singles by Freddie Freeman and Will Smith by inducing a fly ball, a fielder’s choice groundout, and a game-ending lineout by James Outman. Alzolay threw 20 pitches (80 Strike%) without recording a whiff. Julian Merryweather notched his first hold, tossing 1.1 scoreless frames, but he did let both inherited runners score giving up a hit and a walk while striking out three.
Hierarchy Remains: Adbert Alzolay | Hector Neris | Julian Merryweather
Colorado Rockies – A walk-off rally featuring a Ryan McMahon grand slam, handing Jalen Beeks his first win of the season. He let his only inherited runner score in the ninth while retiring two of three batters faced. Justin Lawrence turned in an inauspicious debut, allowing a hit to five of the six batters he faced, resulting in five runs against, four earned over one-third of the ninth. Nick Mears notched his second hold, navigating around a hit and a walk while striking out two in a scoreless eighth. Jake Bird worked a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and striking out two for his first hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Justin Lawrence | Nick Mears | Jake Bird
Milwaukee Brewers – Handed a two-run in the top of the ninth, Abner Uribe suffered his first blown save, giving up three hits, two earned runs, and a walk. However, he collected his first win courtesy of a walk-off walk, in the bottom of the frame. He threw 25 pitches (60 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (12 SwStr%). He’s converted three of four save chances this season, but games like this will happen with a sinkerball pitcher. Elvis Peguero notched his first hold, working around a hit and striking out two in a scoreless eighth.
Updated Hierarchy: Abner Uribe | Joel Payamps | Elvis Peguero
New York Mets – Recording his first save of the season and first since October 4, 2022, Edwin Díaz allowed an unearned run and walked one with one strikeout in a one-run win. His outing began with an error allowing Jonathan India to reach and a walk, putting two runners on before a fielder’s choice groundout, a sacrifice fly, and a game-ending strikeout. He threw 16 pitches (9 strikes – 56.3 Strike%) and induced one whiff. Adam Ottavino notched his first hold, firing a clean eighth and striking out two. Brooks Raley stranded two runners for his second hold, walking one and striking out one over one-third of an inning. Drew Smith also stranded two runners but gave up two hits and recorded one strikeout over a combined inning. All four of these relievers have appeared on consecutive days.
Hierarchy remains: Edwin Díaz | Adam Ottavino | Brooks Raley
San Francisco Giants – Benefiting from a walk-off, Camilo Doval collected his first win. He worked a scoreless top of the ninth, navigating around a hit and a walk while striking out two. He threw 27 pitches (16 strikes – 59.3 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (14.8 SwStr%). Tyler Rogers retired the side in order in the eighth, recording one strikeout.
Hierarchy remains: Camilo Doval | Tyler Rogers | Taylor Rogers
Vulture Save Options for Saturday, April 6
BOS: Jansen and Martin have appeared in three games over the last four days. Isaiah Campbell could be in line for a traditional one-inning save chance and Justin Slaten may be in play for a multiple-inning outing which could yield a vulture win or save chance.
CWS: Kopech threw 31 pitches last night, putting Steven Wilson in play for the vulture save.
DET: Because of a doubleheader on Thursday, Foley, Chafin, and Lange have worked on consecutive days, though Lange only threw four pitches on Friday. Shelby Miller logged 34 pitches across two innings on Thursday, so he may be available, but Tyler Holton working a multi-inning outing along with Alex Faedo may be necessary on Saturday.
KCR: Smith has pitched in three of the last four, which puts McArthur or Schreiber on the radar for a save chance. He’s off to a rough start, but Nick Anderson may see leverage work as well.
NYM: With the bullpen stretched thin referenced above, Jorge López emerges as the vulture save option for Saturday.
Vulture Save Options for Sunday, April 7
ATL: If Iglesias pitches on Saturday, A.J. Minter may fill in with an ancillary save on Sunday.
BAL: Monitor how the Orioles use the leverage relievers on Saturday. If Kimbrel and Cano pitch again, they will be off on Sunday, placing Keegan Akin or Jacob Webb in play for a vulture save chance.
BOS: Reports hinted Jansen pitched through a sore back on Friday, placing Chris Martin on the radar for the save chance on Sunday with a plane ride home looming after the contest.
CHC: If Alzolay pitches on Saturday, it will mean he’s worked on consecutive days, and in three of the last four, placing Hector Neris on the vulture save horizon for Sunday.
MIL: Last, but not least, if Uribe pitches again on Saturday, Joel Payamps will be the vulture target for Sunday.
Closer Monkey’s filthy pitch of the day award goes to Tyler Rogers, who confounded Graham Pauley with this slider last night, courtesy of the Pitching Ninja.
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