A full slate Friday welcomed us back from the All-Star break, though there were some mixed results. Relievers recorded four wins and converted six saves while suffering five losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
| Reliever | Save # | Pitches | Strike% | SwStr% | K:BB | BF |
| Trevor Megill | 22 | 7 | 71.4 | 0 | 0:0 | 3 |
| Emmanuel Clase | 21 | 16 | 68.8 | 25 | 2:0 | 3 |
| Kenley Jansen | 17 | 7 | 71.4 | 0 | 0:0 | 3 |
| Daniel Palencia | 13 | 7 | 57.1 | 0 | 0:0 | 3 |
| Seth Halvorsen | 9 | 17 | 70.6 | 17.6 | 2:0 | 4 |
| Robert Garcia | 7 | 10 | 80 | 20 | 0:0 | 4 |
Three Takeaways
(1) Finnegan implodes, again: Taking over a tied game at the top of the ninth, Kyle Finnegan turned in another rough outing. He allowed a lead-off single, followed by a hit-and-run single, putting runners at the corners, and recorded his only out on a sacrifice squeeze bunt, scoring the go-ahead run. However, things spiraled further when Fernando Tatis Jr. singled, and a walk loaded the bases ahead of Manny Machado’s grand slam. His illustrator from this outing:
He threw 12 strikes of his 20 pitches (60 Strike%), but his results tell the story:
Finnegan’s final line: four hits, five earned runs, and a walk during one-third of an inning, putting his WHIP at 1.31 for the season. To his credit, he acknowledged the rough patch and did not make a lack of work an excuse in the game recap by Byron Kerr for MLB.com:
He has only logged four appearances since July 4 and last recorded a save on June 6. It’s easy to put Finnegan on the “hot seat,” and it’s warranted. However, with an interim manager, a reliever who the team needs to build value before the trade deadline, and a weak leverage ladder, it does not yield immediate options for alternate save options. If the team gives Finnegan a “break,” it may be Luis García or a match-up-based approach. However, he’s not a priority add at this point.
Updated Hierarchy: Kyle Finnegan | Luis García | Jose A. Ferrer
(2) Estévez suffers another blown save: Handed a two-run lead at the bottom of the tenth, Carlos Estévez suffered his third loss and sixth blown save. After retiring Otto Lopez on a lineout, Estévez allowed an RBI single by Agustín Ramírez, scoring the “place” runner, followed by Kyle Stowers’ walk-off, two-RBI home run. First, his illustrator:
As one can surmise, this pitch placement did not end well:
This marks consecutive games giving up multiple runs, and he has not converted a save in his last three appearances. The good news is that he has recorded 25 saves this season. However, as this chart illustrates, his contact and whiff trends are concerning:
Compared with last year, his contact percentage allowed is up 8.8 percent, his Z-Contact (in the strike zone) has increased by 10.3 percent, and his swinging strike rate has declined by 5.1 percent. This creates a range of 3.84 xERA and 4.43 SIERA versus his current 2.76 ERA, which means more migration toward the mean may be in the offing. His name has surfaced in recent trade discussions, but he’s walking a fine line while none of his pitches produce a double-digit swinging strike percentage.
Hierarchy Remains: Carlos Estévez | Lucas Erceg | John Schreiber
(3) Raisel flying below the radar: It’s strange reading articles about the trade deadline and few mention Raisel Iglesias as a potential target for contending teams. He’s pitching on an expiring contract, and Atlanta has playoff odds of less than ten percent. Last night, he retired the side and recorded a strikeout against the Yankees’ 8-9-1 hitters. He threw 12 pitches (83.3 Strike%) and induced one whiff. Since June 9, he has turned in 15 consecutive scoreless outings, posting a win, three saves, and two holds with a 0.511 WHIP while recording 18 strikeouts against one walk (35.4 K-BB%) through 13.2 innings. Iglesias has pitched as a closer and a set-up reliever, which should make him a more alluring target than he’s being treated as.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Dylan Lee | Daysbel Hernández
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Friday.
Closer CliffsNotes
Chicago Cubs –Recording the first save of the second half, Daniel Palencia navigated around Marcelo Mayer’s lead-off single by inducing Cedanne Rafaela’s double play groundout, followed by a game-ending flyout by Abraham Toro, closing out a three-run win over Boston. Palencia threw seven pitches (57.1 Strike%) without a whiff while securing his 13th save.
This extended his scoreless streak to eight games, during which he has converted all six save opportunities while posting a 0.411 WHIP with nine strikeouts versus one walk (30.8 K-BB%) across 7.1 innings.
- Brad Keller retired the side and recorded a strikeout in the eighth, notching his 15th hold.
- Drew Pomeranz stranded two runners while retiring his only batter in the seventh for his seventh hold.
- Ryan Pressly gave up two hits and retired two batters during a scoreless seventh, getting credit for his seventh hold.
- Caleb Thielbar fired a clean sixth, striking out two for his tenth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Daniel Palencia | Brad Keller | Ryan Pressly
Cleveland Guardians – Despite letting his only inherited runner score on Miguel Andujar’s RBI double, Emmanuel Clase recorded his 21st save, striking out the next two batters and preserving a two-run win over the A’s. He threw 16 pitches (68.8 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (25 SwStr%).
He has been scoreless in his last five games, recording a win and three saves while posting a 0.351 WHIP with five strikeouts (26.3 K-BB%) through 5.2 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Emmanuel Clase | Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis
Colorado Rockies – When we last saw Seth Halvorsen, he was shelled in Boston, allowing four hits, five earned runs, and a walk without retiring a batter on July 9. However, after a reset, he secured his ninth save, preserving a two-run lead and working around a two-out single for a scoreless ninth inning against the Twins. He threw 17 pitches (12 strikes – 70.6 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (17.6 SwStr%) while recording two strikeouts, including one against Byron Buxton.
Halvorsen has converted his last four save chances since June 22.
- Victor Vodnik tossed a scoreless eighth, giving up a hit and striking out one for his fifth hold.
- Jake Bird allowed three hits, including Willi Castro’s three-run home run, and struck out one in the seventh.
Updated Hierarchy: *Seth Halvorsen | *Victor Vodnik | Juan Mejia
*= closer-by-committee
Los Angeles Angels – Shutting the door on his 17th save, Kenley Jansen preserved a one-run win in Philadelphia, retiring the 7-8-9 lineup pocket in order on seven pitches (71.4 Strike%) without a whiff.
He has been scoreless through all seven appearances in July, recording two wins and two saves in his last four.
- José Fermin gave up Bryce Harper’s solo home run and registered a strikeout during the eighth, getting credit for his third hold.
- Reid Detmers notched his ninth hold, firing a clean seventh and striking out two.
- Sam Bachman retired both batters at the bottom of the sixth and was credited with his second win.
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Reid Detmers | José Fermin
Miami Marlins – Although he allowed two hits, including a two-RBI double by Adam Frazier, Lake Bachar was credited with his fifth win, following his team’s walk-off rally at the bottom of the tenth.
Calvin Faucher took over with a one-run lead at the top of the ninth against the Royals’ 7-8-9 lineup pocket, gave up John Rave’s game-tying solo home run, resulting in his fifth blown save.
- Ronny Henriquez worked a scoreless eighth, walking and striking out one against the heart of the lineup. This extended his scoreless streak to seven games, during which he has a 0.286 WHIP with ten strikeouts against one walk (39.2 K-BB%) in seven innings.
- Anthony Bender retired the side and recorded a strikeout in the seventh, securing his 16th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Ronny Henriquez | Calvin Faucher | Anthony Bender
*= highest-leverage reliever
Milwaukee Brewers – Locking down his 22nd save, Trevor Megill not only preserved a combined shutout but also set a career high during his first appearance after the All-Star break, surpassing the 21 saves he recorded last season. He retired Tommy Edman, Shohei Ohtani, and Mookie Betts in order on seven pitches (71.4 Strike%) without a whiff.
Megill has been scoreless through five appearances this month, posting a win and converting all four save chances with a minuscule 0.40 WHIP while racking up eight strikeouts versus zero walks (47.1 K-BB%) across five innings.
- Jared Koenig worked a clean eighth and notched his 18th hold.
- Abner Uribe navigated around a lead-off walk to Freddie Freeman with a flyout and an inning-ending double play groundout for his MLB-leading 27th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Jared Koenig
San Diego Padres – Summoned with runners at the corners and two outs at the bottom of the eighth during a tied contest, Wandy Peralta stranded them by retiring Josh Bell on a botched stolen base attempt, ending the inning. After his teammates tacked on five runs at the top of the ninth, Peralta preserved his fourth win with a scoreless bottom of the ninth. He allowed a hit during 1.1 scoreless frames.
- Jason Adam suffered his second blown save, giving up three hits, including CJ Abrams’ game-tying two-run home run, and a walk while striking out one over two-thirds of the eighth.
- Jeremiah Estrada secured his 20th hold, yielding a hit and striking out one in a scoreless seventh.
- Adrian Morejon stranded both inherited runners while retiring both batters, one via strikeout, at the bottom of the sixth for his 14th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Suarez | Jason Adam | Jeremiah Estrada
Texas Rangers – Working around a two-out single by Spencer Torkelson with a game-ending strikeout, Robert Garcia recorded his seventh save, first since June 24, and completed a combined shutout of the Tigers. He threw 10 pitches (80 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (20 SwStr%).
- Chris Martin collected his first win, tossing a scoreless eighth, walking and striking out one.
- Shawn Armstrong allowed a walk during 1.1 scoreless innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Garcia | Chris Martin | Shawn Armstrong
Quick Hits
- Cincinnati Reds: Called upon with two runners on and two outs at the bottom of the ninth, Emilio Pagán allowed consecutive hits, including Luis Torrens’ RBI-single, scoring an inherited runner before inducing a game-ending flyout by Francisco Lindor with the bases loaded, preserving a four-run win over the Mets.
- Detroit Tigers: Picking up where he left off at the end of the first half, Tommy Kahnle suffered his third loss, and second in as many appearances, giving up a one-out double, a two-out walk, and a go-ahead two-RBI double by Corey Seager. Kahnle has given up multiple runs in his last three contests and in five of his previous eight since June 28.
- Los Angeles Dodgers: Making his first appearance since July 9, Kirby Yates allowed Caleb Durbin’s solo home run at the top of the seventh during an eventual loss. He has allowed a run in three consecutive outings.
- New York Mets: With a one-run lead at the top of the fifth, Alex Carrillo suffered his first loss. He served up two home runs in the fifth and another in the sixth before being removed. He finished with three hits, five earned runs, and two walks while striking out two during his 1.1 innings.
- Philadelphia Phillies: Entering a tied game at the top of the seventh, Tanner Banks issued Nolan Schanuel a walk with one out and allowed Taylor Ward’s go-ahead two-run home run, resulting in his second loss.
- Seattle Mariners: Pressed into action with two runners on and two outs at the top of the seventh, Gabe Speier retired Maruico Dubón via flyout for his 11th hold. Matt Brash gave up a hit, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one in the eighth, securing his 11th hold. Eduard Bazardo finished the five-run win with a clean ninth.
- Tampa Bay Rays: Logging two scoreless frames, Joe Boyle issued a walk and recorded two strikeouts on 26 pitches (57.7 Strike%) with four whiffs (15.4 SwStr%).
- Toronto Blue Jays: Completing a combined shutout of the Giants, Jeff Hoffman fired a clean top of the ninth, striking out the side on 13 pitches (76.9 Strike%) and producing four whiffs (30.8 SwStr%).
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