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Zack Thompson RP | STL
Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Collects win Friday
Thompson (1-0) allowed a hit and a walk while striking out four over 1.2 innings to earn the win Friday over the Pirates.
Starter Jake Woodford pitched 5.1 scoreless innings but received no run support. Thompson was able to get some help as the Cardinals got on the board in the sixth inning and maintained the lead to earn him the win in his sixth appearances this season. The southpaw has done well as a multi-inning option, giving up one unearned run on six hits and four walks while striking out 11 over seven innings this season. He also has a hold. Thompson is the Cardinals' most effective lefty in the bullpen, so he could work his way into some high-leverage spots.
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Reynaldo Lopez RP | ATL
White Sox's Reynaldo Lopez: Handed first loss
Lopez (0-1) allowed two earned runs on two hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning to take the loss Friday against the Orioles.
Lopez entered the game in the seventh inning with one out and runners on first and second. He retired the first batter he faced without incident but then gave up a hit, walk and double in succession to turn a three-run lead into a one-run deficit. Lopez is the only White Sox pitcher to have recorded a save this season, but he's now allowed at least one earned run in four of his seven appearances. That could lead manager Pedro Grifol to rethink his usage of Lopez.
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Michael Baumann RP | NYM
Orioles' Mike Baumann: Snags first win
Baumann (1-0) walked one and struck out two without allowing a run in two-thirds of an inning to earn the win Friday over the White Sox.
Baumann got the last two outs of the sixth in relief of starter Tyler Wells. Baumann walked the bases loaded, but he was able to escape the jam, and the Orioles rallied for the lead in the top of the seventh. This is Baumann's first season working as a full-time reliever after coming up through the minors as a starter. So far, he's done reasonably well with a 1.23 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 6:4 K:BB across 7.1 innings, but his low-leverage role isn't one to attract fantasy managers.
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Trevor Stephan RP | CLE
Guardians' Trevor Stephan: Picks up win
Stephan (1-0) allowed a hit and a walk and struck out one in a scoreless inning to earn the win Friday versus the Nationals.
Stephan pitched the bottom of the seventh inning, and the Guardians pulled ahead in the top of the eighth. The right-hander is already up to eight appearances this season and has been quite effective, allowing just one run, six hits and three walks over eight innings. He's also picked up a save and a blown save. Stephan should continue to be one of the setup options ahead of closer Emmanuel Clase.
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Felix Bautista RP | BAL
Orioles' Felix Bautista: Secures fourth save
Bautista picked up the save in Friday's 6-3 victory over the White Sox, allowing one walk and striking out three during a scoreless ninth inning.
Bautista came on in the ninth with a three-run lead and struck out Yasmani Grandal and Lenyn Sosa before walking Oscar Colas. The right-hander ended the game and earned his fourth save by striking out Elvis Andrus. Through seven appearances, Bautista holds an impressive 15:3 K:BB and a 1.35 ERA.
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Kenley Jansen RP | DET
Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Strikes out side in ninth
Jansen picked up the save in Friday's 5-3 win over the Angels, allowing one hit and striking out three during a scoreless ninth inning.
Jansen came on with a two-run lead and struck out Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani before surrendering a two-out single to Anthony Rendon. The veteran right-hander proceeded to strike out Hunter Renfroe to end the game and earn his third save of the season. Jansen has allowed zero runs on three hits and two walks while striking out seven through four appearances.
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Bryse Wilson RP | MIL
Brewers' Bryse Wilson: Earns three-inning save
Wilson yielded one run on four hits over three innings during Friday's win over Padres. He struck out two and earned a save.
Wilson picked up his second three-inning save of the season during an 11-2 blowout win. He coughed up an RBI single to Rougned Odor in the eighth inning but otherwise kept the Padres off the board. Wilson has allowed one run with a 9:3 K:BB through nine innings.
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Emmanuel Clase RP | CLE
Guardians' Emmanuel Clase: Nets fourth save
Clase gave up one hit while striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning Friday against the Nationals to secure the save.
He hasn't been quite as dominant in the early going as he was last season, but Clase is still one of the very best closers in the league. The 25-year-old flamethrowing righty boasts a 52.4 percent groundball rate, eight strikeouts, four saves and one win through eight innings.
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Jordan Romano RP | COL
Blue Jays' Jordan Romano: Gets fifth save
Romano struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Friday against the Rays to pick up the save.
This was Romano's fifth save of the campaign, and he has recorded either a save or a win in all seven of his appearances. He gave up three earned runs in one outing, but for the most part Romano has appeared to be in complete control of the ninth-inning role in Toronto.
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Jhoan Duran RP | PHI
Twins' Jhoan Duran: Back on track with fourth save
Duran gave up one hit in a scoreless ninth inning Friday against the Yankees to pick up the save.
He didn't strike out any batters, but he logged his fourth save of the season and got back on track after giving up a run in each of his last two outings. Jorge Lopez has arguably been the Twins' best reliever in the early going, but Duran has 80 percent of the saves.