Wednesday’s slate only yielded three saves, but there were some interesting high-leverage events. Plus, fantasy managers should monitor the Blue Jays bullpen, as noted in our recap below. A few vulture options can be deployed on today’s limited eight-game slate, and it’s almost June. Last, the Mets bullpen remains ineffective, and the team placed Edwin Díaz on the 15-day injured list, but it remains a match-up-based approach until a reliever emerges as the preferred save share in the interim.
Our condensed and full recaps cover yesterday’s leverage outcomes of interest.
Closer CliffsNotes
American League
(RP | HOU): In the bottom of the tenth inning, Tayler Scott took over a tied game and issued two walks. The “place” runner scored on a walk-off sacrifice fly, resulting in his second loss.
(RP | NYY): Despite dealing with traffic, Clay Holmes secured his 16th save, navigating around a hit and a walk for a scoreless ninth against the Angels.
(RP | OAK): Entering a tied game in the bottom of the ninth, Michael Kelly suffered his second loss, allowing a single, a sacrifice bunt, and a walk-off, sacrifice fly.
Hierarchy remains (mostly linear): Mason Miller | Lucas Erceg | Austin Adams
(RP | SEA): After tossing a clean top of the tenth, Mike Baumann collected his second win courtesy of a walk-off rally in the bottom of the frame.
(RP | TBR): After working around a lead-off double, Pete Fairbanks earned his first win following a walk-off rally in the bottom of then ninth.
(RP | TOR): Despite serving up a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth, Jordan Romano secured his eighth save, preserving a 3-1 win over the White Sox.
National League
(RP | COL): An odd ninth inning resulted in two earned runs on the ledger for Tyler Kinley. He finished with two hits against, two earned runs allowed, and recorded three strikeouts. But defensive indifference and a wild pitch were the culprits.
(RP | LAD): Blake Treinen collected his second win, tossing a scoreless seventh, allowing a two-out single by Starling Marte, and recording a strikeout. He preserved a tied contest ahead of his team’s six-run rally in the top of the eighth, throwing 16 pitches (11 strikes – 68.8 Strike%) with three whiffs (18.8 SwStr%).
Hierarchy remains: *Daniel Hudson | *Blake Treinen | Alex Vesia
*= closer-by-committee
(RP | MIA): Tanner Scott retired the side in the bottom of the ninth on nine pitches (77.8 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He’s turned in back-to-back clean outings and remains unscored upon through 10 games in May with an 11:5 K:BB over 10.1 innings.
Hierarchy remains (linear saves but set-up roles remain in flux): Tanner Scott | A.J. Puk| Anthony Bender
(RP | MIL): Entering during the fifth inning, Jared Koenig logged two scoreless frames, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out three, collecting his fifth win. He threw 37 pitches (64.9 Strike%) and generated nine whiffs (24.3 SwStr%).
Hierarchy remains (preferred save share with match-up based set-up): Trevor Megill | Elvis Peguero | Bryan Hudson
(RP | NYM): Another rough outing by Adam Ottavino against the Dodgers resulted in his second loss. He took over a tied game in the top of the eighth, allowing a lead-off home run by Will Smith, a one-out triple by Jason Heyward, a walk, and an RBI single by Miguel Vargas before his removal. His final line was one-third of an inning with three hits against, three earned runs, and a walk while striking out one. He’s allowed at least a run in two straight and three of his last four.
Before this game, Edwin Díaz was placed on the 15-day injured list due to shoulder impingement per the team’s “X” account.
This resets the hierarchy though it still remains fluid based on recent outcomes. Perhaps a hot hand will emerge, but for now:
Adjusted Hierarchy (fluid roles): *Reed Garrett | *Jake Diekman | *Adam Ottavino
*= closer-by-committee
(RP | STL): Hanging on for his 18th save, Ryan Helsley allowed a hit, an earned run, and two walks while closing out a win in Cincinnati.
(RP | WSH): Securing his 16th hold, Hunter Harvey faced the top of Atlanta’s lineup, retiring four of five batters faced and striking out three over 1.1 scoreless frames.
Vulture Save Options, May 30
- Reed Garrett (NYM): If his team provides a save chance, he will receive it based on workload management.
- Ryne Stanek (SEA): Muñoz has pitched in three of the previous four days, he could get the save chance but it’s likely the team plays it safe with Stanek instead.
- Tommy Kahnle (NYY): They have not used him in the ninth since his return, but with the right-handed lean in the Angels lineup, he could be the beneficiary of the save today with Holmes pitching the last two days. If not, it could be Ian Hamilton.
- Milwaukee: If they deploy a match-up-based approach, Bryan Hudson or Joel Payamps will be in play for the save, if provided.
Vulture Save Options, May 31
- Lucas Erceg (OAK): If Miller pitches today, it could be Erceg in line for Friday.
- Jason Adam (TBR): He will be off today, and if Fairbanks pitches this afternoon, Adam will be in line for the save chance on Friday.
American League – Full Recaps
Houston Astros – Tasked with a tied game in the bottom of the tenth, Tayler Scott suffered his second loss. He issued two walks and allowed a walk-off sacrifice fly by J.P. Crawford during his two-thirds of an inning. Josh Hader worked a scoreless ninth, allowing a one-out single by Julio Rodríguez, a stolen base, and a Ty France walk before bearing down, striking out the next two batters. He recorded all three outs via strikeout, throwing 24 pitches (14 strikes – 58.3 Strike%) and generating eight whiffs (33.3 SwStr%). He’s produced 20 strikeouts versus three walks while converting all five opportunities in May. Bryan Abreu turned in a clean seventh, striking out the side on 14 pitches (11 strikes – 78.6 Strike%) with four whiffs (28.6 SwStr%).
Hierarchy remains (mostly linear): Josh Hader | Ryan Pressly | Bryan Abreu
New York Yankees – Save number 16 for Clay Holmes, though he navigated around a lead-off single, then a wild pitch placing Luis Rengifo on second base during a walk to Taylor Ward with a double play groundout and an inning-ending grounder by Logan O’Hoppe, preserving a one-run win over the Angels. He threw 14 pitches (50 Strike%) and induced one whiff. Over his last five outings, he’s suffered a loss while converting three of five save opportunities, allowing nine hits, four earned runs, and three walks while striking out three through 4.1 innings (2.79 WHIP).
Hierarchy remains (mostly linear): Clay Holmes | Luke Weaver | Tommy Kahnle
Seattle Mariners – Entering in the top of the tenth, Mike Baumann retired the side against Houston’s 8-9-1 batters and collected his second win courtesy of a walk-off in the bottom of the frame. He only threw five pitches, all strikes. Andrés Muñoz fired a clean ninth, striking out one, keeping the game tied. He threw 12 pitches (75 Strike%) without a whiff. He’s been scoreless in 10 of 11 appearances in May, converting all six save chances with 16 strikeouts versus one walk over 12.1 innings. Austin Voth retired his only batter faced via strikeout in the eighth, stranding a runner. Gabe Speier gave up a hit and recorded a strikeout during two-thirds scoreless in the eighth. Trent Thornton turned in a clean seventh, striking out the side.
Hierarchy remains (mostly linear): Andrés Muñoz | Ryne Stanek | Gabe Speier
Tampa Bay Rays – Benefiting from a walk-off in the bottom of the ninth, Pete Fairbanks collected his first win. He tossed a scoreless top of the inning and navigated around a lead-off double. He threw 16 pitches (62.5 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (18.8 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless through eight appearances in May with eight strikeouts against one walk while converting both save chances. Jason Adam suffered his second blown save, giving up a hit, an unearned run, and striking out one. Garrett Cleavinger fired a clean seventh, recording two strikeouts. Kevin Kelly gave up a hit and let one of two inherited runners score in the sixth.
Hierarchy remains (mostly linear): Pete Fairbanks | Jason Adam | Garrett Cleavinger
Toronto Blue Jays – Hanging on for his eighth save, Jordan Romano could not preserve the shutout, allowing a solo home run by Korey Lee in the bottom of the ninth before inducing a game-ending lineout by Paul DeJong. Romano threw 16 pitches (9 strikes – 56.3 Strike%) and induced one whiff. This save moved him into third all-time in Toronto team history, marking the 105th of his career. However, he’s allowed at least a run in two straight and three of his last five. Yimi García notched his ninth hold, retiring the side in the eighth, striking out one. Zach Pop worked a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and striking out one for his fourth hold. Tim Mayza secured his eighth hold, issuing a walk during a scoreless sixth. Trevor Richards collected his first win, logging 3.1 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and a walk.
We will be watching Romano’s June results.
Updated Hierarchy (mostly linear): Jordan Romano | Yimi García (HLR) | Zach Pop
National League – Full Recaps
Colorado Rockies – Closing out a win over the Guardians, Tyler Kinley let Johnathan Rodriguez reach after a strikeout on a wild pitch. With two outs, he gave up a single by Will Brennan, who scored him after he moved up to second on defensive indifference. Which Brennan also did ahead of a Brayan Rocchio single. Kinley issued Tyler Freeman a walk with two outs before striking out Andrés Giménez, preserving the three-run win. His final line was an inning pitched with two hits allowed, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out three on 28 pitches (64.3 Strike%) with six whiffs (21.4 SwStr%). Jalen Beeks retired the side in the eighth, striking out one against the 2-3-4 lineup pocket.
Hierarchy remains (match-up-based): *Tyler Kinley | *Jalen Beeks | Justin Lawrence
*= closer-by-committee
St. Louis Cardinals – While recording his 18th save, Ryan Helsley allowed a lead-off single and issued a walk, putting two runners on before retiring Jacob Hurtibise on a groundout. This moved both runners up, and Tyler Stephenson produced a sacrifice fly. After issuing another walk, Helsley induced a game-ending groundout by Elly De La Cruz. He threw 21 pitches (9 strikes—42.9 Strike%) without getting a whiff. He’s allowed at least a run in three straight contests, and this outing represents his first with multiple walks. He has converted all eight save chances this month but with a 6:4 K:BB over nine innings. Andrew Kittredge was credited with his 15th hold, giving up two hits and an earned run in the eighth. John King retired both batters in the seventh, one via strikeout for his third hold. Patrick Leahy gave up two hits and an earned run during his one-third of the seventh, getting credit for his second hold.
Hierarchy remains (mostly linear): Ryan Helsley | Andrew Kittredge | JoJo Romero
Washington Nationals – Taking over in the bottom of the sixth with runners on second and third, Dylan Floro induced a groundout, letting one runner score, and an inning-ending groundout for his sixth hold. Robert Garcia allowed a hit during two-thirds scoreless in the seventh during his sixth hold. Hunter Harvey stranded a runner while tossing 1.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out three en route to his 16th hold. He threw 21 pitches (13 strikes – 61.9 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (23.8 SwStr%) versus Atlanta’s first five batters. Jordan Weems worked a clean ninth, preserving a five-run win after his teammates tacked on two runs in the top of the inning.
Hierarchy Remains (mostly linear): Kyle Finnegan | Hunter Harvey | Dylan Floro
Closer Monkey’s featured pitch of the day is this filthy slider by Blake Treinen. The video is courtesy of the Pitching Ninja.
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