Sunday’s slate had its share of blowouts with six games decided by five or more runs. Despite this, relievers recorded three wins and seven saves while suffering three losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
| Reliever | Save # | Pitches | Strike% | SwStr% | K:BB | BF |
| Carlos Estévez | 27 | 15 | 66.7 | 0 | 0:0 | 4 |
| Edwin Díaz | 23 | 25 | 48 | 16 | 2:2 | 6 |
| Emilio Pagán | 22 | 13 | 76.9 | 15.4 | 1:0 | 3 |
| Kenley Jansen | 18 | 10 | 90 | 30 | 2:0 | 3 |
| Devin Williams | 16 | 13 | 61.5 | 23.1 | 2:0 | 3 |
| Daniel Palencia | 14 | 18 | 77.8 | 16.7 | 1:0 | 4 |
| Jordan Hicks | 2 | 25 | 54 | 8 | 1:1 | 5 |
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for July 28
- Ryne Stanek (NYM): Edwin Díaz has appeared in back-to-back games.
- Garrett Whitlock (BOS): Aroldis Chapman has worked in consecutive games and is dealing with back tightness.
- Graham Ashcraft (CIN): Emilio Pagán and Tony Santillan have pitched in three straight contests.
- Hunter Harvey (KC): Carlos Estévez and Lucas Erceg have been used in back-to-back games. If the team prefers not to use Harvey in the same manner, then John Schreiber may be called upon.
Vulture Save Stashes for July 29
- Luke Weaver (NYY): If he’s not used and Devin Williams is tonight, Weaver will be in line for the save on Tuesday. If both appear, it could be Ian Hamilton.
- Brad Keller (CHC): If Palencia pitches tonight, it’s two back-to-back outings.
Doubleheader Options
- Baltimore Orioles: Corbin Martin
- Toronto Blue Jays: Yariel Rodríguez
Trade Deadline Links
Speaking of the trade deadline, I have appeared on two podcasts recently, speaking about relievers at these two links:
- Baseball HQ with Patrick Davitt
- Fear the Roar (Tigers Podcast) with Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press
Sunday’s Spotlight
Boston Red Sox – Forced into action with two runners on and one out at the top of the eighth, Jordan Hicks induced an inning-ending double play on a lineout. Returning for the ninth, Hicks retired the first two batters, walked Michael Conforto, and produced a game-ending groundout against Tommy Edman for his second save. He logged 1.2 scoreless frames, walking and striking out one on 25 pitches (56% strike rate) with two whiffs.
Aroldis Chapman took over at the top of the eighth, lined up against the Dodgers’ 9-1-2 lineup pocket, but issued consecutive walks before a Shohei Ohtani flyout, then left the game with the trainer after working with reduced velocity.
He was credited with his fourth hold.
- Justin Wilson notched his 15th hold, yielding a hit during a scoreless seventh.
- Greg Weissert tossed a scoreless sixth, allowing a hit and striking out one.
- Brennan Bernardino was awarded his fourth win, despite yielding a hit and a walk during one-third of the fifth.
After the game, it’s being reported that Chapman left with tightness in his back.
This will be monitored closely. For now:
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Garrett Whitlock | Jordan Hicks
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Sunday.
Leverage Ledger
Baltimore Orioles – Held for the ninth inning, Seranthony Domínguez finished a four-run win after his teammates tacked on a run at the bottom of the eighth, removing the save opportunity. He allowed a lead-off single, then retired the next three batters, including a game-ending strikeout.
- Andrew Kittredge notched his seventh hold, yielding a hit and striking out two in a scoreless eighth, throwing 14 pitches (71.4% strike rate) with three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%).
- Yennier Cano navigated around two walks and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless seventh for his 14th hold.
Based on this usage pattern:
Adjusted Hierarchy: Seranthony Domínguez | Andrew Kittredge | Yennier Cano
Chicago Cubs –Called upon with two outs at the top of the eighth, Daniel Palencia retired Miguel Vargas via strikeout, then worked a scoreless ninth despite hitting a batter, preserving a one-run win over the White Sox, securing his 14th save. He threw 18 pitches (77.8% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (16.7 SwStr%).
This extended his scoreless streak to ten games, during which he has converted all seven save chances while recording a 0.515 WHIP with 11 strikeouts against one walk (28.5 K-BB%) across 9.2 innings.
- Ryan Brasier allowed three hits, including Andrew Benintendi’s three-run home run during his combined inning, getting credit for his second hold.
- Drew Pomeranz gave up two hits and recorded a strikeout during two-thirds of the seventh for his eighth hold.
- Caleb Thielbar retired the side and recorded two strikeouts while securing his 13th hold in the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Daniel Palencia | Brad Keller | Ryan Pressly
Cincinnati Reds – Appearing for a third straight game, Emilio Pagán fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded a strikeout, preserving a one-run lead against the Rays for his 22nd save. He threw 13 pitches (76.9% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%).
He extended his scoreless streak to seven games, posting a 0.952 WHIP with six strikeouts against two walks (16 K-BB%) over his last 6.1 innings.
- Tony Santillan also worked in a third straight contest, retiring both batters faced in the eighth, one via strikeout for his 22nd hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Tony Santillan | Graham Ashcraft
Kansas City Royals – Working around a Gabriel Arias’ lead-off double, Carlos Estévez retired the next three batters, closing out a three-run win over Cleveland for his 27th save. He threw 15 pitches (66.7% strike rate) without a whiff.
He has been scoreless in his last three games and converted both save chances. However, he has a 1.50 WHIP with seven strikeouts versus two walks across 10 innings in July with declining whiff rates:
- Lucas Erceg secured his 17th hold with a scoreless eighth, giving up a hit and striking out one.
- Angel Zerpa allowed two hits, including an Arias solo home run, and recorded two strikeouts in the seventh.
- Hunter Harvey worked a clean sixth, back from the injured list on 11 pitches (63.6% strike rate).
Updated Hierarchy: Carlos Estévez | Lucas Erceg | Hunter Harvey
Los Angeles Angels – Shutting the door on his 18th save, Kenley Jansen fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts during a three-run win over Seattle. He threw 10 pitches (90% strike rate) and produced three whiffs.
He extended his scoreless streak to all nine appearances in July, recording two wins and three saves while posting a 0.33 WHIP with 11 strikeouts versus zero walks (37.9 K-BB%) through nine innings. If the team decides to trade him, he has been steadily improving as the season has progressed:
- Brock Burke secured his 11th hold, walking and striking out one in a scoreless eighth.
- Reid Detmers retired the side, striking out one for his tenth hold in the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Reid Detmers | Ryan Zeferjahn
Miami Marlins – Entering a tied game at the bottom of the ninth, Cade Gibson suffered his fifth loss, allowing three hits, including Blake Perkins’ walk-off RBI single, and a walk while striking out one in one-third of an inning.
- Ronny Henriquez suffered his fourth blown save, giving up two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one in the eighth, taking over against the 2-3-4 lineup pocket.
- Anthony Bender notched his 18th hold, retiring the side and striking out one in the seventh.
- Valente Bellozo gave up two hits during a scoreless sixth for his first hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Ronny Henriquez | *Anthony Bender | *Calvin Faucher
*= highest-leverage reliever in a closer-by-committee
Milwaukee Brewers – After tossing a scoreless top of the ninth, allowing Javier Sanoja’s two-out double, Trevor Megill collected his third win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. He threw eight pitches (75% strike rate) without a whiff while striking out one in his outing.
He owns a seven-game scoreless streak with two wins and five saves while posting a 0.429 WHIP with nine strikeouts versus one walk (33.3 K-BB%) through seven innings.
- Abner Uribe allowed a hit during a scoreless eighth.
- Aaron Ashby issued two walks and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Jared Koenig
New York Mets – Provided a two-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, Edwin Díaz took over against the Giants’ 9-1-2 hitters and walked the tightrope while recording his 23rd save. After retiring Brett Wisely on a flyout, Jung Hoo Lee drew a walk, a pitch hit Heliot Ramos, and Rafael Devers walked to load the bases. Díaz bore down, striking out Willy Adames looking and Matt Chapman swinging, quelling the rally. He threw 25 pitches (48% strike rate) and produced four whiffs (16 SwStr%). His illustrator:
When struggling with his command, he misses to the arm side, as the chart above displays. His results:
This extended his scoreless streak to 17 games, during which he has a 0.751 WHIP with 25 strikeouts versus five walks (29.8 K-BB%) through 17.1 innings.
- Brooks Raley notched his second hold, allowing a hit and retiring a batter while stranding one at the bottom of the eighth.
- Reed Garrett gave up a hit and struck out two during two-thirds of the eighth, securing his 20th hold.
- Gregory Soto made his team debut, retiring the side and striking out one for his 19th hold.
- José Buttó worked a clean sixth and recorded a strikeout while collecting his third win.
Hierarchy Remains: Edwin Díaz | Ryne Stanek | Gregory Soto
New York Yankees – Locking down his 16th save, Devin Williams fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts, preserving a one-run lead against the Phillies. He threw 13 pitches (61.5% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%).
He has converted a save in his last three appearances and been scoreless in two. After a slow start this season, he has registered a 0.739 WHIP with 27 strikeouts against three walks (31.2 K-BB%) over his last 20.1 innings since May 27.
- Tim Hill retired the side against the 1-2-3 lineup pocket at the top of the eighth for his 12th hold.
- Luke Weaver fired a clean seventh, striking out one while securing his ninth hold.
- Jonathan Loáisiga gave up a hit and recorded a strikeout in two-thirds of the sixth, recording his sixth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Devin Williams | Luke Weaver | Tim Hill
Quick Hits
- Detroit Tigers: In order of appearance, Tyler Holton recorded two outs while giving up a hit and a walk at the top of the seventh, getting credit for his 11th hold. Brenan Hanifee stranded both runners and worked 1.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit for his tenth hold. Luke Jackson had a less-than-auspicious team debut, allowing two hits, four earned runs, and three walks while striking out one at the top of the ninth.
- Minnesota Twins: Pitching during an eventual five-run loss, Jhoan Durán navigated around two hits for a scoreless top of the ninth. He has allowed multiple hits in three of his last five games.
- Philadelphia Phillies: In an eventual one-run loss, Matt Strahm tossed a scoreless bottom of the eighth, yielding a hit and striking out one. Tanner Banks stranded a runner in the sixth and worked 1.1 scoreless frames while issuing a walk.
- San Francisco Giants: Within a bullpen game, Randy Rodríguez took over at the top of the sixth with a runner on and one out. He stranded his inherited runner despite issuing a walk by inducing a groundout and recording an inning-ending strikeout. He returned for the seventh, but things did not go as smoothly. He allowed Ronny Mauricio’s lead-off game-tying solo home run, retired two batters, then gave up Juan Soto’s opposite field, go-ahead solo home run, resulting in his second loss and a second blown save. Rodríguez finished with two hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out two during 1.1 innings. He entered this game with one home run allowed all season, which tripled after this contest.
- Washington Nationals: Closing a five-run win, Kyle Finnegan gave up Kody Clemens’ lead-off single, then retired the next three batters, one via strikeout. He threw 11 pitches (81.8% strike rate) and induced one whiff.
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