Friday featured some intriguing usage patterns and a scoreless tie after nine innings between the Dodgers and the Yankees in the Bronx. Five relievers, including Michael Grove, recorded wins as a reliever, and there were eight saves. Kansas City overcame an early eight-run deficit for a walk-off win, and Mason Miller benefited from a walk-off rally for his first win.
In case you missed it, a look into a potential rebound by Edwin Díaz was posted yesterday, along with relievers on the block ahead of the trade deadline and three dynasty relievers of interest in Analysis, Trends, and Ramblings.
Our condensed and full recaps cover all the high-leverage events of interest from Friday’s 14-game slate.
Closer CliffsNotes
American League
(RP | BAL): Finishing a three-run win over the Rays, Craig Kimbrel locked down his 14th save with a clean ninth.
(RP | CWS): Snapping his team’s 14-game losing streak, newly promoted Jonathan Cannon logged three scoreless innings, scattering three hits and recording four strikeouts. He threw 60 pitches (41 strikes – 68.3 Strike%) and generated 10 whiffs (16.7 SwStr%).
Hierarchy remains: Michael Kopech | John Brebbia | Jordan Leasure
(RP | CLE): Suffering his first loss, Cade Smith allowed Jake Burger’s two-out double and Jazz Chisolm Jr.’s RBI single, scoring the game’s deciding run. Smith finished with three hits allowed and an earned run while striking out one in the bottom of the eighth.
Hierarchy remains: Emmanuel Clase | Hunter Gaddis | Cade Smith
(RP | KCR): After tossing a clean top of the ninth, and recording two strikeouts, Nick Anderson collected his third win courtesy of a walk-off rally in the bottom of the inning.
(RP | NYY): In the top of the 11th, Ian Hamilton suffered his first loss. He issued a lead-off walk and allowed a one-out, two RBI double. Hamilton finished with a hit against, two runs (one earned), and two walks while striking out one over 1.1 innings.
(RP | OAK): Preserving a tied score, Mason Miller fired a clean top of the ninth against the heart of the Blue Jays’ lineup and collected his first win courtesy of a walk-off home run in the bottom of the inning.
(RP | SEA): Things went off the rails in the bottom of the ninth, as they often do following a lead-off walk. Ryne Stanek suffered his first loss and second blown save, allowing two hits, including a game-tying triple by Bobby Witt Jr., three earned runs, and three walks (two intentional) while recording two outs.
(RP | TEX): Entering a tie game in the seventh inning, David Robertson issued a one-out walk and served up a go-ahead, two-run home run by Michael Conforto, resulting in his third loss. He finished with two hits allowed, two earned runs, and a walk over his two-thirds of the inning.
Hierarchy remains: Kirby Yates | David Robertson | José Leclerc
(RP | TOR): Taking over a tied game in the bottom of the ninth, Chad Green suffered his first loss. He served up a walk-off home run by JJ Bleday, his first batter faced.
Hierarchy remains: Yimi García | Chad Green | Nate Pearson
National League
(RP | CIN): Despite allowing an earned run in the top of the ninth, Alexis Díaz held on for his 13th save. He gave up a two-out walk and an RBI double before a game-ending strikeout.
(RP | COL): With the score tied in the eighth, Matt Carasiti suffered his first loss. In two-thirds of an inning, he allowed three hits, three earned runs, and a walk while striking out one.
Hierarchy remains: *Jalen Beeks | *Tyler Kinley | Victor Vodnik
*= closer-by-committee (match-up-based)
(RP | LAD): Handed a two-run lead in the bottom of the 11th, Yohan Ramírez hung on for his first save. He allowed an RBI single by Aaron Judge, then retired the next two batters, preserving a one-run win.
(RP | MIA): With the game tied, Tanner Scott was pressed into duty with two runners on and one out. He induced an inning-ending double play, then retired the side in the ninth, two via strikeout en route to his third win.
(RP | PIT): Securing his 13th save, David Bednar preserved a combined shutout, allowing a hit and striking out one.
(RP | SFG): Nailing down his tenth save, Camilo Doval retired the side in the ninth and recorded a strikeout while closing out a three-run win in Texas.
(RP | STL): Ryan Helsley recorded his MLB-leading 21st save with a clean ninth and two strikeouts while closing out a win over the Rockies.
(RP | WSH): Slamming the door on his 17th save, Kyle Finnegan fired a clean ninth and struck out two, preserving a one-run win over Atlanta.
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Vulture Save Options for Saturday, June 8
- Lucas Sims (CIN): His closer, Díaz, has appeared in two straight games, placing Sims in line for the save chance this afternoon.
- Luke Weaver (NYY): Holmes has worked in consecutive contests, placing Weaver atop the hierarchy in today’s match-up with the Dodgers.
Vulture Save Options for Sunday, June 9
- Danny Coulombe (BAL): If Kimbrel pitches on Saturday, it will be consecutive outings and three in the last four.
- Ryan Walker (SFG): If Doval makes an appearance on Saturday, it will be his second in two days, and based on recent usage patterns, Walker is well-rested.
- Chris Roycroft (STL): This slate’s longshot. If Helsley records an outing today, it will be consecutive outings and three of the last four, along with his hierarchy, which would put the rookie in line for Sunday’s ancillary save.
American League – Full Recaps
Baltimore Orioles – Save number 14 for Craig Kimbrel. He retired the side against the Rays’ 8-9-1 hitters on 14 pitches (8 strikes – 57.1 Strike%) with two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). He’s allowed one unearned run over his last 10 outings while converting six saves with 10 strikeouts against zero walks. Yennier Cano tossed a scoreless eighth, allowing a walk and striking out two during his 15th hold. Jacob Webb stranded two runners in the sixth and logged 1.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit for his sixth hold.
Hierarchy remains: Craig Kimbrel | Yennier Cano | Danny Coulombe
Kansas City Royals – Benefiting from a walk-off rally, Nick Anderson collected his third win. He retired the side against Seattle in the top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts while facing the 8-9-1 lineup pocket. He threw 12 pitches (75 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (33.3 SwStr%). Will Klein navigated around two hits and two walks while striking out one for two scoreless innings. Chris Stratton worked two innings, allowing two hits, an earned run, and two walks while striking out three.
Updated Hierarchy: James McArthur | John Schreiber | Nick Anderson
New York Yankees – Blinking first during a scoreless tie, Ian Hamilton suffered his first loss. In the 11th, he issued Freddie Freeman a lead-off walk, retired Will Smith on a lineout, and then gave up a two-RBI double by Teoscar Hernández. Hamilton logged 1.1 innings, giving up a hit, two runs (one earned), and two walks while striking out one. Clay Holmes retired the side in the ninth on 10 pitches (80 Strike%) without a whiff, inducing three groundouts. Caleb Ferguson tossed a clean eighth, striking out one. Michael Tonkin worked 1.2 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out two.
Hierarchy remains: Clay Holmes | Luke Weaver | Tommy Kahnle
Oakland A’s – After firing a clean top of the ninth and recording two strikeouts, Mason Miller collected his first win courtesy of a walk-off home run in the bottom of the frame. He threw 12 pitches (66.7 Strike%) with three whiffs (25 SwStr%) while facing Toronto’s 3-4-5 lineup pocket. Scott Alexander tossed a clean eighth, striking out one. Austin Adams suffered his second blown save, giving up two hits and an earned run in the seventh, ceding the one-run lead. He gave up a lead-off double by Vlad Guerrero Jr. and an RBI single by Bo Bichette.
Hierarchy remains: Mason Miller | Austin Adams | Scott Alexander
Seattle Mariners – With a two-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, Ryne Stanek committed a leverage mortal sin. He began his outing with a lead-off walk to the eighth batter, Nick Loftin, followed by a Garrett Hampson infield single, with a throwing error putting the runners at second and third. Stanek induced an RBI groundout, cutting the lead to one. Things turned on a game-tying Bobby Witt Jr. triple and two intentional walks. Nelson Velázquez hit into a walk-off fielder’s choice groundout, handing Stanek his first loss and a second blown save. Collin Snider secured his first hold, issuing a walk and striking out one in the eighth. Trent Thornton retired four batters, two via strikeout for his eighth hold. Taylor Saucedo gave up two hits and struck out one in two-thirds scoreless for his second hold, but he let all three inherited runners score.
Hierarchy remains: Andrés Muñoz | Ryne Stanek | Tayler Saucedo
National League – Full Recaps
Cincinnati Reds – Hanging on for his 13th save, Alexis Díaz gave up a hit, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one against the Cubs. His outing began with two quick outs, but a walk followed by an RBI double (Miguel Amaya) cut the lead to one before a game-ending strikeout. He threw 24 pitches (50 Strike%) and produced two whiffs. He’s converted six straight save opportunities since May 21, with 10 strikeouts versus five walks and a 1.17 WHIP over 7.2 innings. Justin Wilson secured his sixth hold, giving up a hit during a scoreless eighth. Nick Martinez retired the side in the seventh for his third hold.
Hierarchy remains: Alexis Díaz | Lucas Sims| Fernando Cruz
Los Angeles Dodgers – Recording his first save of the season and first since 2022, Yohan Ramírez finished an extra-inning win over the Yankees. He did allow an RBI single by Aaron Judge, scoring the “place” runner, but struck out Giancarlo Stanton and induced a game-ending pop-out by Anthony Rizzo. Michael Grove collected his fourth win, tossing a clean bottom of the tenth. Daniel Hudson turned in a clean ninth, striking out one. Blake Treinen stranded two runners despite issuing a walk in the eighth, recording an inning-ending flyout by Stanton. Anthony Banda gave up two hits and struck out two over two-thirds scoreless in the eighth.
Hierarchy remains: Evan Phillips | Blake Treinen | Daniel Hudson
Miami Marlins – Taking over in the top of the eighth with two runners on during a tied game, Tanner Scott stranded them and logged 1.2 clean frames, recording two strikeouts. He collected his fifth win courtesy of a one-run rally eighth. He threw 10 pitches (90 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (40 SwStr%). This marked his third consecutive clean outing, and he’s been scoreless over his last 12 games, recording 15 strikeouts against six walks through 13 innings. Calvin Faucher gave up a hit and a walk over one-third of the eighth. A.J. Puk turned in a clean seventh, striking out one. Andrew Nardi retired the side in the sixth. Erasmo Ramírez tossed 2.2 scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out two.
Hierarchy remains: Tanner Scott | A.J. Puk| Anthony Bender
Pittsburgh Pirates – Finishing a combined shutout, David Bednar notched his 13th save, allowing a one-out single by Byron Buxton and recording a strikeout against the Twins’ 6-7-8 lineup pocket. He threw 16 pitches (13 strikes – 81.3 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (12.5 SwStr%). He extended his scoreless streak to nine games, converting a win and four saves with a 0.67 WHIP over nine innings. Colin Holderman turned in a clean eighth for his ninth hold. Aroldis Chapman fired a clean seventh, striking out two and securing his 12th hold.
Hierarchy remains: David Bednar | Colin Holderman | Aroldis Chapman
San Francisco Giants -Locking down his tenth save, Camilo Doval fired a clean bottom of the ninth, striking out one while closing out a win over Texas. He threw 15 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (26.7 SwStr%). This was a much-needed rebound outing after his four-run meltdown against the Yankees. Doval’s converted 10 of 12 save chances this season. Tyler Rogers notched his tenth hold, retiring the side in the eighth and recording one strikeout.
Hierarchy remains: Camilo Doval | Tyler Rogers | Ryan Walker
St. Louis Cardinals – Shutting the door on his MLB-leading 21st save, Ryan Helsley retired the side in the ninth and recorded two strikeouts, preserving a three-run win over the Rockies. He threw 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%). He’s registered multiple strikeouts in all three save chances this month and has converted a save in his last 10 appearances. JoJo Romero collected his third win, firing a clean eighth and striking out one ahead of his team’s three-run rally in the bottom of the inning. Andrew Kittredge tossed a scoreless seventh, issuing a walk and striking out one. John King gave up two hits and struck out three in a scoreless sixth.
Hierarchy remains: Ryan Helsley | Andrew Kittredge | JoJo Romero
Washington Nationals – Preserving a one-run win, Kyle Finnegan nailed down his 17th save. He fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts while facing Atlanta’s 6-7-8 batters. He threw nine pitches (88.9 Strike%) and induced one whiff. Over his last 12 appearances, he’s converted eight of nine save chances with 14 strikeouts against four walks and a 0.87 WHIP through 12.2 innings. Hunter Harvey allowed two hits and an earned run during his 19th hold in the eighth. Derek Law turned in a clean seventh, striking out two for his fight hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Kyle Finnegan | Hunter Harvey | Dylan Floro
Closer Monkey’s filthy pitch of the day was awarded to Aroldis Chapman‘s 103 m.p.h. four-seam fastball, with video courtesy of the Pitching Ninja.
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