Wednesday’s full slate provided eight saves, though one required two innings and one four pitches. Relievers only recorded two wins, one with a blown save attached, and three losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
| Reliever | Save # | Pitches | Strike% | SwStr% | K:BB | BF |
| Josh Hader | 21 | 16 | 50 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
| Trevor Megill | 18 | 10 | 80 | 20 | 1:0 | 3 |
| Edwin Díaz | 16 | 4 | 50 | 0 | 0:0 | 1 |
| Mason Miller | 15 | 16 | 56.3 | 25 | 2:0 | 3 |
| Pete Fairbanks | 14 | 16 | 62.5 | 18.8 | 0:0 | 4 |
| Jhoan Durán | 11 | 9 | 55.6 | 11.1 | 1:0 | 3 |
| Adrian Morejon | 2 | 7 | 85.7 | 14.3 | 1:0 | 3 |
| Ryan Zeferjahn | 2 | 31 | 64.7 | 16.1 | 2:1 | 7 |
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for June 26
- Bryan Abreu (HOU): Hader has worked in back-to-back games.
- Anthony Bender (MIA): Faucher and Henriqurez have pitched in consecutive contests.
- Brock Stewart (MIN): With Durán, Jax, and Varland likely unavailable after pitching the two previous days, the Twins take a match-up-based approach, but leaning toward Stewart for today’s chance, if provided.
Vulture Save Stashes for June 27
- Cade Smith (CLE): If Clase pitches today, it’s back-to-back games.
- Tyler Ferguson (ATH): If Miller gets used in today’s game, it will be consecutive appearances.
Under the Hood: Camilo Doval
San Francisco Giants – After his team tied the game at the bottom of the ninth, Camilo Doval took over at the top of the tenth, but turned in another sideways outing. It started with a lead-off walk, a leverage mortal sin, and a one-out single by Otto Lopez scored the “place” runner. With two on and one out, Heriberto Hernandez plated two more runs with a double and a sacrifice fly, followed by a walk, prompting Doval’s removal. He was tagged with his second loss, giving up two hits, four runs (three earned), and two walks on 21 pitches (13 strikes – 61.9 Strike%) with two whiffs. He has allowed multiple runs in consecutive games, and his WHIP in June reached 2.18 after this contest.
First, his illustrator from Wednesday’s loss:
And his results:
This was not an isolated incident this month; of his 11 appearances, he has allowed multiple hits in six and multiple runs in three, including his last two. The good news is that he has converted six of seven save opportunities. However, he has posted a 2.18 WHIP with 11 strikeouts against eight walks (5.6 K-BB%) with a 4.64 SIERA through 11 innings. As his rolling game chart displays, his declining strikeout rate accompanies increased contact, especially hard contact:
Of his 35 batted ball events in June, 18 are labeled hard hits by Statcast (exit velocity of 95 miles per hour or better), a 54.1 percent rate. More traffic combined with better contact may be a recipe for disaster if these trends persist. Following last night’s loss, his manager did not seem concerned, as covered by Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle in this post:
He’s not on the proverbial “hot seat” yet, but savvy fantasy managers should be stashing Randy Rodríguez in case these recent trends persist. For now:
Hierarchy Remains: Camilo Doval | Randy Rodríguez | Tyler Rogers
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Wednesday.
Closer CliffsNotes
Chicago White Sox – In order of appearance, Tyler Alexander worked a scoreless sixth, despite allowing a hit and a walk for his second hold.
Grant Taylor took over against the Diamondbacks’ 9-1-2 lineup pocket and retired the side at the top of the seventh. He returned for the eighth, letting Pavin Smith reach on his fielding error, and a one-out single scored him ahead of an inning-ending double play. Taylor secured his third hold, logging two innings while allowing a hit and an unearned run while striking out one. He threw 23 pitches (15 strikes – 65.2 Strike%) and induced two whiffs.
On one hand, he faced the toughest hitters in the batting order. This may be further immersion as a high-leverage reliever, but Will Venable keeps us guessing. Of the team’s eight saves, seven relievers have recorded at least one.
- Steven Wilson worked a scoreless ninth in a non-save capacity, allowing a hit and striking out one.
Updated Hierarchy: *Grant Taylor | *Brandon Eisert | *Steven Wilson
*= closer-by-committee
Cleveland Guardians – Tasked with the top of the tenth, Nic Enright navigated around a walk and stranded the “place” runner while recording a strikeout. He collected his first career win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning.
Emmanuel Clase worked a scoreless ninth, giving up Bo Bichette’s single with one out while recording a strikeout. He threw 12 pitches (83.3 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%). This extended his scoreless streak to six games, and he has been unscored upon in 12 of his last 13 since May 28.
- Jakob Junis worked into and then out of trouble, allowing a hit batter, a hit, and a walk while striking out two in a scoreless eighth.
- Tim Herrin retired the side and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Emmanuel Clase | Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis
Houston Astros – Matching a franchise record by recording his 21st save chance in as many chances opening the season, Josh Hader retired the side and produced a strikeout, finishing a combined shutout. He threw 16 pitches (50 Strike%) without a whiff.
During a voluminous June, he has a 4-1 record and converted seven saves while posting a 0.569 WHIP with 21 strikeouts against one walk (42.2 K-BB%) across 12.1 innings.
- Bryan King escaped trouble, allowing three hits and striking out one during a scoreless eighth, securing his 16th hold.
- Bennett Sousa retired the side and recorded one strikeout for his second hold.
- Steven Okert worked a clean sixth, striking out the side.
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Bryan King
Los Angeles Angels – Taking the baton from Yusei Kikuchi and logging two scoreless frames, Ryan Zeferjahn issued a walk and recorded two strikeouts, preserving a three-run lead for his second save. It must be sweeter for him having it come against his original organization that traded him ahead of last year’s deadline. He threw 31 pitches (21 strikes – 64.7 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (16.1 SwStr%).
Updated Hierarchy: Kenley Jansen | Reid Detmers | Ryan Zeferjahn
Miami Marlins – Putting the final touch on an extra-inning victory, Tyler Phillips induced two groundouts, gave up Heliot Ramos’ RBI single, scoring the “place” runner, and a game-ending pop-out, during an eventual three-run win at the bottom of the tenth.
Calvin Faucher suffered his fourth blown save in the ninth. His outing began with consecutive hit batters and a walk, loading the bases. After allowing a sacrifice fly, cutting the lead to one, Patrick Bailey tied the game with a single, though a second out was recorded on the throw home, retiring the trail runner, followed by an inning-ending strikeout. Faucher collected his third win courtesy of his team’s four-run top of the tenth. Traffic during high-leverage events usually does not end well. His illustrator:
- Josh Simpson tossed 1.2 clean frames.
- Ronny Henriquez stranded two runners at the bottom of the sixth, retiring all three batters faced between the sixth and seventh innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Calvin Faucher | Ronny Henriquez | Anthony Bender
Milwaukee Brewers – Shutting the door on his 18th save, Trevor Megill retired the side and recorded a strikeout while preserving a two-run win over the Pirates. He threw 10 pitches (80 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (20 swinging strike percentage).
He has converted six straight save chances and has converted eight of nine during June while posting a 1.18 WHIP with 13 strikeouts against three walks (26,3 K-BB%) through 9.1 innings.
- Abner Uribe recorded his MLB-leading 21st hold despite issuing a one-out walk and allowing Spencer Horwitz’s two-out RBI double while striking out one during the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Jared Koenig
Minnesota Twins – Nailing down his 11th save, Jhoan Durán retired the side and recorded a strikeout, completing a combined shutout against Seattle’s 3-4-5 lineup pocket. He threw nine pitches (55.6 Strike%) and induced one whiff (11.1 SwStr%).
It’s his first save since June 8, and he had allowed at least a run in three of his previous five appearances.
- Griffin Jax secured his 17th hold, firing a clean top of the eighth while striking out one.
- Louis Varland worked a scoreless seventh, walking and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Louis Varland
New York Mets – Summoned at the top of the ninth with two runners on and two outs, Edwin Díaz induced a game-ending groundout by Marcell Ozuna, preserving the four-run lead and securing his 16th save, only needing four pitches. He’s been scoreless in 19 of 20 games since April 26, earning two wins and converting 10 of 11 save chances with 28 strikeouts versus six walks (29.7 K-BB%). Creating the save chance,
- Jonathan Pintaro allowed two hits, two earned runs, and two walks while striking out one during two-thirds of the ninth.
- Ryne Stanek fired a clean eighth, striking out two.
- José Buttó tossed a scoreless seventh, giving up a hit and striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Edwin Díaz | Reed Garrett | Huascar Brazobán
San Diego Padres – With Robert Suarez serving the first game of his suspension, the Padres played match-ups in the late innings. Adrian Morejon notched his second save, retiring the side and recording a strikeout against Washington’s 9-1-2 lineup pocket, completing the combined shutout. He threw seven pitches (85.7 Strike%) and produced one whiff (14.3 SwStr%).
It’s his first save since March 29 and extended his scoreless streak to seven games.
- Jeremiah Estrada worked a clean eighth, striking out one, and secured his 16th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Suarez | Jason Adam | Jeremiah Estrada
Tampa Bay Rays – Working around Vinnie Pasquantino reaching on an error, Pete Fairbanks completed a combined shutout while recording his 14th save. He threw 16 pitches (62.5 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (18.8 SwStr%).
This marks his first save since June 13.
- Edwin Uceta notched his 13th hold, retiring all five batters faced, four via strikeout, in a dominant outing.
- Garrett Cleavinger stranded a runner in the sixth and retired one batter in the seventh, recording his 11th hold.
- Kevin Kelly allowed a hit and struck out one during two-thirds scoreless in the sixth for his third hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks |Edwin Uceta | Mason Montgomery
The Athletics – Locking down his 15th save, Mason Miller fired a clean bottom of the ninth, preserving the combined shutout, and recorded two strikeouts in Detroit. He threw 16 pitches (56.3 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (25 SwStr%).
Perhaps turning the corner, he has been scoreless in four of his last five, collecting a win and converting two of three save opportunities while posting a 0.566 WHIP with eight strikeouts versus one walk (35 Strike%) across 5.1 innings.
- Michael Kelly worked a scoreless eighth, giving up a hit and striking out one for his third hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Mason Miller | Michael Kelly | T.J. McFarland
Toronto Blue Jays – After his teammates did not score at the top of the tenth, Mason Fluharty took over, issuing Steven Kwan an intentional walk, followed by David Fry reaching on a bunt single, loading the bases, and allowing a walk-off RBI single by José Ramírez, resulting in his second loss.
Jeff Hoffman kept the game tied, tossing a scoreless bottom of the ninth, yielding Gabriel Arias’ two-out single and striking out one, throwing 18 pitches (77.7 Strike%) with two whiffs (11.1 SwStr%).
- Brendon Little logged two scoreless frames, allowing a walk.
- Nick Sandlin suffered his second blown save, giving up Lane Thomas’ game-tying solo home run at the bottom of the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Jeff Hoffman | Yariel Rodríguez | Chad Green
Quick Hits
- Boston Red Sox: Entering a tied game at the bottom of the fifth, Luis Guerrero gave up two hits, two earned runs, and two walks while striking out one during two-thirds of an inning, resulting in his first loss.
- Chicago Cubs: Back from Triple-A, Porter Hodge closed out a lopsided shutout, working a scoreless bottom of the ninth despite giving up a hit. He threw 13 pitches (11 strikes – 84.6 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
- Los Angeles Dodgers: Completing a seven-run win in Coors, Will Klein logged two scoreless frames, allowing two hits and striking out three. Michael Kopech worked a clean seventh and recorded a strikeout. Alex Vesia stranded two runners while striking out his only batter in the sixth, notching his 15th hold.
- Philadelphia Phillies: Entering at the bottom of the eighth with his team down one, Matt Strahm allowed a solo home run and recorded a strikeout. He has given up at least a run in four of his last six appearances. Jordan Romano tossed a scoreless seventh, walking and striking out one.
- Washington Nationals: Called upon during an eventual shutout loss with two outs and one on at the bottom of the eighth, Kyle Finnegan recorded an inning-ending strikeout against Jose Iglesias on four pitches, all strikes. Brad Lord logged 1.2 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out one.
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