Only one reliever won during Monday’s nine-game slate, but five relievers secured saves. Another late-inning meltdown by the Cubs bullpen will spark fantasy anticipation of a hierarchal change. Still, Craig Counsell remains steadfast in supporting his veteran reliever, which segues nicely into today’s Three Takeaways.
Three Takeaways
- Cubs’ hierarchy struggles once again: After the latest meltdown, there is no sugar-coating the results for this leverage ladder. This marked the team’s 16th blown save, second most in the majors. This tweet includes a video of Counsell speaking about Héctor Neris. It seems like the adjustment in the hierarchy may occur at the bottom with Tyson Miller taking over the seventh inning for Hayden Wesneski. With Kyle Hendricks rejoining the rotation, Drew Smyly may be needed for multi-inning outings even though he’s been the best reliever over the last statistical month:
Link: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/IA3Fw/1/
- Yimi García lands on the injured list: After receiving a clean MRI for structural damage, the team indicated he would be assessed in 12-hour segments for a potential return. An hour later, he was placed on the 15-day injured list per the team’s account on “X.” This resets the hierarchy, as reflected on the team page: Updated Hierarchy: Chad Green | Nate Pearson | Brendan Little
- Future saves in Miami?: Teams are circling the Marlins for pitching help, and pending free agent Tanner Scott will be moved. It’s only a matter of time. Fantasy managers must closely track who pitches well in the leverage ladder through the All-Star break. Calvin Faucher had a rough night, appearing in the eighth inning of a tied game. Declan Cronin struggled in consecutive outings on June 8 and 12, but has been scoreless in his last three. Andrew Nardi has been up and down all season. Last, but not least A.J. Puk could be a factor. He’s throwing harder without prolonged success in recent relief outings.
Our condensed and full game recaps cover Monday’s high-leverage outcomes of interest.
Closer CliffsNotes
American League
(RP | BOS): A fantasy favorite one-out save for Kenley Jansen. He recorded his 12th save of the season by stranding two runners with a game-ending pop-out, securing a four-run win over the Blue Jays.
(RP | DET): Shelby Miller suffered his fifth loss, allowing a go-ahead solo home run by Ozzie Albies with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. Over his last four appearances, he’s recorded three blown saves, this loss, and a win, less than optimal.
Hierarchy remains: Jason Foley (HLR|PSS) | Tyler Holton | Shelby Miller
*An HLR/PSS means he’s the preferred save option but will be used at the highest-leverage moment in games when necessary.
(RP | LAA): Finishing a two-run win over the Brewers, Carlos Estévez recorded his 13th save with a clean top of the ninth, striking out one.
National League
RP | ATL): Protecting a one-run lead, Joe Jiménez locked down his first save with a clean top of the ninth and struck out one.
(RP | CHC): With a two-run lead in the top of the ninth, Héctor Neris could not close the deal. With one out, a runner reached via catcher’s interference, followed by a walk and a go-ahead three-run home run by Thairo Estrada. Neris suffered his second loss and a fourth blown save.
(RP | MIA): During a tied game in the top of the 12th, A.J. Puk allowed a go-ahead two-run home run by Masyn Winn, resulting in his eighth loss.
(RP | PIT): Shutting the door on his 15th save, David Bednar fired a clean ninth and recorded one strikeout while preserving a three-run win over the Reds.
(RP | SFG): Back into the high-leverage saddle, Camilo Doval retired the side and struck out one, closing out a come-from-behind rally at the top of the ninth while converting his 13th save.
(RP | STL): Hanging on for his first win, Andrew Kittredge worked the 11th and 12th inings, letting the “place” runner score in each, allowing one hit and two unearned runs.
Vulture Save Options for Tuesday, June 18
- Matt Moore (LAA): Estévez has pitched in three of the last four.
- Tyler Rogers (SFG): Doval has appeared on consecutive days putting Rogers atop the hierarchy with Ryan Walker a wild card for the vulture save tonight.
Vulture Save Options for Wednesday, June 19
- Jeff Hoffman (PHI): If Alvarado pitches again tonight, it will be back-to-back outings placing Hoffman atop the hierarchy on Wednesday.
- Joel Payamps (MIL): If Megill receives a save chance this evening, it will be three outings in four days, placing Payamps on the radar for a vulture save. Bryan Hudson could also be beneficial in a multiple-inning outing for a vulture win.
- Carmen Mlodzinski (PIT): If Bednar and his bullpen hierarchy all pitch again today, it will be back-to-back outings, which may yield Mlodzinski a save chance, though he was an “opener” in Colorado.
American League – Full Recaps
Boston Red Sox – Summoned in the bottom of the ninth with two runners on and two outs, Kenley Jansen recorded his 12th save, inducing a game-ending pop-out by Davis Schneider. He threw six pitches and did not produce a whiff, but fantasy managers will happily take the one-out save. He’s converted a save in his last three appearances and been scoreless in six of his last seven while converting five saves. Brad Keller logged 1.2 scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk.
Updated Hierarchy: Kenley Jansen | Chris Martin | Justin Slaten
Los Angeles Angels – Remaining hot, Carlos Estévez locked down his 13th save with a clean top of the ninth. He recorded one strikeout and owns a seven-game scoreless streak, all clean, while recording a win and six saves. Matt Moore tossed a scoreless eighth, working around a walk for his ninth hold. Luis García allowed a hit and a walk before retiring the next three batters via strikeout, securing his eighth hold.
Hierarchy remains: Carlos Estévez | Luis García | Matt Moore
National League – Full Recaps
Atlanta Braves – Filling in capably for his closer, Joe Jiménez shut the door on his first save with a clean ninth while striking out one. He threw 13 pitches (76.9 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in nine of his last ten outings with 12 strikeouts versus three walks across 10 innings. Raisel Iglesias had appeared in three of the previous four games, throwing 38 pitches, and received the night off. Daysbel Hernández collected his first win, working around a hit and a walk while striking out two in the eighth. Jesse Chavez recorded two strikeouts over 1.2 clean frames and stranded two runners in the sixth.
Hierarchy remains: Raisel Iglesias | Joe Jiménez | Pierce Johnson
Chicago Cubs – For a third straight appearance, Héctor Neris allowed a home run. He took over with a two-run lead and induced a groundout. After a catcher’s interference put a runner on first, he issued a walk followed by a three-run home run by Thairo Estrada, resulting in his second loss and fourth blown save. In June, he owns a 1-2 record with four saves in six opportunities with a 1.79 WHIP through 6.2 innings. Mark Leiter Jr. logged 1.2 innings, giving up a solo home run and striking out three. He’s also allowed at least a run in three straight outings. Hayden Wesneski gave up a hit, two earned runs, and four walks while striking out one in the seventh. Luke Little tossed one-third scoreless, allowing a hit and a walk in the sixth.
Rome is burning in this leverage ladder, though some help may be coming from Yency Almonte. This may change after post-game interviews, but the hierarchy remains the same pending an announcement from Craig Counsell.
Hierarchy remains: Héctor Neris | Mark Leiter Jr. | Hayden Wesneski
Miami Marlins – Suffering his eighth loss, A.J. Puk gave up a go-ahead two-run home run by Masyn Winn in the top of the 12th. He finished with two hits against and two runs (one earned). Andrew Nardi let the “place” runner score in the 11th on a sacrifice fly. Declan Cronin tossed a clean tenth, striking out one. Tanner Scott worked a scoreless ninth, issuing a walk and striking out one. He threw 18 pitches (55.6 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (11.1 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in 14 of his 15 appearances since the start of May, with four wins, four saves, and a 20:8 K:BB across 16.1 innings. Kent Emanuel retired his only batter in the eighth, stranding two runners. Calvin Faucher went nuclear, giving up three hits, three earned runs, two walks, and two wild pitches while striking out over two-thirds of the eighth. Huascar Brazobán fired a clean seventh, striking out two.
Updated Hierarchy: Tanner Scott | Declan Cronin | A.J. Puk
Pittsburgh Pirates – Nailing down his 15th save, David Bednar retired the side in the top of the ninth against the Reds’ 5-6-7 lineup pocket while recording one strikeout. He threw 11 pitches (63.6 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%). He’s converted all four save chances in June and been scoreless in five of seven outings with seven strikeouts against one walk and a 0.714 WHIP through seven innings. Colin Holderman secured his 12th hold, allowing a hit and striking out one in a scoreless eighth. Aroldis Chapman worked a clean seventh, striking out one.
Hierarchy remains: David Bednar | Colin Holderman | Aroldis Chapman
San Francisco Giants -Capping a ninth-inning comeback, Camilo Doval secured his 13th save with a clean bottom of the ninth while striking out one. He threw 11 pitches (63.6 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (27.3 SwStr%). It’s been a volatile month for the closer. He’s converted all four save chances, with two of his seven outings yielding four earned runs, producing a 2.67 WHIP with seven strikeouts versus six walks across six innings. Erik Miller suffered his third blown save, allowing two hits, including a three-run home run by Ian Happ. However, he collected his second courtesy of his teammate’s three-run home run in the top of the ninth. Randy Rodríguez was tagged with his first blown save, allowing four hits and three earned runs over 1.2 innings.
Hierarchy remains: Camilo Doval | Tyler Rogers | Ryan Walker
St. Louis Cardinals – Despite letting the “place” runner score in the 11th and 12th innings, Andrew Kittredge collected his first win and his fourth blown save in Miami. He took over in the 11th with a one-run lead, but the Marlins rallied with a sacrifice bunt and an RBI groundout to tie the game. In the 12th with a two-run lead, the veteran reliever bent but did not break, giving up a lead-off triple before inducing a double-play line out with Nick Gordon thrown out at home and a game-ending groundout, sealing the one-run win. Ryan Fernandez logged two scoreless frames, issuing a walk and striking out two. JoJo Romero suffered his third blown save. He let his only inherited runner score, allowing two hits, including a game-tying three-run home run by Bryan De La Cruz, putting two earned on his ledger during one-third of the seventh.
Updated Hierarchy: Ryan Helsley | Andrew Kittredge | JoJo Romero
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