Thursday’s 10-game slate provided two reliever wins against only one loss, seven saves, and two blown saves in the same contest. There has been an update in the Tigers’ hierarchy, and is there more change on the horizon for the Reds?
Three Takeaways
(1) Kahnle cements his role: Taking over at the top of the eighth with two runners and no outs, Tommy Kahnle induced a double play grounder and an inning-ending groundout, stifling the Royal’s rally. Despite his team adding two runs to the lead, he returned for the ninth and retired the side for his third save in his first appearance since April 11. He has secured a save in his last two games, and has taken over the team lead in them with three since April 1. In last night’s game, he threw an efficient 14 pitches (11 strikes – 78.6 Strike%) without a whiff over two scoreless frames:
He’s posted a 0.43 WHIP with five strikeouts (20.8 K-BB%) in six appearances spanning seven innings.
Updated Hierarchy: Tommy Kahnle | Will Vest | Tyler Holton
(2) Alvarado’s WHIP: This will not be an ode to Rihanna. José Alvarado entered the top of the ninth with a three-run lead against the Giants’ 5-6-7 hitters and recorded his his fourth save but served up a one-out solo home run by Tyler Fitzgerald and a two-out infield single by Jung Hoo Lee. He finished with two hits against and one earned run, throwing 14 pitches (9 strikes – 64.3 Strike%) without a whiff.
The good news is that Alvarado has posted six SOLDS (four saves, two holds), but he’s allowed a run in consecutive outings. In his last six games since April 3, he’s logged 6.1 innings, giving up ten hits and three earned runs, resulting in a 1.74 WHIP. His 4.26 accompanies a 2.48 SIERA with seven strikeouts against one walk (20 K-BB%) in these contests. But it’s the underlying data which causes slight concern. He has only produced a 10 percent swinging strike rate with an 81.2 contact percentage allowed and a 90.5 Z-Contact (in the strike zone) percent. Accrue the saves, but monitor his WHIP going forward.
Hierarchy Remains: *José Alvarado | *Orion Kerkering | Matt Strahm
*= floating closer concept
(3) Reds’ bullpen struggles against Seattle: It’s a game of inches, and Graham Ashcraft had a baptism by fire in his first extra-inning appearance. He made a fielding error on a bunt leading off the inning, then gave up an infield single, scoring the “ghost” runner. After inducing a fielder’s choice groundout by Julio Rodríguez, a stolen base, and a walk, he bore down, striking out Cal Raliegh and, with a 2-2 count, appeared to throw strike three.
However, it was not, allowing Randy Arozarena to hit a two-RBI double on a full count, followed by another fielding error, scoring a fourth run. Ashcraft finished with two hits allowed and four runs (zero earned) while suffering his first loss. Emilio Pagán served up two solo home runs and recorded two strikeouts during his first blown save at the top of the ninth. Both pitches were inside against Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena:
After this outing, Pagán’s ERA rose to 2.89, but more importantly, so did his SIERA (3.93) and xERA (5.03). He’s allowed four barrels (17.4 percent) of his 23 batted ball events, and his 56.5 hard-hit percentage provides a warning sign. Before the late-inning meltdowns, Alexis Díaz navigated around a hit and a walk for a scoreless seventh. For now:
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Tony Santillan | Graham Ashcraft
For the save streamers, a potentially busy Friday awaits:
Vulture Save Options for April 18
- Shelby Miller (ARI): Puk and Martinez have pitched in consecutive games.
- Yennier Cano (BAL): Bautista pitched on Thursday, making him unavailable until he first appears in back-to-back games.
- Luke Weaver (NYY): Williams has pitched in three of the previous four days.
- Ryne Stanek (NYM): Díaz, Minter, and Garrett have all worked in consecutive contests.
- Collin Snider (SEA): A deep league flier or for the desperate, but the Mariners high-leverage triumvirate have all pitched in back-to-back games.
Vulture Save Stashes for April 19
- Tony Santillan (CIN): If Pagán pitches on Friday, it will be back-to-back outings and three in four days.
- Justin Lawrence (PIT): If Santana pitches tonight, it will be consecutive appearances.
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Thursday.
Closer CliffsNotes
Arizona Diamondbacks
Save number four for A.J. Puk. He navigated around Griffin Conine’s lead-off double by retiring the next three batters, one via strikeout, preserving a two-run win and a sweep in Miami. Puk threw 21 pitches (16 strikes – 76.2 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (9.5 SwStr%).
He’s recorded a 1.25 WHIP with 12 strikeouts against two walks (28.6 K-BB%) through eight innings.
- Jalen Beeks secured his second hold, issuing a walk and striking out three in a scoreless eighth. Justin Martinez took over a bases-loaded situation with two outs in the seventh and walked in a run before recording an inning-ending strikeout for his third hold. He has a 0.57 WHIP with 10 strikeouts versus one walk (34.7 K-BB%) over seven innings.
Hierarchy Remains: *Justin Martinez | *A.J. Puk | Shelby Miller
*= match-up-based approach
Baltimore Orioles
Making his first appearance since April 12, Félix Bautista closed a four-run win while navigating around traffic. He allowed Carlos Santana’s lead-off single, induced a fielder’s choice groundout, followed by a stolen base and a walk, putting two on with one out. “The Mountain” bore down, retiring the next two batters via strikeout. He threw 20 pitches (55 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (20 SwStr%).
He has posted six strikeouts versus six walks, resulting in a 2.00 WHIP across five innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Félix Bautista | Yennier Cano | Seranthony Domínguez
Miami Marlins
In an eventual loss, Calvin Faucher fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts on 15 pitches (11 strikes – 73.3 Strike%) with three whiffs (20 SwStr%).
He lowered his WHIP to 1.42 and has six strikeouts against four walks across 6.1 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Calvin Faucher | Anthony Bender | Ronny Henriquez
New York Mets
Securing his fourth save, Edwin Díaz worked around Nolan Arenado’s lead-off walk with consecutive strikeouts and a game-ending groundout, preserving the three-run win. In this outing, he threw 18 pitches (55.6 Strike%) and induced one whiff with his four-seam fastball, averaging 96.4 miles per hour.
He has a 1.57 WHIP with 11 strikeouts versus six walks (14.3 K-BB%) over 7.2 innings.
- A.J. Minter retired the side for his fourth hold at the top of the eighth.
- Reed Garrett worked a scoreless seventh, walking and striking out one for his fifth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Edwin Díaz | A.J. Minter | Ryne Stanek
New York Yankees
Save number four and clean save number two for Devin Williams. He only needed six pitches (83.3 Strike%) and induced one whiff (16.7 SwStr%) while retiring the Rays’ 2-3-4 lineup pocket during a three-run victory.
This lowered his WHIP to 1.86 and he has recorded eight strikeouts versus six walks (5.9 K-BB%) across seven innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Devin Williams | Luke Weaver | Mark Leiter Jr.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Taking over with one out at the top of the ninth, Dennis Santana retired both batters, one via strikeout, for his second save, preserving a 1-0 win over Washington. He threw nine strikes (55.6 Strike%) and induced one whiff (11.1 SwStr%).
He has a 1.00 WHIP with five strikeouts against three walks (5.9 K-BB%) over nine innings.
- Ryan Borucki notched his fourth hold, stranding a runner in the eighth and working a clean combined inning, retiring three batters.
Hierarchy Remains: Dennis Santana | Caleb Ferguson | Justin Lawrence
Seattle Mariners
Finishing a four-run win at the bottom of the tenth, Andrés Muñoz stranded the “ghost” runner while retiring the Reds’ 6-7-8 hitters in order, one via strikeout. He threw 13 pitches (8 strikes – 61.5 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (30.8 SwStr%).
He’s posted a 0.90 WHIP with 13 strikeouts versus four walks (24.3 K-BB%) over ten innings.
- Casey Legumina collected his first win, tossing a clean ninth and striking out one ahead of his team’s four-run rally in the tenth.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Trent Thornton | Gabe Speier
Tampa Bay Rays
Getting in work and appearing for the first time since April 11, Pete Fairbanks retired the side against the Yankees’ 2-3-4 hitters on 10 pitches (50 Strike%) with one whiff. He has converted all three save chances with a 1.14 WHIP while striking out seven against three walks (14.3 K-BB%) through seven innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks | Edwin Uceta | Mason Montgomery
Texas Rangers
Shutting the door on his first career save, Robert Garcia retired the 4-5-6 Angels’ hitters in order on five pitches, all strikes, and produced one whiff (20 SwStr%) while striking out one, preserving Kumar Rocker’s first career win.
He has been scoreless in his last three outings.
- Chris Martin notched his sixth hold, firing a clean top of the eighth while facing the top of the batting order and recording two strikeouts. He threw 16 pitches (11 strikes – 68.8 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (12.5 SwStr%). He has a 0.96 WHIP with 14 strikeouts against two walks (31.5 K-BB%) across 9.1 innings.
Fantasy players should note Bruce Bochy played match-ups with his closer unavailable, which makes predicting vulture saves more difficult.
Hierarchy Remains: Luke Jackson | Chris Martin | Robert Garcia
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