With the conclusion of the first half, it’s time for fantasy managers to take a breath, relax, and refocus for the stretch run. It may be short-lived with the trade deadline on the horizon. During Sunday’s full slate, relievers recorded six wins, with one accompanied by a blown save (Carlos Estévez) and seven saves while suffering seven losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
| Reliever | Save # | Pitches | Strike% | SwStr% | K:BB | BF |
| Emilio Pagán | 20 | 14 | 57.1 | 7.1 | 1:0 | 3 |
| Ryan Helsley | 19 | 25 | 64 | 12 | 1:1 | 5 |
| Mason Miller | 19 | 18 | 72.2 | 27.8 | 1:0 | 3 |
| Aroldis Chapman | 17 | 19 | 63.2 | 21.1 | 3:0 | 3 |
| David Bednar | 13 | 25 | 60 | 20 | 2:0 | 4 |
| Daniel Palencia | 12 | 14 | 71.4 | 14.3 | 2:0 | 3 |
| Matt Strahm | 6 | 16 | 43.8 | 0 | 0:2 | 5 |
Here are the leverage events of interest from Sunday.
Closer CliffsNotes
Boston Red Sox –Finishing the first half on a ten-game winning streak, Aroldis Chapman nailed down his 17th save, striking out the side against the Rays’ 7-8-9 lineup pocket. He threw 19 pitches (12 strikes – 63.2 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (21.1 SwStr%).
This extended his scoreless streak to 11 games, during which he has converted all six save chances while recording a 0.374 WHIP with 21 strikeouts versus one walk (55.5 K-BB%) across 10.2 innings.
- Garrett Whitlock notched his 11th hold, working around two hits while striking out two in a scoreless top of the eighth.
- Justin Wilson stranded a runner and retired both batters in the seventh for his 13th hold.
It’s curious Jordan Hicks has not appeared since July 11 and was not used during a leverage situation in this contest.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Jordan Hicks | Garrett Whitlock
Chicago Cubs –Shutting the door on his 12th save, Daniel Palencia retired the side and recorded two strikeouts against the Yankees’ 8-9-1 lineup pocket, throwing 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) while inducing two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%).
After suffering a blown save in his first attempt on May 19, he has converted his last 11 saves while recording a 0.802 WHIP with 24 strikeouts against four walks (28.6 K-BB%) across 18.2 innings.
- Drew Pomeranz fired a clean eighth, striking out one, and recorded his sixth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Daniel Palencia | Brad Keller | Ryan Pressly
Chicago White Sox – Tasked with the top of the tenth, Brandon Eisert allowed David Fry’s one-out single and Steven Kwan’s go-ahead sacrifice fly, resulting in his second loss.
Grant Taylor worked the eighth and ninth innings. In the eighth, he issued Kwan a one-out walk, followed by Nolan Jones’ single, and a José Ramírez sacrifice fly, then returned for the ninth and retired the side while striking out two. He finished his two innings with a hit, an earned run, and a walk with two strikeouts on 34 pitches (52.9 Strike%) with three whiffs. Will he continue being the HLR in the second half?
- Dan Altavilla retired all four batters and three via strikeout between the sixth and seventh innings.
Hierarchy Remains: *Grant Taylor | *Jordan Leasure | Steven Wilson
*= highest-leveraged reliever (Taylor)
Cincinnati Reds – Locking down his 20th save, Emilio Pagán retired the side and recorded one strikeout, preserving a two-run win over the Rockies. He threw 14 pitches (57.1 Strike%) and induced one whiff (7.1 SwStr%).
He finished the first half being scoreless in seven of his last eight outings, recording two wins and three saves while posting a 0.875 WHIP with eight strikeouts versus two walks (19.3 K-BB%) through eight innings.
- Tony Santillan notched his 19th hold, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out two in the eighth.
- Graham Ashcraft stranded a runner despite yielding a hit during two-thirds of the seventh, securing his tenth hold.
- Scott Barlow worked a scoreless combined inning, walking and striking out one for his tenth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Tony Santillan | Graham Ashcraft
Cleveland Guardians – Entering a tied game at the bottom of the ninth, Emmanuel Clase retired the side. With a one-run lead, he returned for the tenth and once again, retired the side, earning his fifth win. He threw 26 pitches (69.2 Strike%) and generated six whiffs (23.1 SwStr%).
He concludes the first half on a modest four-game scoreless streak, during which he has this win and two saves. However, his current 1.22 at the break represents a career high through his first 43.1 innings this season.
- Cade Smith allowed two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one at the bottom of the eighth, getting tagged with his second blown save.
Hierarchy Remains: Emmanuel Clase | Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis
Detroit Tigers – Another rough outing for Tommy Kahnle resulted in his second loss. He took over a tied game at the top of the ninth, and allowed two hits, both home runs, three earned runs, and a walk without recording an out. In his last two games, he gave up a combined six hits, seven earned runs, and two walks, without retiring a batter.
- Will Vest suffered his fourth blown save, issuing consecutive walks against Julio Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh, followed by Randy Arozarena’s game-tying RBI double. Vest finished with a hit, an earned run, and three walks during his inning of work, bailed out by an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded.
- Tyler Holton logged two innings, yielding two hits, including Mitch Garver’s solo home run, and recorded two strikeouts.
Hierarchy Remains: Will Vest | Tommy Kahnle | Tyler Holton
Los Angeles Dodgers – Pressed into action at the bottom of the tenth, Ben Casparius stranded two runners by inducing an inning-ending groundout. Returning for the 11th, he retired the side and recorded a strikeout while collecting his seventh win. He threw 18 pitches (61.1 Strike%) and recorded five whiffs (27.8 SwStr%).
- Jack Dreyer issued an intentional walk and retired two outs during the bottom of the tenth.
- Tanner Scott suffered his MLB-leading seventh blown save, giving up two hits, including Luis Matos’ game-tying two-run home run, and a walk during the bottom of the ninth. He ends the first half having allowed at least a run in three of his last four appearances.
- Alex Vesia notched his 18th hold, striking out the side at the bottom of the eighth.
The biggest takeaway from this game, other than another blown save by Scott on a hanging slider, was Kirby Yates not being used. He last pitched on July 9 and has allowed at least a run in his previous two contests. With Blake Treinen trending toward a return after the All-Star break, this hierarchy may be changing soon.
Hierarchy Remains: Tanner Scott | Kirby Yates | Alex Vesia
*= closer-by-committee with a preferred save share (Scott)
Philadelphia Phillies – Called upon with a one-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, Matt Strahm began his outing by issuing a lead-off walk to Jake Cronenworth, followed by a sacrifice bunt. After inducing a pop-out, he issued Fernando Tatis Jr. an intentional walk before inducing a game-ending lineout by Luis Arraez, recording his sixth save. He threw 16 pitches (43.8 Strike%) without a whiff. He ends the first half on a six-game scoreless streak, converting both save chances with a 1.00 WHIP and seven strikeouts versus four walks.
- Orion Kerkering notched his 14th hold, despite giving up a hit and a walk during two-thirds of the eighth. He has not recorded a save since June 19, a span of seven appearances.
Since June 1, Strahm has recorded four saves with two holds, while Kerkering has notched two saves with four holds. Will either be accruing saves after the trade deadline? Stay tuned.
Hierarchy Remains: *Matt Strahm | *Orion Kerkering | Jordan Romano
*= “floating closer” concept
Pittsburgh Pirates – Handed a one-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, David Bednar worked around Carlos Correa’s lead-off single with consecutive strikeouts, followed by a game-ending groundout, securing his 13th save. He threw 25 pitches (60 Strike%) and generated five whiffs (20 SwStr%).
Bednar was scoreless over his last eight appearances, recording a win and three saves while posting a 1.00 WHIP with 11 strikeouts against three walks (25.8 K-BB%) through eight innings.
- Dennis Santana navigated around two hits for a scoreless eighth and collected his third win after his team’s rally at the top of the ninth.
- Caleb Ferguson fired a clean seventh, striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: David Bednar | Dennis Santana | Caleb Ferguson
San Francisco Giants – Brought into a tied contest at the top of the 11th, Spencer Bivens allowed three hits, three runs (two earned), and a walk while striking out one, resulting in his third loss.
- Joey Lucchesi retired the side at the top of the tenth on 12 pitches (58.3 Strike%) against the Dodgers’ 7-8-9 lineup pocket.
- Camilo Doval issued Will Smith a lead-off walk, then recorded consecutive strikeouts, and an inning-ending Andy Pages’ flyout, throwing 19 pitches (14 strikes – 73.7 Strike%) with five whiffs (26.3 SwStr%).
- Randy Rodríguez fired a clean eighth and recorded a strikeout.
- Ryan Walker retired the side in the seventh, striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Camilo Doval | Randy Rodríguez | Tyler Rogers
St. Louis Cardinals – Protecting a one-run lead, Ryan Helsley navigated around Marcell Ozuna’s lead-off walk and Jurickson Profar’s single with a strikeout, followed by consecutive groundouts for his 19th save. He threw 25 pitches (64 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (12 SwStr%).
He finished the first half with a 1.42 WHIP while converting 19 of 24 save chances with 36 strikeouts against 14 walks (15.1 K-BB%) through 33 innings.
- Riley O’Brien logged 1.2 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out two for his second hold.
- Gordon Graceffo collected his third win, working 1.2 innings, giving up a hit and an earned run while striking out three.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Helsley | Phil Maton | JoJo Romero
The Athletics – Sealing a three-run margin, Mason Miller worked around Bo Bichette’s one-out single by inducing a game-ending Vlad Guerrero Jr. double play groundout for his 19th save. He threw 18 pitches (72.2 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (27.8 SwStr%).
He finished the first half on an eight-game scoreless streak, converting all five save opportunities, posting a 0.625 WHIP with 11 strikeouts versus three walks (29.6 K-BB%) in eight innings.
- Sean Newcomb secured his second hold, retiring the side and striking out two at the top of the eighth.
- Justin Sterner retired his only batter via strikeout for his eighth hold in the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Michael Kelly | Sean Newcomb
Quick Hits
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Closing a four-run win over the Angels, Kendall Graveman retired the side at the bottom of the ninth on 11 pitches (63.6 Strike%) without a whiff. Kevin Ginkel navigated around a hit and a walk while striking out one for a scoreless eighth, facing the top of the lineup.
- Atlanta Braves: As the “bulk follower,” Jesse Chavez suffered his first loss, allowing six hits, four earned runs, and a walk while striking out one during the fifth and sixth innings.
- Minnesota Twins: Taking over a tied game at the top of the ninth, Jhoan Durán allowed Ke’Bryan Hayes’ one-out single, followed by an Oneil Cruz single, and an Isiah Kiner-Falefa single, to load the bases. Durán induced a groundout, but it scored the go-ahead run ahead of an inning-ending strikeout, resulting in his fourth loss and a season-high three hits allowed. Griffin Jax fired a clean eighth and recorded a strikeout.
- New York Yankees: Appearing during a loss, Devin Williams finished the first half with a clean top of the ninth while recording two strikeouts on 12 pitches (75 Strike%) with two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%). He was scoreless in 12 of his last 13 games, posting a 0.472 WHIP with 17 strikeouts against two walks (32.7 K-BB%) over 12.2 innings.
- San Diego Padres: Summoned at the top of the seventh, Adrian Morejon stranded his only inherited runner, recording an inning-ending strikeout of Kyle Schwarber. Returning for the eighth, he allowed a one-out double by Bryce Harper before being removed. David Morgan replaced him, but let Harper score on J.T. Realmuto’s RBI double, resulting in Morejon being tagged with his fourth loss.
- Seattle Mariners: Closing out a four-run win in Detroit without tipping pitches, Andrés Muñoz retired the side and recorded a strikeout. He finished the first half with a 0.89 WHIP while converting 21 of 27 save chances with 46 strikeouts against 14 walks (22.5 K-BB%) through 36 innings. Matt Brash collected his first win, firing a clean bottom of the eighth while striking out one ahead of his team’s rally at the top of the ninth.
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