Although Monday only provided 11 contests on the slate, it yielded seven saves and a win for high-leverage relievers. These will be covered in today’s post, in order of occurrence. However, the biggest news of the day happened when Tampa Bay placed Pete Fairbanks on the 15-day injured list with a “nerve issue“. With no reports of a timeline or the severity, it’s difficult placing a potential return date for the closer, and Kevin Cash hinted at a match-up-based approach moving forward. As shared, the updated hierarchy for the Rays:
Updated hierarchy: *Jason Adam | *Colin Poche | Phil Maton
*= closer-by-committee
Oakland A’s – Taking over in the bottom of the ninth, Mason Miller locked down his fifth save, preserving a combined shutout while striking out the side against the top of the Yankees lineup. He threw 14 pitches (11 strikes – 78.6 Strike%) and generated six whiffs (42.9 SwStr%). He owns a 20:4 K:BB through his first 10 innings with a 1.00 WHIP. It’s a small sample, but he’s retired 20 of 40 batters faced via strikeout (50 strikeout percentage), are you still concerned about his team concept? Lucas Erceg collected his first win, logging two scoreless frames, walking one, and striking out one.
Hierarchy remains: Mason Miller | Lucas Erceg | Dany Jiménez
Pittsburgh Pirates – Snapping a six-game losing streak, David Bednar closed out his first save since April 12, and third of the season, tossing a scoreless ninth. He allowed a one-out single by Jackson Chourio but retired the next two hitters, including a game-ending strikeout facing Oliver Dunn. Bednar threw 20 pitches (60 Strike%) and induced one whiff. Hunter Stratton recorded his first hold, stranding two of three inherited runners, retiring both batters faced while giving up an RBI fielder’s choice groundout over two-thirds of the eighth. Aroldis Chapman was credited with his sixth hold despite allowing three walks resulting in an earned run, and striking out one in one-third of the eighth. He’s issued 10 walks over his last seven appearances (4.1 innings). Colin Holderman fired a clean seventh, striking out one for his first hold.
Hierarchy remains: David Bednar | Aroldis Chapman | Colin Holderman
Atlanta Braves – Nailing down his seventh save, and seventh in his last seven appearances, Raisel Iglesias fired a clean ninth, striking out one during a combined shutout of Miami. He threw 11 pitches (54.5 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He’s posted a 0.72 WHIP with six strikeouts against one walk over 8.1 innings. A.J. Minter recorded his third hold, tossing a clean eighth and striking out one. He owns a six-game scoreless streak with a 0.33 WHIP and six strikeouts over his last six innings.
Hierarchy remains: Raisel Iglesias | A.J. Minter | Joe Jiménez
Toronto Blue Jays – Securing his third save, Jordan Romano served up a solo home run (Kyle Isbel) and recorded a strikeout while closing out a 5-3 win in Kansas City. He threw 15 pitches (11 strikes – 73.3 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%). He’s converted all three save chances this season but allowed a run in two of four outings. Yimi García has his clean innings streak snapped, giving up a one-out single by Bobby Witt Jr., but extended his scoreless streak to 7.2 innings, recording 11 strikeouts against zero walks in them (0.13 WHIP). Erik Swanson notched his third hold, allowing a hit and striking out one during a scoreless seventh.
Hierarchy remains: Jordan Romano | Yimi García (HLR) | Erik Swanson
St. Louis Cardinals – Benefiting from a walk-off in the bottom of the ninth, Ryan Helsley collected his second win, allowing a hit and striking out one in a scoreless top of the inning. He threw 17 pitches (11 strikes – 64.7 Strike%) and produced one whiff. He’s now appeared in 12 of the Cardinals’ 23 games this season but has only issued one walk through his first 47 batters faced (2.1 BB%). JoJo Romero recorded two outs in the eighth and gave up a hit. Andrew Kittredge tossed 1.1 scoreless frames, walking one and striking out one.
Hierarchy remains: Ryan Helsley | Andrew Kittredge | JoJo Romero
San Diego Padres – Hanging on for his eighth save, in as many chances, Robert Suarez worked a scoreless ninth, navigating around a lead-off double and a one-out single by inducing a game-ending double play groundout, closing out a 3-1 win in Coors Field. He threw 15 pitches (13 strikes – 86.7 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (20 SwStr%). He owns a 1.03 WHIP with nine strikeouts against four walks through his first 10.2 innings.
Hierarchy remains: Robert Suarez | Yuki Matsui | Wandy Peralta
Baltimore Orioles – Although he dealt with traffic on the bases, Craig Kimbrel secured his sixth save, capping a 4-2 win over the Angels. His outing began with a hit batter (Jo Adell) and a single by Logan O’Hoppe, with runners on the corners following a stolen base, Kimbrel recorded a strikeout, issued a walk loading the bases, induced a pop-out, and ended the game on a Mike Trout strikeout. He threw 23 pitches (14 strikes – 60.9 Strike%) while inducing two whiffs. He owns a 0.50 WHIP with 16 strikeouts against one walk over 10 innings. Jacob Webb retired his only batter faced for his first hold in the eighth. Yennier Cano let one of two inherited runners score in the seventh while logging 1.2 scoreless frames, giving up a hit.
Hierarchy remains: Craig Kimbrel | Yennier Cano | Danny Coulombe
San Francisco Giants – Making a non-save appearance, with a four-run lead, Camilo Doval turned in a bumpy outing. It began with a walk (Brandon Nimmo), a leverage no-no, followed by a ground out, and a fielding error by Doval. With runners on the corners, he uncorked a wild pitch, scoring Nimmo, induced a groundout by Pete Alonso, walked Brett Baty, and ended the game on a DJ Stewart groundout. He threw 27 pitches (17 strikes – 63 Strike%) and produced two whiffs while giving up an earned run on two walks. Over his first seven outings, he owns a 1.14 WHIP with 11 strikeouts versus four walks. Tyler Rogers fired a clean eighth, striking out one.
Hierarchy remains: Camilo Doval | Tyler Rogers | Taylor Rogers
Quick Hits (April 22)
Arizona Diamondbacks – Ryan Thompson suffered his first loss, giving up a single in the ninth, before being removed. His final line, was a hit allowed and an earned run while striking out one over a combined inning of relief. Kyle Nelson took over in the ninth and served up a walk-off, two-run home run by Nolan Gorman.
Hierarchy remains: Kevin Ginkel | Ryan Thompson | Kyle Nelson
Detroit Tigers – Putting the bow on a six-run win, Joey Wentz allowed a hit and recorded two strikeouts in the bottom of the ninth. Shelby Miller gave up two hits, including a solo home run (José Caballero), and a walk while striking out one in the eighth. Will Vest fired a clean seventh.
Hierarchy remains: Jason Foley | Shelby Miller | Andrew Chafin
New York Yankees – Suffering his first loss, Victor González allowed two hits, including a go-ahead two-run home run by Zach Gelof, and walked one without recording an out during the top of the ninth. Ron Marinaccio took over with a runner on, stranding him and retiring all three batters he faced, striking out one. Ian Hamilton navigated around a hit and a walk while striking out two in a scoreless eighth, keeping the game tied at zero.
Hierarchy remains: Clay Holmes | Ian Hamilton | Victor González
Philadelphia Phillies -Wrapping up a combined shutout, Jeff Hoffman fired a clean bottom of the ninth, striking out two on 12 pitches (7 strikes – 58.3 Strike%) and producing two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%). He last appeared on April 17 but owns a 1.20 WHIP with 11 strikeouts versus five walks over 10 innings. Gregory Soto turned in a clean eighth, recording two strikeouts. He threw 11 pitches (81.8 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (36.4 SwStr%).
Updated Hierarchy: *José Alvarado | *Jeff Hoffman | Seranthony Domínguez
Injury Update
Minnesota Twins – Closer, Jhoan Durán, will begin his rehab stint at Triple-A later today per Do-Hyoung Kim of MLB.com.
Vulture Saves for Tuesday, April 23
OAK: The team prefers not using Miller on consecutive days, and Erceg logged two innings on Monday putting Dany Jiménez on the radar for a vulture save chance this evening.
PIT: Bednar and Chapman have pitched on consecutive days, which opens the door for a potential Colin Holderman save opportunity tonight.
SDP: Suarez has pitched in two straight, so the save chance may depend on lineup pockets with Yuki Matsui matching up with left-handed batters and Wandy Peralta versus a right-handed pocket.
TOR: Romano and García have appeared in three of the last four days, plus Swanson in two of the last three, leaving Trevor Richards as the likely recipient of a save chance, if provided this evening
Vulture Save Stashes for Wednesday, April 24
ATL: If Iglesias pitches on Tuesday, he and Minter will need Wednesday off, putting Joe Jiménez in line for the ancillary save chance.
BAL: Kimbrel’s pitched in two of the last three, and if he’s used again on Tuesday, will need a day off, putting the two southpaws in the spotlight, Keegan Akin and Danny Coulombe, though Jacob Webb could be used versus the Angels if Trout hits in the ninth.
SFG: Doval has worked in two of the last three, opening the door for a potential Taylor Rogers save chance on Wednesday.
Closer Monkey’s filthy outing of the day goes to Mason Miller, striking out the side against the Yankees, courtesy of MLB Pipeline.
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