Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Andres Munoz picked up his fourth save of the season on Monday night, moving within one save of the Major League lead. Munoz has shut the door on each of the Mariners' four wins this season and held the Astros without a runner in a clean inning that included a strikeout of Yainer Diaz. He has not allowed a run in five innings over five games while issuing four walks and allowing two hits but also recording eight strikeouts. He's one of the top closers in the American League and should continue to anchor the back end of the Mariners' bullpen. Seattle should continue to be in enough close games that he stays among the league leaders in saves most of this season.
Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Andres Munoz earned his third save of the season and helped the Mariners avoid a sweep at the hands of the visiting Tigers. It wasn't as stress-free as Munoz, the Mariners, or his fantasy owners would have liked it to be, but he ultimately got the job done. He entered the 3-2 game to start the ninth inning and walked the first two batters he faced. After a strikeout, he gave up a single to load the bases with one out. However, he bounced back and retired Javier Baez on a fielder's choice that got the out at the plate and then struck out Zack McKinstry on three straight pitches to put the game in the books. Munoz has picked up three saves in three games while working three innings. He does have three walks but has also picked up five strikeouts. He and the Mariners have Thursday off before a three-game set in San Francisco against the Giants over the weekend.
Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Andres Munoz is working on a changeup. During his recent bullpen session on Saturday, Munoz showed off a changeup that had a 10-inch vertical drop. Munoz relies heavily on a slider and four-seamer and occasionally mixes in a sinker. Last season, the right-hander held a 2.12 ERA with a 0.96 WHIP across 59 1/3 innings of work. He tallied strikeouts at an elite 33.2% percent rate. He also generated a strong .198 xBA and a 54.0 percent ground-ball rate, both well above the average marks and placed him in the 98th and 92nd percentile, respectively. If Munoz can develop this changeup, he could become an even better pitcher with an even higher strikeout upside. Fantasy managers should view Munoz as a high-end option for saves and strikeouts in all formats.
Seattle Mariners closer Andres Munoz (elbow) said he has been dealing with some elbow soreness recently and that he was only going to be used with a lead for the first two games of the series in Oakland against the division-rival A's. Munoz has downplayed the severity of his injury, though, and said he should be fine. He hasn't pitched since Aug. 31, when he allowed a solo home run in two-thirds of an inning for a loss. But since blowing a save on Aug. 20 with a three-run outing, Munoz has settled down by allowing just the solo home run while striking out eight and walking two in 3 2/3 frames in his last four outings. The 25-year-old's status is worth watching going forward, and if his elbow soreness worsens, Austin Voth or Collin Snider could be in line for some save opportunities down the stretch in the final month of the regular season. Munoz has been excellent with a 1.92 ERA and a career-high 19 saves this year.
Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Andres Munoz was called upon to tally a four-out save on Saturday evening. Munoz hit the first batter he faced and then threw a wild pitch, which caused a runner to score (unearned), but he proceeded to get out of the eighth by striking out the next batter to limit the damage. In the ninth inning, the 25-year-old struck out the first batter, Gavin Sheets, and then generated two groundouts to finish the job. This was his 17th save on the season and brought him to a stellar 1.31 ERA and 0.97 WHIP. Munoz should be considered a top relief pitcher in all formats and could tally the occasional hold, as he is the most trusted option out of the Seattle bullpen.
Seattle Mariners right-hander Andres Munoz got the final five outs to preserve an 8-5 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night. Munoz allowed one hit and struck out one while throwing 22 pitches to pick up his 13th save of the season. The 25-year-old has been an anchor at the back of the Seattle bullpen this season, posting a 1.47 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 42 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings of work while blowing just one save. Munoz has a firm grip on the ninth-inning role for the Mariners and should continue to be an excellent source for saves and strikeouts in fantasy moving forward.
Andres Munoz Exits Tuesday After Home-Plate Collision
Seattle Mariners closer Andres Munoz (back) exited Tuesday's 4-3 win against the Athletics early after colliding with Max Schuemann on a play at the plate. Munoz entered the game to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning up by two. He got the first out on a strikeout, allowed a single, got the second out on a fly-out, allowed another single, and collided with Schuemann on a play at the plate due to a wild pitch. Munoz attempted to throw several warm-up pitches but left the game. The 25-year-old has been dealing with a lower-back strain the past couple of weeks, which may have flared up after the collision. He will get an MRI to determine the severity. Fantasy managers should keep an eye out for more news, but this would be a big loss if Munoz were to miss time, as he has converted 12 of 13 save opportunities with a 1.73 ERA and a 12.46 K/9. Tayler Saucedo picked up a save (his second of the year) in one-third of an inning, and he and Ryne Stanek could be candidates for saves moving forward if Munoz's injury is serious enough to put him on the injured list.
Seattle Mariners closer Andres Munoz continued his strong season in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Yankees, picking up his 10th save of the season. Munoz came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning up by three. He got the first two outs on ground-outs, allowed a single and a walk, and ended the game with a strikeout. The 25-year-old has been handed the closing reins full-time in 2024 and has not disappointed, converting all but one save opportunity with a 1.69 ERA and a 12.23 K/9 rate. The Mariners have played well this season, generating plenty of opportunities for Munoz to provide fantasy value. He should continue to be a higher-end fantasy option.
Seattle Mariners reliever Andres Munoz allowed a run on one hit while striking out two to earn the save during Saturday's 4-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles. Munoz entered the ninth inning to protect a two-run lead. He allowed a solo home run to Gunnar Henderson but was able to shake it off and strike out Adley Rutschman to end the game. The homer to Henderson was Munoz's first earned run over his last 11 innings. He owns a 1.86 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and a 26:7 K: BB across 19 1/3 innings in 2024. Munoz is one of the relief pitchers in baseball, and fantasy managers should continue to roll with him in all league formats.
Seattle Mariners closer Andres Munoz earned his sixth save of the season in Monday's 6-2 win over the Royals. Munoz entered the game in the top of the eighth inning up by two with two outs and a runner on second. He ended the inning with a strikeout and stayed on to pitch the ninth, delivering a 1-2-3 inning with two more strikeouts. The save count hasn't been as high as fantasy managers were hoping for, but the 25-year-old has pitched very well, converting all but one save opportunity with a 1.62 ERA, an 11.34 K/9 rate, and a 3.78 BB/9 rate in 16 2/3 innings of work.
Andrés Muñoz
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Mariners
