Before covering Sunday’s results, the Phillies have made their first move to strengthen their bullpen ahead of the trade deadline, but not on a trade:
Last year, David Robertson went 3-4 with two saves and 34 holds with Texas, posting a 3.00 ERA, a 2.69 SIERA, a 3.19 xERA, and a 1.11 WHIP with 99 strikeouts against 27 walks (24.3 K-BB%) across 72 innings. Here are his splits by pitch:
Link: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/BGnMb/1/
After throwing for teams, the Phillies addressed a clear need, but his role will be determined. As a point of reference, he has been better versus left-handed hitters not only last year, but in his career:
Link: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/AAh2C/1/
Any reliever offering swing-and-miss potential while being durable will prove valuable. However, his fantasy status will be determined by how the leverage ladder is structured after the trade deadline has passed. Those in leagues with SOLDS or holds as a separate category should be very interested in Robertson. In saves only leagues, he may be part of shared saves or a primary set-up reliever, dependent on who else Philadelphia acquires. Once a timeline for his arrival gets shared, he can enter the hierarchy upon activation, but temper expectations for now. It’s a terrific addition at minimal risk for the Phillies, but time will tell how he’s deployed in the team’s “floating closer” concept.
As for Sunday’s slate, relievers only recorded three wins, with two accompanied by a blown save designation (Edwin Díaz and Tyler Holton). Relief pitchers converted eight saves while suffering four losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
| Reliever | Save # | Pitches | Strike% | SwStr% | K:BB | BF |
| Carlos Estévez | 26 | 5 | 80% | 0 | 0:0 | 2 |
| Félix Bautista | 19 | 34 | 52.9 | 11.8 | 2:3 | 7 |
| Will Vest | 16 | 9 | 88.9 | 22.2 | 2:0 | 4 |
| Devin Williams | 14 | 18 | 72.2 | 9.1 | 1:0 | 4 |
| Anthony DeSclafani | 2 | 38 | 63.2 | 18.4 | 4:0 | 12 |
| Yariel Rodríguez | 2 | 7 | 42.9 | 0 | 0:0 | 3 |
| Ryne Stanek | 2 | 21 | 57.1 | 14.3 | 0:0 | 4 |
| Abner Uribe | 2 | 23 | 60.9 | 8.7 | 0:1 | 7 |
There was a one-out save (Estévez) and a three-inning save (DeSclafani), while two had traffic-infused appearances but eventually held on (Bautista and Uribe).
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for July 22
- Luke Weaver (NYY): Williams has pitched in consecutive contests.
- Seranthony Domínguez (BAL): Bautista labored through a 34-pitch outing on Sunday and should be unavailable in tonight’s game.
- Bennett Sousa (HOU): If Hader needs an extra day of rest after throwing 35 pitches during a two-inning outing on Saturday, plus Abreu has appeared in back-to-back games.
Vulture Save Stashes for July 23
- Ryne Stanek (NYM): If Díaz pitches tonight, it’s consecutive appearances.
Here are the leverage events of interest from Sunday.
Closer CliffsNotes
Arizona Diamondbacks – Entering at the top of the seventh, Anthony DeSclafani recorded his second save, logging three innings, allowing four hits and an earned run while striking out four. He threw 38 pitches (63.2 Strike%) and produced seven whiffs (18.4 SwStr%).
Since June 23, he has made five multi-inning appearances, posting a loss and two saves while throwing 15 innings with a 1.00 WHIP and 18 strikeouts versus four walks (23.3 K-BB%).
Adjusted Hierarchy: *Kevin Ginkel | *Kendall Graveman | *Kyle Backhus
*= closer-by-committee
Baltimore Orioles – Working into and then out of trouble, Félix Bautista struggled with his command while working with reduced velocity in Tampa Bay. He took over with a three-run lead and issued Danny Jansen a lead-off walk, recorded a strikeout, then gave up an RBI single. After striking out Chandler Simpson, Ha-Seong Kim, and Yandy Díaz walked to load the bases before a game-ending strikeout on a 3-2 pitch against Junior Caminero resulted in Bautista’s 19th save. He threw a season-high 34 pitches (52.9 Strike%) and induced four whiffs (11.8 SwStr%) while issuing three walks versus two strikeouts. First, his illustrator:
And his results:
His 95.8 miles per hour average with his four-seam fastball represents his second-lowest game average since May 24 (95.7 miles per hour).
- Andrew Kittredge allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless bottom of the eighth for his sixth hold.
- Yennier Cano retired the side and struck out one in the seventh, securing his 13th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Félix Bautista | Seranthony Domínguez | Gregory Soto
Detroit Tigers – Locking down his 16th save, Will Vest took over at the bottom of the eighth, striking out Wyatt Langford and returning for the ninth, retiring the side, including one more strikeout. He faced the Rangers’ first four hitters in the lineup and retired them on nine pitches (88.9 Strike%) with two whiffs (22.2 SwStr%) while recording two strikeouts.
This snapped his team’s six-game losing streak and marked Vest’s first save since July 8. He has been scoreless in eight of his last nine appearances.
- Tyler Holton let one of two inherited runners score on a wild pitch at the bottom of the seventh, resulting in his fourth blown save. However, he also collected his fifth win, recording two strikeouts of three batters faced between the seventh and eighth innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Will Vest | Tommy Kahnle | Tyler Holton
Kansas City Royals – Pressed into action with a runner on base, a three-run lead, and two outs at the bottom of the ninth, Carlos Estévez allowed a single by Otto Lopez, then retired Liam Hicks on a game-ending flyout for his 26th save. He threw five pitches (80 Strike%) without a whiff.
This marks his first save since July 9, but he has not had a clean appearance since July 6 and owns a 1.50 WHIP with five strikeouts versus one walk (10.8 K-BB%) through eight innings through nine appearances this month.
Hierarchy Remains: Carlos Estévez | Lucas Erceg | John Schreiber
Milwaukee Brewers – Hanging one for his second save, Abner Uribe put his fantasy players through a white-knuckle ride at the bottom of the ninth. He allowed a one-out single by Tommy Edman, who was forced out on a fielder’s choice by Will Smith, followed by Andy Pages’ single, and a walk to Michael Conforto, loading the bases with two outs. Uribe coaxed a ground ball against Dalton Rushing, but it was an infield single, scoring a run before a game-ending bases-loaded lineout by Mookie Betts, resulting in his second save. He gave up three hits, an earned run, and a walk while throwing 23 pitches (60.9 Strike%) with two whiffs. His illustrator:
- Nick Mears stranded a runner and retired his only batter in the eighth for his 13th hold.
- DL Hall issued a walk during two-thirds scoreless in the eighth, securing his first hold.
- Grant Anderson fired a clean seventh, recording his fourth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Jared Koenig
New York Mets – Taking over at the top of the ninth with a one-run margin, Ryne Stanek worked around Jake Fraley’s one-out single for a scoreless ninth, notching his second save. He threw 21 pitches (57.1 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). It’s his first save since April 7.
Edwin Díaz was summoned at the top of the eighth with a runner on and two outs. However, he struggled with his command, issuing Elly De La Cruz a walk, then allowing Austin Hays’ single, followed by an RBI Spencer Steer hit-by-pitch, before recording an inning-ending strikeout of Tyler Stephenson. Díaz suffered his second blown save as a result, but his teammates rallied at the bottom of the inning, awarding him with his fifth win. He threw 16 pitches (37.5 Strike%) and only induced one whiff. His illustrator:
And results:
- Reed Garrett made the mess, giving up a walk and an earned run while striking out one, throwing five of his 16 pitches for strikes while getting credited with his 17th hold.
- Huascar Brazobán tossed a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and striking out one for his 11th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Edwin Díaz | Reed Garrett | Huascar Brazobán
New York Yankees – For a second straight day, Devin Williams allowed a run against Atlanta, giving up Ronald Acuña’s solo home run before retiring the next three batters, one via strikeout, while recording his 14th save. He threw 18 pitches (72.2 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (9.1 SwStr%). His illustrator from this outing:
And his results, showing Acuña Jr. put a good swing on an outside pitch:
The good news is that he has converted all ten save chances since May 27 while posting a 0.765 WHIP with 23 strikeouts against three walks (28.6 K-BB%) across 18.1 innings.
- Tim Hill allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout during a scoreless eighth for his tenth hold.
- Ian Hamilton fired a clean seventh, striking out one for his fourth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Devin Williams | Luke Weaver | Tim Hill
Toronto Blue Jays – Filling in capably while securing his second save, Yariel Rodríguez retired the side against the Giants’ 8-9-1 hitters. He threw seven pitches (42.9 Strike%) without a whiff.
It’s his first save since June 11, and this outing extended his scoreless streak to seven games, during which he has a 1.039 WHIP with 10 strikeouts against three walks (23.3 K-BB%) through 7.2 innings.
- Tommy Nance notched his first hold, logging 1.2 clean frames and striking out three.
- Justin Bruihl gave up two hits and let one of two inherited runners score, but was credited with his third hold after retiring two batters across the sixth and seventh innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Jeff Hoffman | Yariel Rodríguez | Chad Green
Quick Hits
- Boston Red Sox: Finishing a five-run lead over the Cubs, Jorge Alcala retired the side and recorded a strikeout at the bottom of the ninth. Jordan Hicks fired a clean eighth, striking out one on 14 pitches (57.1 Strike%) with four whiffs (28.6 SwStr%). Garrett Whitlock notched his 12th hold, working a clean seventh and striking out one.
- Chicago Cubs: Ryan Pressly issued a walk and gave up Wilyer Abreu’s go-ahead two-run home run, resulting in his third loss and a second blown save.
- Chicago White Sox: In his team’s third lopsided win this weekend, Grant Taylor tossed a scoreless bottom of the seventh despite issuing Nick Gonzales a lead-off walk by striking out the next three Pirates. He threw 23 pitches (56.5 Strike%) and generated six whiffs (26.1 SwStr%).
- Cincinnati Reds: Called upon with two runners on and one out at the bottom of the eighth, Tony Santillan gave up an RBI fielder’s choice groundout, then retired the next two batters. Brent Suter suffered his first loss, giving up a hit, an earned run, and two walks while striking out one over 1.1 innings.
- Houston Astros: Kaleb Ort collected his second win, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings, yielding a hit and striking out three.
- Los Angeles Dodgers: Lou Trivino was tagged with his first loss and a second blown save, giving up two hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out one. Blake Treinein fired a clean inning and recorded two strikeouts at Triple-A; his last hurdle will be pitching on consecutive days, but he could be activated as soon as this weekend.
- Minnesota Twins: With multiple scouts in attendance, Jhoan Durán tossed a scoreless bottom of the ninth, preserving a six-run win in Coors. He threw 16 pitches (68.8 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (25 SwStr%), allowing a hit and striking out one. Griffin Jax fired a clean bottom of the eighth, striking out one on eight pitches (75 Strike%) without a whiff.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Appearing while his team was swept this weekend, David Bednar retired the side on 14 pitches (64.3 Strike%) without a whiff at the top of the ninth. He extended his scoreless streak to nine games, during which he has posted a 0.889 WHIP with 11 strikeouts against three walks (23.6 K-BB%) across nine innings.
- San Francisco Giants: In an eventual loss, Joey Lucchesi fired two clean frames and recorded three strikeouts. He threw 23 pitches (78.3 Strike%) and generated seven whiffs (30.4 SwStr%). This moved his scoreless streak to eight games, spanning ten innings, during which he has posted a 0.70 WHIP with 12 strikeouts versus two walks (27 K-BB%).
- St. Louis Cardinals: During an eventual loss, Ryan Helsley tossed a scoreless bottom of the eighth, yielding a hit and striking out one on 15 pitches (66.7 Strike percentage) with five whiffs (33.3 swinging strike percentage).
- Tampa Bay Rays: Working against his former teammates, Bryan Baker allowed a hit and recorded two strikeouts during a scoreless top of the ninth in an eventual loss. He threw 25 pitches (72 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (20 SwStr%).
- Texas Rangers: Pressed into action at the top of the eighth, Caleb Boushley logged 1.1 scoreless frames, walking one and striking out two while stranding both inherited runners. Chris Martin suffered his sixth loss, giving up three hits, including Matt Vierling’s go-ahead RBI single at the top of the eighth during his two-thirds of the inning. He departed with a left calf strain.
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