Tuesday’s full slate featured a walk-off inside-the-park home run and seven games decided by five or more runs (blowout). Still, relievers recorded six wins and five saves while suffering five losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
| Reliever | Save # | Pitches | Strike% | SwStr% | K:BB | BF |
| Robert Suarez | 26 | 20 | 55 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
| Trevor Megill | 21 | 14 | 71% | 21.4 | 2:0 | 3 |
| Ryan Helsley | 18 | 20 | 55 | 10 | 0:0 | 5 |
| Will Vest | 15 | 13 | 76.9 | 15.4 | 3:0 | 4 |
| Huascar Brazobán | 2 | 11 | 72.7 | 18.2 | 1:0 | 3 |
There are some intriguing vulture save options, but only for the American League today:
Vulture Save Options for July 9
- Bryan Abreu (HOU): Hader logged 1.2 innings, throwing 32 pitches last night.
- Tommy Kahnle (DET): Vest has pitched in consecutive contests.
- Paul Sewald (CLE): Clase and Gaddis have pitched in three straight, Smith in three of the past four.
- Louis Varland (MIN): Jax has appeared in three of the last four; Jhoan Durán was sent home sick on Tuesday.
Vulture Save Stashes for July 10
- Seranthony Domínguez (BAL): If Bautista pitches today, it would be back-to-back outings.
- Kyle Leahy (STL): If the Cardinals’ leverage triumvirate all appear again today, it will be consecutive outings for Helsley, Romero, and Maton.
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Under the Hood: Philadelphia’s “floating closer” concept lacks reliable options
Almost any publication regarding the upcoming trade deadline highlights the Phillies’ need for reliever depth. With Orion Kerkering unavailable on Tuesday after throwing 25 pitches on Monday, Jordan Romano tried to record four or more outs for the first time all season. He did not accomplish this feat. He stranded both runners on a pop-out and an inning-ending flyout. Returning for the ninth with a two-run lead, he allowed Casey Schmitt’s lead-off double and Wilmer Flores’ one-out single before a walk-off inside-the-park home run by Patrick Bailey, resulting in Romano’s fourth loss and a third blown save. He allowed three hits and three earned runs over 1.1 innings.
Using Baseball-Reference’s team relief pitching table, Philadelphia has accrued 43 save opportunities this season, tied for the second most in the majors. However, the team’s 17 blown saves following last night’s loss are tied for the third most. The relievers also rank 23rd in ERA (4.42) and 15th in SIERA (3.82) per Fangraphs.
Romano (16), Kerkering (24), and Matt Strahm (21) have recorded 61 of the team’s 95 high-leverage appearances, which may be putting a strain on the team since Rob Thomson truly trusts two relievers, not the one who suffered the blown save in the walk-off loss. This trade deadline will be a tough needle for Dave Dombrowski to thread. His team has a limited window but overpaid for relievers at last year’s deadline, and may be forced into a similar situation in three weeks. In a shortened series in the playoffs, the team can use a pitcher like Jesús Luzardo in the seventh inning, but targeting a reliable closer and shifting the “floating closer” into a “match-up-based” setup situation may be necessary for a team with championship aspirations.
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Tuesday.
Closer CliffsNotes
Baltimore Orioles – Tasked with the top of the tenth, Yennier Cano allowed two hits, an unearned run, and a walk while striking out one, resulting in his fifth loss.
Félix Bautista tossed a scoreless ninth, walking one and striking out three, keeping the game tied. He threw 19 pitches (9 strikes – 47.4 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (15.8 SwStr%).
- Andrew Kittredge took over at the top of the eighth, retiring all three batters, one on a strikeout.
- Bryan Baker struggled, allowing four hits, including two home runs, and four earned runs without recording an out in the eighth.
- Seranthony Dominguez tossed a scoreless seventh, walking one and striking out for his 12th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Félix Bautista | Seranthony Domínguez | Bryan Baker
Cleveland Guardians – Preserving his team’s four-run rally during the top of the tenth, Emmanuel Clase retired the side while striking out one at the bottom of the inning, appearing in a third straight game. He threw 15 pitches (60 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (20 SwStr%).
- Jakob Junis earned his second win, yielding a hit and striking out during a scoreless bottom of the ninth.
- Hunter Gaddis allowed three hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out one at the bottom of the eighth.
- Cade Smith logged 1.1 scoreless frames, walking two and striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Emmanuel Clase | Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis
Detroit Tigers – Slamming the door on his 15th save, Will Vest allowed Chandler Simpson’s two-out single while recording all three outs via strikeout during a scoreless top of the ninth. He threw 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%).
This extended his scoreless streak to seven games, during which he has a 0.857 WHIP with 11 strikeouts against three walks (29.6 K-BB%) through seven innings.
- Tyler Holton retired the side at the top of the eighth, recording his tenth hold.
- Tommy Kahnle stranded a runner while recording two outs at the top of the seventh and was awarded his first win.
Hierarchy Remains: Will Vest | Tommy Kahnle | Tyler Holton
Houston Astros – Summoned at the top of the ninth during a tied contest, Josh Hader allowed a two-out single. He returned for the tenth, recording an out on a sacrifice bunt, intentionally walked José Ramírez, who promptly stole second, then issued another walk to load the bases. Hader retired the pinch-hitter via strikeout, and with two outs, gave up Angel Martínez’s go-ahead grand slam, putting four runs (three earned) on his ledger, resulting in his second loss. He threw 32 pitches (62.5 Strike%) and generated six whiffs (18.8 SwStr%). Here are his pitches from this extended outing:
And his results, noting the home run likely was a byproduct of fatigue:
This marked his fifth multi-inning outing this season and only the second time he has thrown more than 30 pitches.
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Bennett Sousa
Kansas City Royals – Despite allowing Ke’Bryan Hayes’ one-out double, Carlos Estévez worked a scoreless top of the ninth and collected his third win following a rally at the bottom of the inning. He threw 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) without a whiff.
He has been scoreless in three of four appearances in July.
- Lucas Erceg allowed a hit, an earned run, and two walks during his third blown save at the top of the eighth.
- Angel Zerpa retired the side, striking out two at the top of the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Carlos Estévez | Lucas Erceg | John Schreiber
Milwaukee Brewers – Locking down his 21st save, Trevor Megill fired a clean top of the ninth while striking out two, finishing a two-run win over the Dodgers. Facing the 3-4-5 lineup pocket, he threw 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%).
He has only permitted two baserunners through three saves in July while recording five strikeouts versus one walk.
- Abner Uribe secured his MLB-leading 26th hold, retiring the side and recording a strikeout in the eighth.
- Jared Koenig tossed a clean seventh, notching his 16th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Jared Koenig
Minnesota Twins – In order of appearance, Danny Coulombe allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one at the top of the sixth, getting credit for his fifth hold.
- Brock Stewart stranded both inherited runners, retiring his only batter via strikeout and securing his 11th hold.
- Cole Sands tossed a clean seventh for his eighth hold.
- Griffin Jax navigated around a hit and a walk while striking out two for a scoreless eighth, notching his 19th hold.
- Joey Wentz finished the game but could not complete the combined shutout, allowing Justin Turner’s solo home run during the seven-run win.
With Jhoan Durán sent home because of sickness, it appears Louis Varland would have been in line for the save chance before his teammates scored six runs at the bottom of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Louis Varland
New York Mets – After his teammates scored the “place” runner at the top of the tenth, Huascar Brazobán retired the side while striking out one at the bottom of the inning for his second save. He threw 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%).
Edwin Diaz fired a clean ninth, striking out one on 10 pitches (50 Strike%) with three whiffs, and collected his fourth win.
This extends his scoreless streak to 11 games, during which he has converted all five save chances with a 0.686 WHIP and 15 strikeouts against one walk (36.9 K-BB%) through 10.2 innings.
- Reed Garrett worked around a hit and a walk for a scoreless eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Edwin Díaz | Ryne Stanek | Reed Garrett
San Diego Padres – Completing a combined shutout, Robert Suarez nailed down his MLB-leading 26th save, retiring the side and striking out one. He threw 20 pitches (55 Strike%) without a whiff.
Suarez has been scoreless over his last three appearances and has converted all three save opportunities across four outings in July.
- Jason Adam allowed a hit during a scoreless eighth, securing his 21st hold.
- Adrian Morejon stranded two runners despite issuing a walk and recorded a strikeout at the top of the seventh. He was awarded his sixth win as a result.
- Jeremiah Estrada stranded a runner during the sixth and issued a walk while striking out three during his combined inning of relief.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Suarez | Jason Adam | Jeremiah Estrada
St. Louis Cardinals – Sealing a two-run lead, Ryan Helsley navigated around Josh Bell’s lead-off walk and Riley Adams’ two-out single with a game-ending fielder’s choice groundout for his 18th save. He threw 20 pitches (55 Strike%) and induced two whiffs.
This extended his scoreless streak to six, and he has converted all five saves with a 0.667 WHIP during it.
- JoJo Romero recorded his 13th hold, giving up a hit and striking out two in a scoreless eighth.
- Phil Maton retired the side in the seventh, securing his 18th hold.
- Steven Matz escaped with a scoreless sixth, allowing a hit and a walk for his fifth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Helsley | Phil Maton | JoJo Romero
Quick Hits
- Chicago Cubs: Rough outing alert for Porter Hodge. He gave up five hits, including three home runs, six earned runs, and a walk, while striking out one during one-third of the bottom of the eighth.
- Los Angeles Dodgers: Appearing during an eventual loss, Kirby Yates allowed two hits, including Sal Frelick’s solo home run, and issued a walk while striking out two at the bottom of the eighth. Alex Vesia retired the side and recorded a strikeout at the bottom of the seventh.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Entering a tied game at the bottom of the eighth, Dennis Santana retired the side, one via strikeout. Returning for the ninth, he allowed consecutive singles leading off the inning and was removed after retiring Jac Caglinone on a flyout. Isaac Mattson replaced him and gave up a walk-off RBI single by Nick Loftin, handing Santana his second loss.
- San Francisco Giants: Benefiting from a walk-off rally, Ryan Walker collected his second win, throwing an efficient one pitch and inducing an inning-ending groundout by Alec Bohm, stranding two runners at the top of the ninth.
- Tampa Bay Rays: Taking over a tied game at the bottom of the seventh, Edwin Uceta allowed a walk and a go-ahead two-run home run by Colt Keith, resulting in his second loss. He has given up at least a run in three of four outings in July and five of his last eight since June 19.
- Washington Nationals: Making his second appearance of the year, Mason Thompson allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout at the top of the ninth, throwing 16 pitches (75 Strike%) with two whiffs (12.5 SwStr%). Andrew Chafin retired the side in the eighth.
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