A crazy day ended with an extra-inning contest in Seattle’s walk-off win over the Astros. Relievers finished with six wins, though one was accompanied by a blown save (Ronny Henriquez), and six saves while getting tagged with six losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
| Reliever | Save # | Pitches | Strike% | SwStr% | K:BB | BF |
| Jeff Hoffman | 23 | 11 | 81.8 | 9.1 | 1:0 | 3 |
| Trevor Megill | 23 | 11 | 54.5 | 18.2 | 0:0 | 3 |
| Emilio Pagán | 21 | 26 | 57.7 | 7.7 | 1:1 | 5 |
| Kyle Finnegan | 19 | 10 | 80 | 20 | 2:0 | 3 |
| Pete Fairbanks | 16 | 27 | 66.7 | 14.8 | 1:0 | 5 |
| Anthony Bender | 3 | 9 | 66.7 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for July 21
- Yariel Rodríguez (TOR): Hoffman has appeared in consecutive contests.
- Bryan Abreu (HOU): Hader logged two innings and threw 35 pitches last night.
- Abner Uribe (MIL): Megill has worked in both games since the All-Star break.
- Calvin Faucher (MIA): Henriquez and Bender have pitched in back-to-back games.
Here are the leverage events of interest from Saturday.
Closer ClliffsNotes
Atlanta Braves – Losing his 15-game scoreless streak, and a tough contest against the Yankees, Raisel Iglesias struggled after taking over a tied game at the top of the ninth. He allowed a lead-off double by Paul Goldschmidt, retired Cody Bellinger, intentionally walked Aaron Judge, but after walking Giancarlo Stanton to load the bases, Iglesias gave up Trent Grisham’s go-ahead grand slam, resulting in his sixth loss. As his illustrator will show, he left too many pitches over the heart of the strike zone:
With the following results:
Of his eight home runs this year, six have been against his slider. During his 15-game scoreless streak, he only used this pitch 12.4 percent of 170 pitches, but this hanger cost his team and hurt his trade stock:
- Dylan Lee served up Anthony Volpe’s game-tying solo shot in the eighth, getting tagged with his fifth blown save. He has allowed at least a run in three of his last four outings.
- Pierce Johnson gave up Bellinger’s solo home run in the seventh and recorded a strikeout for his eighth hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Raisel Iglesias | Dylan Lee | Pierce Johnson
Cincinnati Reds – Navigating around traffic, Emilio Pagán recorded his 21st save, finishing a three-run win over the Mets. His outing began with Luis Torrens’ lead-off single, followed by Brandon Nimmo’s walk. Pagán bore down, inducing a fielder’s choice groundout against Francisco Lindor, striking out Juan Soto, and getting a game-ending flyout by Pete Alonso. He threw 26 pitches (57.7 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (7.7 SwStr%).
- Graham Ashcraft notched his 11th hold with a clean bottom of the eighth.
- Tony Santillan struck out the side in the seventh, securing his 20th hold.
- Scott Barlow stranded two runners while retiring two batters, walking and striking out one in the sixth for his 11th hold.
- Taylor Rogers issued two walks and recorded a strikeout in one-third of the sixth, getting credited with his ninth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Tony Santillan | Graham Ashcraft
Houston Astros – Called upon at the bottom of the 11th during a tied game, Héctor Neris gave up a sacrifice bunt, followed by an RBI walk-off single by Cole Young, handing him his second loss.
Josh Hader logged two innings, giving up an unearned run and two walks while striking out one on 35 pitches (71.4 Strike%) with seven whiffs (20 SwStr%). This marked his third appearance of two innings this season, and he has recorded four or more outs in three of his last four appearances since July 5.
- Bryan Abreu suffered his fourth blown save, allowing a hit and an earned run while striking out two. The game-tying run scored on a wild pitch.
- Bryan King tossed a clean eighth, securing his 20th hold.
- Bennett Sousa notched his fifth hold, walking and striking out one during a scoreless sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Bennett Sousa
Miami Marlins – Capping his team’s two-run rally at the bottom of the eighth, Anthony Bender retired the side and recorded a strikeout against the Royals’ 2-3-4 lineup pocket for his third save. He threw nine pitches (66.7 Strike%) without a whiff.
This outing extended his scoreless streak to 11 games, during which he has a win, two saves, and five holds while posting a 0.619 WHIP with 10 strikeouts versus four walks (15 K-BB%) across 11.1 innings.
- Ronny Henriquez suffered his third blown save, giving up a game-tying solo home run by Salvador Perez and issuing two walks while striking out one at the top of the eighth. He also collected his sixth win, courtesy of his teammates at the bottom of the inning.
- Tyler Phillips issued a walk during a scoreless seventh, securing his third hold.
Updated Hierarchy: *Ronny Henriquez | *Anthony Bender | *Calvin Faucher
*= highest-leverage reliever in a closer-by-committee
Milwaukee Brewers – Sealing a one-run win while nailing down his 23rd save, Trevor Megill retired the Dodgers’ 2-3-4 lineup pocket in order on 11 pitches (54.5 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%).
He extended his scoreless streak to six games in July, during which he has a win and converted all five save chances, posting a 0.33 WHIP with eight strikeouts versus one walk (35 K-BB%) through six innings.
- Jared Koenig allowed two solo home runs and recorded a strikeout, getting credit for his 19th hold.
- Nick Mears retired both batters via strikeout at the bottom of the seventh for his 12th hold.
- Aaron Ashby logged 1.1 innings, giving up three hits and an earned run while striking out two for his first hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Jared Koenig
New York Yankees – Handed a four-run lead, Devin Williams opened the bottom of the ninth with a lead-off walk to Sean Murphy, allowed a one-out double by Nacho Alvaraez Jr., and an RBI fielder’s choice groundout by Michael Harris II before a game-ending strikeout of Marcell Ozuna, snapping his four-game scoreless streak in a non-save appearance.
Luke Weaver collected his second win, logging 1.2 scoreless frames, giving up a walk and striking out two. He took over at the bottom of the seventh and stranded all three inherited runners with a strikeout and an inning-ending flyout.
Hierarchy Remains: Devin Williams | Luke Weaver | Tim Hill
Philadelphia Phillies – Finishing a four-run win over the Angels, Matt Strahm retired the side and recorded a strikeout at the top of the ninth. He threw 12 pitches (58.3 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in his last seven appearances, converting both save chances while posting a 0.857 WHIP with eight strikeouts versus four walks in seven innings.
- Tanner Banks notched his third hold, firing a clean eighth and striking out one.
- Orion Kerkering allowed two hits and an earned run while recording three strikeouts in the seventh for his 15th hold.
- Seth Johnson collected his first win despite giving up a solo home run (Yoan Moncada) and striking out two at the top of the sixth, ahead of his team’s five-run rally at the bottom of the frame.
Updated Hierarchy: *Matt Strahm | *Orion Kerkering | Tanner Banks
*= “floating closer” concept
Seattle Mariners – After retiring the side and stranding the “place” runner while recording two strikeouts at the top of the 11th, Eduard Bazardo collected his fourth win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning.
- Matt Brash allowed a lead-off single, followed by a sacrifice bunt, and a sacrifice fly scoring the “place” runner in the tenth, along with two walks (one intentional).
- Andrés Muñoz tossed a scoreless ninth, walking one and striking out two on 21 pitches (52.3 Strike%) with four whiffs (19 SwStr%).
- Trent Thornton worked a clean eighth, striking out one.
- Casey Legumina fired a clean seventh, striking out the side.
- Gabe Speier let both inherited runners score, giving up two hits and recording two outs, resulting in his fifth blown save during the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Matt Brash | Gabe Speier
Tampa Bay Rays – Staked with a two-run lead, Pete Fairbanks secured his 16th save, but it was a white-knuckle ride. He allowed Tyler O’Neill’s one-out double and Cedric Mullins’ two-out pinch-hit RBI single before a game-ending flyout by Jackson Holliday at the wall in center. Fairbanks threw 27 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and induced four whiffs (14.8 SwStr%) while allowing two hits and an earned run while striking out one. His pitch illustrator:
And his results:
He has allowed at least a run in consecutive appearances.
- Edwin Uceta collected his sixth win, logging two scoreless frames. He scattered two hits and recorded three strikeouts.
Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks | Bryan Baker | Garrett Cleavinger
Toronto Blue Jays – Securing his 23rd save, Jeff Hoffman worked around Heliot Ramos’ lead-off single with a strikeout of Rafael Devers, followed by a game-ending double play groundout, preserving a three-run win over the Giants. He threw 11 pitches (81.8 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
He has been scoreless in eight of his last nine appearances since June 25, converting all six saves while posting a 1.00 WHIP with 13 strikeouts versus one walk (34.2 K-BB%) across nine innings.
- Brendon Little notched his 19th hold, retiring the side and striking out one against the 7-8-9 lineup pocket.
- Chad Green gave up Willy Adames’ solo home run in the seventh but recorded his seventh hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Jeff Hoffman | Yariel Rodríguez | Chad Green
Washington Nationals – Putting yesterday’s rough outing behind him, Kyle Finnegan bounced back with a clean top of the ninth, preserving a two-run win over the Padres while recording his 19th save, and first since June 6. He threw 10 pitches (80 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (20 SwStr%) while recording two strikeouts.
- Jose A. Ferrer notched his 18th hold after taking over with a runner on and no outs at the top of the eighth. His first batter faced reached via a sacrifice bunt, putting runners on second and third following a throwing error. However, he struck out Manny Machado, cut down Fernando Tatis Jr. trying to score on a fielder’s choice grounder, and retired Xander Bogaerts on an inning-ending lineout.
- Luis García allowed a hit during a scoreless seventh and walked Tatis Jr. in the eighth before being removed, recording his third hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Kyle Finnegan | Luis García | Jose A. Ferrer
Quick Hits
- Baltimore Orioles: Summoned with a one-run lead at the bottom of the eighth, Seranthony Domínguez allowed Ha-Seong Kim’s lead-off single, followed by a stolen base and a lineout, which advanced him to third ahead of Chandler Simpson’s game-tying RBI single. With one out, he stole second, then Domínguez walked the next two hitters, then was replaced by Gregory Soto. He gave up Jonathan Aranda’s fielder’s choice groundout scoring two runs (one earned) before recording two outs. Domínguez was tagged with his third loss and a third blown save as a result.
- Chicago White Sox: Tyler Gilbert stranded a runner, walking and striking out one during two-thirds of the fifth. He was awarded his third win after his teammates scored six runs at the top of the sixth.
- Kansas City Royals: Entering a tied game at the bottom of the eighth, Lucas Erceg struggled out of the gate, issuing a lead-off walk to the ninth batter, giving up a double by Xavier Edwards, and loading the bases with an intentional walk (Jesús Sánchez). Things did not work out as Otto Lopez doubled in two runs. Erceg finished with two hits, two earned runs, and three walks (two intentional) while striking out one, resulting in his third loss.
- Los Angeles Angels: As the first reliever out of the bullpen, Sam Bachman suffered his third loss, while getting credit for his second hold, giving up a hit, three earned runs, a hit batter, and a walk while striking out one during one-third of the sixth. José Fermin was tagged with his first blown save, letting all three inherited runners score on Kyle Schwarber’s go-ahead grand slam.
- Los Angeles Dodgers: Appearing during a loss, Tanner Scott worked a scoreless top of the ninth. He issued a walk and recorded a strikeout, throwing 12 pitches (58.3 Strike%) with one whiff.
- New York Mets: Making his season debut, Brooks Raley fired a clean top of the seventh and recorded two strikeouts against the Reds’ top of the lineup. He threw 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Taking over with a two-run lead at the top of the sixth, Caleb Ferguson allowed four hits and four earned runs while recording one out, resulting in his second loss and a fourth blown save. Isaac Mattson could not stem the tide, letting all three inherited runners score on Mike Tauchman’s bases-emptying double.
- San Francisco Giants: In an eventual loss, Randy Rodríguez tossed a scoreless bottom of the seventh, allowing a hit and striking out one against Toronto’s 3-4-5-6 hitters. He has been scoreless in 12 of his last 13 since June 17.
- The Athletics: Closing out a six-run win, Justin Sterner issued a walk and recorded a strikeout during a scoreless bottom of the ninth in Cleveland. Jack Perkins logged three scoreless frames, walking one and striking out three for his first hold.
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