Saves and Steals: It’s Miller Time

On this week’s Saves and Steals, Mason Miller is climbing the ranks by defeating the competition in the ninth inning. Through three weeks, Ryan Helsley, Clay Holmes and Kyle Finnegan held the baseball lead with seven saves. Jordan Romano was called up in the ninth inning on his first day off the injured list. And Kirby Yates is the latest reliever to take control of his team’s ninth inning. In the speed department, Jonatan Clase could make an impact in Seattle, and Wilyer Abreu is running in Boston.

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Layer 1: On top

Edwin Díaz – New York Mets

Díaz worked back-to-back days, converting two saves against the Royals and Pirates to give him four for the season. His fastball velocity still dropped a bit, which decreased his whiff rate on the pitch. But his slider is still among the best out there. The 30-year-old star closer is up to 10 strikeouts, two walks and one run allowed in seven innings of work.

Tier 2: The Elite

Emmanuel Clase – Cleveland Guardians
Evan Phillips-Los Angeles Dodgers
Raisel Iglesias-Atlanta Braves
Josh Hader-Houston Astros
Ryan Helsley – St.
Craig Kimbrel – Baltimore Orioles
Camilo Doval – San Francisco Giants
Pete Fairbanks – Tampa Bay Rays

Clase was charged with back-to-back saves this week. He gave up one run on two hits against the Yankees on Sunday, then allowed an unearned run hit in the 10th inning against the Red Sox on Tuesday. Still, he seemed fine at first. Clase’s strikeout rate is up a bit from last season, and he has yet to hit a homer in eight innings.

Another save this week for Phillips gives him five to three weeks. The 29-year-old right-hander has been one of the best run-preventing relievers since the start of 2022. He’s off to another excellent start and should surpass the 24 saves he’s accumulated in 2023.

Iglesias had a good run this week, converting three saves to bring his total to four. Facing the Braves trailing by two runs in the ninth, Hader surrendered four runs and recorded just one out on Monday, followed by a clean inning with three strikeouts on Wednesday in a tied game. He recorded just one save for the Astros.

Helsley moved up the rankings this week with two saves, tying him for the league lead with seven. He has pitched clean innings with two strikeouts in his last three starts. While it’s still early days, he’s losing bats at a similar rate to his 2022 campaign.

Kimbrel was the most impressive reliever early on. He struck out 14 batters for a league-leading 52 percent strikeout rate with no walks in eight innings, converting four of five save chances.

The Giants only gave Doval three save opportunities, as he has only taken the mound five times this season. He has converted all three of his save chances, including two this week against the Marlins. And Fairbanks has three defenses after adding one this week.

Tier 3: The Solid Options

Andrés Muñoz – Seattle Mariners
Clay Holmes-New York Yankees
Robert Suárez – San Diego Padres
Mason Miller – Oakland A’s
Adbert Alzolay – Chicago Cubs
Alexis Díaz – Cincinnati Reds
David Bednar – Pittsburgh Pirates
Jason Foley – Detroit Tigers
Jordan Romano x Toronto Blue Jays

Muñoz has pitched the eighth inning in four of his six starts. While he is incredibly skilled, he simply won’t be used as a traditional closer. Ryne Stanek tied Muñoz on the team with two saves. In New York, Holmes made two saves out of seven on the year. He has yet to allow a run while striking out six batters with one walk in nine innings. Suarez also pitched well through the first three weeks. He has allowed one run with eight strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings while taking the closer position and blocking six saves.

Miller is quickly rising through the ranks. The 25-year-old right-hander’s electrifying stuff is unmissable when he’s on the field. He had three saves this week, four on the year, while striking out 17 batters in nine innings. Despite the questionable team context, he will end up among the most valuable relievers, with the A’s using him as a traditional closer.

No defense this week for Díaz. He’s solid after three runs the first time out. He recorded four strikeouts against the Mariners on Wednesday, giving him a 4.91 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and a 9/5 K/BB ratio in 7 1/3 innings with a pair of saves. Meanwhile, Bednar couldn’t get it right. He got a save in a clean inning against the Phillies, but was hit for three runs in a no-save situation against the Mets on Wednesday. Bednar converted just two of his five save chances. Behind Bednar, Aroldis Chapman is off to a great start, throwing eight scoreless games before giving up three runs to the Mets on Monday. I would expect Bednar to continue to have chances on defense in Pittsburgh, but it’s a situation to keep an eye on.

Two more saves from Foley this week moved him up the rankings. Despite occasional use outside of the ninth inning, he is getting the majority of saves in Detroit. He is up to five on the season with nine strikeouts and no runs allowed in nine innings.

Romano was activated from the injured list on Tuesday after nursing an elbow injury this spring and was placed on save duty immediately. He gave up one run against the Yankees but held up his first save.

Level 4: there are advantages here

Kenley Jansen-Boston Red Sox
José Alvarado/Jeff Hoffman – Philadelphia Phillies
Kevin Ginkel-Arizona Diamondbacks
James McArthur – Kansas City Royals
Kirby Yates – Texas Rangers
Michael Kopech-Chicago White Sox

Jansen has yielded runs in both starts this week. He held his own against the defense on Sunday, but was blamed for a missed save on Tuesday against the Guardians. Despite just the two runs allowed on the season so far, he has had some trouble with eight walks in 6 2/3 innings.

It was a committee in Philadelphia, with Alvarado and Hoffman splitting ninth-inning work. Alvarado picked up his third save Wednesday in a scoreless inning against the Rockies. He’s still a backup to the lineup in Philadelphia, but expect Hoffman to get a share of the save opportunities based on matchups.

It was a little bit of everything for Ginkel this week. He picked up his third save on Saturday against the Cardinals, then wasted an opportunity against the Cubs on Monday. Ginkel came back with a clean job on Tuesday and fell in line for victory. While he is solid, Paul Sewald is expected to resume end duties when he returns from an oblique injury.

The closest role is officially McArthur’s in Kansas City. He added two more saves this week for four on the season. The 27-year-old right-hander has yet to allow a run while striking out 12 batters and going 9 2/3 innings. As the Royals’ closer, McArthur has the advantage of racking up 25+ saves and should be added in all formats.

Jose Leclerc has been officially relieved of ninth-inning duties for now. Yates stepped in with a save and a game-winner this week against the Tigers. After picking up his first save on Monday, he recorded four outs in the fourth, all by strikeout, and earned the win. The 37-year-old veteran has been impressive from the start, striking out nine batters with one hit, two walks and no runs allowed in 7 1/3 innings. Given Leclerc’s volatility throughout his career, Yates could continue in the role as long as he is effective, just as Will Smith did last season at Texas. If available, it is an immediate addition to saves.

In Kopech’s two saves this season, he came out for the eighth and pitched the rest of the game. He was about to do the same on Wednesday against the Royals, but couldn’t convert this time. Kopech took the mound with a one-run lead in the eighth inning and gave up two runs on two hits and a walk with a strikeout, leaving with a blown save and the loss.

Tier 5: Just Surviving

Joel Payamps/Abner Uribe – Milwaukee Brewers
Carlos Estévez – Los Angeles Angels
Kyle Finnegan – Washington Nationals
Griffin Jax/Brock Stewart/Steven Okert – Minnesota Twins

It looked like Uribe was competing for the closer role early on after making three saves. This week, he was used out of the ninth inning, coming on in the seventh inning against the Orioles on Sunday and taking the loss. He then pitched the fourth and fifth innings against the Padres on Tuesday before picking up a victory with a scoreless eighth inning on Wednesday. Joel Payamps stepped in for his second save. And Trevor Megill could return from the 7-day concussion injured list any day and enter the defensive mix. Overall, it’s a bit confusing, but it’s worth adding Payamps to save when available.

Estévez had his first lapse in the ninth inning on Tuesday, giving up two runs and blowing a save against the Rays. Otherwise, he got the job done, converting three saves for the Angels. Robert Stephenson was expected to push for the role at some point this season, but he will miss the year with an elbow injury. And with José Soriano joining the starting rotation, Estévez faces little competition and should have a long rein at the closer position.

Finnegan also did a good enough job to keep his gig going, recording seven saves to tie Helsley and Holmes for most in baseball through three weeks. He had a good run of three consecutive clean sheets after some shaky appearances early on.

Jax’s last six appearances came in the eighth inning before Wednesday, when he took the mound in the ninth in a tied game and surrendered two runs to take the loss. It’s another situation that probably isn’t worth pursuing until Jhoan Duran returns from the injured list. After throwing a 25-pitch bullpen session this week, he will face live hitters in the coming days and shouldn’t be far away from a rehab assignment.

Level 6: if you need it

Tanner Scott-Miami Marlins
Tyler Kinley/Justin Lawrence – Colorado Rockies

Injured

Devin Williams – return
Jhoan Duran – oblique
Paul Sewald – oblique

Robbery Department

One of the best base stealers in the minor leagues was called up to the majors when the Mariners promoted Jonatan Clase from Triple-A Tacoma on Monday. The 21-year-old outfielder swiped 79 bases in the minors last season with 20 homers, boasting massive fantasy upside. The issue with Clase is his striking tool. He struck out 28 percent at Double-A last season and hit .222 in 489 games. There were just 53 appearances at Triple-A this year, but he had a 22.6 percent strikeout rate before he got the call. If he can hit enough, Clase will make a tremendous impact on the bases. In Boston, Wilyer Abreu makes the most of his opportunities on base. Manager Alex Cora said Monday that he will be in the lineup every day against right-handed pitching. Although he isn’t hitting much so far, he has done a good job drawing walks and being aggressive on the bases, with four steals in his last five games. The 24-year-old outfielder is widely available and could help complement the speed in deeper leagues. He’ll also have some power if he can reduce his strikeout rate after hitting 24 homers at Triple-A and the majors last season.