Saturday’s slate provided plenty of intrigue across the high-leverage ecosystem. Relievers recorded four wins, one accompanied by a blown save (David Bednar), and nine saves while suffering five losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for August 10
- Hunter Gaddis (CLE): Cade Smith has appeared in consecutive contests.
- Shelby Miller (MIL): Trevor Megill and Abner Uribe have pitched in back-to-back games.
- Sean Newcomb (ATH): Michael Kelly worked two innings yesterday.
Vulture Save Stashes for August 11
- Luke Weaver (NYY): If David Bednar pitches today, it’s consecutive appearances.
- Tony Santillan (CIN): If Emilio Pagán gets deployed today, it will be back-to-back outings.
Here are the leverage events of interest from Saturday.
Leverage Ledger
Atlanta Braves – (Game 2) – Raisel Iglesias retired the side and recorded a strikeout, completing the sweep while recording his 16th save. He threw 11 pitches (72.7% strike rate) without a whiff.
This extended his scoreless streak to seven games, during which he has converted five saves with a 0.429 WHIP and seven strikeouts (29.2 K-BB%) in his last seven innings.
- Austin Cox tossed a clean eighth, striking out two for his second hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Dylan Lee | Pierce Johnson
Cincinnati Reds – Although he issued Oneil Cruz a lead-off walk, Emilio Pagán induced a flyout against Andrew McCutchen, followed by a game-ending double play lineout to short by Nick Gonzales, preserving the one-run lead for his 25th save. He threw 18 pitches (61.1% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (16.7 SwStr%).
He has converted all three save opportunities this month and has been scoreless in his last two.
- Tony Santillan notched his 25th hold, walking one during a scoreless eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Tony Santillan | Graham Ashcraft
Cleveland Guardians – Shutting the door on his fifth save, Cade Smith fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts, preserving his team’s two-run win over the White Sox. He threw 10 pitches (80% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (30 SwStr%).
He has been scoreless in his last six appearances and converted his last two save chances.
- Eric Sabrowski issued a walk during a scoreless eighth, securing his sixth hold.
- Hunter Gaddis worked around two walks and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless seventh, recording his 23rd hold.
- Nic Enright stranded a runner and retired two of three batters across the sixth and seventh innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis | Nic Enright
Kansas City Royals – Completing a combined shutout, Carlos Estévez retired the side and recorded two strikeouts, securing his 29th save. He threw 16 pitches (56.3% strike rate) and induced two whiffs (12.5 SwStr%).
It’s his first save since July 29, and his second scoreless appearance in August.
- Lucas Erceg notched his 18th hold, firing a clean eighth while striking out one.
- Hunter Harvey worked around two hits and recorded a strikeout during a scoreless seventh for his fifth hold.
- Angel Zerpa stranded a runner and recorded a strikeout against his only batter in the sixth, posting his tenth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Carlos Estévez | Lucas Erceg | Hunter Harvey
Los Angeles Angels – Locking down his 21st save, Kenley Jansen fired a clean bottom of the ninth while striking out two against Detroit’s 1-2-3 lineup pocket. He only needed 12 pitches (75% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%).
This extended his scoreless streak to 14 games, during which he has a 0.49 WHIP with 16 strikeouts against two walks (28.6 K-BB%) across 14.1 innings.
- Luis García retired the side and recorded two strikeouts at the bottom of the eighth, securing his seventh hold.
- Brock Burke worked a scoreless seventh, walking and striking out one for his 13th hold.
- Ryan Zeferjahn navigated around a hit and a walk while striking out two in a scoreless sixth, notching his 17th hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Kenley Jansen | Reid Detmers | Luis García
Milwaukee Brewers – Closing out a three-run win over the Mets, Trevor Megill worked around Cedric Mullin’s one-out single with back-to-back game-ending strikeouts of Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto, nailing down his 28th save. He threw 22 pitches (77.3% strike rate) and induced three whiffs (13.6 SwStr%).
Since the start of July, he has converted all ten save chances and been scoreless in 11 of his 12 appearances while posting a 0.619 WHIP with 14 strikeouts versus two walks.
- Abner Uribe notched his MLB-leading 31st hold, striking out the side at the top of the eighth.
- Jared Koenig was awarded his fourth win, tossing a scoreless seventh, walking and striking out one.
- Shelby Miller made his team debut, retiring the side and striking out one in the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Jared Koenig
New York Yankees – Summoned with the bases loaded and one out at the top of the eighth, David Bednar walked in a run, tying the game, then retired the next two batters but was charged with his second blown save. After Trent Grisham’s go-ahead home run, Bednar retired the side at the top of the ninth, earning his third win. He threw 23 pitches (65.2% strike rate) and produced five whiffs (21.7 SwStr%) while recording two strikeouts across his 1.2 scoreless innings.
- Camilo Doval gets credited with his ninth hold, allowing a hit, two runs (one earned), and two walks while striking out one in one-third of the eighth.
- Luke Weaver fired a clean seventh, striking out one for his 11th hold.
- Mark Leiter Jr. stranded a runner and retired both batters in the sixth, securing his 12th hold.
Recent usage patterns have prompted an adjusted hierarchy:
Updated Hierarchy: David Bednar | Luke Weaver | Camilo Doval
Philadelphia Phillies – Sealing a one-run win in Texas, Jhoan Durán fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded a strikeout for his 19th save, and third in as many appearances with the Phillies. He threw 16 pitches (68.8% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (12.5 SwStr%).
- Matt Strahm gave up Corey Seager’s solo home run and struck out one at the bottom of the eighth, getting credit for his 12th hold.
- Tanner Banks worked around a hit for a scoreless seventh, securing his fourth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Durán | Matt Strahm | Orion Kerkering
San Diego Padres – After tossing a scoreless top of the tenth, issuing an intentional walk (Wilyer Abreu) and striking out one, Jason Adam collected his seventh win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning.
Robert Suarez suffered his fifth blown save, allowing two hits, including Roman Anthony’s game-tying RBI double, an earned run, and an intentional walk (Jarren Duran) while striking out two. His illustrator:
And his results:
- Mason Miller notched his second hold over 1.1 scoreless frames, giving up a hit and striking out three on 14 pitches (71.4% strike rate) with five whiffs (35.7 SwStr%). He did benefit from a caught stealing of his only baserunner allowed, but this was a near-dominant outing.
- Adrian Morejon gave up a hit and recorded two outs, both via strikeout, for his 17th hold in the seventh.
- Jeremiah Estrada logged two clean frames, striking out five while throwing 27 pitches (74.1% strike rate) with nine whiffs (33.3 SwStr%).
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Suarez | Mason Miller | Jason Adam
Seattle Mariners – Despite giving up Junior Caminero’s lead-off single and issuing a two-out walk, Andrés Muñoz closed out his team’s three-run win over the Rays for his 27th save. He threw 19 pitches (68.4% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (15.8 SwStr%).
He has converted his last six save chances while being scoreless in ten of his last 11 outings since July 13 with a 1.182 WHIP and 14 strikeouts versus eight walks across 11 innings.
- Gabe Speier retired both batters at the top of the eighth, notching his 16th hold.
- Eduard Bazardo worked 1.1 scoreless frames while striking out two for his fifth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Matt Brash | Gabe Speier
Washington Nationals – Recording his first save of the season, and the second of his career, Jose A. Ferrer let one of three inherited runners score at the bottom of the eighth on a sacrifice fly before producing an inning-ending strikeout of Matt Chapman. He returned for the ninth and worked around two hits with a game-ending double play, preserving a two-run win over the Giants. He threw 19 pitches (68.4% strike rate) and induced three whiffs (15.8 SwStr%).
He has been scoreless in his last two appearances, recording this save and a win.
- Cole Henry was credited with his fourth hold despite giving up two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one during one-third of the eighth inning.
- Konnor Pilkington tossed a clean seventh, striking out one for his first hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Jose A. Ferrer | Cole Henry | Konnor Pilkington
Quick Hits
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Tasked with a tied game at the top of the ninth, Andrew Hoffmann retired the Rockies’ 2-3-4 lineup pocket in order and recorded a strikeout. He collected his first career win on his team’s walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning.
- Boston Red Sox: With the score tied at the bottom of the tenth, Garrett Whitlock issued Ryan O’Hearn an intentional walk, and with the corners drawn in for a bunt. Ramón Laureano chopped a single into right, scoring the “place” runner, resulting in a walk-off loss. It’s Whitlock’s second loss of the season. Aroldis Chapman retired the side in the ninth on 10 pitches (90% strike rate) with two whiffs.
- Colorado Rockies: Entering a tied game at the bottom of the eighth, Jimmy Herget navigated around a hit batter and a single for a scoreless inning. He returned for the ninth and induced Ketel Marte’s pop-out, then allowed consecutive doubles, resulting in his second loss. He finished his 1.1 innings with three hits and an earned run while striking out one.
- Houston Astros: Taking over a tied game at the bottom of the eighth, Bryan King allowed Trent Grisham’s go-ahead solo home run, resulting in his third loss. Kaleb Ort logged 1.1 scoreless frames, striking out one.
- New York Mets: Taking over with a one-run lead at the bottom of the seventh, Ryne Stanek allowed Brice Turang’s lead-off single, Joey Ortiz’s ground-rule double, and a fielder’s choice groundout, scoring the game-tying run. Ryan Helsley replaced him with a runner on and two outs, but Isaac Collins produced an infield single on a ball mishandled by Ronny Mauricio, scoring the inherited runners. After what seemed like an inning-ending flyout, a pitch clock violation extended the at-bat and William Contreras launched a two-run, go-ahead home run. Helsley finished with two hits against and two earned runs, while Stanek gets tagged with his fifth loss and a fifth blown save.
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