As the game progressed, it seemed inevitable that Josh Hader would take over at the top of the ninth against the Red Sox to protect a one-run lead. He has only missed time once, a ten-game stint with a COVID-19 designation in 2021. However, when he was not warming up at the bottom of the eighth, beat writers signaled the alarm. After the game, Joe Espada provided some insight during his post-game presser, covered by Brian McTaggart in his game recap on MLB.com:
While fantasy managers hold their collective breaths in anticipation of the potential fallout if he misses time, Bryan Abreu and Bennett Sousa could figure prominently during save situations. Still, it’s all speculative at this point.
Monday’s 11-game slate provided plenty of other high-leverage events of interest with relievers recording five wins and seven saves while suffering four losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for August 12
- Bryan Abreu (HOU): Josh Hader’s potentially unavailable, and Bennett Sousa having pitched in back-to-back games, puts Abreu in line for the save.
- Lucas Erceg (KC): Carlos Estévez has appeared in three consecutive games.
- Shawn Armstrong (TEX): Phil Maton has worked in back-to-back contests.
- Ben Casparius (LAD): If the team gets a save chance, he may be the preferred option with others in his leverage ladder struggling.
Vulture Save Stashes for August 13
- Camilo Doval (NYY): If David Bednar and Luke Weaver pitch today, it’s consecutive outings for both.
- Reid Detmers (LAA): If Kenley Jansen pitches today, it’s back-to-back games.
- Edwin Uceta (TB): If Pete Fairbanks is deployed tonight, it would be two straight appearances.
Here are the leverage events of interest from Monday.
Leverage Ledger
Arizona Diamondbacks – Pressed into duty at the bottom of the ninth, Andrew Saalfrank stranded a runner with an inning-ending groundout by Sam Haggerty. Returning for the tenth with the score still tied, he intentionally walked Corey Seager, retired Marcus Semien on a lineout that moved up both runners, then suffered his first loss on Jake Burger’s walk-off RBI single.
Andrew Hoffmann was tagged with his second blown save. He fired a clean bottom of the eighth against the 3-4-5 lineup pocket, but in the ninth, gave up Rowdy Tellez’s home run leading off the inning, tying the contest.
Hoffman finished with two hits, an earned run, and two strikeouts over 1.2 innings.
- Kyle Backhus stranded a runner and retired both batters in the eighth for his sixth hold.
- Juan Burgos allowed a hit during a scoreless combined inning for his first hold.
It’s not the result fantasy players hoped for, but seeing Arizona using its young relievers in this type of game will help expedite their development as high-leverage options going forward.
Updated Hierarchy: *Andrew Saalfrank | *Andrew Hoffmann | *Kyle Backhus
*= closer-by-committee
Chicago White Sox – With the score tied at the top of the ninth, Brandon Eisert suffered his fourth loss, giving up Spencer Torkelson’s go-ahead solo home run among his two hits and issuing a walk while recording two outs.
- Cam Booser stranded two runners after the rain delay, retiring his only batter via strikeout.
- Grant Taylor tossed a scoreless eighth, yielding a hit and striking out one against the Tigers’ 9-1-2 hitters. Steven Wilson fired a clean seventh, striking out two.
- Tyler Alexander logged 4.1 scoreless frames as the “bulk follower,” scattering two hits and walking one while striking out five.
Hierarchy Remains: *Grant Taylor | *Jordan Leasure | *Steven Wilson
*= closer-by-committee
Detroit Tigers – Following a rain delay with a limited window, Will Vest shut the door on his 17th save, retiring the White Sox 2-3-4 lineup pocket in order while recording a strikeout. He threw 12 pitches (58.3% strike rate) and induced two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%).
This marked his first save since July 20, and extended his scoreless streak to three games.
- Kyle Finnegan stranded a runner at the bottom of the eighth, on a sacrifice bunt, a strikeout, and an inning-ending groundout. He collected his second win after his teammates plated the go-ahead run at the top of the ninth.
- Tyler Holton worked 1.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out one.
Just when it seemed safe to trust A.J. Hinch, he played matchups in the late innings. Which means this will be the hierarchy until further notice:
Updated Hierarchy: *Kyle Finnegan | *Will Vest | Tyler Holton
*= closer-by-committee
Houston Astros – As for the game: Summoned with a runner on and two outs, Bennett Sousa recorded a game-ending strikeout against Roman Anthony, preserving the one-run margin for his fourth save, throwing four pitches (75% strike rate) with two whiffs. It’s his first save since July 2.
- Enyel De Los Santos notched his third hold, giving up a hit during a scoreless combined inning.
- Steven Okert was credited with his seventh hold despite allowing three hits, including Anthony’s solo home run during his combined inning of relief.
For now:
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Bennett Sousa
Kansas City Royals – Appearing for a third straight game, Carlos Estévez worked around Paul DeJong’s two-out walk with a game-ending groundout, securing his American League-leading 30th save. He threw 18 pitches (55.6% strike rate) without a whiff, and has not produced one in his last two outings.
- Angel Zerpa tossed a scoreless eighth, giving up a hit and striking out one for his 11th hold.
- John Schreiber retired the side and struck out one, notching his 13th hold.
- Daniel Lynch IV was awarded his fourth win despite allowing five hits and two earned runs while striking out two over his two innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Carlos Estévez | Lucas Erceg | Hunter Harvey
Los Angeles Angels – Locking down his 22nd save, Kenley Jansen retired the side and recorded two strikeouts while facing the Dodgers’ 7-8-9 lineup pocket. He threw nine pitches (88.9% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (22.2 SwStr%).
This extended his scoreless streak to 15 games, during which he has recorded three wins and seven saves with a 0.458 WHIP and 18 strikeouts versus two walks (30.8 K-BB%).
- Connor Brogdon retired Miguel Rojas via strikeout for his fourth hold.
- Shaun Anderson allowed four hits, including two home runs, and four earned runs during two-thirds of the eighth before being removed.
- Luis García navigated around a hit and two walks during a scoreless seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Reid Detmers | Luis García
New York Yankees – Preserving a four-run lead over the Twins, David Bednar retired the 1-2-3 hitters in order, including a game-ending strikeout. He threw 12 pitches (75% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (25 SwStr%) while recording two strikeouts.
He extended his scoreless streak to four games, during which he has a 0.755 WHIP with 10 strikeouts against three walks (35 K-BB%) across 5.1 innings.
- Luke Weaver notched his 12th hold, logging 1.1 scoreless frames and striking out two. He’s been scoreless in all six August appearances, securing three holds with a 0.317 WHIP and eight strikeouts versus one walk through 6.1 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: David Bednar | Luke Weaver | Camilo Doval
Philadelphia Phillies – Providing his teammates with much-needed rest, Orion Kerkering filled in capably, retiring the side and striking out one for his third save. He threw ten pitches (80% strike rate) and recorded a strikeout without inducing a whiff.
He has been scoreless in seven of his last eight appearances, posting a 0.75 WHIP with ten strikeouts (33.3 K-BB%) through eight innings.
- David Robertson made his season debut, tossing a scoreless eighth, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out one, securing his first hold.
- Jordan Romano collected his second win, firing a clean bottom of the seventh and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Durán | Matt Strahm | Orion Kerkering
San Diego Padres – Shutting the door on his MLB-leading 33rd save, Robert Suarez retired the side against the Giants’ 2-3-4 hitters, preserving a three-run lead. He threw 19 pitches (78.9% strike rate) and induced one whiff.
He has been scoreless in four of five appearances this month, securing a win while converting three of four save chances with a 1.053 WHIP and four strikeouts versus two walks.
- Mason Miller recorded his third hold, striking out the side on 13 pitches (69.2% strike rate) with five whiffs (38.5 SwStr%). He has retired nine of his last 11 batters faced via strikeout (81.8 K%) across 3.1 scoreless frames.
- Jeremiah Estrada gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless seventh for his 25th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Suarez | Mason Miller | Jason Adam
Tampa Bay Rays – Recording at least 20 saves for a third consecutive season, Pete Fairbanks worked around Nick Kurtz’s lead-off double with two groundouts sandwiched around a strikeout, closing out a three-run margin against the A’s. He threw 12 pitches (66.7% strike rate) and induced one whiff, while extending his modest four-game scoreless streak in August.
- Edwin Uceta retired the side in the eighth, notching his 16th hold.
- Griffin Jax posted his 24th hold, retiring both batters at the bottom of the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks | Griffin Jax | Edwin Uceta
Texas Rangers – Tasked with the top of the tenth, Phil Maton retired the side and recorded a strikeout. He collected his second win on his team’s walk-off rally at the bottom of the frame. He threw 13 pitches (76.9% strike rate) and induced one whiff.
He has been scoreless in four of five appearances for the Rangers, recording a win, a save, and a hold with a 0.60 WHIP across five innings.
- Hoby Milner tossed a clean top of the ninth, striking out one.
- Shawn Armstrong worked a scoreless eighth, yielding a hit and striking out two.
- Danny Coulombe fired a clean seventh.
Updated Hierarchy: Phil Maton | Danny Coulombe | Shawn Armstrong
Quick Hits
- Cincinnati Reds: Called upon with a runner on and two outs, Tony Santillan allowed Kyle Schwarber’s two-run home run and retired Bryce Harper on a lineout during his one-third of the eighth.
- Colorado Rockies: Entering with a one-run lead at the bottom of the eighth, Juan Mejia issued Nolan Gorman a one-out walk, allowed Thomas Saggese’s bloop single, and Brendan Donovan’s pinch-hit two-RBI double, resulting in his first loss and a second blown save. Jimmy Herget retired the side and recorded a strikeout at the bottom of the seventh, securing his third hold.
- St. Louis Cardinals: Capping his team’s come-from-behind rally, Kyle Leahy earned his third win, allowing one hit across 2.1 scoreless frames and recording two strikeouts. He threw 29 pitches (72.4% strike rate) and produced five whiffs (17.2 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in his last six contests, posting a minuscule 0.30 WHIP with nine strikeouts and zero walks (28.1 K-BB%) through ten innings.
- The Athletics: Working with his team down by two at the top of the eighth, Michael Kelly allowed a hit, an earned run, and two walks while only recording one out, throwing 11 of 22 pitches for strikes. He has allowed a run in three of his last four games.
- Washington Nationals: Taking over at the bottom of the sixth, Jackson Rutledge suffered his second loss, allowing two hits, inducing Salvador Perez’s go-ahead two-run home run, and a walk during his inning of relief.
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