As we enter the last month of the regular season, fantasy football will become the focus for many, but for those in heated head-to-head battles or vying for a championship in their baseball league, Closer Monkey will remain focused until the end. Across Sunday’s slate, relievers recorded five wins and eight saves while suffering five losses. Here are the saves in condensed form.
For the save streamers, in order of preference:
Vulture Save Options for September 1
- Brad Keller (CHC): Daniel Palencia has pitched in consecutive games.
- Tyler Phillips (MIA): He has a save in two of his last three appearances since August 24, and Calvin Faucher has worked in back-to-back contests.
- Luis García (LAA): Kenley Jansen has logged consecutive outings.
- Yariel Rodríguez (TOR): Jeff Hoffman and Seranthony Domínguez have worked in back-to-back games.
- Pierce Johnson (ATL): Raisel Iglesias has pitched in two straight, but has appeared in three-in-a-row on two separate occasions this season.
Also, keep an eye on whether Tampa Bay avoids Pete Fairbanks; he has not worked consecutive games since August 15 and 16.
Riley O’Brien was not used in a save situation on Friday or Saturday. The latest report was cryptic, but does not provide any thing definitive:
If he’s placed on the 15-day injured list, Matt Svanson and Kyle Leahy get a chance at being the leverage complement to JoJo Romero.
Here are Sunday’s leverage events of interest.
Leverage Ledger
Atlanta Braves – Securing his 23rd save and preserving a two-run rally at the top of the ninth, Raisel Iglesias fired a clean bottom of the ninth while striking out two. He threw 11 pitches (90.9% strike rate) and induced one whiff.
He finished August with a 0.615 WHIP while converting all ten save chances, which led all relievers for the month.
- Tyler Kinley worked a clean bottom of the eighth, striking out one, and collected his fourth win courtesy of Drake Baldwin’s go-ahead home run in the ninth.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Dylan Lee | Pierce Johnson
Boston Red Sox – Celebrating his contract extension, Aroldis Chapman shut the door on his 27th save, retiring the side and striking out two while sealing a two-run lead against Pittsburgh. He threw 16 pitches (62.5% strike rate) and induced two whiffs (12.5 SwStr%).
This extended his scoreless and no-hit streak to 14 games, spanning 12.2 innings, while posting a 0.315 WHIP with 16 strikeouts against four walks. As for his extension:
- Garrett Whitlock escaped with a scoreless eighth despite allowing two hits and a walk with two strikeouts for his 22nd hold.
- Justin Slaten allowed a solo home run and struck out two in the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Garrett Whitlock | Jordan Hicks
Chicago White Sox – Capping his team’s rally at the bottom of the eighth, Mike Vasil notched his third save, stranding an inherited runner by retiring all three batters faced, including a game-ending strikeout of Cody Bellinger. He threw 12 pitches (66.7% strike rate) and induced one whiff. It’s his first save since June 29.
- Cam Booser was awarded his second win despite issuing three walks while facing four batters across the eighth and ninth innings.
- Wikelman González allowed a hit and recorded two strikeouts during two-thirds of the eighth.
- Steven Wilson walked one in a scoreless seventh.
Seven relievers have recorded at least one save for the White Sox; none have more than five, and three have at least three.
Updated Hierarchy: *Grant Taylor | *Jordan Leasure | *Mike Vasil
*= closer-by-committee
Cincinnati Reds – Closing out a three-run lead at the top of the ninth, Emilio Pagán worked around a lead-off single by striking out the next three batters, securing his 26th save. He threw 15 pitches (80% strike rate) and induced three whiffs (20 SwStr%).
It’s his first save since August 9 and extended his modest scoreless streak to four games.
- Tony Santillan notched his 28th hold, striking out the side in the eighth.
- Nick Martinez retired his only batter in the seventh for his second hold.
- Sam Moll gave up a solo home run and recorded a strikeout during two-thirds of the seventh, getting credit for his second hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Emilio Pagán | Tony Santillan | Nick Martinez
Los Angeles Angels – Preserving a combined shutout, Kenley Jansen mowed down Houston’s 2-3-4 lineup pocket on 11 pitches (72.7% strike rate) without a whiff, nailing down his 25th save.
He finished August with a 2-2 record while converting all five save chances with a 1.00 WHIP.
- Luis García gave up a hit and struck out two for his ninth hold in the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Reid Detmers | Luis García
Los Angeles Dodgers – Taking over a tied game at the top of the ninth, Blake Treinen retired the side and recorded a strikeout against Arizona’s 6-7-8 lineup pocket. He collected his first win on Will Smith’s walk-off home run at the bottom of the frame. He threw eight pitches (87.5% strike rate) and induced one whiff.
Tanner Scott entered in the eighth, matched up against the 8-9-1 hitters, and after recording two quick outs, allowed consecutive singles by Geraldo Perdomo and Ketel Marte, followed by a game-tying three-run home run by Corbin Carroll, resulting in his eighth blown save.
Hierarchy Remains: *Tanner Scott | *Blake Treinen | Alex Vesia
*= closer-by-committee with a preferred share (Scott)
Seattle Mariners – Locking down his 32nd save, Andrés Muñoz fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts facing Cleveland’s top of the lineup. He threw 16 pitches (75% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (18.8 SwStr%).
This snapped a stretch of three games allowing at least a run, and he finishes August with a 1.463 WHIP while converting eight of nine save chances.
- Matt Brash worked a clean eighth, striking out one, and notching his 19th hold.
- Gabe Speier retired the side and struck out two in the seventh for his 20th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Matt Brash | Gabe Speier
Tampa Bay Rays – Navigating around two hits and benefiting from a runner being thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double, Pete Fairbanks recorded his 24th save, finishing a three-run win. He threw 16 pitches (62.5% strike rate) and generated five whiffs (31.3 SwStr%) while recording two strikeouts.
He has allowed multiple hits in three of his last five appearances.
- Mason Montgomery worked a scoreless eighth, walking one and striking out three for his tenth hold.
- Edwin Uceta logged two scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out three, securing his 18th hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Pete Fairbanks | Bryan Baker | Garrett Cleavinger
Toronto Blue Jays – Finishing a four-run win over Milwaukee, Jeff Hoffman worked around a two-out double by Andruw Monasterio and an infield single with a game-ending groundout against William Contreras. He threw 18 pitches (61.1% strike rate) and produced four whiffs (22.2 SwStr%) while recording a strikeout.
- Seranthony Domínguez fired a clean eighth, striking out one.
- Louis Varland logged 1.2 scoreless frames, recording three strikeouts.
- Tommy Nance stranded three runners in the fifth and tossed a scoreless combined inning, yielding a hit and striking out one while collecting his second win.
Hierarchy Remains: Jeff Hoffman | Seranthony Domínguez | Yariel Rodríguez
Quick Hits
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Although he worked a scoreless bottom of the eighth, John Curtiss suffered his first loss, giving up Will Smith’s pinch-hit walk-off home run leading off the ninth. Brandyn Garcia worked 2.2 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out three.
- Chicago Cubs: Tasked with a tied score at the bottom of the ninth, Daniel Palencia gave up Ryan Ritter’s lead-off single, then threw a flat slider, resulting in a walk-off Mickey Moniak RBI-triple and his fifth loss. He finished August with a 1-3 record while converting seven of eight save opportunities with a 1.845 WHIP and 14 strikeouts versus four walks across 10.1 innings.
- Colorado Rockies: After retiring the side and recording two strikeouts at the top of the ninth, Juan Mejia collected his second win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning against the Cubs.
- Detroit Tigers: Completing a combined shutout, Rafael Montero worked a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded a strikeout in Kansas City. Kyle Finnegan fired a clean eighth, striking out one on nine pitches (88.9% strike rate) without a whiff. He recorded a scoreless August for the Tigers, recording three wins and four saves with 19 strikeouts versus three walks (32.7 K-BB%) while posting a 0.42 WHIP across 14.1 innings.
- Miami Marlins: Preserving a four-run margin, Freddy Tarnok allowed a walk and recorded a strikeout during a scoreless bottom of the ninth. Calvin Faucher matched up against the top of the Mets’ lineup in the eighth, giving up Brandon Nimmo’s two-out double and striking out one in a scoreless appearance.
- New York Yankees: With the score tied at the bottom of the eighth, Tim Hill allowed a go-ahead solo home run by Lenyn Sosa, resulting in his fourth loss.
- Philadelphia Phillies: Summoned at the top of the ninth with the score tied, José Alvarado allowed a lead-off single by Jake Fraley, recorded consecutive outs on a sacrifice bunt and a strikeout, but gave up Drake Baldwin’s go-ahead two-run home run, resulting in his second loss.
- San Diego Padres: Appearing during a loss, Mason Miller retired the side and recorded a strikeout at the bottom of the eighth, throwing 13 pitches (61.5% strike rate) with two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%). He has been scoreless over his last nine appearances, posting a 0.778 WHIP with 17 strikeouts against four walks.
- San Francisco Giants: Wrapping up a lopsided win over the Orioles, Spencer Bivens logged three innings, allowing six hits, two earned runs, and a walk while recording his first save of the season, second of his career.
- Washington Nationals: During his team’s eighth straight loss, Jose A. Ferrer worked a clean top of the eighth, striking out one on 13 pitches (61.5% strike rate) with one whiff.
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