Friday’s 16-game slate resulted in eight reliever wins, with one accompanied by a blown save (Jake Bird), and converted six saves while suffering six losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
| Reliever | Save # | Pitches | Strike% | SwStr% | K:BB | BF |
| Robert Suarez | 28 | 13 | 76.9 | 15.4 | 1:0 | 3 |
| Emmanuel Clase | 20 | 10 | 70 | 0 | 0:0 | 4 |
| Camilo Doval | 15 | 14 | 64.3 | 0 | 0:1 | 4 |
| Jhoan Durán | 15 | 16 | 68.8 | 25 | 2:0 | 4 |
| Raisel Iglesias | 10 | 14 | 57.1 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
| Victor Vodnik | 2 | 27 | 59.3 | 22.2 | 3:1 | 5 |
As a result of last night’s action, Atlanta’s and Colorado’s hierarchies have been adjusted, along with the Angels getting a slight tweak in its set-up relievers.
For the save streamers, a potentially busy day:
Vulture Save Options for July 12
- Daysbel Hernández (ATL): Iglesias has pitched in back-to-back games.
- Lucas Erceg (KC): Estévez has worked in three of the previous four days, throwing 43 pitches.
- Yariel Rodríguez (TOR): Hoffman tossed 33 pitches during a non-save appearance last night.
- Wandy Peralta (SD): All four leverage relievers (Suarez, Adam, Morejon, Estrada) have pitched in consecutive contests.
Vulture Save Stashes for July 13
- Cole Sands (MIN): If Durán and Jax pitch today, it’s back-to-back games.
- Randy Rodríguez (SF): If Doval gets used in today’s game, it will be consecutive appearances.
- Ryan Zeferjahn (LAA): If Jansen works today, it will be back-to-back outings.
Here are the leverage events of interest from Friday.
Closer CliffsNotes
Atlanta Braves – Shutting the door on his tenth save and first since June 24, Raisel Iglesias retired the Cardinals’ 2-3-4 hitters in order, including a game-ending strikeout against Willson Contreras, sealing a one-run win. He threw 14 pitches (57.1 Strike%) without a whiff.
This extended his scoreless streak to 13 games, during which he’s posted a 0.598 WHIP with 16 strikeouts against one walk (35.7 K-BB%).
- Pierce Johnson issued a walk during a scoreless eighth for his seventh hold.
- Rafael Montero allowed a hit during a scoreless seventh, securing his sixth hold.
- Austin Cox allowed a walk in a scoreless sixth, notching his first hold.
- Enyel De Los Santos collected his third win, logging two scoreless frames and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: *Raisel Iglesias | *Dylan Lee | *Daysbel Hernández
*= closer-by-committee
Chicago White Sox – (Game 1) – Taking over a tied game at the top of the fifth, Tyler Alexander suffered his ninth loss, allowing two hits, including Carlos Santana’s two-run home run at the top of the sixth, while logging 3.1 innings.
(Game 2) – Mike Vasil logged three scoreless frames and stranded both “place” runners in extra innings, issuing three walks and striking out two. He earned his fourth win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the 11th.
- Brandon Eisert retired the side and recorded a strikeout in the eighth.
- Grant Taylor took over in the seventh versus the Guardians’ 2-3-4 lineup pocket, allowing Nolan Jones’ lead-off single, retiring José Ramírez via pop-out, but gave up another single, and Angel Martínez’s RBI double while recording two strikeouts. He threw 24 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (12.5 SwStr%).
Hierarchy Remains: *Grant Taylor | *Jordan Leasure | Steven Wilson
*= highest-leveraged reliever (Taylor)
Cleveland Guardians – (Game 1) – Working around Chase Meidroth’s lead-off single, Emmanuel Clase retired the next three batters, preserving the two-run lead while converting his 20th save. He threw 10 pitches (70 Strike%) without a whiff.
He has whittled down his ratios after a rough patch in April and has been scoreless in nine of his last 11 appearances, securing five of six save chances with a 0.855 WHIP and eight strikeouts against two walks through 11.2 innings.
- Hunter Gaddis notched his 19th hold, walking and striking out one in a scoreless eighth.
- Cade Smith tossed a clean seventh, recording his 17th hold.
(Game 2) – Matt Festa stranded a runner and retired his only batter in the seventh for his seventh hold. Paul Sewald entered at the bottom of the eighth, issuing a lead-off walk, followed by a one-out single, and a sacrifice fly, scored an unearned, game-tying run, resulting in his second blown save.
- Nic Enright logged 1.1 clean frames and recorded three strikeouts.
- Kolby Allard suffered his first loss. He worked 1.1 innings, yielding a hit, an unearned run, and issuing two intentional walks across the tenth and 11th innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Emmanuel Clase | Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis
Colorado Rockies – It was a white-knuckle ride, but Victor Vodnik held on for his second save, preserving a one-run win in Cincinnati. His outing began with Santiago Espinal’s lead-off double, followed by full count strikeouts against TJ Friedl and Matt McClain, an intentional walk to Elly De La Cruz, and a game-ending strikeout of Austin Hays. Vodnik threw 27 pitches (59.3 Strike%) and produced six whiffs (22.2 SwStr%). His illustrator:
And his results:
He extended his scoreless streak to 11 games, during which he has posted a 1.456 WHIP with 11 strikeouts versus eight walks (6.8 K-BB%) over 10.1 innings.
- Juan Mejia notched his fifth hold, retiring the side and striking out one. He may be the sleeper worth tracking in this leverage ladder.
- Jake Bird allowed two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one in the seventh. He was tagged with his fourth blown save and was awarded his third win as a result.
Updated Hierarchy: *Victor Vodnik | *Seth Halvorsen | Juan Mejia
Los Angeles Angels – With the score tied at the top of the ninth, Kenley Jansen worked around Ketel Marte’s lead-off single by inducing Geraldo Perdomo’s flyout and an inning-ending double play groundout by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Jansen collected his third win courtesy of a walk-off rally at the bottom of the frame. He threw 10 pitches (80 Strike%) without a whiff.
This extended his scoreless streak to all six games in July, during which he has recorded two wins, one save, and a 0.50 WHIP with nine strikeouts while issuing zero walks (45 K-BB%) across six innings.
- Reid Detmers suffered his second blown save, giving up two hits, including Randal Grichuk’s game-tying solo home run at the top of the eighth.
- José Fermin fired a clean seventh, striking out one, and secured his first hold.
- Brock Burke turned in a clean sixth for his tenth hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Kenley Jansen | Reid Detmers | José Fermin
Minnesota Twins – Locking down his 15th save, Jhoan Durán worked around a hit and recorded two strikeouts while preserving a one-run win over the Pirates. He threw 16 pitches (68.8 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (25 SwStr%).
This outing extended his scoreless streak to seven games, in which he has recorded a win, converted five saves, and a 0.857 WHIP with seven strikeouts against two walks (19.2 K-BB%).
- Griffin Jax fired a clean eighth, striking out one, and secured his 20th hold.
- Louis Varland allowed a hit during a scoreless seventh, notching his 16th hold.
- Brock Stewart stranded a runner while retiring his only batter for his 13th hold in the sixth.
- Danny Coulombe gave up a hit and struck out one during two-thirds of the sixth for his seventh hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Louis Varland
San Diego Padres – Nailing down his 28th save, Robert Suarez retired the side and recorded a strikeout against the Phillies’ 7-8-9 lineup pocket, preserving a two-run lead. He threw 13 pitches (76.9 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%).
He has converted all five save opportunities in July and has been scoreless in his last five appearances.
- Jason Adam escaped with a scoreless eighth, navigating around two hits and a walk for his 23rd hold.
- Adrian Morejon notched his 13th hold, retiring the side and striking out two in the seventh.
- Jeremiah Estrada was awarded his third win, working a clean seventh and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Suarez | Jason Adam | Jeremiah Estrada
San Francisco Giants – Facing the top of the Dodgers’ lineup with a one-run lead, Camilo Doval bent but did not break while recording his 15th save. He allowed Mookie Betts’ one-out single, a stolen base by pinch-runner Esteury Ruiz, and Freddie Freeman’s walk with a game-ending double play groundout induced against Will Smith. Doval threw 14 pitches (64.3 Strike%) without a whiff.
He has posted a save in his last two outings, but has not recorded a strikeout while issuing two walks, resulting in a 1.50 WHIP in them.
- Tyler Rogers gave up a hit during a scoreless eighth, securing his 20th hold.
- Randy Rodríguez logged 1.2 innings, giving up three hits and an earned run for his 13th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Camilo Doval | Randy Rodríguez | Tyler Rogers
Tampa Bay Rays – Summoned with a one-run lead at the bottom of the ninth in Boston, Pete Fairbanks issued a one-out walk, followed by Cedanne Rafaela’s walk-off two-run home run, resulting in his third loss and third blown save.
It’s the third time in his last ten appearances he has allowed multiple runs, during which he has a 1.30 WHIP with eight strikeouts versus three walks.
- Garrett Cleavinger retired both batters via strikeout at the bottom of the eighth for his 13th hold.
- Kevin Kelly allowed a hit during 1.1 scoreless frames, securing his fifth hold.
- Joe Boyle worked as the “bulk follower,” giving up three hits, two earned runs, and two walks while striking out one across four innings.
Updated Hierarchy: Pete Fairbanks | Bryan Baker | Garrett Cleavinger
Toronto Blue Jays – Entering with a four-run lead, Jeff Hoffman made things interesting against the A’s. He allowed Max Muncy’s solo home run after recording an out, issued a walk, followed by Denzel Clarke’s single. With two outs, he uncorked a wild pitch, scoring a run and advancing Clarke to second, cashed in by Brent Rooker’s RBI single ahead of a game-ending strikeout against Nick Kurtz. Hoffman finished with three hits, three earned runs, and a walk while striking out two in a non-save appearance.
- Yariel Rodríguez retired both batters via strikeout at the bottom of the eighth.
- Brendon Little stranded two runners in the seventh while logging a clean combined inning, striking out all three batters faced for his 17th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Jeff Hoffman | Yariel Rodríguez | Chad Green
Quick Hits
- Arizona Diamondbacks: With the score tied at the bottom of the ninth, Kyle Backhus retired his batter, hit Logan O’Hoppe with a pitch, then allowed consecutive singles, including Travis d’Arnaud’s walk-off RBI one, resulting in his first loss.
- Boston Red Sox: An impromptu bullpen game following an injury at the top of the second culminated in a walk-off rally, handing Chris Murphy his second win. He worked a clean top of the ninth and recorded a strikeout against the Rays’ 1-2-3 lineup pocket. Jordan Hicks retired the side while striking out one in the eighth, throwing 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) with one whiff.
- Cincinnati Reds: With the score tied, Scott Barlow fired a clean top of the seventh, striking out the side. Tony Santillan suffered his third loss, giving up two hits, an earned run on a wild pitch, and a walk while striking out three at the top of the eighth.
- Kansas City Royals: After stranding a runner at the top of the seventh, retiring two batters, Steven Cruz did not record an out in the eighth, yielding a single and two walks before being removed. Carlos Estévez took over, but let all three inherited runners score on Mark Vientos’ bases-clearing double, resulting in his fourth blown save. He allowed a hit and an intentional walk while striking out two. Cruz suffered his first loss, getting tagged with three earned runs on his ledger.
- Milwaukee Brewers: As the “bulk follower,” Quinn Priester recorded his seventh win, allowing four hits, two earned runs, and two walks while striking out five over six innings of relief.
- New York Mets: Despite allowing four hits and two earned runs at the bottom of the seventh, Huascar Brazobán was awarded his fifth win. Reed Garrett retired the side and recorded a strikeout in the eighth, securing his 15th hold. Chris Devenski worked a clean ninth, finishing a five-run win over the Royals.
- Texas Rangers: Making his first appearance since July 5, Robert Garcia retired the side and recorded a strikeout, closing a four-run win over Houston. He threw 13 pitches (69.2 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (30.8 SwStr%).
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