Wednesday’s full slate provided a bevy of decisions for relievers who recorded seven wins and nine saves while suffering six losses. There were saves in many forms, including a one-out save and a five-out save. Here they are in condensed form:
Another light schedule for the save streamers, though yesterday’s recommendations went 2-for-2:
Vulture Save Option for August 7
- Matt Brash (SEA): Andrés Muñoz threw 26 pitches in last night’s game.
Vulture Save Stash for August 8
- Pierce Johnson (ATL): If Raisel Iglesias pitches today, it’s consecutive appearances, and with a doubleheader on Saturday, he should be rested on Friday.
- Luke Weaver (NYY): Given David Bednar’s elevated pitch count during his save yesterday, he should get an extra day of rest until Saturday.
Three Takeaways
(1) Santana struggles again: Pressed into action at the top of the eighth, Dennis Santana stranded two of three inherited runners, allowing a sacrifice fly, then retiring Casey Schmitt on a flyout. Returning for the ninth in a tied game, he recorded a quick out, then allowed Jung Hoo Lee’s one-out double, followed by Dominic Smith’s RBI double, and Patrick Bailey’s RBI single, before recording his second out of the inning. This resulted in his fourth loss and a second blown save. He finished with three hits and two earned runs over his 1.1 innings. First, his illustrator:
And his results:
His current 2.57 ERA is accompanied by a 3.72 SIERA and a 3.62 xERA, indicating that further regression may occur. His swinging strike rate and contact percent allowed are in line with last season, and he still has a WHIP below one (0.94). While his next few outings should be monitored closely, staying out of the heart of the strike zone should defray more multiple run outings, but he’s on watch until clean outings are posted.
Hierarchy Remains: Dennis Santana | Isaac Mattson | Ryan Borucki
(2) “The Renegade” works overtime in Texas: With the bullpen stretched thin based on recent usage patterns, David Bednar took over with a one-run lead at the top of the eighth. He worked around Joc Pederson’s walk with consecutive strikeouts. In the ninth, he recorded two quick strikeouts, then walked Corey Seager and allowed Marcus Semien’s single before a game-ending strikeout of Adolis García, nailing down his first save for the Yankees and his 18th of the season. He threw 42 pitches (59.5% strike rate) and produced six whiffs (14.3 SwStr%) during his five-out save, yielding a hit and walking two while striking out five.
This marked his third 1.2 inning outing this season and his first five-out save since July 29, 2023. How Aaron Boone will mix and match during high-leverage events remains to be seen, but Bednar has stated his case with back-to-back scoreless appearances. For now:
Adjusted Hierarchy: *David Bednar | *Luke Weaver | *Camilo Doval
*= closer-by-commmittee
(3) Garcia’s loss may be Maton’s gain: Not sure this was the soft landing Bruce Bochy was searching for, but Robert Garcia took over a tied game at the top of the seventh against the Yankees’ 8-9-1 lineup pocket. After retiring Amed Rosario, he allowed Paul Goldschmidt’s pinch-hit, go-ahead solo home run, resulting in his seventh loss. Garcia finished with two hits and an earned run while striking out one during two-thirds of the seventh. Of a larger concern, he has allowed a home run in all three appearances in August. Worse, he has lost the trust of his manager. The most frustrating part of this is his underlying indicators point toward a rebound, but for now:
Updated Hierarchy: *Phil Maton | *Danny Coulombe | Shawn Armstrong
*= closer-by-committee
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Wednesday.
Leverage Ledger
Chicago Cubs – Getting in work during a non-save outing, Daniel Palencia allowed TJ Friedl’s lead-off single, recorded a strikeout, followed by Elly De La Cruz’s single and a wild pitch putting the runners at second and third. Austin Hays produced an RBI groundout, spoiling the shutout before a game-ending strikeout of Gavin Lux. Palencia finished with two hits and an earned run while striking out one on 25 pitches (64% strike rate) with two whiffs. In save situations this season (save or hold), he has allowed three earned runs through 23 innings (0.736 WHIP), and in non-save appearances, he has given up five earned runs (1.123 WHIP) across 18.2 innings.
- Brad Keller retired the side at the top of the eighth.
- Andrew Kittredge bounced back from his loss yesterday with an immaculate inning, securing his tenth hold in the seventh.
- Drew Pomeranz stranded a runner and retired his only batter via strikeout in the sixth for his ninth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Daniel Palencia | Brad Keller | Andrew Kittredge
Cleveland Guardians – Completing a combined one-hit shutout, Hunter Gaddis recorded his second save despite only throwing three pitches. He was summoned with a runner on and two outs at the bottom of the ninth, replacing Gavin Williams, and induced a game-ending flyout by Mark Vientos, securing the three-run win. This was a soft landing for the reliever who struggled his last time out, allowing four hits and two earned runs during a blown save on Monday at the bottom of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis | Nic Enright
Miami Marlins – Clayton McCullough’s reliever roulette landed on Lake Bachar. He closed out a two-run lead against the Astros’ top of the lineup, working around Jose Altuve’s two-out single with a game-ending strikeout of Christian Walker for his second save. He threw 16 pitches (75% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (18.8 SwStr%).
- Calvin Faucher escaped a bases-loaded jam with a forceout at home and an inning-ending catch on a shallow fly ball by Xavier Edwards. He allowed two hits and a walk, while striking out one for his sixth hold at the top of the eighth.
- Ronny Henriquez notched his 16th hold, yielding a hit and striking out three in a scoreless seventh.
- Anthony Bender was credited with his 19th hold, allowing three hits and an earned run while striking out two in the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: *Calvin Faucher | *Ronny Henriquez | *Anthony Bender
*= closer-by-committee
Milwaukee Brewers – Handed a two-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, Trevor Megill held on for his 26th save, despite allowing Michael Harris’ solo home run. Megill threw 14 pitches (71.4% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%) while recording a strikeout in his outing.
His nine-game scoreless streak was halted, but he has converted his last eight save chances since July 4 while posting a 0.43 WHIP with 12 strikeouts against one walk (34.4 K-BB%) across 9.1 innings.
- Abner Uribe locked down his MLB-leading 29th hold with a clean bottom of the eighth while striking out two.
- Jared Koenig worked a clean seventh, striking out one for his 22nd hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Jared Koenig
San Diego Padres – Avenging last night’s outing, Mason Miller preserved a one-run win over Arizona with a scoreless bottom of the ninth, issuing a walk and recording all three outs via strikeout. He threw 15 pitches (73.3% strike rate) and generated five whiffs (33.3 SwStr%) in a near-dominant performance.
- Adrian Morejon collected his MLB-leading nine wins among all qualified relievers. He logged two scoreless frames while giving up a hit.
- Jason Adam faced four hitters and retired them all on strikeouts, stranding two runners at the bottom of the fifth, then working a clean sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Suarez | Mason Miller | Jason Adam
San Francisco Giants – Capping his team’s two-run rally at the top of the ninth, Randy Rodríguez retired the side, recording his third save. He threw 13 pitches (61.5% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%).
He has converted two of three save chances in August, and hopefully, this clean outing gets him back on track.
- Ryan Walker collected his fourth win, working around two hits and striking out three in a scoreless bottom of the eighth.
- José Buttó tossed a clean seventh, keeping his team within one run.
Hierarchy Remains: Randy Rodríguez | Ryan Walker | Joey Lucchesi
Seattle Mariners – Battling through a lack of command, Andrés Muñoz held on for his 26th save, finishing a two-run win over the White Sox. However, his outing began with Michael A. Taylor’s solo home run, followed by consecutive walks, but he bore down getting a strikeout, a lineout, and a game-ending groundout. Muñoz threw 26 pitches (57.7% strike rate) and only induced one whiff.
He has converted his last five save chances, but this appearance snapped his eight-game scoreless streak.
- Gabe Speier notched his 15th hold, retiring the side and striking out two at the top of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Matt Brash | Gabe Speier
St. Louis Cardinals – Summoned at the bottom of the eighth with two outs and a runner on, Riley O’Brien retired four of five batters faced for his first career save. He issued Max Muncy a two-out walk at the bottom of the ninth, but induced a game-ending groundout by Alex Freeland, preventing the lineup from turning over. O’Brien threw 20 pitches (45% strike rate) without a whiff during his 1.1 scoreless frames.
- JoJo Romero collected his fourth win, giving up a hit and striking out one during his combined inning of relief.
- Kyle Leahy logged 2.2 scoreless innings, yielding a hit and striking out four.
Updated Hierarchy: *JoJo Romero | *Riley O’Brien | Kyle Leahy
*= closer-by-committee
Tampa Bay Rays – Locking down his 19th save, Pete Fairbanks preserved a one-run margin while retiring the side against the Angels. He threw 14 pitches (71.4% strike rate) and induced one whiff while recording a strikeout.
This marked his first save since July 28, and he has been scoreless through three appearances in August.
- Griffin Jax worked into and then out of trouble at the bottom of the eighth. His outing began with a hit, followed by a walk, and Jo Adell reaching on catcher’s interference. However, Jax bore down by striking out the next three batters for his 23rd hold.
- Bryan Baker worked a clean seventh, striking out one for his 13th hold.
- Garrett Cleavinger collected his first win, tossing a scoreless sixth, walking and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks | Griffin Jax | Edwin Uceta
Washington Nationals – With the score tied at the top of the ninth, Jose A. Ferrer retired the A’s 7-8-9 lineup pocket in order and recorded a strikeout on 12 pitches (83.3% strike rate) with three whiffs (25 SwStr%).
He collected his third win after his team’s walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. He has not been provided a save chance since the trade deadline, but he remains in line for the first one based on this usage pattern.
- Shinnosuke Ogasawara worked 1.1 scoreless innings, walking and striking out one.
- Cole Henry retired all three batters, two via strikeout, during his combined inning of relief.
Updated Hierarchy: Jose A. Ferrer | Cole Henry | Shinnosuke Ogasawara
Quick Hits
- Atlanta Braves: During an eventual one-run loss, Raisel Iglesias worked a scoreless top of the ninth, giving up a hit and striking out one. He’s amid a modest five-game scoreless streak.
- Boston Red Sox: A rough outing for Jordan Hicks. He allowed consecutive one-out singles, followed by Jonathan India’s three-run home run, and recorded a strikeout at the top of the seventh. This snapped his two-game scoreless streak, and he has allowed multiple runs in two of his last four appearances.
- Colorado Rockies: In a lopsided loss, Victor Vodnik allowed three hits, including a solo home run by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., two earned runs, and a walk while striking out one during two-thirds of the top of the eighth. He has allowed multiple runs in two of his last three and at least a run in four of his previous five games.
- Detroit Tigers: Making his first appearance since Saturday, Will Vest retired the side against the Twins’ 5-6-7 lineup pocket, throwing 11 pitches (63.6% strike rate) and inducing one whiff.
- Kansas City Royals: Finishing a four-run win in Boston, Carlos Estévez retired the side and recorded two strikeouts at the bottom of the ninth. He threw 10 pitches (90% strike rate) and produced three whiffs. This was an encouraging outing, but he has not registered a save since July 29.
- Los Angeles Angels: Appearing during an eventual one-run loss, Kenley Jansen worked around a walk for a scoreless top of the ninth while recording one strikeout. This extends his scoreless streak to 13 games, during which he has posted a 0.525 WHIP with 14 strikeouts versus two walks (26.1 K-BB%) across 13.1 innings.
- Los Angeles Dodgers: Taking over at the top of the eighth, Alex Vesia allowed three hits, two runs (one earned), and a walk while striking out one, resulting in his first loss and a second blown save. He had given up one run in his previous 17 appearances since June 22.
- Minnesota Twins: As the “bulk follower,” Thomas Hatch earned his first win, tossing 4.1 scoreless frames, scattering two hits and walking one while striking out three
- The Athletics: Tasked with a tied game at the bottom of the ninth, Michael Kelly suffered his first loss. He allowed a lead-off double by Robert Hassell III, recorded a strikeout on a failed bunt attempt, then gave up CJ Abrams’ walk-off RBI single. Sean Newcomb logged two scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out two.
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