Tuesday’s full 15-game slate provided a bevy of leverage events of interest. Relievers recorded seven wins and converted six saves while suffering seven losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
For the save streamers, another light forecast:
Vulture Save Option for August 27
- Seranthony Domínguez (TOR): Hoffman has suffered consecutive blown saves and threw 25 pitches last night. He will benefit from a day off to clear his head.
Three Takeaways
(1) A reset for Hoffman? For a fifth time this season, Jeff Hoffman allowed at least three earned runs in an outing. This one resulted in his second consecutive blown save and seventh of the season. He took over with a one-run lead at the top of the ninth and gave up Mickey Gasper’s game-tying solo home run, allowed a single, recorded an out, hit a batter, induced a flyout, then served up Matt Wallner’s go-ahead three-run home run. He finished with three hits, four earned runs, and a walk during two-thirds of an inning while incurring his fifth loss. First, his pitch illustrator:
And his results from Tuesday’s loss:
He was visibly upset during this outing, and when a reliever’s aiming his pitches, not hitting spots, outcomes like this ensue, reinforced by his results chart above. When he struggles, his command follows suit, as seen in his rolling game chart from Fangraphs:
His fastball velocity in August is sitting 1.1 miles per hour below his average from July, which may be manifesting in the spike in walk rate, seen in this chart:
Link: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/6Tzfs/2/
He has displayed the ability to overcome a rough patch, but it’s tough with a WHIP sitting at its present 1.505 this month. A day or two off may be beneficial.
(2) Avoid the Athletics? Proving timing can be almost everything, Eduarniel Núnez collected his first career win after stranding two inherited runners with an inning-ending strikeout of Javier Báez at the top of the tenth. Elvis Alvarado logged 1.2 innings, yielding a hit, an unearned run, and a walk while striking out four across the ninth and tenth innings. Michael Kelly navigated around a hit and a walk for a scoreless eighth. Tyler Ferguson tossed 1.1 scoreless frames while scattering two hits and stranding two runners at the top of the sixth. Hogan Harris allowed a hit and a walk while striking out two during his scoreless combined inning of relief.
Harris and Ferguson were separating themselves from their teammates as the preferred options for the late innings, recording three saves in a five-game span between August 19 and the 23rd. However, as this game shows, Mark Kotsay continues running a matchup-based approach, with no preferred save share, making this a bullpen to avoid for the fantasy playoffs and potentially the remainder of the season.
(3) Vest’s walk-off, walk: For a second time this season, Will Vest issued three walks in an appearance, previously on July 13, resulting in his fourth blown save at the time. Last night, he could not protect a one-run lead at the bottom of the tenth. His outing began with a Tyler Soderstrom single, followed by Jacob Wilson’s walk, a sacrifice bunt, Lawrence Butler’s walk, and a walk-off RBI walk to Darell Hernaiz, resulting in a third loss and a sixth blown save. He threw 23 pitches (39.1% strike rate) and induced two whiffs. His illustrator:
The good news is that he has rebounded from this type of outing, but I plan on Kyle Finnegan getting the save chance, if provided, in today’s contest.
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Tuesday.
Leverage Ledger
Chicago White Sox – It was not an effective night for this bullpen. Jordan Leasure took over at the top of the eighth, allowing two hits, two earned runs, and a walk while recording two outs.
Grant Taylor let two of three inherited runners during the seventh, and suffered his fourth loss, finishing with four hits allowed and three earned runs while striking out two. He recorded one out in the eighth and ninth innings.
- Tyler Alexander could not stem the tide, letting all three inherited runners score on two hits and hit a batter before his removal without recording an out.
- Steven Wilson stranded the bases loaded, retiring both batters at the top of the ninth, one via strikeout.
Hierarchy Remains: *Grant Taylor | *Jordan Leasure | *Steven Wilson
*= closer-by-committee
Cleveland Guardians – Completing a combined shutout, Cade Smith allowed a two-out single by Yandy Díaz and produced a game-ending strikeout, securing his eighth save. He threw 14 pitches (74.1% strike rate) and induced two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%).
This snapped his two-game blown save streak, allowing at least a run in his last three. It’s been a rough patch for the closer in training, but better days should lie ahead, evidenced by his 0.894 WHIP and 13 strikeouts versus two walks across 12.1 innings in August.
- Hunter Gaddis notched his 28th hold, firing a clean seventh and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis | Eric Sabrowski
Kansas City Royals – Handed a one-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, Carlos Estévez shut the door on his 35th save, retiring the side and striking out two against the White Sox. He threw 16 pitches (68.8% strike rate) and produced four whiffs (25 SwStr%).
Not only has he converted his last five save opportunities, but he has not allowed a baserunner over his last six games while recording seven strikeouts (38.9 K%).
- Sam Long collected his second win, giving up a hit during a scoreless eighth ahead of his team’s three-run rally at the top of the ninth.
- Taylor Clarke tossed a clean seventh, striking out one.
- John Schreiber worked a scoreless sixth, yielding a hit and striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Carlos Estévez | Lucas Erceg | John Schreiber
Los Angeles Dodgers – Recording his first save since July 12, and his 20th of the season, Tanner Scott preserved a three-run win over the Reds with a scoreless ninth, working around an Austin Hays one-out single with a game-ending double play groundout against Will Banfield. Scott threw 15 pitches (73.3% strike rate) and produced one whiff.
- Blake Treinen allowed a hit and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless eighth, securing his seventh hold.
- Ben Casparius gave up a walk and a two-run home run by Hays while striking out three in the seventh.
- Edgardo Henriquez notched his second hold, allowing two hits during a scoreless sixth.
Updated Hierarchy: *Tanner Scott | *Blake Treinen | Alex Vesia
*= closer-by-committee with a preferred share (Scott)
Milwaukee Brewers – Forced into action at the top of the eighth, Shelby Miller struck out Ketel Marte, stranding two runners and keeping the game tied. He returned for the ninth and navigated around Corbin Carroll’s lead-off single with an intentional walk (Gabriel Moreno) and an inning-ending strikeout. He finished with 1.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out one, collecting his fourth win on a walk-off rally.
- Jared Koenig let his only inherited runner score in the seventh. He was tagged with his second blown save, giving up five hits and two earned runs while striking out two during his combined inning of relief.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Jared Koenig
Minnesota Twins – Presented a three-run lead after a four-run rally at the top of the ninth, Justin Topa allowed a two-out single by George Springer, followed by Daulton Varsho’s RBI double, before inducing a game-ending flyout by Vlad Guerrero Jr., securing his fourth save. He threw 26 pitches (69.2% strike rate) and produced four whiffs (15.4 SwStr%). He has converted all four save chances since August 5 with a 1.443 WHIP and eight strikeouts versus four walks across eight appearances, spanning 9.2 innings.
- Michael Tonkin was awarded his second win. He allowed a hit and recorded two outs during the bottom of the ninth.
- Kody Funderburk worked 1.1 clean frames and recorded a strikeout.
Updated Hierarchy: Justin Topa | Michael Tonkin | Kody Funderburk
New York Mets – Called upon during a tied game at the top of the eighth, Edwin Díaz stranded a runner while retiring Brandon Marsh and Trea Turner via strikeout. Returning for the ninth, Díaz retired the 2-3-4 lineup pocket with two more strikeouts, finishing with 1.2 clean frames on 22 pitches (77.3% strike rate) and generating six whiffs (27.3 SwStr%).
He collected his sixth win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the ninth.
- Ryan Helsley suffered his ninth blown save, giving up Harrison Bader’s game-tying two-run home run at the top of the eighth. He only recorded one out and was removed after issuing a walk following the homer. He has given up at least a run in five of his last seven appearances.
- Tyler Rogers worked a clean seventh and struck out one for his 26th hold.
Adjusted Hierarchy: Edwin Díaz | Tyler Rogers | Brooks Raley
San Diego Padres – Locking down his National League-leading 35th save, Robert Suarez retired the side against Seattle’s top of the lineup, throwing 14 pitches (57.1% strike rate) and inducing one whiff.
Through 11 appearances in August, he has a 1-1 record and converted five of six save chances with a 0.855 WHIP while recording 12 strikeouts against two walks across 11.2 innings.
- Jeremiah Estrada notched his 27th hold, giving up a hit and striking out one in a scoreless eighth.
- Mason Miller secured his fifth hold, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out two in a scoreless seventh.
- Adrian Morejon collected his MLB-leading tenth win among all relievers, firing a clean sixth, striking out the side.
- Jason Adam let his only inherited runner score, yielding two hits, including a three-run home by Eugenio Suárez, putting two earned runs on his ledger over two-thirds of the fifth.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Suarez | Mason Miller | Jason Adam
San Francisco Giants – Working around a one-out single by Dansby Swanson, Ryan Walker retired the next two batters via strikeout, preserving a three-run lead and securing his 12th save. He threw 18 pitches (72.2% strike rate) and produced four whiffs (22.2 SwStr%).
He has converted saves in consecutive outings and has been scoreless in his last seven games, posting a 0.959 WHIP with ten strikeouts versus zero walks (25.9 K-BB%) over 7.1 innings.
- José Buttó retired both batters and recorded one strikeout for his third hold.
- Joey Lucchesi logged 1.1 clean frames, striking out two, and notched his second hold.
Before this game, Randy Rodríguez (elbow) was placed on the 15-day injured list:
Updated Hierarchy: Ryan Walker | José Buttó | Joey Lucchesi
Quick Hits
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Entering a tied game at the top of the ninth, Juan Morillo allowed a lead-off single by William Contreras, then issued consecutive walks to Christian Yelich and Andrew Vaughn, prompting his removal. Kyle Backhus induced a shallow fly-out by Sal Frelick, but Isaac Collins produced a walk-off sacrifice fly, handing Morillo his third loss. Andrew Saalfrank kept the game tied with a clean bottom of the eighth while striking out one.
- Cincinnati Reds: In his second major league appearance, Zach Maxwell stranded a runner at the bottom of the sixth, but issued two walks and recorded a strikeout over 1.1 scoreless innings. He threw 24 pitches (54.2% strike rate) and induced three whiffs (12.5 SwStr%).
- Miami Marlins: With the score tied at the top of the ninth, Tyler Zuber gave up a lead-off double and issued a one-out walk before being removed. However, he was tagged with his first loss when Josh Simpson let both inherited runners score. He only recorded one out during the ninth, giving up five hits, seven earned runs, and a walk.
- New York Yankees: Closing out a four-run win over Washington, David Bednar retired the side and recorded two strikeouts during a clean top of the ninth. He threw 13 pitches (53.8% strike rate) and induced one whiff. Camilo Doval worked a clean eighth, striking out two.
- Philadelphia Phillies: Tasked with a tied score at the bottom of the ninth, Jhoan Duran allowed four consecutive singles, resulting in a walk-off rally and his sixth loss. He has allowed multiple hits in three straight outings. José Alvarado gave up a hit and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless eighth.
- Seattle Mariners: Brought into a tied contest at the top of the sixth, Caleb Ferguson allowed three hits and two earned runs while retiring one batter, resulting in his fourth loss and a fifth blown save.
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