Once again, Houston steals the introduction, placing its closer, Josh Hader, on the 15-day injured list:
Manager Joe Espada would not commit to defined roles during future save chances, making this another dreaded post-trade deadline committee, covered by Brian McTaggart in this post for MLB.com:
Bryan Abreu has nine career saves, without one this season, and has posted a 0.855 WHIP with 13 strikeouts against five walks (17.8 K-BB%) since the All-Star break. He should be the preferred option, but will operate in the eighth inning against an opponent’s best right-handed hitter or lineup pocket.
He and Hader were the trusted one-two punch fueling the Astros’ 53-3 record when leading after seven innings this season. How well the set-up relievers pitch will determine the team’s fate and save distribution in the interim. Bennett Sousa has notched four saves this year. However, the pressure lies with Bryan King, the newly acquired Enyel De Los Santos, and Kaleb Ort, who must maintain leads in the sixth and seventh innings. As a result:
Updated Hierarchy: *Bryan Abreu | *Bennett Sousa | Bryan King
*= closer-by-committee
Tuesday’s full slate provided mixed outcomes across the leverage ecosystem. Relievers recorded five wins and six saves while suffering three losses. There were two career first saves, one that covered four innings. Here are the saves in condensed form:
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for August 13
- Mason Miller (SD): Robert Suarez has pitched in back-to-back games.
- Reid Detmers (LAA): Kenley Jansen has appeared in consecutive contests.
- Jimmy Herget (COL): Victor Vodnik logged 1.2 innings and 27 pitches during his save last night.
Vulture Save Stash for August 14
- Matt Brash (SEA): If Andrés Muñoz pitches today, it’s back-to-back appearances.
Here are the leverage events of interest from yesterday.
Leverage Ledger
Arizona Diamondbacks – Capping his team’s rally at the top of the ninth and recording his first career save, Juan Morillo retired the side against the Rangers’ 7-8-9 lineup pocket. He threw 15 pitches (53.3% strike rate) and induced two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%).
This was his first appearance in the majors since July 12. He has the velocity, but can his command improve? It will determine his fantasy impact moving forward.
- Jalen Beeks collected his third win, working 1.2 scoreless innings, walking and striking out one.
- Jake Woodford tossed 3.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out two.
Updated Hierarchy: *Andrew Saalfrank | *Andrew Hoffmann | *Juan Morillo
*= closer-by-committee
Chicago White Sox – Called upon with two outs and a runner on first, Jordan Leasure recorded a game-ending strikeout of Spencer Torkelson, preserving a three-run lead and securing his fourth save, throwing five pitches (60% strike rate) with two whiffs.
- Mike Vasil gets credit for his second hold, allowing four hits, three runs (two earned), and a walk while striking out two across 2.2 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: *Grant Taylor | *Jordan Leasure | *Steven Wilson
*= closer-by-committee
Cleveland Guardians – Taking over a tied game at the top of the eighth, Cade Smith stranded his only inherited runner, recording an inning-ending strikeout. He returned for the ninth with a one-run lead and retired the side, collecting his fifth win. He threw 13 pitches (69.2% strike rate) and induced one whiff.
Through six appearances in August, he has been scoreless while posting three wins and two saves with a 0.519 WHIP across 7.2 innings.
- Eric Sabrowski issued a walk during two-thirds scoreless in the eighth.
- Hunter Gaddis tossed a clean seventh, striking out one.
- Nic Enright navigated around a hit and two walks for a scoreless sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis | Nic Enright
Colorado Rockies – Shutting the door on his third save and preserving a combined shutout, Victor Vodnik took over at the bottom of the eighth with two runners on and one out. He stranded both on consecutive strikeouts, then worked around Nolan Gorman’s lead-off double at the bottom of the ninth by retiring the next three batters. He finished with one hit and three strikeouts across 1.2 scoreless frames, throwing 27 pitches (70.4% strike rate) with three whiffs (11.1 SwStr%).
It’s his first save since July 11 and his team’s first since the trade deadline.
Updated Hierarchy: Victor Vodnik | Jimmy Herget | Juan Mejia
Kansas City Royals – Securing his second save of the season, Lucas Erceg protected a three-run lead by retiring the side against the Nationals’ 9-1-2 lineup pocket. He threw seven pitches (85.7% strike rate) without a whiff. He posted his last save on April 25.
- Taylor Clarke allowed two hits and an earned run while striking out one in the eighth, making the vulture save crowd happy.
- John Schreiber stranded a runner and retired his only batter in the seventh for his 14th hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Carlos Estévez | Lucas Erceg | John Schreiber
Los Angeles Angels – After retiring the side at the top of the tenth and striking out one, Connor Brogdon collected his third win on his teammates’ walk-off rally at the bottom of the frame.
Kenley Jansen allowed Shohei Ohtani’s lead-off home run at the top of the ninth, then retired the 2-3-4 hitters in order, snapping his 15-game scoreless streak dating back to July 1. He threw 11 pitches (72.7% strike rate) and generated four whiffs (36.4 SwStr%).
- Reid Detmers gave up a hit and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless eighth.
- Luis García worked around a hit and struck out one in a scoreless seventh.
- Brock Burke navigated around two hits for a scoreless sixth.
- Ryan Zeferjahn suffered his sixth blown save, walking in one of three inherited runners before an inning-ending strikeout.
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Reid Detmers | Luis García
Los Angeles Dodgers – Pressed into action at the bottom of the ninth, Ben Casparius stranded the bases loaded with an inning-ending strikeout of Taylor Ward. However, things did not go well in the bottom of the tenth. He gave up consecutive singles by Christian Moore and Jo Adell, scoring the “place” runner and handing him his fifth loss.
Alex Vesia was tagged with his third blown save, giving up a hit, an earned run, and three walks at the bottom of the ninth while recording two outs. He entered against the 7-8-9 lineup pocket.
- Blake Treinen tossed a scoreless eighth, walking one and striking out two on 23 pitches (47.8% strike rate) and induced two whiffs versus the Angels’ 3-4-5-6 batters.
- Edgardo Henriquez retired all four batters faced.
Hierarchy Remains: *Blake Treinen | *Alex Vesia | *Ben Casparius
*= closer-by-committee
New York Mets – Providing his team with a much-needed boost, Justin Hagenman logged four scoreless frames, issuing a walk and striking out five for his first career save. He threw 55 pitches (61.8% strike rate) and produced nine whiffs (16.4 SwStr%).
- Gregory Soto stranded two runners at the top of the fourth and earned his first win, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings while scattering two hits.
Hierarchy Remains: Edwin Díaz | Ryan Helsley | Tyler Rogers
San Diego Padres – Closing out a four-run win over the Giants, Robert Suarez allowed Casey Schmitt’s two-out single and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless bottom of the ninth.
He has been scoreless in six of his last seven games, posting a win and converting three of four save opportunities.
- Adrian Morejon retired the side and struck out one against the 6-7-8 lineup pocket in the eighth.
- Jason Adam collected his eighth win, logging 1.2 scoreless frames, giving up a hit and striking out one. He stranded all three inherited runners at the bottom of the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Suarez | Mason Miller | Jason Adam
Seattle Mariners – Completing a combined shutout, Andrés Muñoz preserved the one-run lead while working around Gunnar Henderson’s two-out walk and Adley Rustchman’s single with a game-ending groundout against Ryan Mountcastle, securing his 28th save. He threw 18 pitches (61.1% strike rate) and produced four whiffs (22.2 SwStr%).
He has been scoreless in 11 of his last 12 appearances, converting all seven save chances since July 13.
- Gabe Speier notched his 17th hold, stranding a runner and retiring his only batter in the eighth.
- Eduard Bazardo allowed a hit and recorded two outs in the seventh for his sixth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Matt Brash | Gabe Speier
Quick Hits
- Cincinnati Reds: Protecting a shutout, Graham Ashcraft fired a clean top of the seventh and recorded two strikeouts on 13 pitches (53.8% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%).
- Miami Marlins: With the score tied at the bottom of the eighth, Calvin Faucher allowed a go-ahead solo home run by José Ramírez and recorded a strikeout, resulting in his third loss. This snapped his eight-game scoreless streak and marked his fifth home run allowed this season. Ronny Henriquez fired a clean bottom of the seventh, striking out one versus the Guardians’ 8-9-1 lineup pocket.
- Texas Rangers: With the score tied at the top of the ninth, Danny Coulombe allowed his first home run of the season, Ketel Marte’s solo shot with two outs, resulting in his first loss. Shawn Armstrong fired a clean eighth, striking out two. Robert Garcia allowed two hits, including Marte’s game-tying groundout to second, and recorded a strikeout en route to his sixth blown save at the top of the seventh.
- Toronto Blue Jays: Rebounding from his command issues on Sunday, Jeff Hoffman preserved a four-run lead by retiring the Cubs’ 9-1-2 hitters in order and recording two strikeouts. He threw 14 pitches (78.6% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). Louis Varland notched his 19th hold, striking out two during a clean top of the eighth.
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