Another slate featuring a bevy of blowout games, as seven were decided by five runs or more on Saturday. Relievers recorded two wins and four saves while suffering two losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
| Reliever | Save # | Pitches | Strike% | SwStr% | K:BB | BF |
| Emmanuel Clase | 17 | 12 | 66.7 | 0 | 0:0 | 3 |
| Camilo Doval | 12 | 20 | 80 | 15 | 0:0 | 6 |
| Shelby Miller | 8 | 13 | 76.9 | 46.2 | 3:0 | 4 |
| Chris Martin | 2 | 12 | 75 | 41.7 | 2:0 | 3 |
Due to the low usage patterns by closers, there are no vulture save recommendations for Sunday.
Vulture Save Stashes for June 23
- Jalen Beeks (ARI): If Miller pitches today, it’s consecutive appearances and three in the last four.
- Tony Santillan (CIN): If Pagán works today, it’s back-to-back games.
- Phil Maton (STL): If Helsley pitches today, it will be two straight and Maton will be unavailable after pitching the previous three.
Two relievers are awaiting their appeal ruling regarding suspension:
- Dennis Santana (PIT): Four games
- Robert Suarez (SD): Three games
Here are the leverage events of interest from Saturday.
Closer CliffsNotes
Arizona Diamondbacks – Navigating around a lead-off bunt single by Ryan McMahon, Shelby Miller retired the next three Rockies via strikeout, securing his eighth save. He threw 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9 Strike%) and generated six whiffs (46.2 Strike%).
He has been scoreless in eight of nine appearances this month, converting three of four save chances with 11 strikeouts against one walk (32.3 K-BB%) in 8.1 innings.
- Jalen Beeks recorded his tenth hold, retiring the side at the bottom of the eighth.
- Ryan Thompson stranded two runners, picking a Mickey Moniak off at second base and retiring two, for his ninth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Shelby Miller | Jalen Beeks | Juan Morillo
Atlanta Braves – In order of appearance, Enyel De Los Santos took over at the bottom of the sixth and stranded his only inherited runner. He retired all three batters faced, one via strikeout between the sixth and seventh innings, while striking out one for his second hold.
Dylan Lee entered during the seventh against Jesús Sánchez and induced an inning-ending lineout. He returned for the eighth and retired the 3-4-5 lineup pocket in order, finishing his 1.1 clean frames with a strikeout on 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9 Strike%) and producing two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%).
He extended his scoreless streak to 15 games, during which he has posted a minuscule 0.442 WHIP with 15 strikeouts against one walk through 11.1 innings without a hold or a save.
- Rafael Montero finished the combined shutout, walking one and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: *Dylan Lee | *Raisel Iglesias | Pierce Johnson
*= closer-by-committee
Chicago Cubs –Sealing a three-run win, Daniel Palencia allowed two hits, including Cal Raleigh’s solo home run at the top of the ninth during a non-save appearance.
He threw 13 pitches (8 strikes – 61.5 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%) with one strikeout. This outing snapped his modest four-game scoreless streak.
- Caleb Thielbar retired all four batters, one via strikeout.
- Brad Keller was awarded his third win, tossing 1.2 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out three. He also stranded two runners at the top of the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Daniel Palencia | Brad Keller | Ryan Pressly
Cincinnati Reds – Taking over a tied game at the bottom of the 11th, Chase Petty hit Nolan Arenado with a pitch, induced consecutive pop-outs, then gave up Yohel Pozo’s walk-off RBI single, resulting in his third loss. Scott Barlow worked around a hit and a walk while striking out one during the tenth.
Emilio Pagán stranded two runners at the bottom of the eighth, but allowed Arenado’s game-tying solo home run in the ninth for his third blown save. He worked 1.1 innings, yielding a hit and an earned run while recording all four outs via strikeout. This snapped his six-game scoreless streak. Pagán threw 22 pitches (14 strikes – 63.6 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (22.7 SwStr%). His illustrator:
And his results:
- Tony Santillan allowed four hits and two earned runs during two-thirds of the eighth, getting credit for his 16th hold.
- Lyon Richardson logged two clean frames and recorded two strikeouts.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Tony Santillan | Graham Ashcraft
Cleveland Guardians – Nailing down his 17th save, Emmanuel Clase retired the side while preserving a two-run win against the 7-8-9 lineup pocket of the Athletics. He threw 12 pitches (66.7 Strike%) without a whiff.
Since May 28, he has converted seven of eight save chances while being scoreless in 10 of 11 games, posting a 1.308 WHIP with 11 strikeouts versus four walks (14.9 K-BB%).
- Hunter Gaddis allowed a hit and an earned run while striking out one at the bottom of the eighth, recording his 17th hold.
- Cade Smith gave up two hits, an earned run, and a walk with two strikeouts in the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Emmanuel Clase | Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis
San Francisco Giants – Surviving a ninth-inning rally, Camilo Doval recorded his 12th save, but it was a white-knuckle ride. His outing began with Roman Anthony’s double, followed by Trevor Story’s single, and an RBI single by Wilyer Abreu. After inducing a pop-up, a stolen base attempt resulted in a second run scoring on a throwing error. Doval induced consecutive groundouts, finishing a one-run win. He allowed three hits and two earned runs while throwing 20 pitches (80 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (15 SwStr%). First, his illustrator:
And results:
He threw strikes, but the command was not on the edges of the strike zone. Through ten appearances in June, he has converted six of seven save chances while posting a 1.942 WHIP with 11 strikeouts versus six walks (10.4 K-BB%) in 10.1 innings.
- Tyler Rogers retired the side at the top of the eighth, securing his 16th hold.
- Randy Rodríguez notched his tenth hold, firing a clean seventh and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Camilo Doval | Randy Rodríguez | Tyler Rogers
St. Louis Cardinals – Tasked with the top of the 11th, Phil Maton worked around a two-out walk while recording his third strikeout. He collected his first win on a walk-off at the bottom of the inning. He threw 23 pitches (13 strikes – 56.5 Strike%) and induced four whiffs (17.4 SwStr%).
Ryan Helsley retired the side and recorded a strikeout during the tenth on 14 pitches (57.1 Strike%) with three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%) for his second straight clean appearance.
- John King retired both batters at the top of the ninth.
- Andre Granillo allowed a hit and an earned run while striking out one during 1.2 scoreless frames.
- Steven Matz suffered his third blown save, giving up two hits, three earned runs, and two walks while striking out one over his 1.2 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Helsley | Phil Maton | JoJo Romero
Texas Rangers – Locking down his second save, Chris Martin fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts, preserving a one-run win over the Pirates. He threw 12 pitches (75 Strike%) and generated five whiffs (41.7 SwStr%).
He owns an 11-game scoreless streak, during which he has posted a 0.575 WHIP with 10 strikeouts against zero walks (32.3 K-BB%) across 8.2 innings.
- Hoby Milner logged 1.2 clean frames and recorded two strikeouts for his tenth hold.
- Shawn Armstrong retired all three batters and stranded one of two inherited runners for his sixth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Garcia | Chris Martin | Luke Jackson
Quick Hits
- Detroit Tigers: During an eventual loss, Dylan Smith retired the side at the bottom of the eighth. Sawyer Gibson-Long worked as the “bulk follower,” allowing six hits and four earned runs while striking out three across 6.1 innings.
- Milwaukee Brewers: Capping a combined shutout, Aaron Ashby logged two innings, allowing a hit and striking out two. Grant Anderson retired the side and recorded two strikeouts at the bottom of the seventh.
- New York Yankees: Completing the combined shutout, but not a no-hitter, JT Brubaker logged two scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out one.
- Philadelphia Phillies: Amid a seven-run loss, Jordan Romano retired the side and recorded a strikeout at the top of the seventh against the Mets’ 3-4-5 lineup pocket, throwing 14 pitches (57.1 Strike%) and inducing one whiff.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Called upon with two runners on and no out at the top of the ninth, Dennis Santana stranded both while retiring all three batters. Carmen Mlodzinski allowed a hit and two walks while striking out three over 2.1 scoreless innings.
- San Diego Padres: Providing his teammates with much-needed rest, Adrian Morejon recorded the last five outs while sealing a four-run win over the Royals, needing only 16 pitches (62.5 Strike%). Jeremiah Estrada allowed a hit and recorded two strikeouts across the seventh and eighth innings for his 14th hold.
- Tampa Bay Rays: Pressed into action with two runners on and one out at the top of the eighth, Kevin Kelly allowed one to score on a sacrifice fly while working 1.2 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out two. He closed out the five-run win over the Tigers. Mason Montgomery gave up two hits and two unearned runs during one-third of the eighth.
- Washington Nationals: Called upon at the bottom of the sixth, Jose A. Ferrer secured his 14th hold, retiring all five batters and recording one strikeout. Brad Lord tossed a clean bottom of the eighth, recording two strikeouts against the Dodgers’ 2-3-4 lineup pocket on 13 pitches (9 strikes – 69.2 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%).
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