Sunday’s slate resulted in eight wins by relievers and seven saves while they suffered only three losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for September 22
- Jeremiah Estrada (SD): Robert Suarez, Mason Miller, and Adrian Morejon have appeared in back-to-back games.
- JoJo Romero (STL): Riley O’Brien has pitched in consecutive contests.
News, Notes, and Observations
Daniel Palencia made his first rehab appearance on Saturday at Triple-A. He allowed two hits and an unearned run while recording two strikeouts, throwing three pitches over 100 miles per hour. Of his 21 pitches, 15 were strikes (71.4% strike rate) with four whiffs (19 SwStr%):
He should be activated during the week, but the exact date has not been announced.
Rosi Sasaki fired a clean sixth inning and recorded a strikeout during his second relief appearance at Triple-A on Sunday. He threw eight pitches (62.5% strike rate) and induced two whiffs (25 SwStr%):
Brock Stewart worked a scoreless fifth, yielding a hit and striking out one. Both are vying for a spot on the postseason roster and may be activated this week in the Dodgers’ revolving door bullpen.
Mason Miller turned in his MLB-leading 18th consecutive scoreless appearance. He has recorded a save and nine holds in this stretch, posting 36 strikeouts against eight walks (42.4 K-BB%) with a 0.632 WHIP across 19 scoreless innings. He’s tied with Tyler Kinley in current scoreless streaks as a reliever.
Here are the leverage events of interest from Sunday.
Leverage Ledger
Atlanta Braves – Forced into action at the bottom of the ninth, Raisel Iglesias retired both batters faced, stranding a runner while preserving a four-run lead. He threw eight pitches (87.5% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (25 SwStr%), striking out one during a non-save situation, but extending his team’s win streak to eight.
- Dylan Dodd created the mess, giving up two hits, two earned runs, and a walk during one-third of the ninth, spoiling the shutout.
- Tyler Kinley worked around two hits and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless eighth for his 13th hold.
- José Suarez fired a clean seventh, securing his first hold.
- Dylan Lee stranded two runners while retiring both batters, one via strikeout, in the sixth for his 18th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Tyler Kinley | Dylan Lee
Baltimore Orioles – After tossing a clean top of the ninth and striking out the side, Kade Strowd returned in the tenth, issuing Aaron Judge a walk, then was removed. However, he gets tagged with his first loss and two runs (one earned) while walking one.
Keegan Akin replaced him, allowing Cody Bellinger’s single, followed by Ben Rice’s grand slam, finishing twitch three hits, and three earned runs while striking out one during one-third of the tenth.
- Yaramil Hiraldo gave up two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one across two-thirds of the tenth.
Updated Hierarchy: Keegan Akin | Rico Garcia | Kade Strowd
Cincinnati Reds – Filling in capably for his resting closer, Tony Santillan worked around two walks and recorded two strikeouts for a scoreless ninth, securing his seventh save. He threw 23 pitches (52.2% strike rate) and produced four whiffs (17.4 SwStr%).
This represents his third save this month and extends his scoreless streak to seven games.
- Graham Ashcraft notched his 20th hold, yielding a hit and striking out during a scoreless eighth.
- Nick Martinez collected his 11th win, stranding a runner at the top of the fifth and logging 2.1 clean frames while striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Tony Santillan | Nick Martinez
Colorado Rockies – Despite dealing with traffic, Victor Vodnik recorded his tenth save, preserving a two-run lead against the Angels. His outing began with a lead-off walk, erased by a double play groundout, followed by Logan O’Hoppe’s two-out single, and a game-ending strikeout of Christian Moore. Vodnik threw 17 pitches (52.9% strike rate) and induced two whiffs (11.8 SwStr%).
He has converted a save in his last two appearances and three this month, while being scoreless in six of seven contests.
- Juan Mejia gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless eighth, securing his 11th hold.
- Jimmy Herget fired a clean seventh, striking out the side for his eighth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Victor Vodnik | Jimmy Herget | Juan Mejia
Miami Marlins – Reliever roulette landed on George Soriano. He became the ninth Marlins reliever with a save this season, and it’s his first since August 11, 2024. Soriano preserved a two-run lead with a clean ninth, striking out one in Texas while throwing eight pitches (75% strike rate) with one whiff.
- Michael Petersen tossed a scoreless eighth, striking out one for his second hold.
- Ronny Henriquez secured his 26th hold, walking one during a scoreless seventh.
- Lake Bachar was awarded his eighth win despite giving up three hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out two over two innings.
Hierarchy Remains: *Calvin Faucher | *Ronny Henriquez | *Tyler Phillips
*= closer-by-committee
New York Yankees – Closing out a six-run lead at the bottom of the tenth, Camilo Doval issued two walks and recorded a strikeout during a scoreless non-save outing.
David Bednar collected his sixth win, walking and striking out one at the bottom of the ninth, ahead of his team’s six-run outburst during the tenth. He threw 16 pitches (56.3% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (18.8 SwStr%).
He has been scoreless in six of his last seven, posting this win and converting all five save chances with a 0.411 WHIP over 7.1 innings.
- Devin Williams fired a clean eighth, striking out the side.
Hierarchy Remains: David Bednar | Devin Williams | Fernando Cruz
San Diego Padres – Locking down his 40th save, Robert Suarez retired the side and recorded two strikeouts, preserving a one-run lead against the White Sox. He threw 11 pitches (72.7% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (27.3 SwStr%).
He has recorded a save in four of his last five appearances and been scoreless in seven of ten this month with a 0.708 WHIP across 11.1 innings.
- Wandy Peralta tossed a scoreless eighth, walking and striking out one for his fourth hold.
- Mason Miller entered a bases-loaded situation with one out in the seventh and struggled with his command, issuing two walks while striking out one. He was scoreless, but let two inherited runners score while posting his tenth hold.
- Kyle Hart was credited with his second hold, giving up a hit, two earned runs, and two walks while striking out one during one-third of the seventh.
- Adrian Morejon notched his 20th hold, stranded the bases loaded in the sixth, retiring all three batters, two via strikeout.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Suarez | Mason Miller | Adrian Morejon
San Francisco Giants – Handed a two-run lead with one out at the bottom of the ninth, Ryan Walker retired both Dodgers batters, including a game-ending strikeout of Michael Conforto while shutting the door on his 16th save. He threw 15 pitches (53.8% strike rate) and produced one whiff.
He has recorded two losses and converted four of five save opportunities this month while being scoreless in six of eight games.
- Joey Lucchesi notched his sixth hold, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and striking out two.
- Spencer Bivens collected his fourth win, retiring the side at the bottom of the seventh, ahead of his team’s rally in the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Walker | José Buttó | Joey Lucchesi
Tampa Bay Rays – Preventing a sweep against the Red Sox, Pete Fairbanks closed out a four-run lead with a clean top of the ninth, retiring the side on eight pitches (87.5% strike rate) without a whiff.
- Edwin Uceta notched his 21st hold, firing a clean eighth and recording two strikeouts.
- Bryan Baker allowed four hits and two earned runs while striking out one in the seventh, getting credit for his 19th hold.
- Garrett Cleavinger was awarded his second win, tossing a clean sixth and striking out one.
Updated Hierarchy: Pete Fairbanks | Edwin Uceta | Griffin Jax
Toronto Blue Jays – Although he allowed a one-out double, Jeff Hoffman bore down, inducing a groundout against Bobby Witt Jr., followed by a game-ending groundout by Vinnie Pasquantino, securing his 32nd save while preserving a three-run lead. He threw 11 pitches (72.7% strike rate) and induced one whiff.
He has been scoreless in his last four appearances and in nine of his last 10, converting all three save opportunities.
- Eric Lauer notched his first hold, retiring the side at the bottom of the eighth.
- Seranthony Domínguez was awarded his fourth win. He stranded a runner at the bottom of the sixth and retired all four batters, two via strikeout.
Hierarchy Remains: Jeff Hoffman | Seranthony Domínguez | Yariel Rodríguez
Quick Hits
- Chicago Cubs: Appearing during a shutout loss, Brad Keller retired the side and recorded a strikeout at the bottom of the eighth, throwing 11 pitches (63.6% strike rate) with one whiff.
- Chicago White Sox: Taking over with two runners on and one out, Jordan Leasure stranded both at the top of the ninth while striking out one. Brandon Eisert allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout during one-third of the ninth. Grant Taylor fired a clean eighth, striking out two on nine pitches (77.8% strike rate) with three whiffs (33.3 SwStr%) in an eventual loss to the Padres.
- Cleveland Guardians: Summoned at the bottom of the sixth, Matt Festa let his only inherited runner score, giving up a two-run home run by Brooks Lee, resulting in his fourth loss and second blown save.
- Los Angeles Dodgers: It’s been a season to forget for Blake Treinen, and his outing ended with boos as he departed. He gave up three hits, three earned runs, and two walks while recording two outs at the top of the eighth, resulting in his seventh loss and third blown save. Over his last seven appearances, he has been tagged with four losses while allowing multiple runs in three.
- Minnesota Twins: Called upon at the top of the sixth, Kody Funderburk retired the side and recorded a strikeout, then collected his fourth win following his team’s go-ahead rally at the bottom of the inning. Pierson Ohl worked a clean seventh, securing his second hold.
- Philadelphia Phillies: Making his first appearance since Tuesday, Jhoan Duran allowed Corbin Carroll’s one-out double, threw a wild pitch moving him to third, and allowed an earned run on a groundout. Duran threw 24 pitches (62.5% strike rate) and induced three whiffs (12.5 SwStr%) during a non-save appearance with his team down by six.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Entering at the top of the fifth, Carmen Mlodzinski logged three scoreless frames, yielding two hits and striking out three while collecting his fifth win.
- Seattle Mariners: Finishing a four-run lead and a sweep in Houston, Matt Brash retired the side and recorded a strikeout at the bottom of the ninth, throwing 11 pitches (54.5% strike rate) without a whiff.
- St. Louis Cardinals: Closing out a four-run lead, Riley O’Brien retired the side at the top of the ninth on 15 pitches (86.7% strike rate) and induced one whiff.
- Washington Nationals: As the “bulk follower,” Mitchell Parker recorded his first career save in his first career relief appearance in the majors, logging 3.2 scoreless frames, scattering two hits, and striking out two. He threw 53 pitches (71.7% strike rate) and induced four whiffs.
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