Thursday’s slate was reduced by one following a postponement in Chicago, which results in a doubleheader this afternoon. In yesterday’s 10-game slate, relievers recorded five wins and three saves while suffering five losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
| Reliever | Save # | Pitches | Strike% | SwStr% | K:BB | BF |
| Robert Suarez | 27 | 13 | 69.2 | 15.4 | 1:0 | 3 |
| Félix Bautista | 18 | 17 | 70.6 | 5.9 | 0:0 | 3 |
| Aroldis Chapman | 16 | 15 | 66.7 | 26.7 | 2:0 | 4 |
Another light schedule for the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for July 11
- Luke Weaver (NYY): Williams has pitched in back-to-back games.
- Matt Brash (SEA): Muñoz threw 31pitches last night.
Doubleheader Recommendations
- Cleveland Guardians: Paul Sewald
- Chicago White Sox: Jordan Leasure
Vulture Save Stash for July 12
- Jordan Hicks (BOS): If Chapman pitches tonight, it will be consecutive appearances.
Here are the leverage events of interest from Thursday.
Closer CliffsNotes
Atlanta Braves – Taking over at the bottom of the 11th, Aaron Bummer recorded a strikeout, intentionally walked Miguel Andujar, followed by Tyler Soderstrom’s walk-off RBI single, resulting in his second loss.
- Pierce Johnson retired the side while striking out one at the bottom of the tenth.
- Raisel Iglesias fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded one strikeout, keeping the game tied. He threw nine pitches (77.8 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (44.4 SwStr%). It flies below the radar, but he has been scoreless over his last 12 appearances, posting a 0.654 WHIP with 15 strikeouts against one walk (35.9 K-BB%).
- Daysbel Hernández worked a clean eighth, striking out one.
- Dylan Lee suffered his fourth blown save, giving up Nick Kurtz’s game-tying solo home run among his two hits, and recorded a strikeout between the seventh and eighth innings.
Updated Hierarchy: *Raisel Iglesias | *Dylan Lee | *Daysbel Hernández
Baltimore Orioles – (Game 1) – Félix Bautista locked down his 18th save, retiring the side against the Mets’ 7-8-9 lineup pocket on 17 pitches (70.5 Strike%) with one whiff.
He extended his scoreless streak to five games, and he has converted his last 11 save chances since May 26, posting a 0.778 WHIP with 31 strikeouts against nine walks (32.4 K-BB%) across 18 innings.
- Grant Wolfram logged two scoreless innings, giving up a hit and striking out four. He earned his first win courtesy of a go-ahead home run at the bottom of the eighth.
(Game 2) – Preserving a four-run lead at the top of the ninth, Seranthony Domínguez navigated around a hit and a walk while striking out two.
- Gregory Soto fired a clean eighth, striking out one.
- Andrew Kittredge retired the side and recorded one strikeout in the seventh. Tidy auditions for contending teams searching for relievers.
Updated Hierarchy: Félix Bautista | Seranthony Domínguez | Gregory Soto
Boston Red Sox – Capping his team’s comeback rally, Aroldis Chapman secured his 16th save, working around Jake Mangum’s one-out single with consecutive strikeouts, preserving the one-run margin. He threw 15 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (26.7 SwStr%).
He extended his scoreless streak to ten games, during which he has converted all five save chances while posting a 0.43 WHIP with 18 strikeouts against one walk (51.5 K-BB%) through 9.2 innings.
- Garrett Whitlock notched his tenth hold, retiring the side and striking out two during the eighth.
- Chris Murphy collected his first win, giving up a hit during a scoreless seventh, ahead of his team’s three-run rally at the bottom of the frame.
The team also faces a decision about what role Tanner Houck will fill when his minor league rehab assignment ends on July 17. He has been improving during his starts, but he also was a high-leverage reliever in 2022, converting eight of nine save chances with a 0.882 WHIP across 11.1 innings in save situations. Fantasy managers should monitor this closely, especially if the team sells high on Chapman. Here are quotes by Craig Breslow regarding his dominant closer.
Updated Hierarchy: Aroldis Chapman | Jordan Hicks | Garrett Whitlock
New York Yankees – Tasked with the top of the tenth, Devin Williams retired the side, stranding the “place” runner and recorded a strikeout. He collected his third win when his team produced a walk-off rally at the bottom of the frame. He threw seven pitches, all strikes, and induced one whiff (14.3 SwStr%).
He has been scoreless in 11 of his last 12 appearances, going 1-1 while converting all seven save chances with a 0.513 WHIP while recording 15 strikeouts versus two walks (30.2 K-BB%) over 11.2 innings.
- Ian Hamilton tossed a clean top of the ninth, striking out two.
- JT Brubaker allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless eighth.
Updated Hierarchy: Devin Williams | Luke Weaver | Tim Hill
San Diego Padres – Shutting the door on his MLB-leading 27th save, Robert Suarez retired the side and recorded a strikeout against Arizona’s 2-3-4 lineup pocket, preserving a one-run lead. He threw 13 pitches (69.2 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%).
He has allowed one baserunner over his last four appearances, during which he has converted three consecutive saves with five strikeouts (38.5 K-BB%).
- Jeremiah Estrada secured his 19th hold, yielding a hit and striking out one in a scoreless eighth.
- Jason Adam gave up two hits, an earned run, and a walk in the seventh, getting credit for his 22nd hold.
- Adrian Morejon logged 1.2 scoreless frames, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out two. He was awarded his seventh win after taking over at the top of the fifth and stranding two runners.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Suarez | Jason Adam | Jeremiah Estrada
Seattle Mariners – Called upon at the bottom of the tenth with the game tied, Gabe Speier intentionally walked Paul Goldschmidt, walked Trent Grisham, and suffered his first loss on Aaron Judge’s walk-off sacrifice fly, scoring the “place” runner.
For only the second time in 36 appearances this season, Andrés Muñoz allowed multiple hits, allowing Grisham’s lead-off single, retiring Judge via flyout, followed by Cody Bellinger’s single, putting two on with one out. After retiring Jazz Chisolm Jr. on a flyout, Muñoz walked Ben Rice, loading the bases, and suffered his sixth blown save, giving up Austin Wells’ game-tying two-RBI single. He finished with three hits, two earned runs, and a walk. Muñoz labored through 31 pitches, and struggled commanding his four-seam fastball:
With the following results:
- Matt Brash let his only inherited runner score, giving up Giancarlo Stanton’s pinch-hit two-run home run during his two-thirds of the eighth.
Updated Hierarchy: Andrés Muñoz | Matt Brash | Gabe Speier
The Athletics – Keeping the “place” runner at bay with two clean frames, Justin Sterner earned his second win courtesy of a walk-off at the bottom of the 11th against Atlanta. He threw 26 pitches (69.2 Strike%) and produced six whiffs (23.1 SwStr%).
Mason Miller fired a clean top of the ninth, striking out one on 13 pitches (61.5 Strike%) with three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%). He has not recorded a save since July 1, but extended his scoreless streak to six games, during which he has a 0.50 WHIP and eight strikeouts against one walk (30 K-BB%).
- Michael Kelly stranded a runner while retiring his only batter at the bottom of the eighth.
- Sean Newcomb worked a scoreless combined inning, walking and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Michael Kelly | Sean Newcomb
Quick Hits
- Chicago Cubs: Finishing a seven-run win over the Twins, Daniel Palencia fired a clean bottom of the ninth, recording two strikeouts while throwing 12 pitches (75 Strike%) with six whiffs (50 SwStr%). He had not pitched since June 6 and has been scoreless in three of four outings in July, but he last recorded a save on July 2. Brad Keller worked around a hit and a walk while striking out two during a scoreless bottom of the eighth.
- Miami Marlins: Appearing during a shutout loss, Ronny Henriquez stranded a runner while retiring all three batters via strikeout during the bottom of the sixth, facing the Reds’ 5-6-7 hitters. He threw 16 pitches (68.8 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (25 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in 11 of his last 12 since June 14, recording two wins, four saves, and two holds while posting a 0.769 WHIP with 19 strikeouts versus two walks (40.4 K-BB%) across 11.2 innings.
- New York Mets: (Game 1) – Entering a tied game at the bottom of the eighth, Ryne Stanek issued four walks and gave up one hit, a go-ahead two-run home run by Gunnar Henderson, resulting in his fifth loss and a fourth blown save. (Game 2) – Appearing as the “bulk follower,” Justin Hagenman suffered his first loss. He allowed four hits, three runs (two earned), and a walk while striking out three during his two innings of relief.
- St. Louis Cardinals: In order of appearance, Steven Matz notched his sixth hold, logging 1.1 clean frames and stranding his only inherited runner at the top of the sixth. Kyle Leahy allowed two hits, an earned run, and two walks while striking out one during the eighth and ninth innings.
- Tampa Bay Rays: A less-than-auspicious team debut for Bryan Baker. He took over with a two-run lead at the bottom of the seventh and issued Trevor Story a lead-off walk, a leverage mortal sin. His command struggles continued, walking Romy Gonzalez, followed by a Marcelo Mayer RBI-double, and Cedanne Rafaela’s two-RBI single, resulting in Baker’s second loss and a fourth blown save. He finished with two hits, three earned runs, and two walks while striking out one.
- Texas Rangers: During an extended relief outing, Jacob Latz notched his second hold, giving up two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out six across 3.1 innings.
- Washington Nationals: Pitching during an eventual seven-run loss, Kyle Finnegan retired the side and recorded a strikeout at the bottom of the eighth. He threw 10 pitches (70 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (20 SwStr%). The good news is that he extended his scoreless streak to eight games, spanning 7.1 innings. However, he has not recorded a save since June 6.
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