Thursday’s nine-game slate featured four shutouts and four games decided by five or more runs. Relievers recorded three wins and three saves while getting tagged with two losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
| Reliever | Save # | Pitches | Strike% | SwStr% | K:BB | BF |
| Tanner Scott | 17 | 17 | 52.9 | 17.6 | 1:0 | 3 |
| Pete Fairbanks | 15 | 4 | 50% | 0 | 0:0 | 1 |
| Daniel Palencia | 8 | 24 | 66.7 | 12.5 | 3:0 | 5 |
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for June 27
- Jason Adam (SD): With Robert Suarez serving the second game of his suspension, it leaves Adam in line for the save chance.
- Edwin Uceta (TB): Although it was only four pitches on Thursday, Pete Fairbanks has appeared in back-to-back games.
- Reed Garrett (NYM): Díaz has worked in consecutive contests and three of the last four days.
Vulture Save Stash for June 28
- Porter Hodge (CHC): If Palencia pitches today, it’s back-to-back outings.
- Tommy Kanhnle (DET): If Vest appears on Friday, it will be consecutive games.
Here are the leverage events of interest from Thursday.
Closer CliffsNotes
Chicago Cubs –Despite allowing a lead-off double by Alec Burleson and hitting Willson Contreras with a pitch, Daniel Palencia bore down, retiring the next three batters via strikeout, and securing his eighth save. He threw 24 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (12.5 SwStr%).
It’s his first save since June 17 and has been scoreless in five of his last six appearances, though he has allowed at least a hit in four straight.
- Drew Pomeranz notched his fifth hold, working a scoreless eighth, yielding a hit and striking out two.
- Brad Keller was credited for his 12th hold, recording two outs and issuing two walks at the bottom of the seventh.
- Caleb Thielbar fired 1.1 clean frames for his eighth hold.
Updated Hierarchy Daniel Palencia | Brad Keller | Drew Pomeranz
Colorado Rockies – In order of appearance, Angel Chivilli allowed two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one during one-third of the sixth, resulting in his third loss.
- Juan Mejia stranded both inherited runners and recorded two outs in the sixth, one via strikeout.
- Tyler Kinley served up Shohei Ohtani’s solo home run and struck out one during the seventh.
- Victor Vodnik gave up a hit and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless eighth.
- Seth Halvorsen retired the side, striking out one at the top of the ninth. He threw eight pitches (62.5 Strike%) without a whiff. Through ten outings in June, he has a 1-1 record while converting four of five saves with 0.825 WHIP and nine strikeouts versus two walks (20 K-BB%) across 9.2 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Seth Halvorsen | Victor Vodnik | Jake Bird
Detroit Tigers – Completing a combined shutout, Will Vest retired the side and recorded a strikeout during an 8-0 win against the A’s. He threw 10 pitches (70 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (20 SwStr%).
He has been scoreless in his two outings since leaving an outing with a zing in his pinky finger, and he has not secured a save since June 12.
- Chase Lee worked a clean eighth.
- Tyler Holton notched his eighth hold, allowing a hit during the seventh.
- Brenan Hanfiee also gave up a hit and recorded his ninth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Will Vest | *Tommy Kahnle | Tyler Holton
*= closer-by-committee with a preferred save share (Vest)
Houston Astros – Taking over a tied contest with a runner on and two outs at the top of the eighth, Bryan Abreu retired all four batters faced via strikeout. He collected his third win courtesy of his teammates plating a run at the bottom of the eighth. He threw 22 pitches (16 strikes – 72.7 Strike%) and generated eight whiffs (36.4 SwStr%) in a dominant outing.
- Bryan King allowed a hit, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one during two-thirds of the eighth, getting tagged with his second blown save.
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Bryan King
Los Angeles Dodgers – Handed a two-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, Tanner Scott worked around a walk with a game-ending double play lineout and recorded a strikeout en route to his 17th save. He threw 17 pitches (9 strikes – 52.9 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (17.6 SwStr%).
In 12 games this month, he has a 1-1 record while converting all seven save opportunities, posting a 0.732 WHIP with 13 strikeouts against two walks (25 K-BB%) through 12.1 innings.
- Michael Kopech fired a clean eighth and recorded a strikeout for his fifth hold.
- Kirby Yates notched his 13th hold, walking and striking out one during a scoreless seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Tanner Scott | Kirby Yates | Michael Kopech
*= closer-by-committee with a preferred save share (Scott)
Miami Marlins – Forced into action at the bottom of the fourth with a runner on and two outs, Josh Simpson issued a walk and recorded a strikeout, stranding the runner. He was awarded his first win.
- Lake Bachar logged 1.2 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out one for his fifth hold.
- Cade Gibson worked 1.1 clean frames and recorded three strikeouts, securing his second hold.
- Valente Bellozo finished the seven-run victory, logging two scoreless innings, giving up three hits and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Calvin Faucher | Ronny Henriquez | Anthony Bender
New York Mets – An injury brought Austin Warren into the game with two outs and a runner on. He stranded the runners and logged 2.1 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and striking out two. He was awarded his first win as a result.
- Dedniel Núñez fired two clean frames and recorded four strikeouts, securing his second hold.
- Ryne Stanek retired the side and recorded a strikeout during the eighth.
- Edwin Díaz gave up Matt Olson’s two-out single, then produced a game-ending strikeout of Marcell Ozuna, finishing the combined shutout in a non-save capacity. He threw 18 pitches (11 strikes – 61.1 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (16.7 SwStr%). This extended his scoreless streak to seven games, during which he has recorded three saves with seven strikeouts versus one walk.
Hierarchy Remains: Edwin Díaz | Reed Garrett | Huascar Brazobán
Philadelphia Phillies – Entering a tied game at the bottom of the eighth against Houston’s top of the lineup, Orion Kerkering hit Isaac Paredes with a pitch, followed by Jose Altuve’s single, and Cam Smith’s two-out single, which scored the game-winning run, resulting in his third loss. Kerkering finished with two hits and an earned run on his ledger while throwing 21 pitches (17 strikes – 81 Strike%) with two whiffs. This snapped his nine-game scoreless streak and represents his first earned run allowed since May 6.
Over his last 17.2 innings since May 9, he has a 2-2 record with two saves, seven holds, and one blown save. He has a 1.19 WHIP in this timeframe with 16 strikeouts against eight walks (10.4 K-BB%). However, his 0.51 ERA is accompanied by a 4.12 SIERA. How his results evolve moving forward will determine his team’s approach at the trade deadline. One would prefer a swinging strike rate over his 9.6 percent in this sample while reducing his walk percentage:
Kerkering’s strikeout percentage and swinging strike rates need to improve if he’s going to be the preferred save share for the remainder of the season, which may or may not happen when his slider only produces whiffs 10.2 percent of the time.
- Max Lazar tossed a clean seventh against the bottom of the batting order.
Hierarchy Remains: *Orion Kerkering | *Matt Strahm | Jordan Romano
*= “floating closer” concept
Tampa Bay Rays – Pressed into action, Pete Fairbanks secured his 15th save. He only needed four pitches to strand both inherited runners after inducing a game-ending double play groundout by Maikel Garcia. Fairbanks has been scoreless in his last four appearances while converting all three save chances. He has a 1.10 WHIP with 26 strikeouts through 31 innings.
- Paul Gervase allowed two hits and retired one batter at the bottom of the ninth.
Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks |Edwin Uceta | Mason Montgomery
Quick Hits
- Kansas City Royals: Appearing in a shutout loss, Carlos Estévez retired the side and recorded two strikeouts at the top of the eighth while facing the Rays’ 4-5-6 lineup pocket. He threw 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and induced one whiff. Through ten June outings, he has suffered two losses and converted six of seven save chances with a 1.075 WHIP across 9.1 innings.
- San Francisco Giants: During a loss, Ryan Walker retired the side at the top of the ninth, throwing six pitches (83.3 Strike%) without a whiff.
- St. Louis Cardinals: In a shutout loss, Kyle Leahy logged two scoreless frames while allowing a hit.
- Toronto Blue Jays: Sealing a shutout in Cleveland, Chad Green allowed a walk and recorded a strikeout, throwing 21 pitches (11 strikes – 52.4 Strike%) with one whiff.
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