Full slate Tuesdays provide a bevy of high-leverage moments, along with some trends in usage patterns. Although workload management remains a priority for teams, two teams went for wins, deploying their closers regardless of recent outings. Kevin Cash remained coy about who may replace Pete Fairbanks atop the Rays’ bullpen hierarchy, but as planned, the leverage pathway was leading toward his preferred option, until a blown save occurred. These situations, along with game recaps, quick hits, rehab notes, and vulture saves will be covered in today’s Monkey Bytes.
Pittsburgh Pirates – Ignoring workload management, David Bednar appeared for a third straight game, all scoreless, securing his fourth save with a clean ninth, preserving a one-run over Milwaukee. He threw 11 pitches (81.8 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%). He’s converted four of seven save chances but may be turning the corner from a fantasy perspective. Colin Holderman notched his second hold, walking one and striking out two in a scoreless eighth.
Hierarchy remains: David Bednar | Aroldis Chapman | Colin Holderman
Cleveland Guardians – Locking down his seventh save, Emmanuel Clase fired a clean ninth, striking out the side on 13 pitches (11 strikes – 84.6 Strike%) and generating six whiffs (50 SwStr%). He’s converted seven of nine save chances and appeared in 12 of his team’s 23 contests, including three of the last four. He owns a 0.92 WHIP with 13 strikeouts against one walk through his first 12 innings. Hunter Gaddis notched his sixth hold, allowing a hit and striking out one during a scoreless eighth. He’s riding a career-best 13.2-inning scoreless streak. Scott Barlow collected his first win, retiring both batters faced and striking out one in the seventh.
Hierarchy remains: Emmanuel Clase | Hunter Gaddis | Scott Barlow
Tampa Bay Rays – Taking over in the seventh, Phil Maton notched his seventh hold with a clean outing, striking out one. Colin Poche suffered his first loss and first blown save, serving up two home runs resulting in three earned runs, ceding the lead in the top of the eighth. Kevin Kelly worked a clean ninth, striking out one.
Although this was not an ideal outcome for the leverage ladder, this was leading toward a Jason Adam save chance in the ninth, confirming him as the preferred option with Pete Fairbanks on the injured list.
Hierarchy remains: *Jason Adam | *Colin Poche | Phil Maton
*= closer-by-committee
American League – Game Recaps from April 23
Chicago White Sox – Handed a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth, Steven Wilson suffered his second loss, and first blown save, allowing a lead-off home run (Byron Buxton), a one-out walk to Carlos Santana, an RBI double by Ryan Jeffers, and a walk-off, RBI single by Alex Kiriloff. Wilson threw 25 pitches (60 Strike%) and induced three whiffs. Michael Kopech took over in the eighth matched-up with the 9-1-2 lineup pocket. He gave up a lead-off single by Christian Vazquez, then recorded two outs before serving up a two-run home run by Trevor Larnach, before striking out Max Kepler, ending the inning with a one-run lead for his first hold. He threw 19 pitches (13 strikes – 68.4 Strike%) and produced one whiff. Jordan Leasure was credited with his third hold, yielding two hits and an earned run in the seventh.
Hierarchy remains: Michael Kopech | Steven Wilson | Jordan Leasure
Detroit Tigers – Securing his seventh save, Jason Foley fired a clean bottom of the ninth, striking out one while facing the 7-8-9 lineup pocket of the Rays. He threw nine pitches (77.8 Strike%) while inducing one whiff (11.1 SwStr%). He owns a 1.00 WHIP with 11 strikeouts against six walks through 11 innings. Alex Lange recorded his first hold, yielding a hit and striking out one during a scoreless eighth, facing the heart of the lineup. Alex Faedo collected his first win, and second blown save, allowing three hits, including a go-ahead two-run home run (Isaac Paredes), and a walk while striking out one, ahead of his team’s three-run rally in the top of the eighth.
Lange has recorded four straight scoreless outings, giving up two hits (0.50 WHIP) with five strikeouts. He’s produced 37 strikes on 54 pitches (68.5 Strike%) with nine whiffs (16.7 SwStr%). He’s streaky, but he could receive more high-leverage events moving forward, affecting the hierarchy change.
Adjusted hierarchy: Jason Foley | Alex Lange | Andrew Chafin
Kansas City Royals – Save number five for “The General”. James McArthur logged two scoreless frames while navigating around a hit and a walk, preserving a one-run over Toronto. He threw 20 pitches (55 Strike%) without recording a whiff. He’s posted a 1.29 WHIP with 12 strikeouts against two walks over 11.2 innings this season. John Schreiber secured his fifth hold, tossing a clean eighth on 14 pitches. Chris Stratton stranded one of three runners in the fifth and turned in 1.2 clean frames while striking out one for his second win of the season.
Hierarchy remains: James McArthur | John Schreiber | Chris Stratton
Los Angeles Angels – Tasked with a three-run lead, Carlos Estévez notched his fourth save, and first since April 6, firing a clean ninth and recording two strikeouts versus the 9-1-2 hitters from Baltimore. He threw 16 pitches (62.5 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He owns a 0.57 WHIP with seven strikeouts versus zero walks over seven innings. Luis García secured his second hold, logging 1.2 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out three. Matt Moore struggled, giving up a solo home run (Gunnar Henderson) among his two hits during one-third of the seventh.
Hierarchy remains: Carlos Estévez | Matt Moore | Luis García
Minnesota Twins – Benefiting from a walk-off rally in the bottom of the ninth, Jay Jackson collected his first win of the season. He logged two innings, giving up two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out four. Steven Okert gave up a hit and an earned run, with one strikeout in the seventh.
Hierarchy remains: *Griffin Jax | *Brock Stewart | Steven Okert
* =closer-by-committee
New York Yankees – An MLB-leading ninth save for Clay Holmes, preserving a one-run win with a clean ninth while striking out two. He threw nine pitches (77.8 Strike%) without a whiff. He’s recorded a save in 15 of his last 19 appearances since September 12, 2023. This year, he owns a 1.08 WHIP with 10 strikeouts versus one walk over 12 innings.
Hierarchy remains: Clay Holmes | Ian Hamilton | Victor González
National League – Game Recaps from April 23
Arizona Diamondbacks – Recording three scoreless innings, Logan S. Allen closed out a lopsided win in St. Louis for his first career save. He threw 34 pitches (24 strikes – 70.6 Strike%) and produced four whiffs. He allowed a hit and a walk while striking out two in this outing.
Hierarchy remains: Kevin Ginkel | Ryan Thompson | Kyle Nelson
Chicago Cubs – Entering in the top of the eighth, Yency Almonte stranded two runners after inducing an inning-ending groundout by Alex Bregman. Almonte returned for the ninth, retiring the side while striking out one, and was rightly credited with his first save. He logged 1.1 clean frames on 13 pitches (9 strikes – 69.2 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless over his last seven outings with 10 strikeouts against three walks. Mark Leiter Jr. allowed a hit and a walk over two-thirds scoreless before being removed. He remains unscored upon this season posting a 0.97 WHIP with 12 strikeouts versus five walks over 11.1 innings. Ben Brown fired a clean seventh in a non-save appearance.
Almonte does not appear in our hierarchy yet, but he could be another save option if he remains effective during high-leverage situations. For now, he may be the right-handed match-up bride reliever, working in tandem with Leiter Jr., who takes on left-handed hitting pockets. This remains a fluid leverage ladder, so usage patterns through the weekend will be pivotal from a fantasy perspective.
Hierarchy remains (for now): *Hector Neris | *Mark Leiter Jr. (HLR) | *Adbert Alzolay
*= closer-by-committee
Colorado Rockies – In attack mode, Justin Lawrence recorded his first save of the season, navigating around a two-out single by Jake Cronenworth with a game-ending flyout by Jurickson Profar. Lawrence threw 10 pitches (80 Strike%) without producing a whiff. This marks his first save since September 12 of last year. Jake Bird tossed a scoreless eighth, giving up a hit and striking out one.
Updated hierarchy: *Justin Lawrence | *Nick Mears | Jake Bird
*= closer-by-committee
Los Angeles Dodgers – A rare, traffic-infused outing for Evan Phillips, but he held on for his sixth save of the season. It started with a strikeout, followed by consecutive one-out walks, and a CJ Abrams single, with Luis García Jr. being thrown out at home. With two outs, Phillips walked Eddie Rosario, loading the bases before a game-ending strikeout of Jesse Winker. He labored through 32 pitches (50 Stirke%) and induced five whiffs (15.6 SwStr%). He’s displayed some rust after not appearing for six days before his previous outing on April 20. Daniel Hudson secured his fifth hold, walking one during a scoreless eighth. Alex Vesia collected his first win, logging 1.1 scoreless innings, yielding a hit and striking out one.
Hierarchy remains: Evan Phillips | Daniel Hudson | Joe Kelly
San Francisco Giants – Taking over a 5-0 game in the ninth, Tyler Rogers ran into trouble versus the heart of the Mets’ lineup. He allowed a lead-off double by Pete Alonso, followed by a Brett Baty single, putting runners on the corners, and gave up a run on an RBI fielder’s choice. After Jeff McNeil singled with one out, Camilo Doval took over and converted his fourth save, retiring Joey Wendle via strikeout and a game-ending groundout by Omar Narváez on only five pitches (all strikes) with one whiff (20 SwStr). Doval’s pitched on consecutive days and in three of the last four.
Hierarchy remains: Camilo Doval | Tyler Rogers | Taylor Rogers
Quick Hits
Cincinnati Reds – Forced into action during the fifth inning with the bases loaded and one out, Fernando Cruz retired Trea Turner via strikeout and then quelled the threat on a J.T. Realmuto lineout to center. For his efforts, he collected his first win. He’s emerged as the team’s HLR (highest-leveraged reliever).
Hierarchy remains: Alexis Díaz | Lucas Sims / Fernando Cruz
Milwaukee Brewers – Pitching during an eventual one-run loss, Abner Uribe tossed a scoreless bottom of the eighth, walking one and striking out one. He threw 13 pitches (7 strikes – 53.8 Strike%) and produced two whiffs.
Hierarchy remains: *Joel Payamps | *Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe
*= closer-by-committee
Philadelphia Phillies – Appearing during a loss, Orion Kerkering turned in a clean bottom of the sixth, facing the Reds’ 2-3-4 hitters. He threw 11 pitches (63.6 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
Hierarchy remains: *José Alvarado | *Jeff Hoffman | Seranthony Domínguez
* = closer-by-committee
Seattle Mariners – Finishing off a combined shutout, Andrés Muñoz tossed a scoreless ninth, giving up a one-out single by Nathaniel Lowe then induced a game-ending double play groundout by Josh Smith. He threw 16 pitches (75 Strike%) and produced one whiff. It’s been a tough stretch for the talented reliever, but he has been scoreless in five of his last six contests. Gabe Speier fired a clean eighth, striking out two on 11 pitches (63.6 Strike%) with one whiff. Ryne Stanek retired his only batter faced in the seventh, stranding two runners for his third hold.
Hierarchy remains: *Andrés Muñoz | *Ryne Stanek | Gabe Speier
*= closer-by-committee
Texas Rangers – Appearing during a loss, José Leclerc tossed a scoreless top of the eighth, walking one against the 4-5-6-7 hitters. He threw 19 pitches (10 strikes – 52.6 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (21.1 SwStr%).
Hierarchy remains: Kirby Yates | David Robertson | José Leclerc
Washington Nationals – Suffering his first loss, Hunter Harvey issued a lead-off walk in the top of the eighth, a leverage mortal sin, followed by a pop-out and an RBI double by James Outman. With two outs, he was replaced, but an inherited runner scored, putting two earned runs on his ledger over a combined inning. Harvey threw 37 pitches (25 strikes – 67.6 Strike%) and produced only two whiffs.
Hierarchy remains: Kyle Finnegan | Hunter Harvey | Jordan Weems
Rehab Notes
Arizona Diamondbacks – Appearing with Reno, his team’s Triple-A affiliate, Paul Sewald allowed two hits, a run (unearned), and a walk while striking out two. He threw 21 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). Here’s his Statcast data:
Minnesota Twins – During his Triple-A rehab outing with St. Paul, Jhoan Durán gave up four hits and two earned runs while recording three strikeouts. He threw 27 pitches (15 strikes – 55.6 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (18.5 SwStr%).
Vulture Save Options for Wednesday, April 24
CLE: Since Clase’s appeared in three of the last four, he may require a day off, though he prefers pitching. Just in case, Hunter Gaddis could be in line for the ancillary save.
KCR: McArthur logged two innings, on 20 pitches, and Stratton worked 1.2 innings, which may yield a save chance for John Schreiber later today.
PIT: It’s been a tough patch lately for Aroldis Chapman, allowing 10 walks over his last save outings (4.1 innings), but he should be in line for a save with Bednar appearing in three straight. SF
SFG: Doval’s pitched in two straight, and in three of the last four. His struggles last year happened after heavy usage patterns, so he should be down today. Although it feels like Taylor Rogers would get the vulture save, leaning toward Ryan Walker, he’s earned a larger leverage share and matches up better with the Mets’ heart of the lineup. (UPDATE: Walker’s working as the “opener”, he will not be a save candidate)
Unfortunately, for Thursday, the teams playing may not provide a vulture save option, with some of the options being repeats from the list above.
Closer Monkey’s filthy pitch of the day goes to Clay Holmes and his game-ending strikeout against the A’s, courtesy of the Pitching Ninja.
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