Friday provided some highs and lows, plus a few surprises during high-leverage appearances. Relievers recorded four wins and six saves while getting tagged with four losses and only one blown save. Today’s takeaways feature the fifth Dodgers’ reliever with a save, the Angels’ closer showing signs of rust in a meltdown, and a pitch mix change not necessarily working for last year’s save leader.
Three Takeaways
(1) Phillips takes over after the rain: Following an extended rain delay, Evan Phillips recorded his first save, and first since August 31, 2024, with a scoreless bottom of the ninth. He issued a walk and struck out two while facing Atlanta’s 2-3-4-5 hitters, throwing 20 pitches (55 Strike%) with three whiffs (15 SwStr%).
He’s scoreless through six appearances this season. Tanner Scott fired a clean eighth and recorded a strikeout on 18 pitches (11 strikes – 61.1 Strike%) with two whiffs (11.1 SwStr%) for his third hold. He has a 0.88 WHIP with 15 strikeouts (26.3 K-BB%) over 16 innings. Kirby Yates was credited with his seventh hold, giving up Matt Olson’s solo home run and striking out one in the seventh. From a fantasy lens, if Phillips has taken over the right-handed complementary role for ancillary saves vacated by Blake Treinen, he’s worth a speculative addition in deeper formats (15-teamers, league only) and worth streaming when needed in shallower leagues. Treinen was placed on the 60-day injured list, so Phillips could get an extended look in this role, though Scott remains the preferred save option.
Adjusted Hierarchy: *Tanner Scott | *Evan Phillips | *Kirby Yates
*= match-up-based with a preferred save share
(2) Kenley implodes against Detroit: An extended lapse between outings did not serve Kenley Jansen well. He last appeared on April 24 before taking over a tied game at the top of the ninth. He allowed consecutive home runs by Riley Greene and Colt Keith, recorded an out, gave up a single, and then registered a strikeout. But the wheels came off even further with two outs. He gave up Javier Báez’s two-run home run, a Kerry Carpenter single, and a Zach McKinstry double before being removed with two runners on. Here is his results chart from Statcast:
Jansen entered this outing with a WHIP below one and eight scoreless innings. He finished with six hits and six earned runs while striking out one in two-thirds of an inning. Not pitching in over seven days was likely not advantageous. There is no perfect way to get work during a seven-game losing streak, but it’s apparent the veteran needs some in-game appearances to keep his cutter movement sharp, last night, it was flat.
Updated Hierarchy: Kenley Jansen | Ryan Zeferjahn | Brock Burke
(3) Helsley and four-seam fastballs: Getting work during an eventual loss, Ryan Helsley hit Tyrone Taylor and allowed Francisco Alvarez’s single, followed by a sacrifice fly, before inducing an inning-ending groundout. Helsley threw 15 pitches (60 Strike%) without a whiff.
He has a 1.55 WHIP with 10 strikeouts against eight walks (4.1 K-BB%) through 11 innings. In this season’s limited sample, he’s allowing more contact (76.4 percent contact rate) versus last year (67 percent), especially in the strike zone, evidenced by his 8.5 percent increase in Z-Contact percentage. Combining this with an 11.5 swinging strike percentage in 2025 compared with a 17.3 rate last year makes one wonder what’s going on. First, he’s throwing more four-seam fastballs this season, which is more in line with his pitch mix from 2023. This has resulted in an improved quality of contact by batters against him:
- 2025: 6.7 pop-up percentage plus 3.3 percent weak contact = 10 percent poor contact-induced
- 2025: 6.7 percent barrel rate plus 13.3 solid contact percentage = 20 percent good contact allowed
Last year, he finished with 14 percent poor contact-induced versus 11.6 percent good contact allowed. It’s not a matter of batting average on balls in play, which sits below last season’s, but a less effective four-seam fastball, which he’s using more:
Link: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/iKWHG/1/
Last but not least, since April 11, when his peak four-seam fastball average velocity in this contest was 99.6 miles per hour, he has been below this mark, including a nadir on April 25 when it averaged only 96.9 MPH in his appearance. This may be a blip, but fantasy managers and teams interested in trading for him should monitor this closely.
Updated Hierarchy: Ryan Helsley | Phil Maton | Kyle Leahy
For the save streamers, a relatively light forecast:
Vulture Save Options for May 3
- Yimi García (TOR): Hoffman threw 26 pitches during his save last night and 53 over the previous three days.
- Yennier Cano (BAL): You know the drill; Bautista pitched on Friday, and until he works on consecutive days, we expect workload management to keep him unavailable the next day.
Vulture Save Stashes for May 4
- Fernando Cruz (NYY): If Weaver and Williams pitch today, it’s back-to-back appearances.
- Orion Kerkering (PHI): If Alvarado and Romano are used today, they will have worked in consecutive contests.
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Friday.
Closer CliffsNotes
Baltimore Orioles
Completing a combined shutout, Félix Bautista fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded one strikeout, securing his sixth save. He threw 12 pitches (75 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%).
He extended his scoreless streak to eight games. This season, he has a 1.10 WHIP with 12 strikeouts against six walks (14.7 K-BB%) in ten innings.
- Yennier Cano notched his seventh hold, giving up a hit and striking out one at the top of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Félix Bautista | Yennier Cano | Gregory Soto
Chicago White Sox
Appearing in a non-save capacity, Cam Booser issued a walk during a scoreless top of the ninth, closing a four-run win over Houston. He threw 13 pitches (7 strikes – 53.8 Strike%) without a whiff.
- Jordan Leasure gave up Yainer Diaz’s solo home run and recorded a strikeout in the eighth, getting credit for his third hold.
- Steven Wilson retired the side against the top of the lineup, throwing 12 pitches (66.7 Strike%) with one whiff for his second hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Steven Wilson | *Cam Booser | *Jordan Leasure
*= closer-by-committee
Cincinnati Reds
Finishing a five-run win, Emilio Pagán tossed a scoreless top of the ninth, walking one and striking out three. He threw 19 pitches (11 strikes – 57.9 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (21.1 SwStr%). He owns a 0.52 WHIP with 17 strikeouts versus three walks (25.9 K-BB%) over 15.1 innings.
- Tony Santillan navigated around two hits and recorded one strikeout during a scoreless eighth.
- Scott Barlow walked one and struck out one in a scoreless seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Tony Santillan | Graham Ashcraft
New York Yankees
Securing his third save and finishing a combined shutout, Luke Weaver fired a clean top of the ninth, recording two strikeouts. He threw 11 pitches (81.8 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%).
Through 15 scoreless innings, he has 16 strikeouts versus five walks (20.8 K-BB%) with a 0.533 WHIP.
Devin Williams retired the side and recorded a strikeout at the top of the eighth, throwing eight pitches (87.5 Strike%) with one whiff for his first hold, displaying improved command.
He’s on a modest three-game scoreless streak since being demoted from closing contests.
Adjusted Hierarchy: Luke Weaver | Devin Williams | Fernando Cruz
Philadelphia Phillies
Preserving a one-run lead and recording his sixth save, José Alvarado retired the side while striking out one against Arizona. He threw 11 pitches (63.6 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
He’s posted a 1.083 WHIP with 22 strikeouts against two walks (30.7 K-BB%) across 15.2 innings.
- Jordan Romano worked a clean eighth facing the 4-5-6 lineup pocket for his fourth hold.
- Tanner Banks collected his first win, tossing a clean seventh and striking out one.
- Matt Strahm stranded a runner and allowed a hit in two-thirds scoreless in the sixth.
Updated Hierarchy: *José Alvarado | *Jordan Romano | Orion Kerkering
*= floating closer concept
Toronto Blue Jays
Navigating around his first non-intentional walk and a two-out single, Jeff Hoffman bore down and produced a game-ending groundout, closing a two-run lead for his seventh save. He threw 26 pitches (61.5 Strike%) and induced two whiffs.
He’s posted a 0.675 WHIP with 23 strikeouts versus two walks (35.6 K-BB%) through 16.1 innings.
- Brendon Little collected his first win, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings, yielding a hit, and striking out one.
- Chad Green stranded a runner and retired all three batters in a combined inning of relief.
Hierarchy Remains: Jeff Hoffman | Yimi García | Chad Green
Quick Hits
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Recently promoted, José Castillo suffered his first loss and a blown save, giving up two solo home runs in the seventh.
- Boston Red Sox: In order of appearance, Justin Wilson took over at the top of the seventh. He stranded a runner and retired his only batter, then collected his first win after his teammates plated two runs in the bottom of the frame. Greg Weissert notched his third hold, giving up a hit and striking out three in the eighth. With a five-run lead, Liam Hendriks worked a scoreless ninth, allowing a hit and striking out one.
- Chicago Cubs: Wrapping up a combined shutout in a lopsided contest, Chris Flexen secured his first save and third of his career. He logged three scoreless frames, allowing a hit and two walks while striking out four. He threw 54 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and induced five whiffs.
- Cleveland Guardians: Entering at the bottom of the eighth, Jakob Junis suffered his first loss, allowing two hits, two earned runs, and a walk during two-thirds of the inning.
- Detroit Tigers: Collecting his second win, Tyler Holton retired the side and recorded a strikeout at the bottom of the eighth against the Angels before his teammates scored eight runs at the top of the ninth.
- Minnesota Twins: Called upon at the bottom of the seventh during a tied game, Louis Varland gave up two hits and retired one batter before being removed, resulting in his third loss.
- San Diego Padres: Jeremiah Estrada collected his first win. He fired a clean seventh, striking out the side on 15 pitches (11 strikes – 73.3 Strike%) and generating five whiffs (33.3 SwStr%).
- San Francisco Giants: Taking the baton from Robbie Ray at the top of the eighth, Hayden Birdsong logged two scoreless frames, completing the combined shutout. He allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout on 26 pitches (15 strikes – 57.7 Strike%) with one whiff. He’s been scoreless in his last three outings, spanning eight innings.
- Tampa Bay Rays: Taking over a scoreless tie at the bottom of the fifth with two runners on and one out, Mason Montgomery let both score, allowing Paul Goldschmidt’s go-ahead three-run home run.
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