Monday’s 13-game slate yielded plenty of leverage events of interest. Relievers recorded five wins, though one was accompanied by a blown save (Riley O’Brien), and seven saves while suffering six losses. Of the seven saves, two were a relief pitcher’s first of the season, and one was the first of his career. Here are the saves in condensed form:
For the save streamers, a light forecast:
Vulture Save Options for August 5
- Ryan Walker (SF) – Randy Rodríguez threw 32 pitches during his blown save last night and will be unavailable.
- Kyle Leahy (STL) – JoJo Romero has appeared in two of the previous three days, and if Ohtani bats in the eighth, he will be matched up against him. If not today, then Leahy could be in line tomorrow.
News, Notes, and Observations
(1) It’s dejá vù all over again for Devin Williams. He rebounded from his early-season struggles, converting all nine save chances between May 27 and July 13 with 20 strikeouts against two walks and a 0.675 WHIP across 17 appearances, spanning 16.1 innings. However, he has allowed at least a run in five of his last seven games, including back-to-back blown saves while allowing a home run. In these outings, he has allowed six hits, three of which have been home runs and six earned runs while posting nine strikeouts versus three walks with a 1.286 WHIP. His manager did not confirm or deny he would remain the team’s preferred save share, but the hot seat gets warmer with an outcome like this amid a rough patch of losses for the team.
(2) Although the sample is small, the Tigers have called upon Kyle Finnegan for consecutive save chances and have tweaked his approach. In July, he threw his split-finger fastball 25.6 percent of the time, but through two games with Detroit, he has thrown 13 split-fingered fastballs (41.9 percent) of his 31 pitches while recording two saves. On the season, this pitch has produced a 15.9 swinging strike percentage and a 21.8 K-BB percentage. Perhaps this is how the team plans on generating more whiffs during high-leverage situations.
(3) After placing Kevin Ginkel on the 15-day injured list, Arizona should find out what it has for next year. This may be frustrating for fantasy managers because roles may be fluid as relievers audition for future leverage events. Plan on daily match-up-based approaches depending on lineup pockets and availability.
(4) Colorado received good news regarding its closer, Seth Halvorsen. He landed on the 15-day injured list with elbow soreness, but could return later this year without undergoing surgery:
Here are the leverage events of interest from Monday.
Leverage Ledger
Arizona Diamondbacks – Securing his first major league save, Kyle Backhus logged two scoreless innings, giving up Ramón Laureano’s lead-off single at the top of the ninth and striking out two while preserving an eventual four-run win over the Padres. He entered to face Jackson Merrill and retired the side on ten pitches, then returned for the ninth without anyone warming up in the bullpen per the broadcast. Backhus threw 21 pitches (66.7% strike rate) and produced four whiffs (19 SwStr%).
This was a nice bounce-back outing; he allowed three earned runs on four hits his last time out on July 30.
- Andrew Hoffmann made his team debut by stranding two runners at the top of the sixth and retiring all four batters faced, two via strikeout, for his first hold.
This may be fluid for the next week or two as roles are earned with an almost remade bullpen.
Updated Hierarchy: *Kendall Graveman | *Andrew Saalfrank | *Kyle Nelson
*= closer-by-committee
Boston Red Sox – Shutting the door on his 21st save, Aroldis Chapman retired the side and recorded a strikeout against the Royals’ 3-4-5 lineup pocket. He threw 13 pitches (69.2% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%).
This extended his scoreless streak to five games, during which he has posted a 0.698 WHIP with five strikeouts against three walks.
- Garrett Whitlock gets credit for his 16th hold and stranded a runner despite allowing a hit and a walk, with his only out recorded at a runner getting cut down at home plate.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Garrett Whitlock | Jordan Hicks
Cincinnati Reds – Sealing a one-run lead, Emilio Pagán fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts against the Cubs 3-4-5 hitters, locking down his 24th save. He threw 17 pitches (70.6% strike rate) and produced four whiffs (23.5 SwStr%).
- Tony Santillan worked around Pete Crow-Armstrong reaching on a hit-by-pitch with a lineout double play and an inning-ending strikeout, securing his 24th hold.
- Graham Ashcraft gave up a hit during a scoreless seventh, notching his 12th hold.
- Scott Barlow logged two scoreless frames, walking two and striking out four. He was awarded his fifth win during an impromptu bullpen game.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Tony Santillan | Graham Ashcraft
Cleveland Guardians – Although he let the “place” runner score on Brett Baty’s two-out RBI single, Nic Enright recorded his first career save, closing out a one-run win at the bottom of the tenth against the Mets. He threw 13 pitches (61.5% strike rate) without a whiff. It’s a terrific result for a player who has battled cancer for a return to the majors.
Cade Smith earned his fourth win, stranding two runners at the bottom of the eighth and tossing 1.1 scoreless frames. He did give up two hits and a walk while striking out two on 22 pitches (72.7% strike rate) with four whiffs (18.2 SwStr%).
- Hunter Gaddis suffered his fourth blown save, allowing four hits and two earned runs while recording two outs in the eighth.
- Eric Sabrowski notched his fifth hold, working a clean seventh and striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis | Nic Enright
Detroit Tigers – Provided a three-run lead at the top of the ninth, Kyle Finnegan worked around a Royce Lewis one-out single with consecutive strikeouts while recording his 22nd save. He threw 13 pitches (84.6% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%).
He has recorded a save in his last two appearances since being acquired, retiring seven of eight batters faced and striking out three.
- Tommy Kahnle notched his 13th hold, walking and striking out one during two-thirds of the eighth.
- Brant Hurter logged 1.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out one for his fifth hold.
Updated Hierarchy: *Kyle Finnegan | *Will Vest | Tyler Holton
*= closer-by-committee with match-up tendencies
Milwaukee Brewers – Making his first appearance in August, Trevor Megill nailed down his 25th save, retiring the side and recording two strikeouts while preserving a two-run win in Atlanta. He threw seven pitches, all strikes, and produced two whiffs (28.6 SwStr%).
He has converted all seven save chances during his nine-game scoreless streak, during which he has a 0.361 WHIP with 12 strikeouts versus one walk (39.3 K-BB%) through 8.1 innings.
- Abner Uribe worked around a hit and a walk while striking out one for a scoreless eighth, securing his 28th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Jared Koenig
New York Yankees – Though it seemed like this game was a coronation of the team’s trade deadline relief targets, it ended frustratingly. Jake Bird retired the first two batters he faced at the bottom of the tenth, then intentionally walked Wyatt Langford before allowing Josh Jung’s walk-off three-run home run, resulting in his second loss.
Devin Williams could not preserve a one-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, giving up Joc Pederson’s game-tying, pinch-hit solo home run.
Williams was tagged with his third blown save, second in as many appearances, and has allowed a home run in three of his last six outings.
- David Bednar fired a clean eighth and struck out one for his fourth hold.
- Camilo Doval retired the side and recorded a strikeout in the seventh, securing his eighth hold.
- Luke Weaver worked a clean sixth, striking out one for his tenth hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Devin Williams | David Bednar | Camilo Doval
San Francisco Giants – Called upon at the bottom of the eighth with a runner on and two outs, Randy Rodríguez stranded the runner. Returning for the ninth, things did not go as smoothly. It began with Andrew McCutchen drawing a walk, a strikeout, a hit batter (Jack Suwinski), and a game-tying RBI single by Joey Bart. With the go-ahead run at third, Rodríguez induced a weak infield groundball, but it scored the walk-off run, resulting in his third loss and a third blown save. He finished with a hit, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out one during his two-thirds combined innings, throwing 32 pitches (62.5% strike rate) with only two whiffs. His illustrator:
And his results, where sometimes you just tip your cap and understand the batting average on balls regression comes for everyone.
- Spencer Bivens gave up a hit and recorded a strikeout while retiring two batters in the eighth for his third hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Randy Rodríguez | Ryan Walker | Joey Lucchesi
St. Louis Cardinals – Handed a one-run lead at the top of the ninth, JoJo Romero navigated around Shohei Ohtani’s lead-off single and Will Smith’s two-out walk with a game-ending lineout by Max Muncy, with help from his defense, for his second save. He threw 19 pitches (57.9% strike rate) and induced two whiffs (10.5 SwStr%) while recording one strikeout.
He has recorded a save in his last two appearances, despite allowing traffic in each game. He has allowed three hits, an earned run, and two walks while striking out one over his last 2.1 innings.
- Riley O’Brien gave up Teoscar Hernández’s lead-off double at the bottom of the eighth, and the game-tying run on consecutive groundouts, resulting in his first blown save. However, he collected his first win after his team scored the eventual game-winning run at the top of the ninth.
Hierarchy Remains: *JoJo Romero | *Kyle Leahy | *Riley O’Brien
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Chicago Cubs: Entering a tied contest at the top of the seventh, Ryan Brasier allowed two hits and departed with runners at second and third with two outs. Caleb Thielbar gave up an RBI single by TJ Friedl, scoring one of the two inherited runners, and recorded an inning-ending strikeout. Brasier suffered his first loss as a result.
- Houston Astros: Completing a six-run win over the Marlins, Héctor Neris retired the side and recorded two strikeouts at the bottom of the ninth. Bryan Abreu worked around a hit and a walk for a scoreless eighth. He warmed up when his team led by four, but entered despite his teammates tacking on two runs at the top of the eighth.
- Los Angeles Dodgers: With the score tied at the top of the ninth, Brock Stewart allowed consecutive singles by Willson Contreras and Lars Nootbar, then retired the next two batters via pop-out and strikeout before being removed. Jack Dreyer replaced him with two on and two out, but gave up an RBI single by pinch-hitter Yohel Pozo, followed by Victor Scott II’s failed bunt attempt. Stewart was tagged with his second loss as a result.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Benefiting from his team’s walk-off rally, Dauri Moreta collected his first win after retiring the side and striking out one at the top of the ninth. He threw 10 pitches (90% strike rate) and generated four whiffs (40 SwStr%). He’s an intriguing reliever to track for the remainder of the season in this leverage ladder.
- Texas Rangers: Called upon at the top of the tenth, Danny Coulombe issued Anthony Volpe a one-out walk, then induced an inning-ending double play groundout by Austin Wells, stranding the “place” runner. He collected his second win courtesy of Josh Jung’s walk-off, three-run home run at the bottom of the inning.
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