Friday’s full slate had some blowouts, but relievers recorded five wins and five saves while suffering four losses. Another tumultuous outing in the Bronx confirms our hierarchical change made on Wednesday, and there’s a new sheriff in Detroit. Here are last night’s saves in condensed form:
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for August 9
- Bryan Abreu (HOU): Josh Hader threw a season-high 36 pitches during a two-inning appearance last night.
Doubleheader Recommendations
- Atlanta: Tyler Kinley
- Miami: Lake Bachar
Vulture Save Stashes for August 10
- Hunter Gaddis (CLE): If Cade Smith pitches today, it’s back-to-back outings.
- Will Vest (DET): If Kyle Finnegan appears today, it’s consecutive contests.
- Shelby Miller (MIL): If Trevor Megill and Abner Uribe are used today, it’s two straight games for each leverage reliever.
Three Takeaways
(1) Devin’s reset awaits: Despite his recent struggles, Devin Williams took over at the top of the tenth, allowing a lead-off go-ahead RBI single by Carlos Correa, retired the next two batters, then gave up Taylor Trammell’s two-run home run before an inning-ending strikeout, resulting in his fifth loss.
He has allowed at least a run in five consecutive games and a home run in three of his last four. Through 48 games with the Yankees, he has allowed three earned runs five times. For Milwaukee, he also allowed three earned runs five times, across 241 appearances. Find someone to stand by you like Aaron Boone does for the “Airbender.”
Not using David Bednar after he threw 42 pitches on Wednesday makes sense; however, passing over Tim Hill or Mark Leiter Jr. in the tenth for a struggling reliever did not work—just another in a long line of tactical errors by Boone.
Hierarchy Remains: *David Bednar | *Luke Weaver | *Camilo Doval
*= closer-by-committee
If Bednar receives and converts the next save chance, the asterisks will be removed.
(2) Once again, it’s Finnegan: Shutting the door on his 23rd save, and third consecutive for the Tigers, Kyle Finnegan fired a clean top of the ninth, recording two strikeouts against the Angels’ 7-8-9 lineup pocket. He threw ten pitches (80% strike rate) and produced two whiffs.
He owns a five-game scoreless streak and has converted all four save chances with a 0.377 WHIP. Troy Melton collected his second win, logging 3.1 innings, giving up two hits, an earned run, and striking out two.
Updated Hierarchy: Kyle Finnegan | Will Vest | Tyler Holton
(3) Garcia took over in the fifth? Entering at the top of the fifth, Robert Garcia stranded a runner and worked 1.1 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and two walks while striking out three. He threw 29 pitches (58.6% strike rate) and induced three whiffs (6.9 SwStr%). This outing snapped a three-game streak during which he allowed at least a run. However, he has been summoned in the fifth and seventh innings in his last two appearances. For now:
Hierarchy Remains: *Phil Maton | *Danny Coulombe | Shawn Armstrong
*= closer-by-committee
However, if Maton gets the next save chance, the committee label will be removed.
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Friday.
Leverage Ledger
Baltimore Orioles – Sealing a one-run margin over the A’s, Keegan Akin notched his second save, retiring the side and recording a strikeout while facing the 7-8-9 hitters. He threw 11 pitches (63.6% strike rate) and induced three whiffs (27.3 SwStr%).
He has been scoreless in three of four appearances this month while converting both save opportunities.
- Yennier Cano allowed two hits and an earned run while recording his 16th hold. He has given up at least a run in two of his last three games.
Hierarchy Remains: *Keegan Akin | *Yennier Cano | *Corbin Martin
*= closer-by-committee
Houston Astros – Earning his sixth win, Josh Hader retired the side at the bottom of the ninth, then let the “place” runner score on Anthony Volpe’s RBI single, and issued a walk while throwing a season-high 36 pitches (66.7% strike rate) with three whiffs (8.3 SwStr%) during his two innings.
This marked his fourth two-inning outing this year and his seventh requiring four or more outs, matching his total from last year on August 8. It’s a big win, but he may be down for the remainder of the series.
- Bryan Abreu fired a clean bottom of the eighth, striking out two.
- Bennett Sousa logged 1.2 clean frames, stranding two runners at the bottom of the sixth and striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Bennett Sousa
Milwaukee Brewers – Securing his 27th save, Trevor Megill can thank Blake Perkins, who ended the one-run win with a game-ending throw to home, cutting down the potential game-tying run. Megill recorded two quick outs, then gave up Starling Marte’s double and Jeff McNeil’s single during a scoreless appearance. He threw 13 pitches (76.9% strike rate) and induced one whiff.
He has converted his last nine save chances and been scoreless in his previous 11, posting a 0.583 WHIP with 12 strikeouts against one walk across 10.1 innings.
- Abner Uribe racked up his MLB-leading 27th hold with a scoreless eighth, walking one and striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Jared Koenig
Pittsburgh Pirates – Capping his team’s come-from-behind rally at the bottom of the eighth, Dennis Santana locked down his seventh save, retiring the side and striking out one against the Reds’ 7-8-9 lineup pocket. He threw eight pitches (75% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (25 SwStr%).
After a rough start in August, this marked his first save since July 29 and his second clean appearance in his last four.
- Kyle Nicolas collected his first win, allowing a hit and striking out two at the top of the eighth.
- Dauri Moreta worked 1.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out three.
Hierarchy Remains: Dennis Santana | Isaac Mattson | Ryan Borucki
Seattle Mariners – Handed a one-run lead, Matt Brash filled in capably for a resting Andrés Muñoz, firing a clean top of the ninth while striking out the side. He threw 19 pitches (52.6% strike rate) and generated four whiffs (23.5 SwStr%) while facing the Rays’ 2-3-4 lineup pocket.
It’s his first save since June 24, and he has been scoreless in six of his last seven games with seven strikeouts against two walks across 5.1 innings.
- Carlos Vargas retired the side at the top of the eighth, then collected his fourth win after his team’s three-run rally at the bottom of the frame.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Matt Brash | Gabe Speier
Quick Hits
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Sealing a five-run win over the Rockies, Casey Kelly issued a walk during a scoreless top of the ninth. Andrew Saalfrank allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless eighth. Kendall Graveman worked a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and striking out one.
- Cincinnati Reds: Taking over with a one-run lead at the bottom of the eighth, Tony Santillan issued a one-out walk, then gave up consecutive two-out hits, including a two-RBI triple by Bryan Reynolds, resulting in his fourth loss and a third blown save. He finished with two hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out two.
- Cleveland Guardians: Closing out a four-run lead, Cade Smith worked around a two-out single and recorded a strikeout during a scoreless bottom of the ninth, throwing 22 pitches (59.1% strike rate) with one whiff.
- Colorado Rockies: In an eventual five-run loss, Juan Mejia fired a scoreless bottom of the eighth, hitting a batter and recording two strikeouts on 17 pitches (70.6% strike rate) with four whiffs (23.5 SwStr%).
- Los Angeles Angels: Reid Detmers suffered his third loss and a fourth blown save, issuing two walks and serving up Matt Vierling’s go-ahead three-run home run during one-third of the eighth.
- Los Angeles Dodgers: Protecting a four-run lead, Blake Treinen allowed a two-out single by Ty France during a scoreless top of the ninth. He threw 14 pitches (64.3% strike rate) without a whiff.
- San Francisco Giants: As the “bulk follower,” Kai-Wei Teng collected his first career win, logging five scoreless frames while scattering three hits and walking one with four strikeouts.
- St. Louis Cardinals: Completing a combined shutout, Riley O’Brien retired the side against the Cubs’ 7-8-9 hitters, throwing nine pitches (77.8% strike rate) and getting one whiff (11.1 SwStr%). JoJo Romero fired a scoreless eighth, matched up against Kyle Tucker (HBP) and Pete Crow-Armstrong (flyout), while recording one strikeout. Matt Svanson tossed a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and striking out two.
- Tampa Bay Rays: With a two-run lead during a shutout, Griffin Jax struggled at the bottom of the eighth in Seattle. He allowed consecutive one-out singles, then gave up Cal Raleigh’s go-ahead three-run home run with two outs, resulting in his sixth loss and a sixth blown save. It’s the third time in ten appearances during the second half he has allowed multiple runs.
News, Notes, and Observations
Boston Red Sox
Once Slaten returns, this bullpen gets another right-handed high-leverage option.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Help may be on the way, by the end of the month:
Philadelphia Phillies
Two upcoming roster notes of interest:
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