Friday’s full slate yielded voluminous leverage events of interest, and last night did not disappoint. There are updates for 23 of the 30 teams from yesterday’s action in today’s post. Relievers recorded eight wins, though one was accompanied by a blown save (Trevor Megill), and eight saves while suffering nine losses. Of the eight saves, one was a career first spanning four innings and was one of three requiring more than three outs:
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for August 23
- Abner Uribe (MIL): Trevor Megill has appeared in back-to-back games.
- Greg Weissert (BOS): Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock have pitched in consecutive contests.
- Hunter Gaddis (CLE): Cade Smith has allowed a run in his last three appearances.
- Jason Adam (SD): Robert Suarez and Mason Miller have worked in back-to-back games.
Vulture Save Stash for August 24
- Seranthony Domínguez (TOR): If Jeff Hoffman pitches today, it will be consecutive outings.
Here are the high-leverage events of interest from Friday.
Leverage Ledger
Arizona Diamondbacks – Outlasting the Reds and benefiting from a double play, Jalen Beeks recorded his fourth win after stranding the “place” runner on a groundout and a lineout at the top of the 11th.
- John Curtiss allowed an unearned run during the tenth and avoided further damage courtesy of a throw cutting down a runner at home by Corbin Carroll.
- Andrew Saalfrank retired the side, keeping the game tied at the top of the ninth, facing the 5-6-7 lineup pocket.
- Juan Morillo stranded a runner while retiring both batters in the eighth.
- Kyle Backhus gave up two hits and an earned run, resulting in his second blown save during one-third of the eighth.
- Juan Burgos notched his second hold, retiring the side and striking out one in the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: *Andrew Saalfrank | *Juan Morillo | Kyle Backhus
*= closer-by-committee
Boston Red Sox – Nailing down his 24th save and completing a 1-0 win against the Yankees, Aroldis Chapman retired the side and recorded two strikeouts while facing the 9-1-2 lineup pocket. He threw 10 pitches (90% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (20 SwStr%).
He has been scoreless in his last 12 appearances, recording a win and converting all seven save chances with a 0.412 WHIP while striking out 11 across 8.2 innings.
- Garrett Whitlock retired the side while striking out two for his 19th hold in the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Garrett Whitlock | Jordan Hicks
Chicago Cubs – Nailing down his 19th save, Daniel Palencia protected his team’s one-run lead by retiring the side and recording two strikeouts at the bottom of the ninth against the Angels. He threw 10 pitches (70% strike rate) and induced one whiff.
He has converted his last four save chances and recorded multiple strikeouts in his last three.
- Brad Keller collected his fourth win, retiring the side at the bottom of the eighth, ahead of his teammates’ rally at the top of the ninth.
- Andrew Kittredge suffered his first blown save, giving up Yoán Moncada’s game-tying solo home run at the bottom of the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Daniel Palencia | Brad Keller | Andrew Kittredge
Detroit Tigers – Summoned at the top of the seventh with the bases loaded and no out, Kyle Finnegan induced a double play groundout against Bobby Witt Jr., then retired Vinnie Pasquantino on an inning-ending flyout. Following his team’s four-run outburst at the bottom of the inning, Finnegan returned for the eighth, working around a walk and a batter reaching via catcher’s interference for a second scoreless frame. He collected his third win for his efforts, throwing 23 pitches (56.5% strike rate) with two whiffs.
- Will Vest took over in the ninth, allowing a one-out single by Randal Grichuk and a two-run home run by Pasquantino in the eventual two-run win, snapping his six-game scoreless streak.
Hierarchy Remains: *Kyle Finnegan | *Will Vest | Tyler Holton
*= closer-by-committee
Houston Astros – Securing his second save, Bryan Abreu stranded two runners at the bottom of the eighth with an inning-ending strikeout of Colton Cowser, then returned for the ninth, hitting a batter and racking up three more strikeouts, finishing a three-run win in Baltimore. He threw 21 pitches (66.7% strike rate) and generated eight whiffs (38.1 SwStr%) in a dominant performance.
He has been scoreless over his last nine outings and recorded 12 strikeouts against three walks across ten innings.
- Kaleb Ort forced his early entry, allowing four hits and an earned run during two-thirds of the eighth.
- Enyel De Los Santos gets credit for his fourth hold, giving up Cowser’s solo home run and a walk while striking out two in the seventh.
- Steven Okert stranded a runner and retired his only batter in the sixth, collecting his second win.
Updated Hierarchy: Bryan Abreu | Bryan King | Enyel De Los Santos
Milwaukee Brewers – After recording two quick outs, Trevor Megill allowed a double by Luis Matos, followed by a Dominic Smith single, and scored the game-tying run on a wild pitch, spiking a fastball, resulting in his fifth blown save. However, he collected his fifth win on a walk-off home run at the bottom of the inning. Megill threw 17 pitches (82.4% strike rate) and induced two whiffs while recording two strikeouts.
- Aaron Ashby worked two innings, giving up a solo home run (Willy Adames) and a walk while striking out one.
- Shelby Miller stranded a runner, walking one and striking out two during two-thirds of the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Jared Koenig
Minnesota Twins – Pressed into action with the bases loaded at the bottom of the eighth, Justin Topa let all three score, issuing a walk and giving up consecutive singles before inducing an inning-ending double play groundout. He returned for the ninth and retired the side, recording his third save. He allowed two hits and a walk while throwing 32 pitches (62.5% strike rate) without a whiff.
- Génesis Cabrera created the mess, giving up a hit, three earned runs, and two hits during one-third of the eighth.
- Cole Sands fired a clean seventh, striking out one.
- Kody Funderburk was awarded his third win, logging 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing a hit and two walks while striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Justin Topa | Cole Sands | Kody Funderburk
Philadelphia Phillies – Perfect no more, Jhoan Duran suffered his first blown save since the trade deadline. He allowed a one-out double by Dylan Crews, followed by a game-tying Daylen Lile RBI single, who then scored on a stolen base attempt courtesy of a throwing error by J.T. Reamuto, scoring the game-deciding run. Duran finished with two hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out three on 22 pitches (72.7% strike rate) with five whiffs (22.7 SwStr%). First, his illustrator:
And his results, which one notes, both hits were to the opposite field:
He had converted his first six save chances since his acquisition, and this snapped his seven-game scoreless streak.
- Matt Strahm allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless eighth, securing his 15th hold.
- José Alvarado worked a scoreless seventh despite giving up a hit.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Duran | Matt Strahm | David Robertson
Pittsburgh Pirates – Making his major league debut, Bubba Chandler preserved a combined shutout, logging four innings while giving up two hits and recording four strikeouts for his first career save. He threw 40 pitches (72.5% strike rate) and produced six whiffs (15 SwStr%).
He obviously will be a starting pitcher next year, but he could be a late-season weapon as a multi-inning reliever.
Hierarchy Remains: Dennis Santana | Isaac Mattson | Kyle Nicolas
San Diego Padres – Despite dealing with traffic, Robert Suarez secured his MLB-leading 34th save, closing out a one-run win over the Dodgers. He allowed a one-out single by Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman’s two-out single before recording a game-ending strikeout against Teoscar Hernández. He threw 19 pitches (63.2% strike rate) and induced one whiff while recording two strikeouts in his outing.
- Mason Miller navigated around a lead-off walk and a one-out walk, making a nimble play while covering first on an inning-ending double play groundout for his fourth hold.
- Jason Adam retired the side and recorded a strikeout at the top of the seventh, notching his 28th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Suarez | Mason Miller | Jason Adam
Seattle Mariners – Working into and then out of trouble, Andrés Muñoz held on for his 30th save in an eventual one-run win over the A’s. He allowed consecutive one-out singles by Brent Rooker, Tyler Soderstrom, and Jacob Wilson, issued a one-out walk, before retiring Darell Hernaiz via flyout, and a game-ending strikeout of JJ Bleday. He threw 19 pitches (78.9% strike rate) and produced five whiffs (26.3 SwStr%) while recording two strikeouts. He left too many pitches in the heart of the zone, but survived:
He has converted his last six save chances despite allowing a run in two of his last seven outings.
- Gabe Speier notched his 18th hold, stranding a runner while retiring his only batter via strikeout in the eighth.
- Matt Brash gave up a hit and recorded a strikeout over two-thirds of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Matt Brash | Gabe Speier
Toronto Blue Jays – Shutting the door on his 28th save, Jeff Hoffman fired a scoreless bottom of the ninth, preserving a three-run win while working around a two-out walk. He threw 18 pitches (66.7% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (16.7 SwStr%).
This extends his scoreless streak to nine games, during which he has posted a 0.92 WHIP with 12 strikeouts against six walks across 8.2 innings.
- Brendon Little notched his 25th hold, retiring both batters via strikeout in the eighth.
- Yariel Rodríguez allowed two hits, including a solo home run, during two-thirds of combined innings.
Updated Hierarchy: Jeff Hoffman | Seranthony Domínguez | Brendon Little
Washington Nationals – Called upon at the bottom of the eighth with his team down by one, PJ Poulin retired the side, then protected a one-run lead in the ninth, with a second clean inning, collecting his first career win. He threw 22 pitches (72.7% strike rate) and induced five whiffs (22.7 SwStr%) while recording three strikeouts.
- Jackson Rutledge retired his only batter via strikeout in the seventh.
- Shinnosuke Ogasawara recorded consecutive strikeouts against Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, then gave up J.T. Realmuto’s go-ahead solo home run before being removed.
Hierarchy Remains: Jose A. Ferrer | Clayton Beeter | Shinnosuke Ogasawara
Quick Hits
- Chicago White Sox: As the first reliever in, Brandon Eisert suffered his fifth loss, giving up three hits, two earned runs, and a walk during the top of the sixth.
- Cincinnati Reds: Tasked with a tied game at the bottom of the 11th, Scott Barlow suffered his second loss, allowing a walk-off RBI single by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Graham Ashcraft let the “place” runner score during the tenth on a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly, resulting in his sixth blown save.
- Cleveland Guardians: Handed a one-run lead at the bottom of the ninth in Texas, Cade Smith allowed Wyatt Langford’s lead-off double, Corey Seager’s RBI single, and Joc Pederson’s walk-off RBI double, resulting in his fifth loss and a fifth blown save on only seven pitches. Life comes at you fast during high-leverage events.
- Kansas City Royals: With a runner on and two outs, Angel Zerpa took over at the bottom of the sixth, but allowed three consecutive hits, including Riley Greene’s two-run home run, resulting in his third blown save. John Schreiber recorded the last out in the seventh. Bailey Falter took over in the eighth, giving up six hits, four earned runs, and a walk while striking out two during his two innings of relief, suffering his seventh loss.
- Los Angeles Angels: With the score tied at the top of the ninth, Kenley Jansen allowed Pete Crow-Armstrong’s one-out, go-ahead solo home run, resulting in his fourth loss. He has given up a run in consecutive appearances, both ending in losses.
- New York Mets: Another rough outing for Ryan Helsley. He took over with an eight-run lead at the bottom of the ninth in Atlanta and issued Marcell Ozuna a lead-off walk, which can set the tone during leverage appearances. Ozzie Albies hit a one-out double, and with two outs, Vidal Bruján produced a two-RBI single, followed by Jurickson Profar’s RBI double, before a game-ending Matt Olson groundout. Helsley finished with three hits, three earned runs, and a walk. He has allowed at least a run in six of his last eight appearances, and multiple runs in five—less than optimal.
- New York Yankees: Entering a scoreless tie at the top of the seventh, Mark Leiter Jr. allowed consecutive doubles by Nathaniel Lowe and Connor Wong, resulting in the game’s only run and his seventh loss. Devin Williams fired a clean top of the eighth, striking out two. David Bednar worked around a walk for a scoreless ninth.
- Tampa Bay Rays: Finishing a four-run win over St. Louis, Pete Fairbanks worked a clean top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts while facing the top of the lineup. He threw 12 pitches (75% strike rate) and induced two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%).
- Texas Rangers: Working a clean top of the ninth with his team trailing by one, Robert Garcia collected his second win courtesy of a walk-off rally at the bottom of the frame. He threw 14 pitches (64.3% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%).
- The Athletics: Summoned at the bottom of the seventh during a tied game, Elvis Alvarado suffered his first loss, giving up two hits and two earned runs while striking out one.
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