Monday’s 13-game slate had seven games decided in blowout fashion (five or more runs), including three shutouts. Relievers did record four wins, though one was accompanied by a blown save (Riley O’Brien), and three saves while incurring two losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
Although our vulture save recommendation hit last night, there are no clear candidates in tonight’s slate. But there are four situations we should monitor:
W2W4 (What to Watch For)
- Los Angeles Dodgers: Does Tanner Scott face the toughest left-handed hitter or lineup pocket, or used as a closer?
- Milwaukee Brewers: How does Trevor Megill pitch? Over his last five appearances, he has a 2-1 record while converting two of three save chances with a 1.80 WHIP. His next outing will surpass his career high in innings as a major leaguer.
- San Francisco Giants: Will Bob Melvin use Ryan Walker or Randy Rodríguez for the save?
- The Athletics: It depends on lineup pockets in the late innings, but will Hogan Harris or Tyler Ferguson receive the next save opportunity?
Here are the leverage events of interest from Monday.
Leverage Ledger
Boston Red Sox – Locking down his 25th save, Aroldis Chapman retired the side while facing the Orioles’ 7-8-9 lineup pocket in order on seven pitches (57.1% strike rate) without a whiff.
This marks his 13th straight appearance without allowing a hit, and he has converted all seven save chances in this stretch while posting a 0.374 WHIP with 11 strikeouts versus four walks (19.5 K-BB%) over 10.2 innings.
- Garrett Whitlock navigated around Gunnar Henderson’s lead-off double by striking out the next three batters, securing his 20th hold.
- Steven Matz notched his tenth hold, logging two scoreless frames, scattering two hits, and striking out two.
- Richard Fitts recorded his second win as the “bulk follower,” allowing two hits, three earned runs, and three walks while striking out six across four innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Garrett Whitlock | Jordan Hicks
Los Angeles Angels – Preserving a combined shutout in a non-save capacity, Kenley Jansen retired the Rangers’ 3-4-5 lineup pocket on ten pitches (70% strike rate) and induced one whiff. This snapped a two-game stretch of allowing at least a run and represents his first clean outing since August 13.
In the season, Jansen has averaged 92.8 miles per hour with his cutter. Over his last three appearances since his rib injury while lifting, he has averaged: 92.4, 91.6, and 92.1 last night. Hopefully, his velocity will return closer to his year-average as we progress.
- Brock Burke worked a clean bottom of the eighth and recorded two strikeouts, securing his 14th hold.
- Luis García stranded a runner while striking out his only batter, notching his eighth hold in the seventh.
- Reid Detmers allowed a hit and struck out over a combined scoreless inning for his 12th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Reid Detmers | Luis García
Miami Marlins – Although he could not complete the combined shutout, allowing Drake Baldwin’s solo home run at the top of the ninth, Calvin Faucher held on for his 12th save, retiring the other three hitters, preserving a one-run win over Atlanta. He threw 18 pitches (50% strike rate) without a whiff and recorded one strikeout. It’s his first save since August 2, a span of seven appearances.
His pitch results from Monday’s outing:
- Josh Simpson stranded a runner and retired his only batter at the top of the eighth, securing his second hold.
- Tyler Zuber allowed a hit and struck out one over two-thirds of the eighth for his first hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Calvin Faucher | *Ronny Henriquez | *Tyler Phillips
*= closer-by-committee
Milwaukee Brewers – Making the most of his first save opportunity since July 20, Abner Uribe retired the side, recording two strikeouts while nailing down his third save, finishing a two-run win over Arizona. He threw 11 pitches (81.8% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%).
He remains scoreless through 12 appearances in August, during which he has recorded this save and eight holds while posting a 0.833 WHIP with 18 strikeouts against four walks (31.1 K-BB%) over 12 innings.
- Nick Mears stranded a runner while retiring both batters at the top of the eighth, securing his 16th hold.
- Aaron Ashby logged 1.2 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out five for his third hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Jared Koenig
Seattle Mariners – Capping his team’s win over the Padres, Andrés Muñoz allowed a one-out single by Will Wagner. Fernando Tatis Jr. reached on a throwing error by Eugenio Suárez, putting runners at second and third. Luis Arraez scored an unearned run on an RBI groundout, then Muñoz recorded a game-ending strikeout of Manny Machado in a non-save appearance. He threw 20 pitches (75% strike rate) and induced three whiffs (15 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in seven of ten appearances in August, converting all six save chances but with a 1.40 WHIP across ten innings.
- Matt Brash navigated around two hits and a walk while striking out three in a scoreless eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Matt Brash | Gabe Speier
St. Louis Cardinals – After stranding two runners by inducing an inning-ending double play groundout at the top of the eighth, Riley O’Brien returned for the ninth with a one-run lead. He recorded a quick out, but hit Liover Peguero with a pitch, who stole second base, then scored on Ronny Simon’s RBI double, resulting in a third blown save. However, he collected his second win courtesy of a walk-off home run at the bottom of the inning. O’Brien finished his 1.2 innings with a hit, an earned run, and a strikeout while throwing 21 pitches (57.1% strike rate) with two whiffs (9.5 SwStr%). His pitch illustrator:
And his results:
- JoJo Romero gets credit for his 19th hold, but gave up a hit and a walk while recording one out at the top of the eighth. He threw 13 pitches (53.8% strike rate) without a whiff.
- Patrick Leahy allowed a hit, an unearned run, and a walk while striking out one in the seventh for his 16th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *JoJo Romero | *Riley O’Brien | Matt Svanson
*= closer-by-committee
The Athletics – Taking over at the top of the sixth, Sean Newcomb let both inherited runners score, allowing a two-RBI double by Wenceel Pérez, then induced a groundout, issued a walk, and recorded an inning-ending flyout. Back for the seventh, he gave up a two-out walk and a single, forcing his removal. He finished with two hits and two walks while striking out two over 1.1 scoreless frames.
Michael Kelly stranded both runners and worked 1.1 scoreless innings, yielding a hit and a walk, collecting his fourth win.
- Elvis Alvarado fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded a strikeout, preserving a five-run lead.
This usage pattern represents the third consecutive game Newcomb has recorded four or more outs in the bridge innings, removing him from the save equation for now.
Updated Hierarchy: *Tyler Ferguson | *Hogan Harris | Sean Newcomb
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- New York Mets: José Castillo collected his first win after retiring the side at the top of the fifth.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Tasked with a tied game at the bottom of the ninth, Dennis Santana recorded two quick outs, then gave up Alec Burleson’s walk-off solo home run, resulting in his fifth loss and snapping his six-game scoreless streak.
- San Diego Padres: Summoned at the bottom of the fourth, David Morgan stranded a runner with an inning-ending strikeout. Returning for the fifth, things went sideways. He suffered his second loss, giving up two hits, five earned runs, a hit batter, and two walks while striking out two over his combined inning of relief.
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