Things seemed tranquil on Monday until Arizona announced Shelby Miller was being placed on the 15-day injured list with forearm tightness. In the postgame comments, Torey Lovullo shared that the reliever will undergo imaging:
Although fantasy managers prefer clarity, it appears the team will deploy a match-up-based approach:
As for Monday’s 10-game slate, relievers recorded three wins and converted four saves while suffering two losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
| Reliever | Save # | Pitches | Strike% | SwStr% | K:BB | BF |
| Emmanuel Clase | 19 | 14 | 69.2 | 7.1 | 0:0 | 3 |
| Camilo Doval | 14 | 23 | 60.8 | 0 | 0:1 | 3 |
| Anthony Bender | 2 | 3 | 100 | 66.7 | 1:0 | 1 |
| Kevin Ginkel | 2 | 11 | 45.5 | 9.1 | 0:1 | 3 |
For the save streamers:
Vulture Options for July 8
- Randy Rodríguez (SF): Doval has pitched in back-to-back games, throwing 42 pitches and Rogers has appeared in three-straight.
- Cade Smith (CLE): Clase and Gaddis have pitched in consecutive contests.
Vulture Stashes for July 9
- Ryan Zeferahn (LAA): If Jansen pitches tonight, it’s back-to-back games and four in five days.
- Anthony DeSclafani (ARI): If Ginkel pitches on Tuesday, he will have worked in consecutive games.
Adjusted Hierarchy: Arizona Diamondbacks
In the first game without Shelby Miller, Kevin Ginkel navigated around Fernando Tatis Jr.’s lead-off walk, benefiting from a terrific catch by Alek Thomas, followed by a game-ending double play groundout by Manny Machado for his second save, first since May 8. He threw 11 pitches (45.5 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
He has been scoreless in four of his last five appearances and will be part of a potential committee for saves. Juan Morillo stranded an inherited runner despite issuing two walks and striking out one during two-thirds of the eighth, getting his fifth hold after arriving at the ballpark just before the seventh inning. Kyle Backhus allowed two hits, including Machado’s solo home run, two runs (one earned), and a walk during 1.1 innings for his fifth hold.
Monday’s structure will be our hierarchical template, but could other relievers be in the mix for saves? First, Fangraphs’ win probability added chart from the last 30 days for Arizona:
Seeing the top three, it makes sense that they were deployed in Monday’s win. Jalen Beeks has closed games in his career, and there could be a dark horse if Anthony DeSclafani transitions into a one-inning reliever. For the visual crowd, the relievers’ results over the last 30 days:
Link: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/OVy8H/1/
Usage patterns will be monitored closely. Ginkel may emerge as the preferred save option, but performance and health will determine if this transpires. For now:
Adjusted Hierarchy: *Kevin Ginkel | *Juan Morillo | *Kyle Backhus
*= closer-by-committee
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Monday.
Closer CliffsNotes
Cleveland Guardians – Ensuring his team snapped its ten-game losing streak, Emmanuel Clase retired the side while recording his 19th save, preserving a two-run lead in Houston. He threw 14 pitches (9 strikes – 64.3 Strike%) and induced one whiff while facing the 5-6-7 lineup pocket.
This marked his first save since June 22.
- Hunter Gaddis worked a clean eighth for his 18th hold.
- Paul Sewald tossed a clean seventh, striking out one for his fourth hold.
- Matt Festa allowed Victor Caratini’s solo home run and issued a walk during his 1.1 innings. He was awarded his second win after taking over in the bottom of the fifth.
Hierarchy Remains: Emmanuel Clase | Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis
Los Angeles Angels – Keeping the game tied at the top of the ninth, working around a batter reaching on an error by inducing a double play groundout and a strikeout, Kenley Jansen collected his second win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the frame. He threw seven pitches (85.7 Strike%) without a whiff.
He remains scoreless through four appearances this month, posting a 0.25 WHIP.
- Brock Burke stranded a runner and retired his only batter at the top of the eighth.
- Sam Bachman allowed Jake Burger to reach on a wild pitch during a strikeout, followed by Josh Smith’s game-tying double, resulting in his first blown save.
- Reid Detmers gave up a hit during a scoreless seventh for his seventh hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Reid Detmers | Ryan Zeferjahn
Miami Marlins – Entering with runners on the corners and two outs leading by four, Anthony Bender secured his second save, striking out Austin Hays on three pitches, all strikes. It’s his first save since April 1, and he extended his scoreless streak to eight games.
- Lake Bachar logged 2.2 scoreless frames, scattering two hits and striking out three.
Hierarchy Remains: *Ronny Henriquez | Calvin Faucher | Anthony Bender
*= highest-leverage reliever and the preferred save share
Philadelphia Phillies – Taking over a tied game at the bottom of the eighth, Orion Kerkering had some command issues. He hit Willy Adames leading off the inning, allowed Matt Chapman’s single, then hit Wilmer Flores to load the bases. The go-ahead run scored on a fielder’s choice groundout, as did the second run of the inning, prompting his removal. Kerkering suffered his fourth loss, giving up a hit and two earned runs over two-thirds of an inning while throwing 25 pitches (52 Strike%), inducing one whiff. His illustrator:
And his results:
This marks six consecutive games he has entered during the eighth inning and the second time in his last five he has incurred a loss, posting a 1.628 WHIP across 4.1 innings.
- Max Lazar stranded both inherited runners while retiring both batters in the eighth, one via strikeout.
Hierarchy Remains: *Matt Strahm | *Orion Kerkering | Jordan Romano
*= “floating closer” concept
San Francisco Giants – Capping his team’s go-ahead rally at the bottom of the eighth, Camilo Doval secured his 14th save despite issuing a lead-off walk at the top of the ninth, inducing a lineout, followed by a game-ending double play groundout by Bryson Stott. Doval threw 23 pitches (14 strikes – 60.8 Strike%) without a whiff. His illustrator:
And his results:
It’s his first save since June 27 and his second consecutive outing without a whiff.
- Tyler Rogers collected his fourth win, giving up a hit during a scoreless top of the eighth.
- Joey Lucchesi tossed a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and striking out one.
- Ryan Walker worked a clean sixth, striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Camilo Doval | Randy Rodríguez | Tyler Rogers
Texas Rangers – Called upon with the bases loaded and one out at the bottom of the ninth, Hoby Milner issued a walk-off walk to Nolan Schanuel. Chris Martin suffered his fifth loss. He worked a scoreless bottom of the eighth, but allowed a lead-off double by Luis Rengifo in the ninth, recorded a strikeout, a second single by Kevin Newman, and intentionally walked Zach Neto before being removed. He finished with two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one during 1.1 innings.
- Jacob Webb fired a clean seventh, striking out two.
- Shawn Armstrong gave up three hits and two earned runs, getting tagged with his third blown save in the sixth.
There was no explanation about not using Robert Garcia other than Martin saying he felt great while making his first multi-inning outing since April 30. Texas has now lost three of its first four games on a pivotal road trip.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Garcia | Chris Martin | Shawn Armstrong
Quick Hits
- Detroit Tigers: Preserving a four-run lead, Will Vest worked around a two-out walk with a flyout against the Rays’ 2-3-4-5 hitters. He threw 19 pitches (12 strikes – 63.2 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (21.1 SwStr%) while recording one strikeout. This extended his scoreless streak to six games, during which he has converted both saves with a 0.833 WHIP and eight strikeouts against three walks (21.8 K-BB%) across six innings.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Summoned with two outs at the bottom of the eighth, David Bednar retired Tyler Tolbert, his only batter faced, via strikeout on four pitches, all strikes, and produced two whiffs (50 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in his last six appearances but last recorded a save on July 1.
- Toronto Blue Jays: Closing a four-run win against the White Sox, Chad Green navigated around two hits for a scoreless bottom of the ninth. Nick Sandlin stranded two runners and retired both batters in the eighth, one via strikeout for his fifth hold.
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