Tuesday’s 14-game slate resulted in five reliever wins and eight saves, while they were tagged with six losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for September 3
- Brad Keller (CHC): Daniel Palencia has pitched in three of the last four.
- Keegan Akin (BAL): Rico Garcia has appeared in back-to-back games, and Albert Suárez tossed two innings last night.
- Cole Sands (MIN): If there is a save chance, he’s been trending toward it, but nothing is guaranteed in this leverage ladder.
- Clayton Beeter (WSH): Another long shot, but Jose A. Ferrer has worked in three consecutive contests, while Cole Henry and Konnor Pilkington have pitched in back-to-back games.
Here are Tuesday’s leverage events of interest.
Leverage Ladder
Arizona Diamondbacks – Back from Triple-A, Taylor Rashi worked around two singles at the top of the eighth and returned for the ninth, allowing a lead-off double, throwing a wild pitch, and giving up a run on a fielder’s choice groundout, but secured his second save, closing out a two-run win over Texas. He threw 41 pitches (58.5% strike rate) and induced one whiff. He has recorded two multi-inning saves, also on August 28, across two appearances in the majors.
- Jalen Beeks was awarded his fifth win, issuing two walks and retiring two batters at the top of the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: *Andrew Saalfrank | *Jake Woodford | *Ryan Thompson
*= closer-by-committee
Chicago Cubs – Working around Marcell Ozuna’s one-out single and Ha-Seong Kim’s two-out infield hit, Daniel Palencia closed out a one-run win over Atlanta for his 22nd save with a game-ending flyout against Eli White. He threw 20 pitches (65% strike rate) and produced two whiffs.
He has allowed multiple hits in four of his last seven appearances, but has converted all five save chances while suffering two losses in them.
- Caleb Thielbar retired the side and recorded a strikeout at the top of the eighth, securing his 19th hold.
- Drew Pomeranz allowed a hit and struck out one for his 11th hold in the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Daniel Palencia | Brad Keller | Andrew Kittredge
Cleveland Guardians – Taking over a tied game at the bottom of the seventh, Hunter Gaddis recorded an inning-ending strikeout. Returning for the eighth, he allowed a lead-off single, recorded a forceout, and a flyout, but was removed with a runner on and two outs.
Cade Smith took over, allowing consecutive singles, though Alex Bregman’s never left the infield, scoring the inherited runner charged to Gaddis. But things escalated quickly for Smith; Jarren Duran produced an RBI double, followed by Trevor Story’s two-RBI double, forcing his removal. Gaddis was charged with his second loss, allowing a hit and an earned run while striking out one in his combined inning. Smith did not retire a batter, yielding four hits and three earned runs. HIs illustrator from this outing:
And, his results:
Hierarchy Remains: Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis | Eric Sabrowski
Pittsburgh Pirates – Handed a three-run lead at the top of the ninth, Dennis Santana held on for his 12th save, despite issuing Miguel Rojas a lead-off walk, followed by Shohei Ohtani’s RBI double; he bore down, retiring the Dodgers’ 2-3-4 hitters in order. Santana threw 14 pitches (57.1% strike rate) without a whiff.
He has converted a save in his last three appearances, but this outing snapped his two-game scoreless streak.
- Dauri Moreta notched his second hold, tossing a clean eighth and striking out two.
- Isaac Mattson gave up three hits and two earned runs, getting credit for his eighth hold.
- Bubba Chandler collected his second win as the “bulk follower,” giving up six hits and three earned runs while striking out three.
Hierarchy Remains: Dennis Santana | Isaac Mattson | Kyle Nicolas
San Francisco Giants – Slamming the door on his 13th save, Ryan Walker fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded a strikeout, preserving a three-run win in Colorado. He threw 11 pitches (72.7% strike rate) and induced one whiff (9.1 SwStr%).
This extends his scoreless streak to nine games, during which he has recorded two wins while converting all three save opportunities with a 0.805 WHIP and 11 strikeouts against zero walks (35.5 K-BB%) through 8.2 innings.
- Joey Lucchesi worked a clean eighth, securing his third hold.
- José Buttó allowed two hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out two across the sixth and seventh innings, getting credit for his fourth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Walker | José Buttó | Joey Lucchesi
St. Louis Cardinals – Preserving a one-run lead, JoJo Romero fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded one strikeout while nailing down his sixth save. He threw 12 pitches (58.3% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%) against the A’s 4-5-6 lineup pocket.
Romero’s been scoreless in his last eight outings, recording three saves and four holds with a 0.75 WHIP across eight innings.
- Matt Svanson notched his third hold, tossing two scoreless frames, walking one, and striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: *JoJo Romero | *Riley O’Brien | Matt Svanson
*= closer-by-committee
Tampa Bay Rays – Forced into action with the bases loaded and no outs at the top of the ninth, Garrett Cleavinger stranded two of three runners while retiring all three batters faced, finishing a one-run win over Seattle for his second save. He threw ten pitches (70% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (20 SwStr%).
He remains scoreless over his last 20 outings, posting a 0.889 WHIP with 25 strikeouts versus seven walks (26.9 K-BB%) through 18 innings.
- Griffin Jax allowed a hit, an earned run, and two walks without recording an out in the ninth.
- Kevin Kelly collected his first win, logging 1.1 clean frames, stranding three runners at the top of the seventh, and striking out two.
It should be noted that Pete Fairbanks has not been used in back-to-back appearances, but was still not used in this save chance. Tampa Bay may be auditioning potential replacements for next year.
Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks | Bryan Baker | Garrett Cleavinger
Toronto Blue Jays – Securing his 30th save, Jeff Hoffman allowed Sal Stewart’s one-out single but recorded a strikeout of Ke’Bryan Hayes and a game-ending pop-out by Will Benson, closing out a three-run win in Cincinnati. He threw 18 pitches (61.1% strike rate) and induced one whiff.
It’s been an up-and-down season for the embattled closer, but his manager remains steadfast in his support for him.
- Seranthony Domínguez gave up two hits, including TJ Friedl’s solo shot, and recorded two strikeouts for his 19th hold at the bottom of the eighth.
- Louis Varland collected his fourth win, logging 1.2 scoreless frames, giving up a hit and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Jeff Hoffman | Seranthony Domínguez | Yariel Rodríguez
Washington Nationals – Appearing in a third consecutive game, Jose A. Ferrer locked down his sixth save, retiring the side and recording a strikeout against Miami’s 7-8-9 lineup pocket. He threw 20 pitches (65% strike rate) and induced three whiffs (15 SwStr%).
This extended his scoreless streak to 11 games, during which he has two wins and six saves with a 0.752 WHIP and 12 strikeouts versus one walk (22.9 K-BB%) across 13.1 innings.
- Jackson Rutledge notched his second hold, stranding two runners and retiring his only batter in the eighth.
- Konnor Pilkington issued two walks during his two-thirds of the eighth, getting credit for his third hold.
- Cole Henry tossed a scoreless seventh, walking and striking out one, securing his ninth hold.
- PJ Poulin fired a clean sixth, striking out the side for his third hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Jose A. Ferrer | Clayton Beeter | PJ Poulin
Quick Hits
- Baltimore Orioles: Completing a four-run win at San Diego, Albert Suárez tossed two clean frames and recorded two strikeouts on 22 pitches (63.6% strike rate) with one whiff. Rico Garcia stranded all three inherited runners at the bottom of the seventh, retiring both batters, one via strikeout for his fifth hold.
- Boston Red Sox: Wrapping up a wild contest against Cleveland, Brennan Bernardino retired the side at the top of the ninth, preserving a four-run margin. Justin Slaten collected his second win, giving up a hit and striking out in a scoreless top of the eighth, ahead of his team’s four-run rally. Garrett Whitlock worked a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and striking out one.
- Los Angeles Angels: Finishing a four-run win over the Royals, Kenley Jansen tossed a scoreless bottom of the ninth. He issued Vinnie Pasquantino a lead-off walk, then retired the next three batters, two via strikeout on 22 pitches (54.5% strike rate) with two whiffs. He has been scoreless in his last four appearances, during which he has recorded two saves.
- Los Angeles Dodgers: Entering a tied game at the bottom of the sixth, Edgardo Henriquez suffered his first loss, issuing consecutive walks and allowing a one-out RBI single before being lifted. Blake Treinen took over and allowed a two-RBI double by Jared Triolo, letting both inherited runners score, and recorded two strikeouts during two-thirds of the sixth. Henriquez finished with a hit, three earned runs, and a walk in one-third of the sixth.
- Minnesota Twins: Getting tagged with his first loss, Thomas Hatch allowed eight hits, six runs (five earned), and a walk while striking out three across the sixth and seventh innings against the White Sox.
- Seattle Mariners: After his team tied the score at the top of the seventh, Gabe Speier allowed two hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out two during two-thirds of the inning, resulting in his second loss.
- Texas Rangers: Suffering his first blown save, Luis Curvelo let both inherited runners score at the bottom of the sixth, giving up an RBI single by Blaze Alexander and a sacrifice fly. Hoby Milner gave up three hits, including Ketel Marte’s three-run home run at the bottom of the seventh, resulting in his fourth loss.
Closer Monkey Emails for 2025
This year, the daily emails have changed. Those interested in daily free updates with links should subscribe to our page at Substack. Subscribers to the former site will not transfer over; readers must register using the new link.
Premium subscribers can still use this link for daily, ad-free content or submit a rest-of-the-season $15 payment via Venmo to @gjewett9.
If you would like to leave a tip, please use this link for PayPal. Venmo can be sent to the address above.
Thanks for being part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.
Statistical Credits: