Friday’s full slate yielded six reliever wins and six saves while relief pitchers were tagged with five losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for September 20
- Matt Brash (SEA): Andrés Muñoz has pitched in back-to-back games.
- Alex Vesia (LAD): Tanner Scott threw 23 pitches during Friday’s save, and following a clinched playoff spot, the team may prefer not overworking him.
Doubleheader Options
- Cleveland: Preferred option – Hunter Gaddis
- Minnesota: If desperate – Pieron Ohl
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Here are the leverage events of interest from Friday.
Leverage Ledger
Baltimore Orioles – Locking down his eighth save, Keegan Akin retired the side and recorded two strikeouts against the Yankees’ 5-6-7 lineup pocket, preserving a two-run lead. He threw nine pitches (88.9% strike rate) and generated three whiffs (33.3 SwStr%).
He’s been scoreless in his last three outings, all of which were saves, and has converted four saves during his last five games.
- Rico Garcia navigated around a hit and a walk while striking out one for a scoreless eighth and his tenth hold.
- Dietrich Enns allowed two hits, including Jazz Chisolm Jr.’s two-run home run, and struck out one, getting credit for his fourth hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Keegan Akin | Rico Garcia | Yennier Cano
Chicago White Sox – Will Venable’s reliever roulette landed on Grant Taylor, summoned with a one-run lead at the top of the ninth. He retired the side and recorded two strikeouts while facing the Padres’ 5-6-7 lineup pocket, throwing 12 pitches (83.3% strike rate) with three whiffs (25 SwStr%), posting his fifth save.
It’s his first since August 10, and he extended his scoreless streak to seven games.
- Brandon Eisert retired his only batter via strikeout for his eighth hold at the top of the eighth.
- Jordan Leasure worked 1.2 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out one, notching his 13th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Jordan Leasure | *Grant Taylor | *Mike Vasil
*= closer-by-committee
Cincinnati Reds – Working around a one-out double, Emilio Pagán induced a lineout and a flyout, finishing his 28th save while preserving a three-run lead at the top of the ninth against the Cubs. He threw 18 pitches (72.2% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (11.1 SwStr%).
He has been scoreless over his last five appearances, and this represents his first save since September 9.
- Tony Santillan secured his 30th hold, walking and striking out one during a scoreless eighth.
- Nick Martinez gave up a hit during a scoreless seventh for his fourth hold.
- Connor Phillips earned his fourth win, stranding two runners at the top of the fifth, and retired all four batters, two via strikeout.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Tony Santillan | Nick Martinez
Cleveland Guardians – Sealing a four-run win over the Twins, Cade Smith fired a clean bottom of the ninth, striking out one on 12 pitches (58.3% strike rate) with one whiff. He has been scoreless in nine of his last ten appearances, recording a win and converting six of seven save chances with a 0.40 WHIP and 19 strikeouts versus zero walks (54.3 K-BB%) across ten innings.
- Jakob Junis collected his fourth win, tossing two clean frames and striking out four.
- Matt Festa suffered his first blown save, letting his only inherited runner score, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out two during two-thirds of the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis | Erik Sabrowski
Colorado Rockies – Snapping his team’s five-game losing streak, Victor Vodnik shut the door on his ninth save, working around Logan O’Hoppe’s one-out single with a lineout and a game-ending strikeout, preserving the one-run lead. He threw 21 pitches (66.7% strike rate) and induced two whiffs (9.5 SwStr%).
He has been scoreless in five of six games this month, converting all three save opportunities.
- Jimmy Herget notched his seventh hold, giving up a hit and striking out two in a scoreless eighth.
- Juan Mejia tossed a clean seventh, striking out two, and secured his tenth hold.
- Jaden Hill worked a clean sixth, striking out one for his second hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Victor Vodnik | Jimmy Herget | Juan Mejia
Los Angeles Dodgers – Securing his 22nd save, Tanner Scott worked around a lead-off single by Christian Koss and a one-out walk with two strikeouts, followed by a game-ending pop-out against Matt Chapman, closing out a three-run lead against the Giants. He threw 23 pitches (60.9% strike rate) and generated seven whiffs (30.4 SwStr%).
It’s his first save since September 8 and extended his scoreless streak to four.
- Kirby Yates tossed a clean eighth, notching his 14th hold.
- Justin Wrobleski gave up two hits and an earned run while striking out three over 1.1 innings for his sixth hold.
- Edgardo Henriquez collected his second win, giving up a hit and striking out three during 1.1 scoreless frames.
Before the game, the team placed Michael Kopech on the 15-day injured list:
Hierarchy Remains: *Tanner Scott | *Blake Treinen | *Alex Vesia
*= closer-by-committee
The Athletics – Another day, another A’s reliever getting the ninth inning. Michael Kelly navigated around a lead-off double with a groundout, a walk, and a game-ending double play groundout, preserving a one-run lead while securing his second save. He threw 13 pitches (53.8% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%).
- Justin Sterner notched his 15th hold, walking one and striking out two in a scoreless eighth.
- Brady Basso gave up a hit and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless seventh, recording his second hold.
- Elvis Alvarado allowed a hit and struck out two in a scoreless sixth for his fourth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Hogan Harris | *Michael Kelly | *Sean Newcomb
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Taking over a tied game at the top of the sixth, Jalen Beeks suffered his second loss, allowing a hit and an earned run during two-thirds of the inning. Taylor Rashi let his only inherited runner score, giving up two hits and striking out one in his two-thirds combined innings.
- Chicago Cubs: Entering a tied game at the bottom of the sixth, Porter Hodge suffered his second loss, allowing three hits, including two home runs, and a walk, resulting in three earned runs.
- Miami Marlins: Despite letting the “place” runner score at the bottom of the 12th, George Soriano collected his second win, closing out a two-run margin. He logged two innings, giving up an unearned run and a walk while striking out one.
- Minnesota Twins: With the score tied at the top of the eighth, Cole Sands suffered his sixth loss, allowing two hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out two.
- New York Mets: Pressed into action at the top of the fifth, Brooks Raley retired all three batters during his combined inning of relief, earning his second win.
- Philadelphia Phillies: As the “bulk follower,” Walker Buehler collected his ninth win, tossing 3.2 scoreless frames, scattering two hits and issuing two walks while striking out three. Tanner Banks stranded the bases loaded at the bottom of the eighth, keeping Buehler’s line intact.
- Seattle Mariners: Completing a combined shutout, Andrés Muñoz navigated around a one-out single by Isaac Paredes with a flyout and a game-ending strikeout. He threw 16 pitches (81.3% strike rate) and induced two whiffs (12.5 SwStr%) while recording two strikeouts. This extended his scoreless streak to seven games, during which he has converted five saves with a 0.571 WHIP while recording 14 strikeouts against one walk (50 K-BB%).
- Tampa Bay Rays: Taking over with a one-run lead at the top of the seventh, Garrett Cleavinger suffered his sixth loss and fourth blown save, giving up two hits, including Jarren Duran’s go-ahead two-run home run during two-thirds of the inning.
- Texas Rangers: Tasked with the top of the 12th, Patrick Corbin suffered his tenth loss, allowing three hits and three runs (two earned) while facing the Marlins.
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