Relievers recorded six wins, though Robert Stephenson’s had a blown save accompany it, and eight saves while suffering six losses across Wednesday’s slate. Here are the saves in condensed form:
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Option for September 4
- Kaleb Ort (HOU): Bryan Abreu threw 30 pitches in yesterday’s game.
- Dauri Moreta (PIT): Dennis Santana and Isaac Mattson have appeared in back-to-back games.
News, Notes, and Observations
There have not been any updates regarding the severity of the injury, but Kyle Finnegan tweaked his groin while warming up on Wednesday and did not enter the contest as a result:
Trevor Megill remains on track for a bullpen session:
However, Josh Hader has not resumed throwing:
Here are the leverage events of interest from Wednesday.
Leverage Ledger
Arizona Diamondbacks – Securing his third save, Jake Woodford navigated around a one-out walk by retiring the next two batters, preserving the combined shutout of Texas. He threw 21 pitches (66.7% strike rate) without a whiff while striking out one.
He has converted three of four save opportunities since August 23 while posting a 0.874 WHIP through 10.1 innings.
- Andrew Saalfrank recorded his fourth hold, allowing a hit and striking out one in a scoreless eighth. He owns an eight-game scoreless streak but has not notched a save since August 27.
- John Curtiss stranded a runner and retired his only batter in the seventh for his third hold.
- Ryan Thompson issued a walk during two-thirds scoreless in the seventh for his 13th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Andrew Saalfrank | *Jake Woodford | Ryan Thompson
*= closer-by-committee
Baltimore Orioles – Summoned with a two-run lead at the bottom of the ninth against the 9-1-2 lineup pocket of the Padres, Yennier Cano retired the side while striking out two for his second save. He threw 14 pitches (64.3% strike rate) and induced two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%).
It’s his first save since July 5 and extended his scoreless streak to four games.
- Shawn Dubin allowed a hit and struck out three in a scoreless eighth, securing his eighth hold.
- Keegan Akin logged two innings, giving up a solo home run by Fernando Tatis Jr. and striking out two for his 15th hold.
Updated Hierarchy: *Keegan Akin | *Rico Garcia | *Yennier Cano
*= closer-by-committee
Chicago White Sox – Capping his team’s three-run rally at the top of the ninth, Jordan Leasure navigated around a hit and a walk for a scoreless bottom of the ninth, securing his sixth save. He threw 17 pitches (58.8% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (17.6 SwStr%).
He has recorded a save in his last two appearances and has been scoreless in his last four contests.
- Grant Taylor collected his first win, logging 1.1 scoreless frames while giving up a hit and striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: *Jordan Leasure | *Grant Taylor | *Mike Vasil
*= closer-by-committee
Houston Astros – Presented a four-run lead, Bryan Abreu allowed Ryan McMahon’s one-out single and a two-out single by Aaron Judge, which seemed innocuous until Cody Bellinger launched a three-run home run.
Abreu bore down, recording a game-ending strikeout against Jazz Chisolm Jr., finishing a one-run win. After recording a 13-game scoreless streak, he has allowed three runs in back-to-back appearances.
- Bryan King collected his fifth win after tossing a clean top of the eighth, ahead of his team’s four-run rally at the bottom of the frame.
- Kaleb Ort worked a clean seventh, extending his scoreless streak to five games.
Hierarchy Remains: Bryan Abreu | Bryan King | Kaleb Ort
Los Angeles Angels – Filling capably at the bottom of the ninth, Reid Detmers locked down his third save, retiring the side and striking out two while preserving a one-run win over the Royals. He threw 13 pitches (69.2% strike rate) and induced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%).
This marks his first save since June 11, and he extended his scoreless streak to nine games, during which he has posted a 0.825 WHIP across 9.2 innings.
- Andrew Chafin tossed a scoreless eighth, walking one and striking out two for his fourth hold.
- Robert Stephenson gave up two hits and an earned run in the seventh, suffering his first blown save, but was also awarded his first win, courtesy of his team’s rally at the top of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Reid Detmers | Luis García
Milwaukee Brewers – Pat Murphy, relying on match-ups over predetermined roles, had Jared Koenig close out a three-run lead at the top of the ninth, facing the Phillies’ 9-1-2 lineup pocket, and he responded with a clean appearance while striking out one for his first save of the season, second of his career. He threw 13 pitches (69.2% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%).
- Abner Uribe notched his MLB-leading 36th hold, recording a strikeout, giving up a hit by Harrison Bader, then inducing an inning-ending double play groundout by Nick Castellanos for a scoreless frame, facing all right-handed batters.
- Aaron Ashby notched his fourth hold, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out one during two-thirds of the seventh.
Updated Hierarchy: *Abner Uribe | *Jared Koenig | Aaron Ashby
*= match-up-based bullpen
Minnesota Twins – Forced into action at the top of the ninth, Justin Topa let both inherited runners score and an earned run on his own ledger, resulting in his fifth loss and a fourth blown save. With two outs, he gave up an RBI single by Brooks Baldwin, followed by a two-RBI double by Michael A. Taylor before an inning-ending groundout. Topa’s allowed at least a run in four consecutive appearances.
- Kody Funderburk opened the ninth, inducing a pop-out, then giving up a hit and a walk before being removed. He was credited with his third hold.
- Cole Sands fired two clean frames and recorded four strikeouts on 24 pitches (66.7% strike rate) with four whiffs (16.7 SwStr%). He has been scoreless over his last eight games, recording 17 strikeouts against two walks (42.9 K-BB%) across ten innings, but has not been provided a save chance since May. This should change soon, but time is running out.
Hierarchy Remains: *Justin Topa | *Cole Sands | *Kody Funderburk
*= closer-by-committee
Pittsburgh Pirates – Completing a combined shutout and locking down his 13th save, Dennis Santana retired the side and recorded two strikeouts, including a game-ending one against Shohei Ohtani. He threw 11 pitches (81.8% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (27.3 SwStr%).
He has converted a save in four consecutive appearances.
- Isaac Mattson notched his ninth hold, tossing a clean eighth and striking out one.
- Evan Sisk worked around a hit and a walk in the seventh, securing his first hold.
- Mike Burrows logged three frames, scattering two hits and walking one while striking out two, collecting his second win.
Updated Hierarchy: Dennis Santana | Isaac Mattson | Dauri Moreta
San Francisco Giants – Forced into action with the bases loaded and one out ahead by five, Ryan Walker let an inherited runner score on a sacrifice fly, then allowed a two-RBI double by Hunter Goodman before recording a game-ending strikeout of Jordan Beck for his 14th save. Walker finished with a hit and a strikeout over two-thirds scoreless, throwing nine pitches (88.9% strike rate) with three whiffs (33.3 SwStr%).
During his ten-game scoreless streak, he has two wins, four saves, and a hold while posting a 0.86 WHIP with 12 strikeouts versus zero walks (35.3 K-BB%) across 9.1 innings.
- JT Brubaker logged 2.1 innings, giving up three hits, three earned runs, and a walk while striking out two.
- Joel Peguero collected his first career win, retiring all four batters in Colorado.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Walker | José Buttó | Joey Lucchesi
St. Louis Cardinals – It was another extended outing for JoJo Romero, but he navigated around a hit in the eighth and in the ninth while securing his seventh save. He finished with 1.2 scoreless innings, scattering two hits and striking out one on 20 pitches (75% strike rate) with two whiffs.
Over his last 16 appearances since the start of August, he has recorded more than three outs five times while posting a 1-2 record with seven saves in eight chances and four holds. He has a 1.412 WHIP with 12 strikeouts against nine walks in 17 innings.
- Kyle Leahy allowed three hits, including Nick Kurtz’s solo home run in the eighth, and a walk while striking out two for his 17th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *JoJo Romero | *Riley O’Brien | Matt Svanson
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Atlanta Braves: Preserving a four-run margin over the Cubs, Raisel Iglesias worked around two walks and recorded a strikeout during a scoreless bottom of the ninth, throwing 25 pitches (56% strike rate) without a whiff. Tyler Kinley fired a clean eighth, striking out two.
- Chicago Cubs: Taking over as the “bulk follower,” Ben Brown suffered his eighth loss, giving up a hit, two earned runs, and two walks while striking out three over 1.1 innings. Drew Pomeranz was tagged with his first blown save, letting both inherited runners score at the top of the seventh, allowing three hits and two earned runs while striking out one.
- Cincinnati Reds: Called into action at the top of the fifth, a Vlad Guerrero Jr. home run greeted Nick Martinez, and he finished his 1.2 innings with four hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out one, resulting in his 11th loss.
- Colorado Rockies: Appearing in a loss, Victor Vodnik retired the side at the top of the ninth on 15 pitches (73.3% strike rate) without a whiff. He owns a nine-game scoreless streak, during which he’s posted a minuscule 0.206 WHIP with nine strikeouts against zero walks (29 K-BB%) over 9.2 innings. Luis Peralta was tagged with his third loss and a third blown save, allowing two hits, four earned runs, and two walks during one-third of the sixth.
- Detroit Tigers: Closing a four-run win, Rafael Montero allowed a walk and recorded a strikeout at the top of the ninth. Will Vest notched his third hold, stranding a runner at the top of the seventh, and worked around a hit and a walk, recording 1.1 scoreless frames.
- New York Mets: Another rough outing for Ryan Helsley. He entered with his team trailing by one at the bottom of the seventh. Colt Keith greeted him with a lead-off single, followed by a Gleyber Torres walk, and Kerry Carpenter’s three-run home run. Helsley rebounded with a strikeout, another single allowed, and a strikeout before being removed. He finished with three hits, three earned runs, and a walk, throwing 27 pitches (59.3% strike rate) with four whiffs (14.8 SwStr%). He has allowed at least a run in nine of 14 appearances since his acquisition, with a 2.455 WHIP across 11 innings.
- New York Yankees: Entering a tied game at the bottom of the eighth, Devin Williams did not fare well. He gave up Carlos Correa’s lead-off double and issued two walks, while striking out two. However, he walked in the go-ahead run, prompting his removal. Camilo Doval could not stem the tide, letting an inherited runner score on Jeremy Peña’s single, another run on a balk, and the last on a wild pitch before inducing an inning-ending groundout by Yordan Alvarez. Williams was tagged with his sixth loss.
- San Diego Padres: During an eventual loss, Robert Suarez fired a clean top of the ninth, striking out one against the Orioles’ 6-7-8 hitters. Mason Miller struck out the side in the eighth, throwing nine pitches, all strikes, and generating eight whiffs (88.9 SwStr%) during an immaculate inning.
- Toronto Blue Jays: Finishing a four-run win over the Reds, Jeff Hoffman retired the side while facing the 2-3-4 lineup pocket and striking out one. He threw 13 pitches (69.2% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in his last three outings.
- Washington Nationals: Jackson Rutledge stranded two runners at the top of the fifth and allowed a hit during a scoreless combined inning, collecting his third win. JP Poulin stranded a runner in the sixth, working 1.1 scoreless frames while giving up a hit for his fourth hold.
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