Friday’s slate featured another postponement and only four saves among the 14 games played. Colorado and Seattle will play a doubleheader on Sunday, a less-than-ideal getaway day for the Mariners bullpen. Because of the limited amount of saves, they will take precedence in today’s Monkey Bytes with a bevy of quick hit recaps in the remaining games from last night.
Milwaukee Brewers – Notching his first major league save, Hoby Milner worked a scoreless bottom of the tenth, issuing an intentional walk (Willson Contreras) and recording two strikeouts. Joel Payamps collected his first win and suffered his second blown save, letting one of two inherited runners score on a hit batter and a walk in the bottom of the ninth. He was not fully warmed up and pressed into action early, which affected his command. Trevor Megill was credited with his second hold, logging 1.2 innings, giving up a hit, an earned run, and two walks while striking out one. He was one out away from his first career save. Elvis Peguero fired a clean seventh, striking out one for his second hold.
There were so many talking points about this usage pattern. Beginning with Megill attempting a two-inning save, a center-cut fastball against Alec Burleson knocked him from the game with his pitch count reaching 30 and runners on the corners. However, he’s firmly in the mix for save chances moving forward for a team working without a closer. Payamps outing cannot be fully placed on the reliever, he started warming up during the Burleson at-bat and entered the game abruptly, working with limited command of his secondary pitches. Pat Murphy played the match-ups game in the tenth, opting for Milner against Lars Nootbar leading off the inning, and with Nolan Gorman lurking behind Willson Contreras, who was rightfully issued an intentional walk with two outs.
Many will wonder why Abner Uribe was not used with a one-run lead, but he’s allowed 11 hits, four earned runs, and three walks over his last six outings, spanning 5.2 innings (2.46 WHIP). Roles may remain in flux moving forward, and there’s no clear-cut closer at the moment.
Updated hierarchy: *Joel Payamps | *Abner Uribe | *Trevor Megill
*= closer-by-committee
St. Louis Cardinals – Taking over in the top of the tenth, Ryan Helsley suffered his second loss, allowing a go-ahead, two-out RBI single by William Contreras, providing the difference in the contest. He threw 19 pitches (12 strikes – 63.2 Strike%) without recording a whiff. He owns a 0.91 WHIP with 12 strikeouts versus one walk through his first 11 innings. Ryan Fernandez logged 1.1 scoreless frames, walking one and striking out two. Matthew Liberatore tossed a scoreless combined inning, walking one and striking out two. Giovanny Gallegos gave up a hit and recorded two strikeouts over two-thirds scoreless in the seventh.
Hierarchy remains: Ryan Helsley | Andrew Kittredge | JoJo Romero
Houston Astros – Hanging on for his second save, Josh Hader labored through the ninth, giving up a lead-off triple by CJ Abrams, a sacrifice fly, an infield single, and a walk before inducing consecutive, game-ending strikeouts. He threw 30 pitches (19 strikes – 63.3 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (16.7 SwStr%). He owns a 1.66 WHIP with 16 strikeouts versus five walks through his first 9.2 innings. Ryan Pressly notched his third hold, allowing a hit and striking out one in a scoreless eighth. Bryan Abreu worked a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and striking out one for his second hold.
As for Hader, whether he’s pressing, or just going through some bad luck, he’s recorded a 2.47 SIERA versus his current 8.38 ERA. He owns a 25.6 K-BB percentage through his first 9.2 innings and his .476 batting average on balls in play (BAbip) sits over two hundred points above his career rate (.255) in the category. Better days lie ahead, remain patient.
Hierarchy remains: Josh Hader | Ryan Pressly | Bryan Abreu
Detroit Tigers – Securing his sixth save, Jason Foley worked around a two-out walk of Willi Castro with a game-ending flyout, preserving a one-run win over the Twins. He threw 20 pitches (60 Strike%), induced two whiffs, and recorded one strikeout in his outing. He owns a 1.14 WHIP with nine strikeouts versus five walks over nine innings. Andrew Chafin collected his second win, retiring all four batters faced, and stranding a runner in the bottom of the seventh.
Hierarchy remains: Jason Foley | Shelby Miller | Andrew Chafin
New York Yankees – Navigating around consecutive singles during the top of the ninth, Clay Holmes induced a fly-out by Randy Arozarena, followed by a game-ending double play lineout by Richie Palacios, securing his MLB-leading eighth save. He threw 22 pitches (14 strikes – 63.6 Strike%) without a whiff. He’s converted eight of nine save chances while posting a 1.20 WHIP with six strikeouts versus one walk through 10 innings. Ian Hamilton gave up three hits, two earned runs, and a walk in the eighth, creating the save opportunity. Dennis Santana collected his first win, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings, giving up two hits and striking out one.
Hierarchy remains: Clay Holmes | Ian Hamilton | Victor González
Quick Hits from April 19
Chicago Cubs – Taking over in the sixth, Keegan Thompson worked two scoreless frames, walking one and striking out four. He threw 36 pitches (22 strikes – 61 Strike%) and induced eight whiffs (22.2 SwStr%). He’s posted a 0.33 WHIP over six innings with nine strikeouts versus two walks in three appearances this season.
Hierarchy remains: Adbert Alzolay | Hector Neris | Mark Leiter Jr.
Cincinnati Reds – With a one-run lead and two runners on, Fernando Cruz took over in the top of the seventh, retiring both batters via strikeout, including his first this year on a pitch other than his split-fingered fastball. He secured his fourth hold throwing 12 pitches (7 strikes – 58.3 Strike%) without a whiff. He owns a 0.75 WHIP with 17 strikeouts through his first eight innings. Lucas Sims tossed a scoreless eighth, walking one for his fourth hold.
Hierarchy remains: Alexis Díaz | Fernando Cruz / Lucas Sims
Kansas City Royals – Taking over in the sixth, John Schreiber stranded a runner while retiring his only batter faced, securing his fourth hold. Will Smith took over in the seventh, allowing four hits, including a grand slam by Adley Rutschman, and striking out one, drifting further from leverage relevance.
Hierarchy remains: James McArthur | John Schreiber | Chris Stratton
Los Angeles Dodgers – Representing one of the few weaknesses on this team, the bullpen struggled during this loss against the Mets. Taking over a tied game in the top of the seventh, Daniel Hudson allowed two runs (one earned), on a two-run, go-ahead home run by Francisco Lindor, and recorded two strikeouts, resulting in his first loss. Joe Kelly gave up three hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out one in the eighth. Ryan Brasier also allowed a run in the ninth, giving up three hits and striking out one. Combined, they yielded seven hits, five runs (four earned), and a walk with four strikeouts over three innings in this contest.
Hierarchy remains: Evan Phillips | Daniel Hudson | Joe Kelly
Minnesota Twins – Suffering his first loss, Caleb Thielbar allowed two hits, including a go-ahead RBI single by Wenceel Pérez resulting in an earned run, and issued a walk while striking out two in the top of the ninth. Griffin Jax navigated around two hits for a scoreless eighth, recording two strikeouts. He threw 21 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and induced four whiffs (19 SwStr%). Brock Stewart tossed a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and striking out one.
Before the game, Jhoan Durán threw a live batting practice session and may begin a rehab assignment soon, with eyes on a return next week.
Hierarchy remains: *Griffin Jax | *Brock Stewart | *Steven Okert
* =closer-by-committee
New York Mets – In an unlikely sixth inning, caused by two separate errors by Joey Wendle and a hit batter, Reed Garrett suffered his first blown save, giving up a game-tying two-out, two-RBI single by Chris Taylor, but collected his third win after a rally in the top of the seventh. Brooks Raley recorded his fourth hold, yielding a hit and striking out one in two-thirds of the seventh. Adam Ottavino notched his third hold, firing 1.1 clean frames and striking out two. He also stranded a runner in the seventh.
Hierarchy remains: Edwin Díaz | Adam Ottavino | Brooks Raley
Philadelphia Phillies – Preserving a combined shutout, Orion Kerkering fired a clean top of the ninth, striking out one against the 3-4-5 hitters of the White Sox. He threw 18 pitches (13 strikes – 72.2 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (11.1 SwStr%). Matt Strahm worked a scoreless eighth, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out one.
Updated Hierarchy: *José Alvarado | *Jeff Hoffman | Seranthony Domínguez
* = closer-by-committee
Toronto Blue Jays – Operating as the “bulk follower”, Bowden Francis collected his second win, tossing two scoreless frames, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out two in San Diego. Tim Mayza turned in a clean seventh, striking out one. Yimi García fired a clean eighth, striking out the side on 19 pitches (68.4 Strike%) and generating three whiffs (15.8 SwStr%) facing the top of the Padres lineup. Jordan Romano closed out the four-run win with a scoreless ninth, giving up a two-out single by Ha-Seong Kim before a game-ending strikeout. He threw 17 pitches (11 strikes – 64.7 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (17.6 SwStr%).
Updated Hierarchy: Jordan Romano | Yimi García | Erik Swanson
Vulture Saves for Saturday, April 20
CHC: If the Cubs can produce a sweep, and the high-leverage triumvirate appears in Game 1, Yency Almonte could be a sneaky play for a vulture save in Game 2. Mark Leiter Jr. could also be a sneaky play for an ancillary save.
HOU: Hader threw 30 pitches during his save on Friday, which places Ryan Pressly potentially in line for a save on Saturday.
Unfortunately, based on recent usage patterns and weather, there are no real vulture save options for Sunday yet, it will all depend on Saturday’s slate. Colorado and Seattle will play a doubleheader on Sunday, which places Ryne Stanek, Gabe Speier, and Tayler Saucedo in contention for a vulture save if searching for a desperation play.
Closer Monkey’s filthy pitch of the day features the first strikeout by Fernando Cruz this season, not by his split-fingered fastball. He quelled a threat in the seventh by dotting this fastball against Zach Neto, courtesy of the Pitching Ninja.
Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community, until next time, stay safe and be well.
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