Wednesday’s slate featured three extra-inning contests, nine games decided by two runs or fewer, and five one-run games. Seven relievers recorded wins and seven secured saves. Entering gameplay today, three teams in the American League and three in the National League are within two games of the last Wild Card spot. It’s moving season for the postseason, and our condensed game recaps cover all the high-leverage events of interest.
Closer CliffsNotes
Kenley Jansen (BOS) worked around two walks and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless bottom of the ninth, securing his 27th save. He threw 25 pitches (44 Strike%) and only induced one whiff. He’s been scoreless in his last four appearances and converted both save chances this month. Chris Martin earned his 14th hold, tossing a scoreless eighth, giving up a hit and striking out one. Justin Slaten collected his sixth win, yielding two hits and striking out two in a scoreless seventh.
- Hierarchy remains: Kenley Jansen | Chris Martin | Justin Slaten
Nate Pearson (CHC) took over in the seventh, letting his only inherited runner score on an infield single, resulting in his second blown save. In the eighth, he gave up three more hits and two earned runs en route to his second loss. Jorge López worked a clean top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts in his first outing off the injured list.
- Hierarchy remains: Porter Hodge | Nate Pearson | Tyson Miller
Jairo Iriarte (CHW) suffered his first loss, allowing a walk-off RBI single by Jordyn Adams, scoring the “place” runner at the bottom of the 13th. Enyel De Los Santos logged 1.2 scoreless innings, stranding two runners in the 11th while walking and striking out two. Chad Kuhl was tagged with his third blown save, yielding two hits, two unearned runs, and two walks with one strikeout over his 1.1 innings.
- Adjusted Hierarchy: Justin Anderson | Prelander Berroa | Fraser Ellard
Tony Santillan (CIN) took over a tied game at the top of the seventh and suffered his third loss. He allowed four hits, three earned runs, and a walk while striking out two versus Atlanta.
- Hierarchy remains: Alexis Díaz | Emilio Pagán | Fernando Cruz
Hunter Gaddis (CLE) allowed two runs (one earned) at the top of the tenth but collected his fifth win courtesy of a walk-off rally in the bottom of the inning. He gave up two hits and recorded a strikeout in his outing. Emmanuel Clase retired the side and recorded a strikeout in the ninth. He threw 13 pitches (8 strikes – 61.5 Strike%) and induced two whiffs. He remains unscored upon through seven appearances in September while converting all six saves with nine strikeotus and no walks.
- Hierarchy remains: Emmanuel Clase | Hunter Gaddis | Cade Smith
Will Vest (DET) retired both batters at the top of the ninth, preserving a two-run win over the Royals while recording his second save. He threw nine pitches (66.7 Strike%) without a whiff and recorded a strikeout. He’s been scoreless in six of seven outings in September, with seven strikeouts against one walk.
- Hierarchy remains: *Jason Foley | *Tyler Holton | Will Vest
- *= closer-by-committee
José Quijada (LAA) worked a scoreless top of the 13th, issuing two walks and striking out three. He collected his second win courtesy of a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. He threw 23 pitches (12 strikes – 52.2 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (17.4 SwStr%).
- Hierarchy remains: *José Quijada | *Hunter Strickland | Brock Burke
- *= closer-by-committee
Devin Williams (MIL) retired the Phillies’ 5-6-7 lineup pocket in order by striking out the side, keeping the game tied at the top of the ninth. He collected his first win courtesy of a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. He threw 19 pitches (13 strikes – 68.4 Strike%) and generated seven whiffs (36.8 SwStr%). This extended his scoreless streak to ten games since August 28, during which he’s converted seven saves with 19 strikeouts versus four walks. Milwaukee clinched the National League Central for the third time in four years.
- Hierarchy remains: Devin Williams | Trevor Megill | Joel Payamps
Ronny Henriquez (MIN) suffered his first loss and a first blown save despite opening the bottom of the tenth with a two-run lead. He allowed two hits, three runs (two earned), and a walk while striking out one over one-third of an inning. Michael Tonkin took over with two runners on and one out. He allowed Brayan Rocchio’s RBI walk-off single. Jhoan Durán fired a clean bottom of the ninth while striking out one on 11 pitches (54.5 Strike%) with two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%).
- Hierarchy remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Cole Sands
Ian Hamilton (NYY) navigated around Cal Raleigh’s lead-off single at the bottom of the tenth when Julio Rodrìguez was picked off third after Randy Arozarena’s strikeout when a thrown bat moved him out of the baseline, resulting in a double play. Hamilton notched his first save on a game-ending Justin Turner strikeout, clinching his team’s postseason spot. He threw ten pitches (80 Strike%) and produced three whiffs. Luke Weaver collected his sixth win, logging 1.2 scoreless frames and issuing a walk while striking out four on 29 pitches (18 strikes – 62.1 Strike%) with seven whiffs (24.1 SwStr%). Clay Holmes suffered his 13th blown save despite stranding a runner in the seventh on an inning-ending flyout. During the top of the eighth, he allowed a game-tying solo home run by Turner. New York clinched a spot in the playoffs with this win.
- Updated Hierarchy: Luke Weaver | Tommy Kahnle | Ian Hamilton
Mason Miller (OAK) closed out his 27th save with a scoreless ninth against the Cubs, setting a new franchise record for saves by a rookie. He allowed a one-out walk but induced an inning-ending double play by Pete Crow-Armstrong. Miller threw ten pitches (60 Strike%) and induced one whiff while striking out one. He’s converted all 12 save chances in the second half and been scoreless in 16 of 18 appearances. Michel Otañez fired a clean eighth and recorded two strikeouts for his fifth hold. Tyler Ferguson collected his fourth win, issuing a walk during a scoreless seventh.
- Hierarchy remains: Mason Miller | Tyler Ferguson | Michel Otañez
Carlos Estévez (PHI) took over a tied game at the bottom of the ninth. He allowed Jackson Chourio’s lead-off triple, intentionally walked William Contreras, recorded a strikeout, walked Willy Adames, and suffered his fifth loss on Jake Bauers’ walk-off single. He’s given up a run in two of his last four games.
- Hierarchy remains: Carlos Estévez | Jeff Hoffman | Matt Strahm
David Bednar (PIT) suffered his eighth loss and a seventh blown save. He gave up three runs (two earned) on a hit and a walk during one-third of the seventh. Jalen Beeks let both inherited runners score, giving up three hits, three earned runs, and two walks in two-thirds of the seventh.
- Hierarchy remains: Aroldis Chapman | Dennis Santana | David Bednar
Tanner Scott (SD) took over with two runners on and one out at the top of the ninth against Houston. He retired both batters faced, one via strikeout, completing the combined shutout and securing his 21st save. He only needed six pitches (83.3 Strike%) and produced one whiff (16.7 SwStr%). This marked his first save since August 27, and he’s been scoreless in 12 of his last 14 appearances with 16 strikeouts versus four walks across 12.1 innings.
- Hierarchy remains: Robert Suarez | Tanner Scott | Jason Adam
Ryan Walker (SF) shut the door on his eighth save, closing out a two-run win in Baltimore. He retired the side and recorded one strikeout while finishing a two-run win in Baltimore. He threw 12 pitches (83.3 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He extended his scoreless streak to ten games and converted all seven save opportunities with 17 strikeouts against two walks over his last 12 innings.
- Hierarchy remains: Ryan Walker | Tyler Rogers | Camilo Doval
Collin Snider (SEA) gave up Anthony Rizzo’s lead-off double, scoring the “place” runner in the tenth, resulting in his fourth loss. Snider logged two innings, yielding one hit and an unearned run while striking out three. Andrés Muñoz walked one and recorded a strikeout in the eighth, facing the Yankees’ 8-9-1-2 batters on 24 pitches (14 strikes – 58.3 Strike%) with three whiffs. Troy Taylor fired a clean seventh, striking out the side.
- Updated Hierarchy: Andrés Muñoz | Collin Snider | Troy Taylor
Michael McGreevy (STL) collected his second win in as many outings, logging three scoreless frames against Pittsburgh. He allowed two hits and recorded four strikeouts while throwing 38 pitches (26 strikes – 68.4 Strike%) with five whiffs.
- Hierarchy remains: Ryan Helsley | Andrew Kittredge | JoJo Romero
Drew Rasmussen (TB) took over a tied game at the top of the seventh and suffered his second loss, giving up three hits, including two in the eighth, scoring the game-winning run, resulting in his second loss over 1.1 innings.
- Hierarchy: *Edwin Uceta | *Manuel Rodríguez | *Garrett Cleavinger
- *= closer-by-committee
Kirby Yates (TEX) nailed down his 31st save with a clean top of the ninth while recording two strikeouts. He threw 15 pitches (11 strikes – 73.3 Strike%) and induced two whiffs. He’s been scoreless in his last eight appearances and converted all six save chances in September.
- Hierarchy remains: Kirby Yates | David Robertson | José Leclerc
Vulture Save Options for Thursday, September 19
- Griffin Jax (MIN): Durán has appeared on consecutive days and thrown 41 pitches.
- Ian Hamilton (NYY): Weaver logged 1.2 innings during last night’s win; Hamilton only threw ten pitches in the tenth.
Vulture Save Stashes for Friday, September 20
- Joel Payamps (MIL): If Williams and Megill pitch today, it will be back-to-back appearances.
- Josh Winckowski (BOS): If Jansen, Martin, and Slate are used today, it will mark consecutive outings for each reliever.
Three Takeaways
Detroit’s bullpen surging in September: Using Fangraphs Win Probability Added metric, the Tigers bullpen ranks first in September, fueling a potential postseason berth. Entering game play on Thursday, Detroit’s a half-game behind Minnesota for the last Wild Card spot. These three relievers are shining, and they may be a key component over the team’s remaining nine contests:
- Jason Foley: 10 appearances, two losses, six saves, 9.1 IP, 8:2 K:BB, 0.75 WHIP
- Tyler Holton: eight appearances, two wins, two saves, two holds, 11.2 IP, 10:1 K:BB, 0.52 WHIP
- Will Vest: seven appearances, one save, four holds, 8.1 IP, 7:1 K:BB, 0.60 WHIP
Usage patterns limit Dream Weaver: Currently ranking third in Win Probability Added in September, Luke Weaver has recorded two wins, two saves, and a hold in his last five appearances with 16 strikeouts against three walks (48.2 K-BB%) across 7.1 innings and a 0.68 WHIP. However, he’s recorded five or more outs in his last three games, retiring 16 of 18 batters. With a postseason spot clinched, the team may start streamlining his workload. Still, until the division gets clinched, he may be deployed in multiple-inning outings. This will keep relievers like Tommy Kahnle and Ian Hamilton on the periphery of fantasy relevance over the last week and a half of the season.
Appreciating Yates: Only Emmanuel Clase has produced a higher Win Probability Added this year than Kirby Yates. Securing his 31st save last night, Yates has logged 58.1 innings while converting 31 of 32 save opportunities with 83 strikeouts against 27 walks (24.7 K-BB%) in his Age-37 season. His 0.852 WHIP has benefited those fortunate to add him earlier this season. As an unrestricted free agent, he can dictate his role, though a return to Texas seems inevitable. It’s tough assessing aging relievers, but the time he missed because of his injury may yield another strong campaign in 2025.
Those seeking full game recaps should surf the team pages; they’ve all been updated with Wednesday’s results.
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