Despite Friday’s slate resulting in seven blowout contests (games decided by five or more runs), relievers recorded seven wins and five saves while suffering six losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
| Reliever | Save # | Pitches | Strike% | SwStr% | K:BB | BF |
| Carlos Estévez | 22 | 24 | 66.7 | 4.2 | 0:0 | 4 |
| Félix Bautista | 16 | 17 | 64.7 | 11.8 | 2:0 | 3 |
| Tanner Scott | 15 | 19 | 68.4 | 5.3 | 0:0 | 4 |
| Aroldis Chapman | 14 | 14 | 71.4 | 20 | 2:0 | 3 |
| Bennett Sousa | 2 | 10 | 80 | 30 | 1:0 | 3 |
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for June 21
- John Schreiber (KC): Estévez has worked in three straight games, and Erceg threw 29 pitches last night.
- Bryan Baker (BAL): Bautista has appeared in back-to-back contests.
- Luke Jackson (TEX): Garcia has pitched in consecutive games.
- Bennett Sousa (HOU): Hader and Abreu have worked in back-to-back games, and King tossed 1.2 innings yesterday.
- Tyler Ferguson (ATH): He has had some rough outings, but Miller and Kelly have pitched in the previous two days.
Vulture Save Stashes for June 22
- Yariel Rodríguez (TOR): If Hoffman pitches today, it will be consecutive outings.
Here are the leverage events of interest from Friday.
Closer CliffsNotes
Baltimore Orioles – Shutting the door on his 16th save, Félix Bautista retired the Yankees’ 2-3-4 hitters in order, two via strikeout, preserving a two-run lead. He threw 17 pitches (11 strikes – 64.7 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (11.8 SwStr%).
Since May 26, he has converted nine straight saves and been scoreless in 10 of 11 appearances while posting a 0.818 WHIP with 19 strikeouts against six walks (30.9 K-BB%) through 11 innings.
- Scott Blewett collected his third win, working two scoreless frames and recording two strikeouts.
- Yennier Cano allowed two hits and struck out one during a scoreless sixth.
- Keegan Akin stranded two runners in the fourth and logged 1.1 scoreless innings despite giving up two hits and a walk.
Hierarchy Remains: Félix Bautista | Seranthony Domínguez | Bryan Baker
Boston Red Sox – Shutting the door on his 14th save, Aroldis Chapman fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts, including one against his former teammate, Rafael Devers. Chapman threw 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (20 SwStr%).
- Garrett Whitlock worked around a hit and two walks while striking out two during a scoreless eighth, securing his seventh hold.
- Greg Weissert stranded a runner and retired his only batter in the seventh for his 14th hold.
- Justin Wilson gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless combined inning for his 11th hold.
- Zack Kelly walked one and recorded two strikeouts in two-thirds of the sixth.
- Brennan Bernardino was awarded his third win, tossing a scoreless fifth while yielding a hit.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Greg Weissert | Garrett Whitlock
Houston Astros – Preserving a one-run lead at the bottom of the tenth, Bennett Sousa notched his second save, retiring the Angels’ 4-5-6 lineup pocket in order and recording one strikeout on 10 pitches (80 Strike%) with three whiffs (30 SwStr%).
Josh Hader collected his fifth win, tossing a clean ninth and striking out one versus the top of the order. He threw nine pitches (77.8 Strike%) and induced one whiff (11.1 SwStr%).
Through nine appearances in June, he has a 4-1 record with four saves, a 0.538 WHIP, and 16 strikeouts versus one walk (45.5 K-BB%) in 9.1 innings.
- Bryan Abreu worked around two hits and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless eighth.
- Bryan King stranded all three runners in the sixth, but allowed a game-tying solo home run (Christian Moore) in the seventh, resulting in his first blown save. He finished with a hit and an earned run while striking out three over 1.2 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Bryan King
Kansas City Royals – Appearing for a third consecutive game, Carlos Estévez allowed Manny Machado’s lead-off home run, then induced three straight pop-outs, securing his MLB-leading 22nd save. He threw 24 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
In nine outings this month, he has allowed at least a run in three with two losses while converting six of seven save chances. Across these 8.2 innings, he has posted a 1.205 WHIP with five strikeouts versus four walks; the volume of saves buffers his ratios.
- Steven Cruz navigated around a hit and a walk for a scoreless eighth and his sixth hold.
- Lucas Erceg allowed three hits, two earned runs, and a walk, resulting in his first blown save. He also was awarded his second win after his teammates rallied for the lead at the top of the eighth.
- Angel Zerpa let his only inherited runner score, allowing two hits over two-thirds scoreless in the sixth, getting credit for his sixth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Carlos Estévez | Lucas Erceg | John Schreiber
Los Angeles Angels – Tasked with the top of the tenth, Hunter Strickland allowed Jeremy Peña’s lead-off single and scored the “place” runner on a wild pitch. He recorded a strikeout against Isaac Paredes, intentionally walked Jose Altuve, then retired Peña on a caught stealing before an inning-ending flyout by Yainer Diaz.
- Kenley Jansen navigated around two hits at the top of the ninth for a scoreless appearance, keeping the game tied. He threw 17 pitches (12 strikes – 70.6 Strike%) without a whiff.
- Reid Detmers extended his scoreless streak to 14 despite issuing two walks and striking out one in the eighth. During his streak, he has a win, two saves, six holds, a 0.929 WHIP, and 22 strikeouts versus seven walks (28.3 K-BB%).
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Reid Detmers | Ryan Zeferjahn
Los Angeles Dodgers – Sealing a one-run win, Tanner Scott allowed a one-out solo home run by CJ Abrams before inducing consecutive groundouts for his 15th save. He threw 19 pitches (13 strikes – 68.4 Strike%) and produced one whiff.
This snapped his four-game scoreless streak. Through ten games in June, he has a 1-1 record with five saves, two holds, a 0.60 WHIP, and 12 strikeouts versus one walk (30.5 K-BB%).
- Jack Dreyer notched his eighth hold, retiring the side and striking out one in the eighth.
- Kirby Yates let two of three inherited runners score on a pinch-hit two-RBI double by Luis García Jr. before retiring Nathaniel Lowe on a flyout for his 12th hold.
- Alex Vesia gave up a hit, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out one during two-thirds of the seventh.
- Michael Kopech secured his fourth hold, yielding a hit and striking out two in a scoreless sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: *Tanner Scott | *Kirby Yates | *Michael Kopech
*= closer-by-committee with a preferred save share (Scott)
New York Yankees – Taking over at the top of the seventh, Jonathan Loáisiga kept the game tied, retiring the side and striking out two.
In his first appearance back from the injured list, Luke Weaver showed some rust, allowing two hits, including a go-ahead home run by Ramon Urías, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out one across two-thirds of the eighth, resulting in his second loss. First, his illustrator:
And his results:
As intimated in our recap yesterday, Aaron Boone will use Weaver and Devin Williams during save chances, with Weaver as the “stopper,” from William Ladson’s post at MLB.com:
- Tim Hill let one of two inherited runners score, yielding two hits in one-third of the eighth.
- Ian Hamilton worked a clean ninth and recorded a strikeout.
Updated Hierarchy: *Devin Williams | *Luke Weaver | Mark Leiter Jr.
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Extending his scoreless streak to seven games this month, Juan Morillo fired a clean bottom of the sixth while striking out the side on 12 pitches (75 Strike%) with four whiffs (33.3 SwStr%). Jalen Beeks worked a clean seventh, striking out two. Kyle Backhus allowed two hits and an earned run while striking out one in the eighth. Kevin Ginkel took over at the bottom of the ninth with a six-run lead. He retired the side and recorded a strikeout in a much-needed clean appearance.
- Chicago Cubs: Taking over at the top of the sixth with a two-run lead, Ryan Pressly retired Julio Rodríguez (groundout) and Cal Raleigh (flyout), then the wheels came off the proverbial bus. Randy Arozarena roped a double, followed by Mitch Garver’s game-tying two-run home run, a walk, and a pinch-hit Luke Raley double, before an inning-ending strikeout. Remarkably, this was Pressly’s first blown save of the season. Caleb Thielbar gets tagged with his second loss, giving up a single by Rodríguez and Raleigh’s go-ahead two-run home run in the seventh.
- Chicago White Sox: In order of appearance, Tyler Alexander took over at the bottom of the second as the “bulk follower,” and logged four scoreless frames, scattering four hits and striking out two while collecting his fourth win. Dan Altavilla worked a scoreless sixth despite giving up a hit.
- Miami Marlins: Finishing a four-run win over Atlanta, Calvin Faucher retired the side on seven pitches (71.4 Strike%) and induced one whiff (14.3 SwStr%) against the 6-7-8 lineup pocket. His scoreless streak reached ten games, during which he has posted a 0.778 WHIP across nine innings. During the sixth, Ronny Henriquez notched his tenth hold, allowing a hit and striking out one.
- Minnesota Twins: Pitching during a lopsided loss, Jhoan Durán stranded a runner and retired his only batter, William Contreras, on a groundout at the top of the eighth.
- New York Mets: Keeping his team within reach, José Buttó fired two clean frames and recorded a strikeout across the fifth and sixth innings. After his team tied the contest, Reed Garrett took over at the bottom of the seventh, and things went sideways fast. He allowed Brandon Marsh’s lead-off double, followed by Trea Turner’s RBI double, walked Kyle Schwarber, and gave up Nick Castellanos’ RBI single, forcing his removal. He suffered his third loss, allowing three hits, four earned runs, and a walk without recording an out.
- Philadelphia Phillies: Handed a 2-0 lead at the top of the sixth, Taijuan Walker suffered his second blown save, allowing three hits, including back-to-back home runs by Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil before being lifted with one out. Tanner Banks stranded his only inherited runner and retired all five batters faced, one via strikeout. He collected his second win courtesy of his team’s six-run explosion at the bottom of the seventh. Max Lazar worked two scoreless frames and recorded a strikeout, preserving the eight-run victory.
- San Diego Padres: With the score tied at the top of the eighth, Jason Adam took over against the Royals’ 3-4-5 lineup pocket. He allowed Maikel Garcia’s lead-off single, followed by a Vinnie Pasquantino walk (replaced by a pinch-runner), and a Salvador Perez single, scoring the go-ahead run. After consecutive strikeouts, he gave up an RBI single by Drew Waters, resulting in his third loss. He finished with three hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out three during his MLB-leading 38th appearance.
- San Francisco Giants: As the first reliever out of the bullpen, Sean Hjelle stranded an inherited runner in the fifth but gave up Cedanne Rafaela’s go-ahead solo home run in the sixth, resulting in his first loss.
- Texas Rangers: Entering with a four-run lead, Robert Garcia worked around a one-out Alexander Canario single with consecutive groundouts, including a game-ending one by Oneil Cruz. He threw 10 pitches (60 Strike%) without a whiff. He has been scoreless in four of his last five but last posted a save on June 13. Chris Martin allowed two hits during a scoreless eighth, securing his 11th hold. Hoby Milner gave up a hit and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless seventh for his ninth hold.
- The Athletics: Finishing a four-run win over Cleveland, Mason Miller tossed a scoreless top of the ninth, walking and striking out one. He threw 18 pitches (11 strikes – 61.1 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (16.7 SwStr%). Michael Kelly allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout during two-thirds of a scoreless eighth for his second hold.
- Toronto Blue Jays: Appearing during a loss, Jeff Hoffman fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded a strikeout while facing the 2-3-4 lineup pocket of the White Sox. He threw 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in six of eight games in June, recording two wins and four saves with a 0.746 WHIP and eight strikeouts against two walks (25 K-BB%) through 6.2 innings.
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