Joyce (2-0) picked up the win over the Mariners on Saturday, allowing one hit over one inning while striking out one.
Joyce took over in the top of the ninth with the score tied at 4-4 and retired the leadoff batter before hitting Randy Arozarena with a pitch and then giving up a single to Justin Turner. However, the 23-year-old was able to work his way out of the jam and was then rewarded with his second win of the campaign when the Angels walked it off in the bottom of the frame. Joyce has not allowed any runs or walks in five straight appearances while posting seven strikeouts over that stretch. He has, however, allowed at least one hit in three consecutive outings.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Converts save Sunday
Rotowire
Joyce allowed a hit and struck out one over a scoreless inning to earn the save in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Mariners.
Joyce's scoreless streak is up to seven innings over his last six appearances. In that span, he has three saves, a hold and a win while striking out eight and walking none. The flame-throwing right-hander is up to four saves and eight holds while pitching to a 2.14 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 31:14 K:BB through 33.2 innings in the majors this season.
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Angels' Ben Joyce: Picks up four-out save
Rotowire
Joyce struck out two and allowed one hit over 1.1 scoreless innings to earn the save in Thursday's 3-0 win against the Tigers.
Joyce entered with two outs in the bottom of the eighth with the bases loaded and proceeded to strikeout Spencer Torkelson. Joyce then pitched a clean ninth inning to pick up his third save and second straight save of four or more outs. The 23-year-old gave up five runs in his first three appearances this season but has since been dominant, allowing three runs in his last 25 appearances.
Joyce struck out one and allowed one hit over 1.2 scoreless innings to earn the save in Friday's 3-2 win over Atlanta.
Joyce has collected two saves over his last five appearances, though he's also allowed three runs across five innings in that span. The flamethrower threw all five of his fastballs between 102-104 mph Friday and needed just 14 total pitches (10 strikes) to get his five outs. Joyce still needs to work on his control -- he has a 2.54 ERA, but his 1.27 WHIP and 24:14 K:BB through 28.1 innings shows he hasn't yet fully harnessed his velocity. Veterans Hunter Strickland and Matt Moore, who worked in the seventh and eighth innings ahead of Joyce, remain in the high-leverage mix and could see save chances if Joyce falters, but the Angels will give the 23-year-old every chance to establish himself as the team's bullpen ace.
Joyce picked up the save over the Mets on Saturday, hurling 1.1 perfect innings while striking out one batter.
Joyce entered the contest with two outs in the top of the eighth and a runner on third and was able to get Tyrone Taylor to ground out to escape the frame. The right-hander returned for the ninth and retired all three batters he faced, topping things off with a swinging strikeout of J.D. Martinez on a 104 mph fastball to end the game and secure his first save of the campaign. It stands to reason that the dazzling performance will earn Joyce more save opportunities moving forward, especially after Hunter Strickland coughed up multiple runs in the seventh of Saturday's contest to put the Angels behind late. The former has not allowed a run since June 11 against the Diamondbacks.
Joyce struck out one and allowed a hit and a walk in a scoreless eighth inning to record a hold in Thursday's loss to the Rockies.
Angels manager Ron Washington indicated last weekend that the right-hander would likely take over the closer role if the team traded Luis Garcia -- who had freshly stepped in for Carlos Estevez -- but Hunter Strickland received his second straight save chance Thursday after Garcia was dealt. Joyce is still viewed as the organization's closer of the future, but Washington doesn't quite feel the 23-year-old is ready for the job, according to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register. Strickland will fill the role for now, but Joyce could soon force his way into the job given he hasn't allowed a run in 17 straight appearances.
Joyce is expected to operate as the Angels' closer after the trade of Luis Garcia on Tuesday.
Garcia was labeled the closer while Joyce was named the setup man and closer-in-waiting after the trade of Carlos Estevez over the weekend, and Garcia has now also been dealt. However, manager Ron Washington used Joyce in the eighth inning Tuesday while Hunter Strickland picked up the save, so it remains to be seen if the skipper sticks with the initial plan. Joyce still struggles to control his 101.8-mph fastball at times and has a 4.0 BB/9 this season, but that's an improvement from his first taste of the big leagues last year when he walked nine over 10 innings and had an 8.1 BB/9 at Triple-A. The right-hander has a 2.01 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 19:10 K:BB in 19 appearances this season.
Angels' Ben Joyce: Named setup man, closer-in-waiting
Rotowire
Angels manager Ron Washington said Sunday that Joyce will work as the club's top setup man after the trade of Carlos Estevez, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Luis Garcia will step in as Anaheim's new closer, but he's also a candidate to be traded ahead Tuesday's deadline. If Garcia is dealt, Joyce will then be next in line for saves. The flame-throwing righty is averaging 101.8 mph on his fastball this season and has a 2.33 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 16:20 K:BB across 19.1 innings.
