Across Sunday’s full 15-game slate, relievers recorded ten wins, with one accompanied by a blown save (Alex Vesia), and ten losses while securing six saves. Of the six saves, one may mean a changing of the guard for the ninth inning in Texas. Here are the saves in condensed form:
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for August 18
- Tony Santillan (CIN): Although he has also worked in back-to-back games, he has thrown 12 fewer pitches than Emilio Pagán.
Doubleheader Options
- Chicago Cubs – Preferred Option: Brad Keller
- Milwaukee Brewers – Preferred Option: Shelby Miller
Vulture Save Stash for August 19
- John Schreiber: If Carlos Estévez and Lucas Erceg pitch today, it’s back-to-back games.
News, Notes, and Observations
After his team tied the game at the top of the inning, Robert Suarez took over, but served up a game-tying solo home run by Mookie Betts, leading off the bottom of the eighth.
Suarez rebounded by retiring the next three batters, two via strikeout, while absorbing his fifth loss. He has allowed a run in two of his last four appearances. This does not affect his status, as he took over against the Dodgers’ 2-3-4 lineup. However, it did leave open the possibility that Mason Miller would have had the ninth in a tied game or with a lead if the Padres had rallied.
In an eventual loss, Sean Newcomb fired a clean ninth, striking out one, preserving the tie after throwing 32 pitches during his first save on Saturday. Elvis Alvarado worked a clean eighth, striking out one. Osvaldo Bido struck out the side in the seventh, throwing 19 pitches (63.2% strike rate) and producing four whiffs (21.1 SwStr%). He had been working as a multi-inning reliever, but in shorter stints, his arsenal could play up during leverage outings:
Finishing his team’s six-run win over the Rays, Keaton Winn fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts on 13 pitches (76.9% strike rate) with four whiffs (30.8 SwStr%). It’s a limited sample, but he has posted a swinging strike percentage of 20 through his first two appearances. He also has a 28.6 first-strike percentage, so honing his command as a reliever must be addressed. But, keep tabs on his outings going forward:
Here are the leverage events of interest from Sunday.
Leverage Ledger
Atlanta Braves – Preserving a one-run lead in Cleveland, Raisel Iglesias worked around Bo Naylor’s lead-off single by retiring the next two batters, including two via strikeout for his 19th save. He threw 17 pitches (70.6% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (17.6 SwStr%).
He has converted his last eight save chances and been scoreless in his last 11 games, posting a 0.455 WHIP with 11 strikeouts and zero walks (28.9 K-BB%) through 11 innings.
- Pierce Johnson escaped with a scoreless eighth despite issuing three walks for his 12th hold.
- Dylan Lee allowed two hits and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless seventh, securing his 14th hold.
- Aaron Bummer logged two scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out one, resulting in his third win.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Dylan Lee | Pierce Johnson
Chicago Cubs – With a doubleheader on the horizon, Andrew Kittredge nailed down his first save, and first since June 13 last year, by retiring the side and preserving a one-run lead against the Pirates. He threw 10 pitches (70% strike rate) without a whiff against the 2-3-4 lineup pocket.
- Caleb Thielbar was awarded his third win. He stranded two runners while striking out Ronny Simon at the bottom of the ninth.
- Ben Brown gets tagged with his second blown save, logging 2.2 innings, giving up four hits, two earned runs, and two walks while striking out four over 2.2 innings of bulk relief.
- Taylor Rogers tossed a clean top of the fifth while striking out one.
This marked consecutive save chances without Daniel Palencia. He was not at the ballpark on Saturday, and an extra day of rest after being “under the weather” makes sense, but he’s on watch this week.
Link: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/3pkkC/1/
Hierarchy Remains: Daniel Palencia | Brad Keller | Andrew Kittredge
Cincinnati Reds – Tasked with the top of the tenth, Graham Ashcraft retired the side on 10 pitches and collected his seventh win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. He has been scoreless in his last four appearances.
Emilio Pagán suffered his fifth blown save, issuing Anthony Seigler a lead-off walk, again, a high-leverage mortal sin, and gave up a go-ahead, one-out two-run home run by William Contreras.
Pagán threw 18 pitches (50% strike rate) and only induced one whiff. He has allowed at least a run in his last two appearances.
- Tony Santillan bounced back with a scoreless eighth, walking and striking out one for his 27th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Tony Santillan | Graham Ashcraft
Colorado Rockies – Hanging on for his first career save, Juan Mejia allowed three consecutive one-out singles by Arizona’s 5-6-7 hitters, and an earned run on James McCann’s sacrifice fly, then induced a game-ending pop-out against Ketel Marte. He threw 22 pitches (63.6% strike rate) and induced one whiff while preserving an eventual one-run win.
- Jimmy Herget notched his fifth hold, walking and striking out one in a scoreless top of the eighth.
- Anthony Molina collected his first win, navigating around a hit and a walk while striking out two during a scoreless top of the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Victor Vodnik | Jimmy Herget | Juan Mejia
Los Angeles Angels – Wrapping up a six-run win with a scoreless bottom of the tenth, José Fermin retired the side against the A’s 6-7-8 lineup pocket on seven pitches.
Kenley Jansen pulled a “Houdini,” allowing a hit and two walks but escaping with a scoreless bottom of the ninth. He collected his fifth win after his teammates plated six runs at the top of the tenth. He threw 28 pitches (53.6% strike rate) and produced five whiffs (17.6 SwStr%) while recording two strikeouts.
- Luis García gave up a hit and a walk during one-third of the eighth.
- Reid Detmers logged 1.2 scoreless frames, walking one and striking out two.
- Brock Burke suffered his fifth blown save, letting his only inherited runner score on a hit during hits one-third of the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Reid Detmers | Luis García
Los Angeles Dodgers – Summoned with a one-run lead and runners at second and third, with one out at the top of the eighth, Alex Vesia induced consecutive groundouts, letting an inherited runner score, resulting in his fourth blown save. However, he returned for the ninth with a one-run lead and retired the top of the Padres’ lineup in order, including a game-ending strikeout of Manny Machado, collecting his third win. He threw 20 pitches (60% strike rate) without a whiff.
- Alexis Díaz hit a batter at the top of the eighth, recorded a strikeout, and allowed Ramón Laureano’s double, resulting in his removal, getting credit for his fourth hold despite having an earned run on his ledger.
- Blake Treinen worked a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and striking out one.
- Ben Casparius retired both batters, one via strikeout, for his 13th hold in the sixth.
Updated Hierarchy: *Alex Vesia | *Blake Treinen | *Alexis Díaz
*= closer-by-committee
Miami Marlins – Capping his team’s comeback rally, Anthony Bender navigated around Alex Bregman’s lead-off single, and a two-out walk with a game-ending fly out against Carlos Narváez, preserving a two-run lead for his fourth save. He threw 18 pitches (66.7% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (16.7 SwStr%).
This marked his first save since July 19 and extended his scoreless streak to four games.
- Tyler Phillips collected his second win, retiring the side at the bottom of the eighth, ahead of his team’s three-run outburst at the top of the ninth.
Updated Hierarchy: *Calvin Faucher | *Anthony Bender | Ronny Henriquez
*= closer-by-committee
New York Yankees – Taking over with one out at the bottom of the eighth, Luke Weaver retired two of three batters, keeping the game tied. After his teammates scored four runs at the top of the ninth, he returned for the ninth, though David Bednar did warm up, but stopped throwing when the save chance passed. Weaver earned his third win, retiring the side in the ninth and finishing with 1.2 scoreless frames, walking and striking out one.
- Tim Hill worked a clean, combined inning.
- Camilo Doval allowed a solo home run during his 1.1 innings and recorded a strikeout.
- Devin Williams stranded a runner, walking and striking out one during one-third of the fifth.
Hierarchy Remains: David Bednar | Luke Weaver | Camilo Doval
Philadelphia Phillies – Pressed into action with a runner on second and one out at the bottom of the ninth, Jhoan Durán showed no ill effects from his injury scare on Friday, retiring both batters, including a game-ending strikeout for his 21st save. He threw 12 pitches (83.3% strike rate) and induced one whiff while preserving the two-run lead.
Since his acquisition, he has converted all five save opportunities with a 0.426 WHIP with four strikeouts through 4.2 scoreless frames.
- Max Lazar created the mess, giving up four hits and three earned runs across his 1.1 innings.
- Matt Strahm notched his 14th hold, working 1.1 clean innings and striking out one.
- Joe Ross worked 1.2 scoreless, yielding a hit and a walk.
- Tanner Banks collected his fifth win, taking over at the bottom of the third. He stranded an inherited runner and logged 1.2 scoreless innings, allowing a hit and striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Durán | Matt Strahm | Orion Kerkering
St. Louis Cardinals – Entering a tied game at the top of the ninth, JoJo Romero did not receive much defensive support. His outing began with José Caballero reaching on a throwing error, advancing to third on a passed ball. Then, with one out, Giancarlo Stanton walked, and Aaron Judge was intentionally walked to load the bases. Cody Bellinger reached on a fielder’s choice error, scoring two runs, followed by Jazz Chisolm Jr. producing an unearned run on a groundout, forcing Romero’s removal. He finished with four unearned runs and two walks, resulting in his fifth loss.
- Jorge Alcala let his only inherited runner score on an RBI double before inducing the final out of the ninth.
- Riley O’Brien was charged with his second blown save, letting his only inherited runner score on a sacrifice fly. He logged 1.2 innings, yielding a hit and striking out two.
- Kyle Leahy gave up two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out two during his 1.1 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: *JoJo Romero | *Riley O’Brien | Kyle Leahy
Texas Rangers – Reading the box score will not tell the whole story, but Shawn Armstrong recorded his fourth save, preserving a six-run win over the Blue Jays. However, he took over with a four-run lead at the bottom of the eighth with two runners on and two outs, stranding both with an inning-ending pop-out against Alejandro Kirk. Armstrong returned for the ninth and retired the side, including a game-ending strikeout of Myles Straw. He threw 16 pitches (68.8% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (18.8 SwStr%).
This extended his scoreless streak to nine games, during which he has a 0.39 WHIP with ten strikeouts against one walk across 7.2 innings.
- Cole Winn issued two walks and recorded a strikeout during one-third of the eighth before his removal.
Updated Hierarchy: Shawn Armstrong | Phil Maton | Danny Coulombe
Quick Hits
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Another day, another blown lead by this bullpen. Jake Woodford suffered his third loss and second blown save. His outing began with a clean bottom of the sixth. However, when he returned for the seventh, things went sideways. He allowed a single, recorded a strikeout, hit back-to-back batters to load the bases, gave up a two-RBI single by Ryan Ritter, induced a groundout, then Mickey Moniak drove in two runs with a single. He finished his 1.2 innings with three hits, four earned runs, two hits batters, and a strikeout.
- Chicago White Sox: Steven Wilson suffered his fourth blown save, giving up three hits, including Jonathan India’s game-tying two-run home run during his two-thirds of an inning. Grant Taylor stranded a runner at the bottom of the seventh, but gave up three hits and three earned runs in the eighth, resulting in his third loss. Jordan Leasure replaced him with a runner on and two outs, allowing Adam Frazier’s two-run home run, putting an earned run on his ledger, and then recorded the last out of the eighth.
- Cleveland Guardians: Nic Enright suffered his first loss, allowing four hits, two earned runs, and striking out three during his 1.1 innings.
- Kansas City Royals: In a non-save appearance, Carlos Estévez retired the side against the White Sox, preserving a four-run lead while throwing an efficient eight pitches (75% strike rate) without a whiff. Lucas Erceg collected his fifth win, working around a hit and a walk while striking out one.
- Milwaukee Brewers: Summoned with a runner on and one out at the bottom of the ninth, Grant Anderson let him score on an RBI single by Jose Trevino, tying the game, and handed him his second blown save. Returning for the tenth, he recorded an out on a sacrifice bunt, issued two intentional walks (Elly De La Cruz and Will Benson), and allowed Austin Hays’ walk-off RBI single, resulting in his fourth loss.
- New York Mets: Closing out a four-run win over Seattle, Tyler Rogers navigated around two hits for a scoreless top of the ninth. Ryan Helsley issued a walk and recorded two strikeouts, throwing 24 pitches (58.3% strike rate) with three whiffs (12.5 SwStr%).
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Called on at the bottom of the eighth in a tied contest, Isaac Mattson allowed two hits, an earned run, and a walk, letting the game-winning run score on Dansby Swanson’s sacrifice fly, resulting in his second loss.
- The Athletics: Entering at the top of the tenth, Michael Kelly suffered his second loss, allowing a hit, four runs (three earned), and a walk while recording one out. Ben Bowden let both inherited runners score, giving up two hits, two earned runs, and two walks during his two-thirds of the tenth.
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