Friday’s full slate tilted towards relievers who recorded seven wins against five losses while securing nine saves. Three relievers recorded their first save of the season. Two of the nine saves required more than three outs. Here they are in condensed form:
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for August 30
- Riley O’Brien (STL): If he’s available, he should be the preferred option in the ninth. JoJo Romero has pitched in back-to-back games.
Under the Hood
Entering with a one-run lead, Andrés Muñoz allowed a lead-off double by Nolan Jones, followed by Brayan Rocchio’s game-tying RBI single, though the throw from home took a strange hop going wide of home plate, letting Rocchio reach third. Facing Steven Kwan, Muñoz induced a flyout, but it was a walk-off sacrifice fly, resulting in his second loss and a seventh blown save. He finished with two hits and two runs (one earned) during one-third of an inning. First, his illustrator:
And, his results:
He has allowed at least a run in four of his last five appearances, and multiple hits in three. As the first chart will show, he has been working with reduced velocity since June:
This coincides with a declining strikeout percentage while allowing more contact:
For the visual crowd, like myself, his splits by month and half in 2025:
Link: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/CyZDd/2/
This could be as simple as fatigue, but it’s tough to provide a closer with extra rest while trying to qualify for a postseason berth. Keep tabs on his velocity, WHIP, and results through September.
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Friday.
Leverage Ledger
Arizona Diamondbacks – Capping a combined shutout against the Dodgers, Jake Woodford recorded his second save, entering against the Dodgers’ 3-4-5 lineup pocket and allowing a two-out walk to Teoscar Hernández ahead of a game-ending strikeout of Dalton Rushing. He threw 19 pitches (57.9% strike rate) and induced one whiff.
This marked his first usage in the ninth inning as the point of entry and only his second appearance this month, not as a multi-inning reliever.
- Kyle Backhus secured his ninth hold, retiring the side versus the 9-1-2 hitters in the eighth.
- Jalen Beeks gave up a hit and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless seventh for his 13th hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Andrew Saalfrank | Jake Woodford | Kyle Backhus
Detroit Tigers – Despite allowing Kyle Isbel’s lead-off single, Will Vest induced a double play groundout by Mike Yastrzemski and a game-ending flyout by Bobby Witt Jr., securing his 20th save while preserving a two-run lead. He threw 12 pitches (58.3% strike rate) and produced one whiff.
Kyle Finnegan did the heavy lifting in this contest. He took over at the bottom of the seventh and stranded a runner, then returned for the eighth, retiring the side. He was awarded his fourth win, logging 1.2 scoreless frames while issuing a walk and striking out three on 22 pitches (59.1% strike rate) with five whiffs (22.7 SwStr%).
- Troy Melton allowed three hits and recorded a strikeout over 1.2 scoreless innings for his second hold.
- Tyler Holton tossed a scoreless combined inning, walking two and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: *Kyle Finnegan | *Will Vest | Tyler Holton
*= closer-by-committee
Houston Astros – Completing a combined shutout and recording his first save of the season, Kaleb Ort stranded the bases loaded at the top of the eighth, then retired the side in the ninth. He threw 21 pitches (71.4% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (14.3 SwStr%) while recording two strikeouts.
He has been scoreless in his last three appearances, posting multiple strikeouts in each (7 strikeouts of 11 batters faced).
- Craig Kimbrel gets credit for his first hold, issuing three walks and striking out two during two-thirds of the eighth.
- Enyel De Los Santos collected his fifth win, yielding two hits and striking out one in the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Bryan Abreu | Bryan King | Kaleb Ort
Minnesota Twins – Navigating around two walks, Kody Funderburk recorded his first save of the year, and second of his career, with a strikeout and a game-ending flyout by Fernando Tatis Jr. He threw 23 pitches (47.8% strike rate) and induced one whiff. It appears Rocco Baldelli has returned to a full-blown match-up-based approach.
- Cole Sands fired a clean eighth, striking out two for his 11th hold.
- Justin Topa allowed two hits, an earned run, and a walk at the top of the seventh.
Updated Hierarchy: *Justin Topa | *Cole Sands | *Kody Funderburk
*= closer-by-committee
Philadelphia Phillies – Shutting the door on his 24th save, Jhoan Duran fired a clean top of the ninth, preserving a one-run lead while facing Atlanta’s 9-1-2 lineup pocket. He threw 12 pitches (58.3% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%), resulting in two strikeouts.
Through 11 games in August, he has a 0-2 record with eight saves in nine chances, posting a 1.149 WHIP with 11 strikeouts versus zero walks (30.6 K-BB%) across 8.2 innings.
- Orion Kerkering allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless top of the eighth, then collected his seventh win when his team took the lead at the bottom of the frame.
- Matt Strahm worked around a hit and a walk for a scoreless seventh.
- David Robertson fired a clean sixth, striking out two.
Updated Hierarchy: Jhoan Duran | Matt Strahm | Orion Kerkering
Pittsburgh Pirates – Preserving a two-run margin at Boston, Dennis Santana issued a one-out walk and recorded two strikeouts during a scoreless ninth, locking down his 11th save. He threw 13 pitches (61.5% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%).
He has been scoreless in eight of his last nine games, going 1-1 while converting all five save chances with a 0.778 WHIP and eight strikeouts against two walks (18.1 K-BB%) over nine innings.
- Isaac Mattson notched his seventh hold, giving up a hit and striking out one during a scoreless eighth.
- Dauri Moreta allowed a hit during a scoreless seventh for his first hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Dennis Santana | Isaac Mattson | Kyle Nicolas
St. Louis Cardinals – Taking over with a two-run lead at the bottom of the tenth, Ryan Fernandez issued Gavin Lux a lead-off walk, then recorded a strikeout, a flyout, and a game-ending strikeout while facing the Reds’ 1-2-3 hitters for his first save of the season, third of his career. He threw 21 pitches (61.9% strike rate) and generated seven whiffs (33.3 SwStr%).
He has been scoreless in his last three outings.
- Matt Svanson collected his third win, stranding two runners at the bottom of the eighth and logging 1.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out three.
- JoJo Romero recorded an out and issued two walks before being removed in the eighth. He has given up nine walks through 13 innings in August (14.8 BB%).
- Gordon Graceffo suffered his first blown save, allowing three hits and two earned runs while striking out three during his 1.1 innings.
Per Katie Woo, Riley O’Brien was unavailable for this game. For now:
Hierarchy Remains: *JoJo Romero | *Riley O’Brien | Matt Svanson
*= closer-by-committee
Tampa Bay Rays – Handed a three-run lead at Washington, Pete Fairbanks retired the first two batters he faced, gave up Josh Bell’s two-out single, followed by a Brady House double, before a game-ending strikeout, securing his 23rd save. He threw 22 pitches (68.2% strike rate) and induced two whiffs while recording two strikeouts.
This was his tenth appearance in August, during which he had a loss and converted five of six save opportunities with a 0.80 WHIP across ten innings.
- Bryan Baker allowed a hit during a scoreless eighth, notching his 16th hold.
- Garrett Cleavinger recorded his 20th hold, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out three in a scoreless seventh.
- Brian Van Belle collected his first career win, tossing two scoreless frames and scattering two hits.
Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks | Edwin Uceta | Garrett Cleavinger
Texas Rangers – Making an extended outing, Shawn Armstrong secured his fifth save, retiring five of six batters faced; his only blemish was a two-out walk in the ninth to JJ Bleday, while preserving a three-run win over the A’s. He threw 18 pitches (61.1% strike rate) and induced one whiff while extending his scoreless streak to 12 games, since July 29. In this streak, he has posted a 0.598 WHIP with 13 strikeouts versus three walks (22.2 K-BB%) across 11.2 innings with two saves and two holds.
- Hoby Milner notched his 16th hold, working 1.1 clean frames and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: *Shawn Armstrong | *Hoby Milner | Phil Maton
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Atlanta Braves: With the score tied at the bottom of the eighth, Dylan Lee allowed two hits and an earned run during his one-third of an inning, resulting in his fourth loss. Pierce Johnson let one of two inherited runners score on a sacrifice fly, giving up a hit and a walk during two-thirds of the eighth.
- Boston Red Sox: Summoned at the top of the sixth with two runners on and one out, Greg Weissert allowed two hits, letting both inherited runners score, and an earned run on his ledger while striking out one, resulting in his fifth loss along with an eighth blown save.
- Cincinnati Reds: Tasked with the top of the tenth, Tony Santillan retired his first two batters, then Willson Contreras reached on a throwing error by Elly De La Cruz, scoring the “place” runner, issued Nolan Gorman a walk, then gave up Masyn Winn’s RBI single before an inning-ending pop-out. Although he had two unearned runs on a hit, Santillan was charged with his fifth loss.
- Cleveland Guardians: Escaping with a scoreless top of the ninth, despite allowing three hits, Tim Herrin collected his fifth win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. Jakob Junis tossed two scoreless frames, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out one.
- Colorado Rockies: In an eventual four-run loss, Victor Vodnik retired the side at the top of the ninth on eight pitches (75% strike rate). He has been scoreless over his last seven appearances, but has not had a save chance since August 16.
- Los Angeles Angels: Entering a tied game at the bottom of the eighth, Luis García suffered his first loss, giving up two hits, an unearned run, and a walk while striking out one in Houston.
- Milwaukee Brewers: Albeit a non-save appearance, Abner Uribe sealed a five-run win in Toronto, allowing Bo Bichette’s lead-off single, then retiring the next three batters. He threw 11 pitches (63.6% strike rate) without a whiff. This extended his scoreless streak to 16 games, during which he has a save and eight holds with a 0.813 WHIP and 18 strikeouts against five walks over 16 innings.
- San Francisco Giants: Forced into action at the top of the fifth with a runner on and one out, Spencer Bivens fired 1.2 clean frames and collected his third win against Baltimore.
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