Despite some weather issues, Wednesday provided a full 15-game slate. Relievers recorded seven wins, though one was accompanied by a blown save (Keegan Akin), and seven saves while suffering nine losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
For the save streamers, a light forecast:
Vulture Save Options for August 14
- Jimmy Herget (COL): Victor Vodnik has pitched on back-to-back days.
- Michael Tonkin (MIN): Justin Topa threw 26 pitches during a two-inning save last night.
Under the Hood: The Los Angeles Dodgers Bullpen
Staked with a one-run lead, Justin Wrobleski took over at the bottom of the sixth and recorded two scoreless innings, yielding a double. Returning for the eighth, he ran into trouble, issuing consecutive walks before being replaced. Edgardo Henriquez let both inherited runners score while giving up two hits and recording a strikeout, tagging him with his first blown save. Wrobleski suffered his fourth loss, finishing with a hit, two earned runs, and two walks while striking out one over his two-plus innings, also getting credited with his second hold. For what it’s worth, if they had kept the lead, it would have been Alexis Díaz who would have gotten the save opportunity, according to Dave Roberts in his postgame press conference, confirmed on X:
There has been a litany of injuries to the veterans in the bullpen, but this loss dropped the team out of first place entering a pivotal series against San Diego. In one-run games this year, Los Angeles has a 19-18 record, and in two-run games, they are below five hundred, winning nine of 21. Putting these results together, in games decided by two runs or fewer, the Dodgers are 28-30 (.483).
Since the All-Star break, the team’s bullpen ranks 28th out of 30 teams in Win Probability Added. Here is a snapshot of the team’s results in the second half in this metric:
Yes, the team will receive a boost when Michael Kopech, Tanner Scott, and Kirby Yates return. However, in the near term, they face six games in the next ten days against the team with the best bullpen in the majors without them. While this team has proven resilient, this stretch could ultimately determine its postseason seeding and divisional title hopes. By the way, the Padres rank first in WPA since the All-Star break.
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Wednesday.
Leverage Ledger
Arizona Diamondbacks – Locking down his first career save, Andrew Saalfrank retired the Rangers’ top of the lineup in order, preserving a come-from-behind two-run win. He threw 11 pitches (72.7% strike rate) without a whiff.
He has allowed an unearned run in his last five appearances.
- John Curtiss was awarded his second win despite giving up two hits, an earned run, and a walk at the bottom of the eighth.
- Kyle Backhus retired the side and recorded a strikeout in the seventh.
- Juan Burgos walked one during a scoreless sixth.
This outcome also placed this team into the record books:
Hierarchy Remains: *Andrew Saalfrank | *Andrew Hoffmann | *Juan Morillo
*= closer-by-committee
Baltimore Orioles – Summoned with a runner at third and one out, Keegan Akin let the game-tying run score on a sacrifice fly, then induced an inning-ending flyout, resulting in his fifth blown save. However, he collected his fourth win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. He only threw two pitches, both strikes, and both flyouts.
- Yennier Cano allowed Julio Rodríguez’s lead-off single and walked Eugenio Suarez, followed by a double steal, and induced an RBI groundout by Josh Naylor before being removed. He was awarded his 17th hold despite giving up a hit, two earned runs, and a walk during one-third of the ninth.
- Dietrich Enns gave up a hit and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless eighth, notching his second hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Keegan Akin | *Yennier Cano | *Dietrich Enns
*= closer-by-committee
Chicago Cubs – Securing his 16th save, Daniel Palencia retired the side and recorded a strikeout, sealing a three-run lead against Toronto’s 2-3-4 hitters. He threw nine pitches, all strikes, and induced one whiff (11.1 SwStr%).
It’s his first save since August 1 and snapped a two-game streak of allowing at least a run.
- Brad Keller retired the side for his 18th hold in the eighth.
- Caleb Thielbar retired both batters, one via strikeout in the seventh for his 15th hold.
- Andrew Kittredge let one of two inherited runners score, yielding a hit while recording an out in the sixth and seventh innings, resulting in his 11th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Daniel Palencia | Brad Keller | Andrew Kittredge
Colorado Rockies – Capping his team’s ninth-inning go-ahead rally, Victor Vodnik notched his fourth save, and second in as many days, retiring the Cardinals in order at the bottom of the inning. He threw 10 pitches (60% strike rate) and produced one whiff while facing the 8-9-1 hitters.
- Jimmy Herget collected his first win, firing a clean bottom of the eighth while striking out two, ahead of his team’s rally.
- Jaden Hill worked a clean seventh, striking out one.
- Nick Anderson tossed a clean sixth, recording one strikeout.
Hierarchy Remains: Victor Vodnik | Jimmy Herget | Juan Mejia
Detroit Tigers – Preserving a combined shutout, Will Vest shut the door on his 18th save, retiring the 9-1-2 White Sox lineup pocket in order while recording one strikeout. He threw 11 pitches (54.5% strike rate) and induced one whiff.
He has recorded a save in his last two appearances and has been scoreless in his last four.
- Kyle Finnegan issued a lead-off walk, then retired the next three batters, securing his first hold. He has not allowed an earned run through his first five outings since his acquisition.
- Sawyer Gibson-Long botched his second hold, logging two scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out two.
A.J. Hinch is playing matchups during the late innings between Vest and Finnegan. This keeps both relevant from a fantasy perspective, although fantasy players may be frustrated by the fluid usage patterns.
Hierarchy Remains: *Kyle Finnegan | *Will Vest | Tyler Holton
*= closer-by-committee
Houston Astros – Despite allowing consecutive hits at the top of the ninth, Bryan Abreu bore down, inducing a pop-out, followed by back-to-back strikeouts, nailing down his first save of the season. He threw 22 pitches (69.6% strike rate) and generated six whiffs (26.1 SwStr%).
He has been scoreless through his first six outings in August, posting a 0.896 WHIP with five strikeouts across 6.2 innings.
- Bennett Sousa notched his seventh hold, stranding a runner in the seventh and retiring all four batters, three via strikeout, for his seventh hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Bryan Abreu | *Bennett Sousa | Bryan King
*= closer-by-committee
Kansas City Royals – Entering a tied contest at the top of the ninth, Carlos Estévez gave up Luis García Jr.’s one-out double, issued Nathaniel Lowe a two-out walk, followed by Daylen Lile’s go-ahead RBI single, resulting in his fifth loss. Estévez threw 25 pitches (56% strike rate) and produced two whiffs while giving up two hits, an earned run, and a walk with one strikeout.
- Luinder Avila made his MLB debut, retiring the side and striking out one at the top of the eighth.
- Sam Long allowed a walk and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless seventh.
- Daniel Lynch IV worked two scoreless frames, scattering two hits.
Hierarchy Remains: Carlos Estévez | Lucas Erceg | John Schreiber
Los Angeles Angels – Perhaps fueled by competitive fire, Kenley Jansen appeared in a third consecutive contest against his former team and shut the door on his 23rd save by retiring the side at the top of the ninth, preserving a one-run margin. He threw 10 pitches (60% strike rate) without a whiff against the Dodgers’ 2-3-4 lineup pocket.
- Brock Burke collected his sixth win, firing a clean top of the eighth with two strikeouts ahead of his team’s two-run rally at the bottom of the inning.
- Reid Detmers tossed a scoreless seventh, issuing a walk and striking out one.
- Andrew Chafin logged 1.1 scoreless innings, walking and striking out two.
- Ryan Zeferjahn let two of three inherited runners score at the top of the fourth, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out two during his 1.1 scoreless innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Reid Detmers | Luis García
Minnesota Twins – Protecting a three-run lead through two scoreless frames, Justin Topa earned his second save, allowing only Giancarlo Stanton’s single in the ninth and recording one strikeout. Topa threw 26 pitches (73.1% strike rate) and induced one whiff.
He has posted six scoreless outings in August, recording two saves and a hold with a 0.714 WHIP and six strikeouts versus one walk.
- Kody Funderburk stranded an inherited runner while retiring his only batter in the seventh via strikeout for his first hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Justin Topa | Cole Sands | Kody Funderburk
St. Louis Cardinals – Handed a one-run lead at the top of the ninth, JoJo Romero issued Kyle Karros a lead-off walk, a leverage no-no, recorded a strikeout, then gave up Hunter Goodman’s go-ahead two-run home run, resulting in his fourth loss and first brown save. Romero finished with two hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out three in his outing, snapping his four-game scoreless streak.
- Riley O’Brien navigated around two hits for a scoreless eighth, securing his fifth hold.
- Kyle Leahy allowed a hit and an earned run while striking out one in the seventh for his 14th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *JoJo Romero | *Riley O’Brien | Kyle Leahy
*= closer-by-committee
Texas Rangers – Summoned with a runner on and two outs at the top of the eighth, Phil Maton struck out Tyler Locklear. Returning for the ninth, things did not go as smoothly. After recording consecutive strikeouts, he allowed a home run by James McCann, hit Blaze Alexander with a pitch, walked Geraldo Perdomo, and served up Ketel Marte’s go-ahead three-run home run.
Things escalated quickly. Maton gets tagged with his fourth loss and third blown save, giving up two hits, four earned runs, a walk, and a hit batter while recording three strikeouts.
- Hoby Milner walked one during two-thirds scoreless in the eighth for his 15th hold.
- Luis Curvelo retired the side and recorded a strikeout for his first hold in the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Phil Maton | Danny Coulombe | Shawn Armstrong
Washington Nationals – Taking over a tied game at the bottom of the eighth with two outs, Jose A. Ferrer allowed Vinnie Paquantino’s double, then induced an inning-ending groundout by Maikel Garcia. Ferrer returned for the ninth with a one-run lead, allowing Jonathan India’s two-out single, followed by Randal Grichuk’s bloop single, and a game-ending fielder’s choice groundout, earning his fourth win. He threw 23 pitches (60.8% strike rate) without a whiff, finishing with three hits during his 1.1 scoreless frames.
He has been scoreless in his last two outings, but has given up multiple hits in each.
- Clayton Beeter was charged with his first blown save, giving up a hit and an earned run during two-thirds of the eighth.
- Cole Henry logged 1.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out one.
- PJ Poulin issued a walk during his two-thirds of the seventh for his first hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Jose A. Ferrer | Cole Henry | Konnor Pilkington
Quick Hits
- Atlanta Braves: Having the bullpen activated early, Aaron Bummer took over at the bottom of the third, logging 2.1 scoreless frames, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out three. He was rewarded with his second win as a result.
- Chicago White Sox: During a relief outing, Martin Pérez suffered his second loss, allowing three hits, an earned run, and two walks while striking out four across his 3.1 innings.
- Cincinnati Reds: Closing out a combined shutout, Emilio Pagán fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts on nine pitches, all strikes, with three whiffs (33.3 SwStr%) while facing the Phillies’ 3-4-5 lineup pocket. He has converted all three save opportunities in August and, with this outing, has been scoreless in his last three appearances.
- Milwaukee Brewers: Called upon at the top of the seventh, Jared Koenig issued a two-out walk and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless outing. He was awarded his fifth win during his team’s lopsided victory.
- New York Mets: Not only did Reed Garrett let both inherited runners score, he allowed two hits, three earned runs, and a walk while striking out two during two-thirds of the fourth, resulting in his fifth loss.
- New York Yankees: Yerry De Los Santos suffered his first loss, allowing three hits and three earned runs without recording an out at the top of the sixth. Mark Leiter Jr. let his only inherited runner score, giving up a hit during a scoreless sixth.
- Seattle Mariners: Entering a tied game at the bottom of the ninth, Matt Brash retired his first two batters faced, one via strikeout, then allowed Dylan Carlson’s two-out single, followed by Jackson Holliday’s walk-off, RBI-double, giving him his first loss.
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