Although this post usually focuses on the previous day’s leverage events of interest, today’s lead-in will recap the trades that impacted hierarchical changes. As a reminder, you can access all reliever trades throughout the day at this link:
Buyers
Philadelphia Phillies – Updated Hierarchy: Jhoan Durán | Matt Strahm | Orion Kerkering
Getting Durán without trading from its top prospect cache (Andrew Painter, Justin Crawford, and Aiden Miller), closest to the majors, represents a win for the front office. Plus, the former Twins’ closer has fared well in the postseason:
New York Mets – Adjusted Hierarchy: Edwin Díaz | Ryan Heslely | Tyler Rogers
Chicago Cubs – Updated Hierarchy: Daniel Palencia | Andrew Kittredge | Brad Keller
The Andrew Kittredge trade will be announced this morning.
Sellers
Baltimore Orioles – Updated Hierarchy: *Corbin Martin | *Keegan Akin | Yennier Cano
Minnesota Twins – Updated Hierarchy: *Griffin Jax | *Louis Varland | Brock Stewart
*= closer-by-committee until Rocco Baldelli announces his leverage plans.
San Francisco Giants – Updated Hierarchy: Camilo Doval | Randy Rodríguez | Ryan Walker
St. Louis Cardinals – Adjusted Hierarchy: *JoJo Romero | *Kyle Leahy/ Riley O’Brien
*= closer-by-committee
News, Notes, and Observations (Trade Deadline Version)
The Athletics – Reports are centered around the Padres in focused pursuit of Mason Miller, which made him unavailable during last night’s save opportunity:
If he’s traded, how the team that acquires him deploys him remains uncertain. San Diego has transitioned multiple pitchers from a reliever into a starting pitcher role, so if they add Miller and do not trade Robert Suarez, this could be a possibility.
Los Angeles Angels – Perhaps the biggest wild card as the deadline approaches, encapsulated perfectly by Jeff Fletcher:
San Diego Padres – A segue alert, but how does the team handle Suarez, who can and likely will opt out of his contract options at the end of the season to enter free agency?
San Francisco Giants – With one reliever traded, will the team shake up the bullpen hierarchy again today?
Pittsburgh Pirates – Will they trade David Bednar? Dennis Santana? Taylor Rogers?
Tampa Bay Rays – Although it’s fluid right now, it appears the Rays are listening to offers for Pete Fairbanks:
Washington Nationals – An intriguing tweet, though it’s anticipated that the team will move Kyle Finnegan:
And, now we await the fantasy fallout from today’s trades leading up to the deadline at 6 p.m. ET.
Stash Candidates
- Jack Perkins (ATH)
- Randy Rodríguez (SF)
- JoJo Romero/Kyle Leahy (STL) – projected committee
- Isaac Mattson (PIT) – if they trade Bednar/Santana
- Edwin Uceta (TB)
- Jose A. Ferrer (WSH)
During Wednesday’s games, relievers recorded seven wins and five saves while getting tagged with six losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
Leverage Ledger for July 30
Atlanta Braves – Taking over a tied game at the bottom of the tenth, Daysbel Hernández only threw two pitches, with the second being a walk-off RBI single by Salvador Perez, resulting in his second loss.
Raisel Iglesias fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded a strikeout in potentially his last outing with the team. He threw 11 pitches (81.8% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (27.3 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in his last two games and three of the previous four.
- Dylan Lee gave up a hit and recorded a strikeout during a scoreless bottom of the eighth.
- Pierce Johnson retired his only batter at the bottom of the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Dylan Lee | Pierce Johnson
Cincinnati Reds – Capping his team’s three-run rally at the bottom of the eighth, Tony Santillan secured his third save, working around a hit batter during a scoreless ninth against the Dodgers. He threw 17 pitches (64.7% strike rate) and induced one whiff while recording a strikeout. It’s his first save since June 8 and extended his scoreless streak to eight games, during which he has posted a 0.548 WHIP with 12 strikeouts against one walk (40.7 K-BB%) through 7.1 innings.
- Scott Barlow stranded two runners despite giving up a hit during two-thirds scoreless at the top of the eighth and collected his fourth win.
- Sam Moll gave up a hit and a walk during one-third of the seventh.
- Luis Mey tossed a scoreless sixth, giving up a hit and a walk.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Tony Santillan | Graham Ashcraft
Kansas City Royals – Tasked with the top of the tenth, Sam Long worked around Ozzie Albies’ lead-off single, putting runners on the corners by retiring the next three Atlanta batters, two via strikeout. He collected his first win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning.
- Carlos Estévez tossed a clean ninth on 10 pitches (70% strike rate) and induced two whiffs. He extended his scoreless streak to five games, but this was the first clean appearance in them.
- Lucas Erceg allowed a hit during a scoreless eighth.
- Steven Cruz worked a clean seventh, striking out one.
- Hunter Harvey navigated around two hits for a scoreless sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Carlos Estévez | Lucas Erceg | Hunter Harvey
Miami Marlins – Preserving a combined shutout, Calvin Faucher secured his tenth save, retiring the side against the Cardinals’ 6-7-8 hitters. He threw 16 pitches (68.8% strike rate) without a whiff while recording a strikeout. He owns a modest four-game scoreless streak and has converted both save chances, posting a 1.064 WHIP with four strikeouts against three walks over 4.2 innings.
- Ronny Henriquez stranded an inherited runner at the top of the eighth, walking one and striking out two for his 14th hold against the 3-4-5 lineup pocket.
- Tyler Phillips logged 2.1 scoreless frames, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out three, securing his fourth hold.
Updated Hierarchy: *Calvin Faucher | *Ronny Henriquez | *Anthony Bender
*= closer-by-committee
New York Yankees – Turning in a scoreless top of the 11th resulted in Tim Hill collecting his fourth win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. He threw 11 pitches (72.7% strike rate) and induced one whiff against the Rays’ 6-7-8 hitters.
- Luke Weaver let the “place” runner score at the top of the tenth, allowing a walk and Yandy Díaz’s RBI single while striking out one.
- Devin Williams suffered his second blown save, issuing Junior Caminero a lead-off walk, a leverage no-no, followed by Josh Lowe’s go-ahead two-run home run during the ninth. This marked his first blown save since April 25, and he has allowed a run in four of his last six appearances, resulting in a 1.33 WHIP through six innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Devin Williams | Luke Weaver | Tim Hill
Pittsburgh Pirates – After working a scoreless bottom of the ninth despite giving up a hit, Isaac Mattson kept the game tied while facing the Giants’ 3-4-5-6 hitters. He returned with a one-run lead at the bottom of the tenth and worked around a dropped fly ball, ruled a hit and a sacrifice bunt with consecutive game-ending strikeouts, earning his third win. He threw 26 pitches (69.2% strike rate) and induced one whiff, recording three strikeouts in his outing. This usage pattern suggests that two of his teammates were not utilized ahead of the trade deadline. Stay tuned.
- Carmen Mlodzinski worked two scoreless frames while giving up a hit.
Updated Hierarchy: David Bednar | Dennis Santana | Taylor Rogers
Tampa Bay Rays – Entering a tied game at the bottom of the 11th, Kevin Kelly issued Jasson Domínguez an intentional walk, advanced both runners on a balk, then gave up Ryan McMahon’s walk-off single, tagging him with his third loss.
- Edwin Uceta was charged with his third blown save, allowing Cody Bellinger’s one-out triple, scoring the “place” runner in the tenth, and recorded two strikeouts, keeping the game tied.
- Pete Fairbanks suffered his fourth blown save, allowing two hits, including Anthony Volpe’s game-tying solo home run, and striking out one. He has allowed at least a run in three of his last six appearances.
- Bryan Baker gave up four hits and two earned runs en route to his fifth blown save in the eighth.
- Mason Englert worked a clean seventh, striking out one for his first hold.
- Garrett Cleavinger notched his 16th hold, retiring the side and recording a strikeout in the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks | Edwin Uceta | Garrett Cleavinger
Texas Rangers – Handed a three-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, Robert Garcia retired the side and recorded two strikeouts while recording his ninth save, now tied for the team lead this season. He threw 10 pitches (90% strike rate) and produced three whiffs. He has allowed an unearned run through five outings in the second half while converting all three save chances with a 0.851 WHIP and eight strikeouts against one walk through 4.2 innings.
- Shawn Armstrong notched his ninth hold, retiring both batters in the eighth, one via strikeout.
- Hoby Milner allowed two hits, including Nolan Schanuel’s two-run home run, and recorded a strikeout in one-third of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Garcia | Shawn Armstrong | Jon Gray
The Athletics – With its closer “unavailable” due to potential trade ramifications, Jack Perkins secured his third save despite allowing Randy Arozarena’s solo home run at the top of the ninth. Perkins logged two innings, giving up only one hit and an earned run, throwing 23 pitches (65.2% strike rate) without a whiff. Of his eight appearances, he has logged multiple innings in seven while converting all three save opportunities with 19 strikeouts versus seven walks with a 0.914 WHIP through 19.2 innings.
- Justin Sterner was credited with his ninth hold. However, he allowed a walk and a two-run home run by Julio Rodríguez during the top of the seventh. He has given up at least a run in three of his last four games.
For now:
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Michael Kelly | Sean Newcomb
Toronto Blue Jays – Preserving a one-run lead and preventing a sweep in Baltimore, Jeff Hoffman shut the door on his 25th save while snapping a two-game streak of allowing at least a run. He retired the 3-4-5 lineup pocket in order and recorded a strikeout on 15 pitches (60% strike rate) with two whiffs (10.5 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in seven of ten games in July, converting all six save chances with 13 strikeouts against one walk (30 K-BB%).
- Seranthony Domínguez fired a clean eighth, striking out two while notching his 14th hold.
- Braydon Fisher stranded the bases loaded while retiring both batters via strikeout in the seventh, securing his fifth hold.
- Yariel Rodríguez struggled, allowing three hits, three runs (two earned), and two walks during one-third of the seventh.
- Mason Fluharty was awarded his fourth win, tossing a scoreless sixth, yielding a hit and striking out three.
Hierarchy Remains: Jeff Hoffman | Seranthony Domínguez | Yariel Rodríguez
Quick Hits
- Baltimore Orioles: Things went sideways quickly for Yennier Cano at the top of the seventh. He suffered his sixth loss and a third blown save, giving up four hits, including Nathan Lukes’ three-run home run, and five earned runs. This represents a season-high in earned runs allowed, and he has given up multiple runs in six of his 44 appearances this year.
- Chicago Cubs: Closing a seven-run win in Milwaukee, Daniel Palencia gave up Caleb Durbin’s two-out single during a scoreless bottom of the ninth. He threw 17 pitches (52.9% strike rate) and induced one whiff. This extends his scoreless streak to eight games, during which he has converted four saves while posting a 0.519 WHIP with seven strikeouts against zero walks (26.9 K-BB%) through 7.2 innings.
- Cleveland Guardians: Sealing a combined shutout, Cade Smith retired the side at the top of the ninth against the Rockies on 10 pitches (80% strike rate) without a whiff. Although he did not get a save chance, he was in line until his teammates scored two runs at the bottom of the eighth. Jakob Junis collected his third win, tossing two scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out two.
- San Diego Padres: Completing a combined shutout, Robert Suarez gave up Brandon Nimmo’s one-out double at the top of the ninth and recorded a strikeout. He threw 15 pitches (73.3% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%). Jason Adam fired a clean eighth, striking out two on 16 pitches (68.8% strike rate) with one whiff.
- San Francisco Giants: Summoned at the top of the tenth, Ryan Walker suffered his fourth loss. He fielded a comebacker with one out and the “place” runner at third, but went for the double play; the runner beat the throw to second, resulting in a fielder’s choice groundout. Camilo Doval allowed a lead-off single by Spencer Horwitz, then struck out the next three batters. He threw 16 pitches (75% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (18.8 SwStr%). He’s rumored to be on the trade block, but how much traction that gains depends on the market.
- St. Louis Cardinals: With one runner on and two outs, Kyle Leahy retired Eric Wagaman on a deep fly ball to center at the top of the ninth. JoJo Romero tossed 1.1 scoreless innings, yielding a hit and striking out one. Riley O’Brien tossed 1.1 clean frames and recorded a strikeout. This may be the new high-leverage triumvirate for the team after the trade deadline passes.
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