Thursday’s eight-game slate provided plenty of late innings intrigue. Relievers recorded six wins and six saves. There were ancillary saves by Richard Lovelady (TB) and JoJo Romero (STL). Kirby Yates notched his 30th save, and Jesús Tinoco (MIA) secured his first of the season. Our condensed game recaps cover all of yesterday’s high-leverage events of interest.
Closer CliffsNotes
Josh Winckowski (BOS) suffered his second loss, giving up Juan Soto’s walk-off RBI double leading off the bottom of the tenth. Kenley Jansen fired a clean bottom of the ninth, striking out one on nine pitches (77.8 Strike%) with one whiff. He’s been scoreless in three of four outings this month.
- Updated Hierarchy: Kenley Jansen | Chris Martin | Justin Slaten
Carson Spiers (CIN) took over a tied game at the bottom of the sixth. He gave up seven hits, five runs (four earned), and three walks while striking out four during his 2.2 innings, resulting in his sixth loss.
- Hierarchy remains: Alexis Díaz | Emilio Pagán | Fernando Cruz
Tyler Kinley (COL) worked around a one-out walk and a two-out infield single with a game-ending strikeout for his 12th save. He threw 25 pitches (68 Strike%) and induced two whiffs. He’s been scoreless in seven of his last eight games since August 20 and converted all six save chances.
- Updated Hierarchy: Tyler Kinley | Victor Vodnik | Angel Chivilli
Jason Foley (DET) suffered his sixth loss after taking over the top of the ninth with the score tied. He allowed a lead-off Brendan Rodgers single, who moved to second on a passed ball and scored on Jacob Stallings’ go-ahead RBI double. After inducing a groundout, Foley gave up another earned run on a sacrifice fly. He finished the ninth with two hits and two earned runs on his ledger.
- Hierarchy remains: *Jason Foley | *Tyler Holton | Will Vest
- *= closer-by-committee
Josh Hader (HOU) allowed Tyler Nevin’s solo home run and recorded two strikeouts during a non-save outing during a win over Oakland. Hader threw 17 pitches (12 strikes – 70.6 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (23.5 SwStr%). He’s allowed a home run in three of his last four appearances and has not secured a save since August 29. Ryan Pressly gave up a game-tying solo home run by Brent Rooker but collected his second win courtesy of a rally in the bottom of the inning. Bryan Abreu notched his MLB-leading 35th hold, stranding a runner and retiring both batters in the top of the seventh.
- Hierarchy remains: Josh Hader | Ryan Pressly | Bryan Abreu
Jesús Tinoco (MIA) fired two clean frames while striking out two, closing a three-run win over the Nationals and recording his first save. He threw 22 pitches (15 strikes – 68.2 Strike%) and induced three whiffs. He took over against the 3-4-5 pocket in the eighth and returned for the ninth. He’s been scoreless in six of his last seven with this save and 12 strikeouts versus one walk across eight innings. Anthony Bender retired his only batter in the seventh via strikeout and was awarded his fifth win.
- Updated Hierarchy: Jesús Tinoco | Declan Cronin | Anthony Bender
Devin Williams (MIL) navigated around consecutive one-out hits, putting runners on second and third, recording a strikeout and a game-ending groundout, securing his 11th save. He threw 18 pitches (88.9 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (27.8 Strike%) while striking out two. He’s converted his last six save opportunities and been scoreless over his last eight appearances, with 15 strikeouts against four walks and a 0.88 WHIP.
- Hierarchy remains: Devin Williams | Trevor Megill | Joel Payamps
Clay Holmes (NYY) retired both batters he faced in the top of the tenth, stranding a runner. He collected his third win courtesy of a walk-off rally in the bottom of the inning.
- Hierarchy remains: *Luke Weaver | *Tommy Kahnle | Jake Cousins
- *= closer-by-committee
T.J. McFarland (OAK) entered a tied game at the bottom of the eighth and allowed two hits, resulting in two earned runs and his third loss in one-third of an inning. Grant Holman let both inherited runners score on consecutive two-out hits and finished with three hits allowed, two earned runs, and a walk on his ledger over two-thirds of the eighth.
- Hierarchy remains: Mason Miller | Tyler Ferguson | Michel Otañez
Collin Snider (SEA) took over in the eighth, getting tagged with his third loss and a first blown save. He gave up Marcus Semien’s solo home run, had a batter reach on an error, followed by a double and an RBI fielder’s choice groundout, tying the game. His final line was two hits against and three runs (one earned).
- Hierarchy remains: Andrés Muñoz | Collin Snider | Austin Voth
Camilo Doval (SF) suffered his second loss, issuing Willy Adames a lead-off walk, sandwiching a strikeout between three wild pitches, scoring the game’s go-ahead run, and recording two groundouts en route to his second loss. He threw 24 pitches (11 strikes – 45.8 Strike%) and only induced one whiff.
- Hierarchy remains: Ryan Walker | Tyler Rogers | Camilo Doval
JoJo Romero (STL) stranded an inherited runner at the top of the eighth, preserving a three-run lead and allowing a single before inducing an inning-ending groundout. He returned for the ninth, navigating around a lead-off single and a wild pitch for a scoreless inning, securing his first save of the season. He logged 1.1 innings and scattered two hits in the eventual five-run win.
- Hierarchy remains: Ryan Helsley | Andrew Kittredge | JoJo Romero
Richard Lovelady (TB) retired the side against the Guardians’ 6-7-8 lineup pocket on six pitches, recording his second save. Manuel Rodríguez matched up with the 2-3-4 hitters, giving up a two-out single and striking out two for his eighth hold in a highest-leverage reliever (HLR) usage pattern.
- Hierarchy remains: *Manuel Rodríguez | *Edwin Uceta | *Garrett Cleavinger
- *= closer-by-committee
Kirby Yates (TEX) notched his 30th save with a scoreless ninth while preserving a come-from-behind one-run win in Seattle. He allowed a two-out Victor Robles single and recorded two strikeouts on 20 pitches (70 Strike%) with two whiffs. He’s converted all nine save chances since August 19 and has been scoreless over his last six.
- Hierarchy remains: Kirby Yates | David Robertson | José Leclerc
Derek Law (WSH) suffered his fourth loss and a fourth blown save, giving up three hits, three runs (two earned), and a walk during the eighth. He stranded a runner while inducing an inning-ending double play in the seventh on one pitch, then only recorded one out in the eighth.
- Hierarchy remains: Kyle Finnegan | Derek Law | Jose A. Ferrer
Vulture Save Option for Friday, September 13
- Tyler Holton (DET): Foley has pitched the two previous games.
- Declan Cronin (MIA): Tinoco recorded a two-inning save last night.
- Josh Winckowski (BOS): Jansen, Martin, and Slaten have all appeared in back-to-back games.
Vulture Save Stash for Saturday, September 14
- Joel Payamps (MIL): If Williams and Megill get used again tonight, they will be off on Saturday.
- Bryan Abreu (HOU): If Hader pitches tonight, it will be consecutive appearances.
Three Takeaways
“De Facto” Weaver: In this tweet by Jack Curry, if Aaron Boone does not identify a closer for the postseason, he’s comfortable running match-up-based approaches in the late innings. Currently, Luke Weaver will operate in the highest leveraged moments, which are not necessarily reserved for save situations if we read between the lines. Since August 16, he’s been scoreless in 11 of 12 appearances with a win, a save, and four holds while posting a 20.4 K-BB percentage, though his 12.2 percent walk rate could improve.
Kinley’s takeover in Colorado: Managers prefer injuries not causing a player to lose his role, but Victor Vodnik has logged both appearances in the seventh inning since being activated. Tyler Kinley has converted all six safe chances since August 26 and seven of eight opportunities in the second half. Over his last 17 games, he’s recorded a 21:5 K:BB (25.4 K-BB%), a 0.78 WHIP, and an 18.5 percent swinging strike rate through 16.2 innings. It’s tough trusting relievers in Coors, and he’s capable of a meltdown, but he’s emerged as the closer.
Tinoco time in Miami: After we speculated Jesús Tinoco would become the primary save share with Calvin Faucher on the injured list, he nailed down a clean two-inning save last night. Since his acquisition, Tinoco’s posted a robust 26 strikeouts versus four walks (30.6 K-BB%) through 20.1 innings for the Marlins with a minuscule 0.54 WHIP. He does not have the same swing-and-miss as other relievers, but he’s producing weak contact, and his 2.11 SIERA in this sample backs up his results.
Those seeking full game recaps should surf the team pages; they’ve all been updated with Thursday’s results.
Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe and be well.
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