Closer Monkey

After Friday and Saturday did not provide many saves for fantasy players, Sunday proved to be voluminous, with relievers recording seven wins and eight saves, while suffering eight losses. There was an intriguing first career save among the eight, covered in condensed form:

Because of the reduced leverage usage patterns on Friday and Saturday, there are limited save vultures for the next two days:

Vulture Save Option for June 23

• Tony Santillan (CIN): Pagán has pitched the previous two days. 

Vulture Save Stash for June 24

• Jason Adam (SD): If Suarez pitches Monday, it’s back-to-back games, and he has a pending suspension. 

Three Takeaways

(1) Was this Taylor’s coronation? Will Venable has been tough on fantasy managers from a leverage perspective. Of the team’s eight saves, seven different relievers have secured at least one. On Sunday, Grant Taylor nailed down his first career save. He allowed a bloop single by George Springer, induced a double play groundout by Bo Bichette, and recorded a game-ending strikeout of Addison Barger. He threw 12 pitches (66.7 Strike%), six of which were above 100 miles per hour, and produced three whiffs (25 SwStr%). First, his illustrator:

And his results:

Hopefully, this marks a changing of the guard at the backend of this bullpen, but there are no guarantees. Still, he’s worth speculating on if he’s available in your leagues.

Adjusted Hierarchy: *Grant Taylor | *Brandon Eisert | *Dan Altavilla

*= closer-by-committee

(2) Can fantasy managers trust Hoffman? While it’s encouraging that John Schneider trusts his closer, can the fantasy community?

After a dominant start this year, things took a turn in May. It appeared like Jeff Hoffman was turning the corner, but with a one-run lead and two runners on at the top of the eighth, he entered against the White Sox. However, he issued Chase Meidroth a walk, loading the bases, then induced a weak grounder, which he could not field, scoring the game-tying run. During an extended battle at the plate, Miguel Vargas produced a go-ahead double, handing Hoffman his fourth blown save. He finished with a hit, an unearned run, and a walk while throwing 21 pitches (66.7 Strike%) with one whiff. His illustrator:

And the results:

Vargas put a good swing on a tough pitch during a prolonged plate appearance. For a clearer illustration of his season, his monthly splits with contact trends are included:

Link: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/s5Hew/1/

There may not be an immediate change on the horizon, but Yimi García is nearing a return, and Yariel Rodríguez was in line for the win but settled for a clean seventh while striking out two on 10 pitches (80 Strike%) and generating six whiffs (60 SwStr%). He deserves a larger leverage role. Monitor this closely.

Hierarchy Remains: Jeff Hoffman | Yariel Rodríguez | Chad Green

(3) Another zig for the Marlins, should we zag? With a two-run lead, Ronny Henriquez worked a scoreless top of the ninth, working around Alex Verdugo’s lead-off single with a double play groundout and a game-ending strikeout of Sean Murphy for his second save. He threw 12 pitches (83.3 Strike%) and induced one whiff.

It’s been almost a month since his last save (May 25), and he’s on a four-game scoreless streak, but trusting any reliever in this leverage ladder remains difficult because of the varied usage patterns. Calvin Faucher retired both batters in the eighth, the fifth and sixth hitters for Atlanta, one via strikeout, for his third hold. He had recorded the team’s last five saves since May 28. Anthony Bender logged 1.1 scoreless frames, walking and striking out one for his 12th hold. For now:

Hierarchy Remains: Calvin Faucher | Anthony Bender | Ronny Henriquez

Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Sunday.

Closer CliffsNotes

Baltimore Orioles – Entering with a one-run lead at the bottom of the eighth, Bryan Baker worked into trouble, allowing Ben Rice’s lead-off single, retiring Cody Bellinger on a fielder’s choice grounder, then putting runners on the corners following Giancarlo Stanton’s single, replaced by a pinch-runner, followed by Jazz Chisolm’s go-ahead two-RBI double. He also scored on a fielder’s choice grounder. Baker was tagged with his second loss and a third blown save, giving up three hits, three runs (two earned), and a walk during two-thirds of the eighth.

• Gregory Soto recorded the last out of the inning, striking out Trent Grisham.
• Seranthony Domínguez notched his tenth hold, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless seventh.
• Keegan Akin stranded two runners while retiring his only batter in the sixth, securing his 12th hold. 

Hierarchy Remains: Félix Bautista | Seranthony Domínguez | Bryan Baker

Cincinnati Reds – Shutting the door on his 18th save, Emilio Pagán retired the Cardinals’ 3-4-5 lineup pocket in order on 11 pitches (54.5 Strike%) without a whiff.

Through seven games in June, he has converted five of six save opportunities, posting a 0.685 WHIP with 12 strikeouts against four walks (28.6 K-BB%) across 7.1 innings.

• Lyon Richardson notched his second hold, stranding a runner and retiring his only batter in the eighth.
• Taylor Rogers issued a walk and recorded two outs in the eighth for his seventh hold.

Adjusted Hierarchy: Emilio Pagán | Tony Santillan | Lyon Richardson

Cleveland Guardians – Charting a circuitous route while completing a combined shutout, Emmanuel Clase allowed Tyler Soderstrom’s one-out single, then walked Gio Urshela, and an infield dribbler by JJ Bleday loaded the bases. However, Clase bore down, striking out Max Muncy and inducing a game-ending groundout by Lawrence Butler for his 18th save. He threw 31 pitches (22 strikes – 71 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (16.1 SwStr%).

His illustrator:

And his results:

The good news is that he extended his scoreless streak to four games. However, he has a 1.75 WHIP with 11 strikeouts versus five walks (12.8 K-BB%) through 9.2 innings in June.

• Tim Herrin stranded two runners, retiring his only batter via strikeout at the bottom of the eighth for his 11th hold.
• Cade Smith gave up a hit and a walk while striking out one during two-thirds of the seventh, getting credit for his 15th hold.

Hierarchy Remains: Emmanuel Clase | Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis

Colorado Rockies – Securing his sixth save, and third this scoring period, Seth Halvorsen allowed Randal Grichuk’s two-out double, then induced a game-ending flyout by Ketel Marte while preserving a two-run win. He threw 12 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (41.7 SwStr%) while recording one strikeout.

In nine games this month, he has a 1-1 record while converting four of five saves with a 0.92 WHIP and nine strikeouts versus two walks (21.8 K-BB%) across 8.2 innings.

• Victor Vodnik notched his second hold, retiring the side at the top of the eighth.
• Tyler Kinley worked a scoreless seventh, walking and striking out one for his fifth hold.
• Juan Mejia stranded a runner and retired both batters, one via strikeout, while securing his third hold in the sixth. 

Hierarchy Remains: Seth Halvorsen | Victor Vodnik | Jake Bird

Houston Astros – Although he notched his 19th save, Josh Hader allowed Zach Neto’s pinch-hit solo home run among his two hits and recorded two strikeouts in an eventual one-run win over the Angels. He threw 15 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (26.7 SwStr%). He has allowed a home run in two of his last three games and three in his previous six since June 12. This one was against his sinker:

It’s no time to panic; this happens almost every season with the talented closer, but it’s still noteworthy.

• Bryan Abreu stranded two runners at the bottom of the seventh and logged 1.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out three for his 19th hold.
• Bryan King gave up two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one during two-thirds of the seventh, getting credit for his 15th hold.

Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Bryan King

Milwaukee Brewers – During an extended outing, Trevor Megill took over at the bottom of the eighth and stranded both runners with an inning-ending strikeout of Jonah Bride. Returning for the ninth, Megill worked around Harrison Bader’s one-out double and an intentional walk (Byron Buxton) with a pop-out and a game-ending strikeout for his 17th save. He threw 19 pitches (15 strikes – 78.9 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (10.5 SwStr%) while recording two strikeouts.

Through eight games in June, he has a win and converted seven of eight save chances, posting a 1.325 WHIP with 12 strikeouts against three walks (25.7 K-BB%) in 8.1 innings.

• Jared Koenig gave up four hits and two earned runs while striking out one during two-thirds of the eighth, getting credit for his 13th hold.
• Nick Mears stranded two of three runners and retired two batters in the seventh for his ninth hold. 

Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Jared Koenig

New York Yankees – Capping his team’s eighth-inning rally, Devin Williams shut the door on his tenth save, working around Jackson Holliday’s two-out single with a game-ending groundout. He threw 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%) while recording one strikeout. His pitch illustrator is pristine from this outing:

This extends his scoreless streak to six games, and he has converted his last six save chances since May 27 while posting a 0.86 WHIP with 11 strikeouts versus zero walks (28.7 K-BB%) across 9.1 innings.

• Fernando Cruz collected his third win, stranding two runners while striking out all three batters faced at the top of the eighth ahead of his team’s three-run rally at the bottom of the inning.
• Tim Hill stranded a runner in the seventh and recorded two outs, but issued two walks opening the eighth, prompting his removal.

Hierarchy Remains: *Devin Williams | *Luke Weaver | Mark Leiter Jr. 

*= closer-by-committee

San Diego Padres – Facing Kansas City’s 5-6-7 lineup pocket at the top of the ninth during a tied contest, Robert Suarez recorded two quick outs, issued Drew Waters a walk, and gave up a double by Freddy Fermin, with Waters being cut down at home, ending the inning.

Despite giving up a walk and a hit while retiring two batters, Suarez collected his second win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. He has allowed at least a hit in four consecutive games and multiple hits in two. Through nine games in June, he has a 1-2 record and converted three saves with a 1.375 WHIP across eight innings.

• Jason Adam allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout during a scoreless eighth.

Hierarchy Remains: Robert Suarez | Jason Adam | Jeremiah Estrada

San Francisco Giants – After working a scoreless top of the seventh despite issuing a walk, Erik Miller collected his fourth win courtesy of his teammates’ four-run rally at the bottom of the frame.

• Tyler Rogers navigated around two hits and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless eighth, securing his 17th hold.
• Finishing the four-run win, Randy Rodríguez tossed a scoreless ninth, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out two. He has been scoreless in eight of nine games this month, posting a 0.964 WHIP with 13 strikeouts versus three walks (30.3 K-BB%) through 8.1 innings.

Hierarchy Remains: Camilo Doval | Randy Rodríguez | Tyler Rogers

Quick Hits

• Boston Red Sox: Taking over with a one-run lead at the bottom of the seventh, Greg Weissert encountered trouble early, allowing Willy Adames’ lead-off single, followed by Casey Schmitt’s double, putting two runners into scoring position. After inducing a groundout by Patrick Bailey, Weissert allowed a game-tying sacrifice fly, prompting his removal. Justin Wilson took over with a runner on third and one out, giving up the go-ahead run on a fielding error, then Rafael Devers singled, and a Heliot Ramos double broke the game open, putting his team ahead by three. As a result, Weissert was tagged with his second loss and third blown save. Wilson was removed without recording an out.
• Detroit Tigers: Forced into action at the bottom of the sixth, Tyler Holton took over with a runner on and no outs. He induced a double play, allowed a double, and recorded an inning-ending flyout. He collected his third win following his team’s two-run rally at the top of the seventh.
• Kansas City Royals: Tasked with the bottom of the ninth during a tied game, Daniel Lynch IV gave up Luis Arraez’s lead-off single, induced a groundout by Gavin Sheets, and allowed Xander Bogaerts’ double, prompting his removal. John Schreiber replaced him and let the game-winning run score on a fielder’s choice grounder by Jose Iglesias, handing Lynch IV his second loss. Lucas Erceg let two of three inherited runners score, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out two over 1.1 innings, resulting in his second blown save. 
• Los Angeles Angels: Not only did Hunter Strickland let his inherited runner score at the top of the sixth, he allowed three hits, three earned runs, and two walks while striking out one, resulting in his second loss and a first blown save.
• Minnesota Twins: Amid a rough patch by the team, Griffin Jax stranded two runners and retired his only batter at the top of the sixth. Jhoan Durán worked a scoreless top of the eighth, yielding a hit.
• Pittsburgh Pirates: Finishing a five-run win, David Bednar fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts against the Rangers’ 7-8-9 lineup pocket. He threw 11 pitches (63.6 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (27.3 SwStr%). Through eight appearances this month, he has a 2-1 record while converting all four saves with a 0.50 WHIP and 13 strikeouts versus two walks (39.3 K-BB%) across eight innings.
• Tampa Bay Rays: Called upon at the top of the sixth during a tied contest, Garrett Cleavinger retired the side. Returning for the seventh, he issued a walk and allowed Wenceel Pérez’s go-ahead two-run home run, resulting in his third loss while logging two innings. 

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Statistical Credits:

Fangraphs.com

Baseball-Reference.com

BaseballSavant.com

BrooksBaseball.net