Friday’s slate provided plenty of leverage events of interest and some extended outings. Relievers recorded seven wins and eight saves versus five losses. Among the eight saves, three required at least two innings, with two three-inning saves in the late contests. Here are the saves in condensed form:
| Reliever | Save # | Pitches | Strike% | SwStr% | K:BB | BF |
| Trevor Megill | 19 | 32 | 62.5 | 6.3 | 1:1 | 5 |
| Emilio Pagán | 19 | 16 | 68.8 | 6.3 | 0:0 | 4 |
| Félix Bautista | 17 | 11 | 63.6 | 9.1 | 0:0 | 3 |
| Will Vest | 14 | 25 | 60 | 0 | 1:1 | 6 |
| Reed Garrett | 3 | 29 | 55.2 | 6.9 | 1:0 | 7 |
| Grant Taylor | 3 | 17 | 76.5 | 17.6 | 2:0 | 4 |
| Jack Perkins | 2 | 54 | 70.4 | 20.4 | 5:0 | 13 |
| Jason Alexander | 1 | 57 | 63.2 | 10.5 | 2:2 | 14 |
For the save streamers, there are limited options:
Vulture Save Options for July 5
- Chase Lee (DET): Vest has appeared in consecutive games, and Kahnle has thrown 35 pitches in the last three days.
- Grant Anderson (MIL): Megill threw 32 pitches last night, and Uribe has worked in back-to-back games.
Vulture Save Stash for July 6
- Seranthony Domínguez (BAL): If Bautista and Baker pitch today, it’s consecutive contests for both.
Three Takeaways
(1) Another Weaver meltdown: Called upon with two outs and no one on at the bottom of the seventh to protect a one-run lead, Luke Weaver struggled once again. He walked Pete Alonso and allowed Jeff McNeil’s go-ahead two-run home run, this time on a 3-2 change-up, before recording an inning-ending strikeout.
This resulted in his third loss and a second blown save. Weaver has allowed a home run in three consecutive appearances for the first time in his career as a reliever and has given up multiple runs in four of his seven games since returning from the injured list, posting a 1.887 WHIP while allowing four home runs across 5.1 innings.
(2) Megill’s pitch counts: Hanging on for his 19th save, Trevor Megill worked around traffic and an elevated pitch count while protecting a one-run win over the Marlins. He recorded two quick outs, then allowed Xavier Edwards’ single and walked Jesús Sánchez before a game-ending strikeout of Otto Lopez. Megill threw 32 pitches (20 strikes – 62.5 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (6.3 SwStr%). First, his illustrator:
And his results:
This marks his second consecutive outing requiring 30 or more pitches and could make him unavailable on Saturday as a result. He has recorded at least 30 pitches in three of his last 12 appearances since May 26 and 20 or more in seven (58.3 percent):
Abner Uribe tossed a clean eighth and recorded a strikeout for his MLB-leading 24th hold. Aaron Ashby collected his first win, stranding two runners at the bottom of the fifth and logging 2.1 clean frames while striking out five.
(3) Suarez shelved the change-up yesterday: After highlighting his recent struggles with traffic, and specifically his change-up, Robert Suarez worked around Jake Burger’s one-out single and recorded a strikeout at the top of the ninth for a scoreless appearance. He threw 23 pitches (15 strikes – 65.2 Strike%) and induced two whiffs:
This was the playbook for him last year as well, though fatigue affected his outcomes in the second half. Time will tell if he can bounce back from his recent rough patch. After navigating around a one-out walk to Marcus Semien, Adrian Morejon retired the next two batters via flyout, keeping the game tied at the top of the tenth. He collected his fifth win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the frame.
Here are the remaining events of interest from Friday.
Closer CliffsNotes
Baltimore Orioles – Nailing down his 17th save, Félix Bautista retired the side while protecting a one-run lead at Atlanta. He threw 11 pitches (63.6 Strike%) and induced one whiff (9.1 SwStr%), facing the 6-7-8 lineup pocket.
It’s his first save in July, and he has converted his last ten save chances since May 26 while posting a 0.867 WHIP with 26 strikeouts versus eight walks through 15 innings.
- Bryan Baker tossed a clean eighth, securing his tenth hold.
- Andrew Kittredge stranded a runner in the sixth and logged 1.2 clean frames, striking out one for his fifth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Félix Bautista | Seranthony Domínguez | Bryan Baker
Chicago White Sox – Displaying a short memory, Grant Taylor took over in Colorado with a one-run lead against the Rockies’ 3-4-5 lineup pocket. He recorded two quick outs and allowed Mickey Moniak’s single ahead of a game-ending strikeout for his third save. He threw 17 pitches (13 strikes – 76.5 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (17.6 SwStr%) while striking out two. His illustrator:
And his results:
He has converted three of four save chances during his rookie season and looked terrific in a more traditional one-inning save. Despite his limited time in the majors, he now leads the team in saves.
Updated Hierarchy: Grant Taylor | Steven Wilson | Brandon Eisert
Cincinnati Reds – Sealing a three-run win over the Phillies, Emilio Pagán allowed a two-out single by Otto Kemp during a scoreless ninth while recording his 19th save.
This marked his first save opportunity since June 22. He’s on a five-game scoreless streak and has been scoreless in 11 of his last 12.
- Tony Santillan navigated around a hit and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless eighth, securing his 18th hold.
- Scott Barlow tossed a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and striking out one for his ninth hold.
- Taylor Rogers let both inherited runners score, giving up a hit and striking out one in one-third of the sixth.
- Lyon Richardson gave up a hit, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out one over a combined inning.
- Sam Moll collected his first win, retiring all four batters after taking over during the bottom of the fourth.
Updated Hierarchy: Emilio Pagán | Tony Santillan | Graham Ashcraft
Detroit Tigers – Summoned at the bottom of the eighth with two runners on and two outs, Will Vest walked David Fry, then induced an inning-ending groundout, quelling the rally. Returning for the ninth, he allowed Steven Kwan’s two-out double ahead of a game-ending groundout, preserving a one-run lead for his 14th save. He threw 25 pitches (60 Strike%) without a whiff, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out one during his 1.1 scoreless frames.
He has been scoreless in his last five appearances.
- Tommy Kahnle gave up a hit and a walk during two-thirds of the eighth before his removal. He was credited with his 12th hold.
- Tyler Holton earned his fourth win, logging 2.2 scoreless innings, yielding a hit and striking out four.
Hierarchy Remains: Will Vest | Tommy Kahnle | Tyler Holton
Minnesota Twins – Sealing a one-run win, Jhoan Durán worked around Connor Norby’s one-out single by inducing a game-ending double play groundout for his 13th save. He threw nine pitches (77.8 Strike%) and produced one whiff (11.1 SwStr%). This marked his first save since June 27 and extended his scoreless streak to three games.
- Griffin Jax fired a clean eighth, striking out one while securing his 18th hold.
- Danny Coulombe issued a walk and retired a batter, stranding two runners at the bottom of the seventh for his fourth hold.
- Louis Varland allowed three hits but no runs while recording two outs in the seventh, getting credit for his 14th hold.
- Brock Stewart gave up two hits and struck out one for his tenth hold in the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Louis Varland
New York Mets – Working two innings with a one-run lead, Reed Garrett only allowed one baserunner on Jazz Chisolm Jr.’s single at the top of the eighth and recorded one strikeout while locking down his third save. He threw 29 pitches (16 strikes – 55.2 Strike%) and induced two whiffs.
- Huascar Brazobán tossed a scoreless seventh, walking one and striking out three, then collected his fourth win courtesy of a two-run rally at the bottom of the inning.
Hierarchy Remains: Edwin Díaz | Ryne Stanek | Reed Garrett
Texas Rangers – Entering a tied game at the bottom of the tenth, Robert Garcia intentionally walked Manny Machado, struck out Luis Arraez, allowed a bloop single by Gavin Sheets to load the bases, recorded another strikeout, then gave up Jake Cronenworth’s walk-off RBI single, resulting in his fourth loss. This feels like a tough outing, but when seeing the results, Garcia placed his pitches well:
- Jacob Webb escaped with a scoreless ninth, giving up a hit and a walk.
- Chris Martin tossed a scoreless eighth, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out one.
- Shawn Armstrong fired a clean seventh, striking out one.
- Hoby Milner was tagged with his third blown save, letting one of two inherited runners score while allowing two hits and striking out two during two-thirds of the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Garcia | Luke Jackson | Chris Martin
Toronto Blue Jays – Taking over at the top of the tenth, Chad Green stranded the “place” runner while retiring the side and striking out one. He collected his third win after his teammates’ walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning.
- Yariel Rodríguez stranded two runners at the top of the eighth and worked 1.1 scoreless frames, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out one.
- Brendon Little issued two walks and recorded two strikeouts in two-thirds of the eighth.
- Nick Sandlin suffered his third blown save, letting both inherited runners score on a game-tying three-run home run by Jo Adell, putting an earned run on his ledger at the top of the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Jeff Hoffman | Yimi García | Yariel Rodríguez
Quick Hits
- Atlanta Braves: Pitching in an eventual one-run loss, Pierce Johnson retired all four batters faced, one via strikeout. Dylan Lee stranded a runner at the top of the seventh and logged 1.2 clean frames, striking out one. He threw 25 pitches (72 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (20 SwStr%).
- Chicago Cubs: During a lopsided win, Porter Hodge retired the side, striking out two on 16 pitches (62.5 Strike%) with one whiff at the top of the eighth. Caleb Thielbar stranded two runners while retiring his only batter in the seventh via strikeout.
- Houston Astros: Capping a lopsided win over the Dodgers, Jason Alexander logged three scoreless frames, scattering two hits and issuing walks while striking out two. He threw 57 pitches (36 strikes – 63.2 Strike%) and recorded six whiffs.
- Los Angeles Angels: Tasked with a tied score at the bottom of the tenth, Sam Bachman issued Nathan Lukes a lead-off walk, and during Ernie Clement’s sacrifice bunt, the “place” runner scored on his team’s defensive lapses, handing him his second loss. Kenley Jansen fired a clean bottom of the eighth and recorded two strikeouts on 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) with two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%).
- Miami Marlins: In order of appearance, Anthony Bender tossed a scoreless top of the seventh, walking and striking out one, keeping the game tied. Cade Gibson allowed two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one during two-thirds of the eighth, resulting in his fourth loss. Tyler Phillips stranded two runners in the eighth and tossed 1.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out four.
- Tampa Bay Rays: With the score tied at the bottom of the eighth, Kevin Kelly stranded an inherited runner and retired both batters. He returned for the ninth, allowing Harrison Bader’s walk-off home run, resulting in his first loss. Garrett Cleavinger suffered his second blown save, letting one of two inherited runners score on consecutive hit-by-pitches at the bottom of the seventh. He finished with a walk and two strikeouts while recording an out in the seventh and eighth innings.
- The Athletics: Finishing an eventual nine-run win over the Giants, Jack Perkins secured his second save, throwing three innings while giving up three hits and two earned runs while striking out five. He threw 54 pitches (70.4 Strike%) and produced 11 whiffs (20.4 SwStr%). He has worked at least three innings in his first three relief appearances, posting a 0.753 WHIP with 10 strikeouts versus two walks (22.9 K-BB%) across 9.1 innings.
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