Sunday featured another bonus slate featuring a doubleheader in Colorado on top of all 30 teams playing. There were seven saves among the 16 contests, covered next, along with outings of interest in our quick hits.
Miami Marlins – Perhaps turning a corner, Tanner Scott nailed down his fourth save, and second in as many days, firing a clean bottom of the ninth, and striking out one. He threw 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He owns a modest three-game scoreless streak with three strikeouts versus two walks over his last three innings. Calvin Faucher secured his second hold, tossing a clean eighth and striking out one. Andrew Nardi turned in a clean seventh, striking out one for his fourth hold. Bryan Hoeing gave up a hit and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless sixth for his first hold.
During his two saves this weekend, Scott threw 21 of 27 pitches in the strike zone (77.8 Strike%). Command has been his main problem since early spring outings, here’s hoping he’s trending in the right direction.
Hierarchy remains: Tanner Scott | Andrew Nardi | Calvin Faucher
Cincinnati Reds – Securing his fourth save, Alexis Díaz tossed a scoreless ninth, walking one, and striking out one. He threw 19 pitches (9 strikes – 47.4 Strike%) without recording a whiff. He owns a 1.18 WHIP with 11 strikeouts versus six walks through 9.1 innings, and he’s posted five straight scoreless outings. Lucas Sims tossed a scoreless eighth, walking one and striking out one for his fifth hold. Fernando Cruz notched his fifth hold, working around a hit and a walk while striking out one during a scoreless seventh. Emilio Pagán collected his second win, logging two scoreless frames, yielding a hit, and striking out one.
Adjusted Hierarchy: Alexis Díaz | Lucas Sims / Fernando Cruz
Milwaukee Brewers – Locking down his third save, Joel Payamps fired a clean ninth, preserving a shutout, and striking out one in St. Louis. He threw nine pitches (77.8 Strike%) and generated two whiffs (22.2 SwStr%). He’s turned in six straight scoreless outings, converting two of three save chances with four strikeouts against one walk over 5.1 innings. Elvis Peguero notched his third hold, giving up a hit and a walk over two-thirds scoreless in the eighth. Bryan Hudson collected his first win, logging 2.1 scoreless frames, recording four strikeouts on 35 pitches (23 strikes – 65.7 Strike%) with four whiffs.
Updated hierarchy: *Joel Payamps | *Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe
Arizona Diamondbacks – Hanging on for his fourth save, Kevin Ginkel allowed a one-out double by Matt Chapman, and a two-out, RBI double by Thairo Estrada before a game-ending strikeout of Mike Yastrzemski, closing out a 5-3 win. He threw 21 pitches (12 strikes – 57.1 Strike%) and produced two whiffs. He’s converted four of six save opportunities this season with a 1.16 WHIP, and 11 strikeouts against two walks over 10.1 innings. Ryan Thompson notched his fourth hold, walking one during a scoreless eighth.
Hierarchy remains: Kevin Ginkel | Ryan Thompson | Kyle Nelson
San Diego Padres – Finishing off his seventh save, Robert Suarez worked around a one-out single by Bo Bichette by inducing a game-ending groundout double play by Justin Turner. Suarez threw nine pitches (88.9 Strike%) while inducing two whiffs (22.2 SwStr%). He owns a 0.93 WHIP with nine strikeouts against four walks through 9.2 innings. Wandy Peralta fired a clean eighth, securing his fourth hold.
Hierarchy remains: Robert Suarez | Yuki Matsui | Wandy Peralta
Texas Rangers – Slamming the door on his former teammates, Kirby Yates retired all four batters faced, one via strikeout, and stranded two runners in the eighth for his third save. He threw 15 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%). He owns a minuscule 0.40 WHIP with 11 strikeouts against two walks over 10 innings. David Robertson received credit for his seventh hold, allowing two hits and an unearned run while striking out one during his 1.2 innings.
Hierarchy remains: Kirby Yates | David Robertson | José Leclerc
Ancillary Save Alert
New York Yankees – Capping a one-run win, Victor González worked a scoreless ninth, walking one, and striking out one, with this web gem ending the contest for his second save. He threw 23 pitches (17 strikes – 73.9 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (13 SwStr%).
Hierarchy remains: Clay Holmes | Ian Hamilton | Victor González
Quick Hits from April 21
Boston Red Sox – Logging two clean frames, Chase Anderson capped a five-run victory in Pittsburgh. Justin Slaten collected his first win, tossing two scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out two. He threw 34 pitches (19 strikes – 55.9 Strike%) and induced two whiffs.
Hierarchy remains: Kenley Jansen | Chris Martin | Justin Slaten
Chicago Cubs – With leverage roles in flux, Keegan Thompson worked a scoreless top of the ninth, giving up a hit and striking out one during a loss. Adbert Alzolay fired a clean eighth, striking out one on 21 pitches (13 strikes – 61.9 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (16.7 SwStr%) in a low leveraged outing.
Updated hierarchy (for now): *Hector Neris | *Mark Leiter Jr. (HLR) | *Adbert Alzolay
Chicago White Sox – It’s tough closing out games with three wins on the season, but Michael Kopech fired a clean bottom of the eighth, striking out two versus the Phillies 3-4-5 batters. He threw 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%). He’s posted a 1.15 WHIP with 17 strikeouts versus six walks through 11.1 innings.
Hierarchy remains: Michael Kopech | Steven Wilson | Jordan Leasure
Cleveland Guardians – Wrapping up a four-run win, Emmanuel Clase tossed a scoreless ninth, walking one and striking out one, his third outing over four days. He threw 11 pitches (45.5 Strike%) without recording a whiff. He’s posted a 1.00 WHIP with a 10:1 K:BB over 11 innings.
Hierarchy remains: Emmanuel Clase | Hunter Gaddis | Scott Barlow
Colorado Rockies – (Game 1): Benefiting from a walk-off rally in the bottom of the tenth, Justin Lawrence collected his first win despite giving up an RBI single in the top of the inning by J.P. Crawford, scoring the “place” runner. Lawrence also recorded two strikeouts while throwing 18 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and producing four whiffs (22.2 SwStr%). Nick Mears tossed a scoreless ninth, allowing a hit and striking out one, keeping the game tied. Jake Bird logged two scoreless frames, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out three.
Hierarchy remains: *Nick Mears | *Justin Lawrence (HLR) | Jake Bird
*= closer-by-committee
Pittsburgh Pirates – Appearing for the first time since April 17, David Bednar fired a clean top of the ninth during a loss, striking out one while throwing 10 pitches (70 Strike%) and producing one whiff. He owns a 1.43 WHIP with 10 strikeouts against two walks over seven innings.
Hierarchy remains: David Bednar | Aroldis Chapman | Colin Holderman
Seattle Mariners – (Game 1): Suffering his second loss, and first blown save, Andrés Muñoz did not record an out, giving up three hits, including a walk-off RBI infield single by Ryan McMahon, and two runs (one earned), in the bottom of the tenth in Colorado. Ryne Stanek worked two scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out one, keeping the game tied. Gabe Speier fired a clean seventh, striking out two.
Updated hierarchy: *Andrés Muñoz | *Ryne Stanek | Gabe Speier
*= closer-by-committee
Vulture Saves for Monday, April 22
CIN: Since Díaz has appeared in two straight, hierarchy trends toward Lucas Sims receiving the save chance if provided today. Fernando Cruz remains a sleeper, but he worked the seventh on Sunday with Simx in the eighth.
MIA: Scott has worked on consecutive days, along with his set-up relievers (Faucher and Nardi), which may create a save chance for Anthony Bender, but he’s been struggling lately, tread lightly.
MIL: Although he’s been a workhorse, Payamps may get tonight off. He’s pitched in two of the last three and four of the last six days. Trevor Megill could record the first save of his career, so why not bet on being a part of his history?
Vulture Saves for Tuesday, April 23
ARI: If Ginkel pitches today, it will be two-in-a-row, so Scott McGough could get an ancillary save chance as a result.
PIT: Bednar made a non-save appearance on Sunday. If he pitches again on Monday, it may yield a vulture save for Colin Holderman on Tuesday.
SDP: If Suarez logs another save chance on Monday, Yuki Matsui could receive his first save opportunity on Tuesday.
Closer Monkey’s filthy pitch of the day goes to this called third strike fastball by Michael Kopech against Bryce Harper on Sunday, 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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