Tuesday’s games yielded four wins by relievers and eight saves, while they suffered five losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
| Reliever | Save # | Pitches | Strike% | SwStr% | K:BB | BF |
| Emmanuel Clase | 22 | 13 | 69.2 | 7.7 | 1:0 | 4 |
| Andrés Muñoz | 22 | 28 | 53.6 | 10.7 | 2:2 | 5 |
| Pete Fairbanks | 17 | 12 | 66.7 | 0 | 0:0 | 3 |
| David Bednar | 15 | 18 | 72.2 | 27.8 | 2:1 | 5 |
| Devin Williams | 15 | 19 | 78.9 | 15.8 | 2:0 | 4 |
| Ronny Henriquez | 6 | 17 | 64.7 | 23.5 | 1:1 | 6 |
| Ryne Stanek | 3 | 13 | 84.6 | 15.4 | 1:0 | 5 |
| Bryan King | 1 | 11 | 72.7 | 9.1 | 1:0 | 5 |
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for July 23
- Dennis Santana (PIT): Bednar has appeared in three straight games.
- Yariel Rodríguez (TOR): Hoffman has pitched in consecutive games and four of the last five days.
- Shawn Armstrong (TEX): Garcia threw 28 pitches last night.
- Griffin Jax (MIN): Durán logged two innings and has thrown 40 pitches over the previous three days.
Vulture Save Stashes for July 24
- Trent Thornton (SEA): If Muñoz and Brash pitch today, it’s back-to-back games.
Here are the leverage events of interest from Tuesday.
Closer CliffsNotes
Cleveland Guardians – Closing out a three-run lead and his 22nd save, Emmanuel Clase worked around Coby Mayo’s one-out single with a pop-out and a game-ending lineout by Jackson Holliday. Clase threw 13 pitches (69.2 Strike%) and induced one whiff while striking out one.
He extended his scoreless streak to six games, during which he has posted a 0.448 WHIP with six strikeouts (26.1 K-BB%) through 6.2 innings.
- Cade Smith stranded two runners at the top of the seventh and tossed 1.1 scoreless frames, walking and striking out one for his 19th hold.
- Matt Festa gave up two hits, an earned run, and a walk without retiring a batter in the seventh.
- Eric Sabrowski logged 1.2 innings, giving up two hits and an earned run while striking out two, getting credit for his third hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Emmanuel Clase | Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis
Houston Astros – Operating in a match-up-based approach, Bryan King took over at the bottom of the ninth against Arizona’s 4-5-6 lineup pocket and pulled a “Houdini,” finishing the combined shutout. Despite giving up three consecutive singles to load the bases, he recorded a strikeout versus Blaze Alexander, then induced a game-ending double play groundout against Jose Herrera for his first career save.
- Bryan Abreu fired a clean bottom of the eighth and recorded a strikeout against Eugenio Suarez while securing his 24th hold. He was reserved for this lineup pocket during the late innings. Abreu has recorded at least one strikeout in his last 13 games, during which he has two wins and six holds in seven chances with a 0.699 WHIP while racking up 30 strikeouts (53.6 K%) through 14.1 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Bennett Sousa
Miami Marlins – Bending but not breaking at the top of the ninth, Ronny Henriquez held on for his sixth save, preserving a one-run lead. However, his outing began with a lead-off walk to Gavin Sheets, a leverage mortal sin, followed by consecutive doubles, scoring two runs. Henriquez bore down, retiring the next three batters, one via strikeout sandwiched between two infield pop-ups. He threw 17 pitches (64.7 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (23.5 SwStr%). His illustrator:
And his results:
One would have preferred he was dialed in upon entry, but this was a growth outing, securing the save despite not having his best stuff.
- Anthony Bender fired a clean eighth and recorded a strikeout for his 17th hold.
- Cade Gibson worked 1.1 scoreless frames, stranding two runners in the sixth, and striking out one en route to his fourth hold.
Updated Hierarchy: *Ronny Henriquez | *Anthony Bender | *Calvin Faucher
*= highest-leverage reliever in a closer-by-committee
Minnesota Twins – During an eventual win, Jhoan Durán worked two innings, giving up three hits, including Shohei Ohtani’s two-run home run with two outs at the bottom of the ninth. He threw 24 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (8.3 SwStr%) while recording one strikeout. His illustrator:
And the results:
He last recorded a save on July 11 and has allowed multiple hits in two of his last three games.
- Anthony Misiewicz issued Freddie Freeman a walk at the bottom of the eighth, then left the game, forcing Durán’s entry.
- Griffin Jax hit a batter and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless eighth.
- Louis Varland allowed three hits and two earned runs, while striking out two for his 17th hold in the sixth.
- Brock Stewart retired the side and struck out one in the fifth. He was awarded his second win as a result.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Louis Varland
New York Mets – Working into and then out of trouble, Ryne Stanek preserved a one-run margin against the Angels for his third save, second in the last three days. His outing began with Logan O’Hoppe’s single, followed by him recording two outs, then allowing Nolan Schanuel’s single before getting a game-ending pop-out by Mike Trout. Stanek threw 13 pitches (84.6 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%).
- Reed Garrett stranded a runner in the seventh and tossed 1.1 clean frames while striking out two for his 18th hold.
- Rico Garcia notched his first hold, giving up a hit and striking out two during a scoreless combined inning.
Hierarchy Remains: Edwin Díaz | Reed Garrett | Huascar Brazobán
New York Yankees – Shutting the door on his 15th save, Devin Williams worked around Vlad Guerrero Jr.’s lead-off single by retiring the next three batters, two on strikeouts, preserving a one-run win in Toronto. He threw 19 pitches (78.9 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (15.8 SwStr%).
He has recorded a win and converted all four save chances over his last seven appearances, posting a 0.571 WHIP with 12 strikeouts against one walk (44 K-BB%) through seven innings.
- Ian Hamilton stranded a runner and retired his only batter at the bottom of the eighth. He was awarded his second win after a rally at the top of the ninth.
- Luke Weaver walked one and logged 1.2 scoreless frames.
- Jonathan Loáisiga suffered his third blown save, letting his only inherited runner score, giving up two hits and striking out during one-third of the sixth.
- Tim Hill was credited with his 11th hold despite allowing a hit and two unearned runs in two-thirds of the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Devin Williams | Luke Weaver | Tim Hill
Pittsburgh Pirates – Called upon for a third straight appearance, David Bednar navigated around a lead-off walk and a one-out single with consecutive game-ending strikeouts, recording his 15th save. He threw 18 pitches (72.2 Strike%) and generated five whiffs (27.8 SwStr%).
This extended his scoreless streak to 11 games, during which he has a win and converted all five save chances while posting a 1.00 WHIP with 14 strikeouts versus four walks (23.3 K-BB%).
- Caleb Ferguson struggled once again, giving up two hits, two earned runs, and striking out two in the eighth.
- Isaac Mattson tossed a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: David Bednar | Dennis Santana | Caleb Ferguson
Seattle Mariners – Slamming the door on his 22nd save, Andrés Muñoz preserved the 1-0 lead despite issuing two walks, putting two runners on with one out by recording a strikeout, followed by a game-ending fielder’s choice groundout by Andrew Vaughn. Muñoz threw 28 pitches (53.6 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (10.7 SwStr%).
- Gabe Speier stranded a runner and retired his only batter in the eighth for his 12th hold.
- Eduard Bazardo issued a walk during two-thirds scoreless in the eighth, getting credit for his third hold.
- Matt Brash retired both batters in the seventh and stranded a runner while securing his 12th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Matt Brash | Gabe Speier
Tampa Bay Rays – Securing his 17th save, Pete Fairbanks retired the side and preserved a one-run lead against the White Sox. He threw 12 pitches (66.7 Strike%) without a whiff.
This snapped a streak of two games allowing at least a run, and he has converted his last two save chances.
- Garrett Cleavinger gave up a hit during a scoreless eighth, notching his 14th hold.
- Bryan Baker allowed Colson Montgomery’s solo home run and recorded a strikeout at the top of the seventh, getting credit for his 11th hold.
- Edwin Uceta took over at the top of the fifth and logged two scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out four, resulting in his seventh win.
Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks | Bryan Baker | Garrett Cleavinger
Quick Hits
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Summoned with a one-run lead, Kevin Ginkel stranded an inherited runner at the top of the seventh, walking and striking out one against Houston for his sixth hold. Jake Woodford replaced him in the eighth and issued a one-out walk, followed by a two-run home run, resulting in his first loss and a first blown save. He finished with four hits, three earned runs, and a walk while striking out one during his 1.2 innings.
- Chicago Cubs: Making a non-save appearance, Daniel Palencia navigated around Bobby Witt Jr.’s lead-off single by inducing a double play groundout and Salvador Perez’s two-out single with a game-ending strikeout, preserving the combined shutout. He threw 13 pitches (61.5 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%). Since June 26, he has turned in nine consecutive scoreless outings, converting all six save opportunities while recording a 0.602 WHIP with 10 strikeouts against one walk.
- Colorado Rockies: Preserving a four-run lead, Seth Halvorsen worked around Alec Burleson’s two-out walk with a game-ending strikeout against Willson Contreras in a non-save outing. He threw 14 pitches (50 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (28.6 SwStr%).
- Los Angeles Dodgers: With the score tied at the top of the sixth, Ben Casparius took over but struggled with his command. He allowed a walk, a double, and two more walks, forcing in a run before being removed without retiring a batter. Alexis Díaz made his team debut, letting two of three inherited runners score on Christian Vazquez’s single and recording a strikeout, retiring three of four batters faced. Still, Casparius was charged with his fourth loss as a result.
- Milwaukee Brewers: Entering with two runners on and two outs, DL Hall stranded both at the bottom of the fourth and logged 1.2 clean innings while striking out one. Nick Mears allowed the game’s only run on Cal Raleigh’s solo home run at the bottom of the sixth, resulting in his third loss.
- St. Louis Cardinals: Forced into an extended outing, Kyle Leahy tossed 3.2 innings, allowing three hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out seven against the Rockies, throwing 49 pitches (73.5 Strike%) with nine whiffs (18.4 SwStr%).
- Toronto Blue Jays: Summoned for the fourth time in five days, Jeff Hoffman entered a tied contest at the top of the ninth. He allowed Ben Rice’s go-ahead solo home run, resulting in his third loss. It’s his first loss since May 13 and snaps a modest four-game scoreless streak.
- Washington Nationals: Taking over at the top of the fifth, Konnor Pilkington fired two clean frames and recorded three strikeouts, collecting his first win. He threw 21 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and induced four whiffs (19 SwStr%).
News, Notes, and Observations
Arizona Diamondbacks: The good news is that Shelby Miller will avoid injury. He threw live batting practice on Tuesday, but it was cut short, not because of his forearm.
Boston Red Sox: More for those in SOLDS or holds formats, but also intriguing as the right-handed high-leverage complement for Aroldis Chapman, by design, Garrett Whitlock has been working one-inning appearances or less since June 29. In these eight games, he has recorded five holds with a 0.548 WHIP and 12 strikeouts versus zero walks (44.4 K-BB%) through 7.1 innings.
Minnesota Twins: An update about their deadline modus operandi:
They should be asking for talent for Durán and Jax, time will tell if a contender bites or the prices deescalate depending on who becomes available.
Closer Monkey Emails for 2025
This year, the daily emails will change. Those interested in daily free updates with links should subscribe to our page at Substack. Subscribers to the former site will not transfer over; readers must register using the new link.
Premium subscribers can still use this link for daily, ad-free content or submit a $25 payment via Venmo to @gjewett9.
If you would like to leave a tip, please use this link for PayPal. Venmo can be sent to the address above.
Thanks for being part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.
Statistical Credits: