After recording his team’s first two saves, José Alvarado appeared in the eighth, matching up with a left-handed lineup pocket, not as a traditional closer. This readjusts the leverage ladder which felt like it was stabilizing, but as this game points out, did not. There were other events of interest in the 13-game slate, covered in today’s Monkey Bytes.
Philadelphia Phillies – Securing his first save of the season, Gregory Soto stranded the “place” runner despite allowing a one-out single with consecutive strikeouts. He threw 20 pitches (55 Strike%) and induced two whiffs. Jeff Hoffman suffered his second blown save and collected his first win. He gave up two hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out one in the bottom of the ninth. José Alvarado entered the eighth against the 9-1-2 lineup pocket, all left-handed hitters, notching his first hold, walking one, and striking out one in a scoreless outing.
Updated hierarchy: *José Alvarado | *Jeff Hoffman | *Gregory Soto
* = closer-by-committee
St. Louis Cardinals – After his team rallied in the bottom of the ninth, Ryan Helsley took over a tied game in the tenth, but suffered his first loss. He induced a ground-out by Trea Turner and intentionally walked Bryce Harper preceding an RBI double by Alec Bohm and a sacrifice fly. He finished with a hit, two runs (one earned), and a walk on his ledger while throwing 10 pitches (80 Strike%) with two whiffs (20 SwStr%). He owns a 1.50 WHIP with five strikeouts versus one walk through six innings this season. Andre Pallante retired his only batter faced in the ninth, stranding two runners. Giovanny Gallegos only recorded one out in the eighth, giving up two hits and an earned run while striking out one.
Hierarchy remains: Ryan Helsley | Giovanny Gallegos | JoJo Romero
Los Angeles Dodgers – Locking down his fourth save, Evan Phillips fired a clean ninth, striking out one. He threw 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) without recording a whiff. He owns a 0.71 WHIP with seven strikeouts against one walk over 5.2 innings. Daniel Hudson secured his third hold, retiring the side in order in the eighth and striking out one. Ryan Brasier turned in a clean seventh, striking out one for his third hold.
Hierarchy remains: Evan Phillips | Daniel Hudson | Joe Kelly
Cincinnati Reds – Hanging on for his second save, Alexis Díaz navigated around a one-out walk of Christian Yelich and a hit-batter, for a scoreless ninth, preserving a two-run win. He threw 19 pitches (9 strikes – 47.4 Strike%) while producing one whiff. He’s posted a 1.60 WHIP with five strikeouts against four walks through five innings. Fernando Cruz fired a clean eighth for his second hold, striking out two on 14 pitches (9 strikes – 64.3 Strike%) with three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%). Lucas Sims secured his second hold, yielding a hit and striking out three in a scoreless seventh.
Hierarchy remains: Alexis Díaz | Lucas Sims (HLR) | Fernando Cruz
San Diego Padres – Nailing down his fourth save, Robert Suarez fired a clean top of the ninth, striking out two, preserving a come-from-behind one-run win while facing the 2-3-4 lineup pocket. He threw 14 pitches (8 strikes – 57.1 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%). He’s converted all four save chances this season and owns an 8:3 K:BB with a 1.00 WHIP over six innings. Wandy Peralta collected his first win, allowing a hit during a scoreless eighth.
Hierarchy remains: Robert Suarez | Yuki Matsui | Wandy Peralta
Chicago Cubs – After an eight-run lead shrank to a one-run margin, Adbert Alzolay entered with one out in the eighth, inheriting a runner for a multi-inning save opportunity. However, he suffered his first loss and second blown save while serving up a go-ahead home run by Fernando Tatis Jr. He retired his other two batters faced, one via strikeout, throwing 11 pitches (63.6 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%). He’s posted a 1.29 WHIP with five strikeouts against one walk through his first 4.2 innings. Hector Neris was credited with his first hold, allowing an earned run and a walk over his combined inning of relief.
Hierarchy remains: Adbert Alzolay | Hector Neris | Mark Leiter Jr.
Hierarchy Change
Colorado Rockies – Closing out a two-run win, Jake Bird stranded the bases loaded by inducing a game-ending fly-out, recording his first career save. Nick Mears received his first save chance, but it was a rough ride in high leverage. He allowed a hit, an earned run, and three walks while striking out one over two-thirds of the ninth for his third hold. Justin Lawrence notched his first hold, working a scoreless eighth while matching up with Arizona’s 4-5-6 lineup pocket, walking one and striking out two. He threw 18 pitches (55.6 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (11.1 SwStr%). Peter Lambert logged two scoreless frames, walking one and striking out one while collecting his first win.
Updated hierarchy: *Justin Lawrence (HLR) | Nick Mears | Jake Bird
*= closer-by-committee
Ancillary Save Alert
New York Mets – Surviving a late rally, Jorge López recorded his first save, and first since May 11, 2023, during a one-run game in Atlanta. He allowed two hits, including an RBI single by Michael Harris II in the bottom of the ninth. Drew Smith notched his second hold despite letting his only inherited runner score, giving up a hit and two walks while striking out two in the eighth. Jake Diekman collected his first win during a combined inning of relief, permitting an earned run while issuing a walk and recording a strikeout. This provided much needed rest for the high-leverage triumvirate, who all worked in three of the previous four days.
Hierarchy remains: Edwin Díaz | Adam Ottavino | Brooks Raley
Quick Hits (Recaps in non-save outings from April 8)
Atlanta Braves – In ascending order of appearances, Aaron Bummer stranded a runner and retired his only batter faced in the sixth. A.J. Minter suffered his first blown save, allowing a solo home run (Brandon Nimmo) and striking out two in the seventh. Pierce Johnson was tagged with his first loss, giving up three hits, three earned runs, and a walk while striking out one in two-thirds of the eighth.
Hierarchy remains: Raisel Iglesias | A.J. Minter | Pierce Johnson
Cleveland Guardians – During a non-save outing, Emmanuel Clase preserved a combined shutout, working around a two-out single and recording two strikeouts. He threw 18 pitches (14 strikes – 77.8 Strike%) and generated five whiffs (27.8 SwStr%). He owns a 1.00 WHIP with six strikeouts versus zero walks through five scoreless frames this season.
Hierarchy remains: Emmanuel Clase | Scott Barlow | Tyler Beede
Pittsburgh Pirates – Aroldis Chapman notched his fourth hold, retiring both batters faced via strikeout on seven pitches, all strikes while inducing two whiffs (28.6 SwStr%). He owns a 0.23 WHIP with eight strikeouts versus one walk through his first 4.1 innings.
Hierarchy remains: David Bednar | Aroldis Chapman | Hunter Stratton
Toronto Blue Jays – Taking over with a four-run lead in a non-save appearance, Chad Green allowed two hits, including a solo home run by Cal Raleigh, and recorded two strikeouts in the ninth during an eventual three-run win. He threw 23 pitches (15 strikes – 65.2 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (13 SwStr%).
Hierarchy remains: Chad Green | Yimi García (HLR) | Génesis Cabrera
Minnesota Twins – Entering in the sixth, Steven Okert was tagged with his first blown save, allowing three hits and an earned run while striking out one. Suffering his first loss, Jay Jackson allowed two hits, both solo home runs, and recorded a strikeout in the top of the seventh. Griffin Jax worked a scoreless eighth, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out one. He threw 21 pitches (11 strikes – 52.3 Strike%) with two whiffs. Kody Funderburk tossed a scoreless top of the ninth, yielding a hit and striking out two.
Hierarchy remains: *Griffin Jax | *Brock Stewart | Steven Okert
Vulture Saves for Tuesday, April 9
COL: Justin Lawrence has pitched in three of the last four days, which means Jake Bird or Jalen Beeks could receive the save chance dependent on match-ups in the late innings.
PHI: After appearing yesterday, José Alvarado has worked in three of the last four, opening the door for a potential multi-inning save by Matt Strahm.
TOR: Playing a hunch here, but Chad Green (23 pitches) and Yimi García (27 pitches) recorded high pitch counts, which may yield a save chance for Trevor Richards in tonight’s contest.
Vulture Save Options for Wednesday, April 10
CLE: If Emmanuel Clase pitches today, Scott Barlow would be in line for the save on Wednesday.
CIN: Since all three of the high-leverage relievers pitched on Monday if they work again this evening, Emilio Pagán could garner the vulture save chance on Wednesday.
LAD: The Dodgers will not overwork Evan Phillips, so if he pitches today, it would be Daniel Hudson on Wednesday if he does not get used tonight or Joe Kelly if he does.
STL: Guessing the Cardinals would prefer avoiding Helsley tonight, but if he pitches, look for JoJo Romero receiving the save chance, if provided, on Wednesday.
Closer Monkey’s filthy outing of the day goes to Aroldis Chapman. He entered a bases-loaded situation in the eighth and recorded two strikeouts, preserving the lead. Video provided by the Pitching Ninja.
In case you missed it, went through two situations of interest on Monday, highlighting the early command struggles by José Leclerc and Tanner Scott in “Under the Hood“.
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