Friday’s 14-game slate did not yield an avalanche of saves but did provide some games of intrigue in the late innings, along with the first appearance on consecutive days by Mason Miller. This will be an abridged version because of traveling this morning, typing this in the Charleston airport.
St. Louis Cardinals – Locking down his eighth save, Ryan Helsey fired a clean ninth, striking out two. He threw nine pitches (77.8 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (44.4 SwStr%). This marked his sixth clean save this season, most in the majors, and he’s only issued one walk through 53 batters faced (1.9 BB%). He owns a 0.86 WHIP with 16 strikeouts over 14 innings. Andrew Kittredge notched his ninth hold, allowing a hit and striking out one in a scoreless eighth. JoJo Romero logged 1.1 clean frames, stranding a runner, and striking out one for his ninth hold.
Hierarchy remains: Ryan Helsley | Andrew Kittredge | JoJo Romero
Oakland A’s – Throwing caution into the wind, Mason Miller made his first appearance on consecutive days, nailing down his seventh save while striking out two during a clean bottom of the tenth in Baltimore. He threw 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (38.5 SwStr%) against the 8-9-1 pocket. He remains unscored upon in April posting 22 strikeouts versus three walks over 10.1 innings while converting seven straight save chances. Mitch Spence collected his second win, tossing three scoreless frames, walking one, and striking out two.
Hierarchy remains: Mason Miller | Lucas Erceg | Dany Jiménez
Baltimore Orioles – Suffering his first loss, Jacob Webb let the “place” runner score on an RBI double by Brent Rooker and recorded a strikeout in the top of the tenth. Keegan Akin prevented further damage in the ninth, retiring both batters faced, one via strikeout, stranding the bases-loaded. Craig Kimbrel was tagged with his second blown save, giving up two hits, an earned run, and three walks over one-third of the ninth. He threw 24 pitches (33.3 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (12.5 SwStr%). Yennier Cano secured his fifth hold, firing 1.1 clean frames and striking out two, he also stranded a runner in the seventh. Danny Coulombe held on for his fifth hold, allowing a two-out double, and striking out one before being lifted.
Hierarchy remains: Craig Kimbrel | Yennier Cano | Danny Coulombe
Washington Nationals – Closing out his eighth save, Kyle Finnegan fired a clean bottom of the ninth, striking out one. He threw six pitches, all strikes, and induced two whiffs (33.3 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless over his last six outings with five strikeouts against zero walks. Hunter Harvey notched his eighth hold, working a clean eighth and striking out one.
Hierarchy remains: Kyle Finnegan | Hunter Harvey | Jordan Weems
Texas Rangers – Nailing down his fourth save, Kirby Yates fired a clean top of the ninth, striking out two and preserving a one-run win over the Reds. He threw 14 pitches (9 strikes – 64.3 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). He owns a minuscule 0.36 WHIP with 13 strikeouts versus two walks through his first 11 scoreless innings. José Leclerc collected his second win, tossing a clean eighth facing the Reds’ 3-4-5 lineup pocket, and striking out two on 11 pitches (63.6 Strike%) with two whiffs (18,2 SwStr%).
Hierarchy remains: Kirby Yates | David Robertson | José Leclerc
Minnesota Twins – Taking over with two runners on and two outs in the ninth, Caleb Thielbar allowed an RBI single by Zach Neto, then induced a game-ending groundout by Mike Trout, finishing off a one-run win and his first save of the season. It’s been tough sledding for the high-leverage reliever returning from injury, allowing at least an earned run in three of his six appearances, but he’s a fixture in the late innings. Matt Bowman was credited with his third hold, logging 1.1 innings, giving up a hit, an earned run, and three walks while striking out two.
St. Paul’s game was postponed, pushing Jhoan Durán‘s rehab outing to Saturday.
Hierarchy remains: *Griffin Jax | *Brock Stewart | Caleb Thielbar
* = closer-by-committee
San Francisco Giants – Benefiting from a walk-off rally, and navigating around traffic, Camilo Doval collected his second win. He allowed consecutive hits in the top of the ninth, putting runners on the corners, then recorded a strikeout, issued a walk, and induced an inning-ending double play groundout by Bryan Reynolds, keeping the game tied. In this outing, he threw 18 pitches (11 strikes – 61.1 Strike%) and produced two whiffs. He’s given up one unearned run over eight games in April with four strikeouts against zero walks, and a 1.13 WHIP. Tyler Rogers worked a clean eighth, striking out one. Ryan Walker gave up a hit and a walk while striking out two during a scoreless seventh.
Updated hierarchy: Camilo Doval | Tyler Rogers | Ryan Walker
Pittsburgh Pirates – Entering a tied contest in the bottom of the ninth, David Bednar suffered his second loss, issuing a lead-off walk against Michael Conforto, a high-leverage mortal sin, followed by a Matt Chapman single, a wild pitch put both runners in scoring position, and Patrick Bailey launched a walk-off, three-run home run. Bednar threw 14 pitches (9 strikes – 64.3 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%), but was not sharp in this outing. This also snapped his modest three-game scoreless streak. He owns a 1.56 WHIP through his first nine innings this season. Aroldis Chapman navigated around a hit and two walks for a scoreless eighth, but he’s issued 11 walks over his last seven games (4.2 innings).
Hierarchy remains: David Bednar | Aroldis Chapman | Colin Holderman
Milwaukee Brewers – Even though he let the “place” runner score in the top of the 11th, Jared Koenig collected his second win, giving up a hit, an unearned run, and a walk (IBB – Aaron Judge) while striking out one over two innings.
Hierarchy remains: *Joel Payamps | *Trevor Megill (HLR) | Abner Uribe
*= closer-by-committee
New York Yankees – Making his team debut in the tenth inning, Michael Tonkin allowed an RBI single, scoring the “place runner”, suffering his first blown save. During the 11th, he was tagged with his third loss, first with New York, on a walk-off RBI single by Joey Ortiz. Clay Holmes fired a clean bottom of the ninth, striking out two on 10 pitches (80 Strike%) with two whiffs (20 SwStr%), keeping the game tied, and extending his scoreless streak to nine games.
Hierarchy remains: Clay Holmes | Ian Hamilton | Victor González
Quick Hits
Cincinnati Reds – Although he stranded a runner in the seventh, Lucas Sims suffered his first loss, serving up a go-ahead solo home run by Marcus Semien in the bottom of the eighth. Sims finished with one hit allowed and a strikeout during his combined inning of relief. Justin Wilson recorded the last two outs of the eighth, striking out one.
Hierarchy remains: Alexis Díaz | Fernando Cruz (HLR) / Lucas Sims
Detroit Tigers – Appearing during a loss, Alex Lange fired a clean top of the eighth, recording a strikeout. He threw 14 pitches (9 strikes – 64.3 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless over his last five outings, yielding two hits (0.40 WHIP) and striking out six (33.3 K%) with a 16.2 swinging strike percentage.
Hierarchy remains: Jason Foley | Alex Lange | Andrew Chafin
Vulture Save Options for Saturday, April 27
OAK: Miller’s appeared in two straight, putting Lucas Erceg back on the radar for a save chance if provided for today in Baltimore.
WSH: Finnegan’s pitched on consecutive days, placing Hunter Harvey in line for a save chance today.
Vulture Save Options for Sunday, April 28
STL: Helsley’s pitched in two of the last three, which may open the door for a Giovanny Gallegos save chance on Sunday.
Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community, stay safe and be well.
