Relievers did not factor in as many decisions as usual since the All-Star break for a full slate of contests. Relief pitchers recorded four wins, though one was accompanied by a blown save designation (Gabe Speier), and six saves while suffering four losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for September 7
- Michael Kopech (LAD): Tanner Scott and Blake Treinen have appeared in back-to-back games.
- Hunter Gaddis (CLE): Cade Smith has worked in consecutive contests.
- Edwin Uceta (TB): He has pitched after Bryan Baker over the last two games, but either could be in play since Pete Fairbanks has not appeared in back-to-back games since mid-August.
- Tony Santillan (CIN): Emilio Pagán has pitched in both games against the Mets this weekend.
Here are the leverage events of interest from Saturday.
Leverage Ledger
Cleveland Guardians – Capping his team’s go-ahead rally at the top of the ninth, Cade Smith locked down his tenth save, retiring the side and recording two strikeouts, preserving a one-run margin. He threw 14 pitches (78.6% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%).
He has been scoreless in five of his last six, during which he has recorded a 0.943 WHIP with eight strikeouts versus zero walks while securing a win and converting three saves.
- Hunter Gaddis collected his second win, yielding a hit and striking out one at the bottom of the eighth.
- Erik Sabrowski stranded a runner but issued two walks and retired one batter in the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis | Erik Sabrowski
Los Angeles Dodgers – Things escalated quickly at Camden Yards. Blake Treinen took over a lost no-hit bid with a two-run lead, and allowed a double by Jeremiah Jackson, hit Gunnar Henderson with a pitch, walked Ryan Mountcastle to load the bases, and walked in a run while facing Colton Cowser, prompting his removal.
Tanner Scott inherited a bases-loaded situation and suffered his ninth blown save, allowing a walk-off two-RBI single, resulting in Treinen’s third loss.
If there is a save chance on Sunday, look for Michael Kopech in the ninth. It’s been a rough stretch for this leverage ladder, and since the trade deadline, the team has only converted four saves, illustrated in this chart with other shared save situations:
Updated Hierarchy: *Tanner Scott | *Michael Kopech | *Blake Treinen
*= closer-by-committee
Milwaukee Brewers – Pressed into duty with two runners on and one out at the bottom of the eighth, Aaron Ashby induced an inning-ending double play against Alexander Canario. Returning for the ninth, he issued Bryan Reynolds a lead-off walk, followed by a Nick Gonzales one-out ground rule double. Ashby could not complete the combined shutout, allowing an earned run on a groundout, and finished his third save with a game-ending strikeout. He threw 20 pitches (65% strike rate) and produced one whiff.
- Tobias Myers gave up a hit and a walk during one-third of the eighth.
- Rob Zastryzny notched his second hold, walking one and retiring one batter in the seventh.
- Erik Fedde allowed a lead-off double and recorded two outs for his first hold in the seventh.
There was good news in this update on X by Sophia Minnaert:
Hierarchy Remains: *Abner Uribe | *Jared Koenig | Aaron Ashby
*= match-up-based bullpen
New York Yankees – Summoned at the bottom of the eighth with a runner on and two outs, David Bednar retired all four batters faced, three via strikeout, and preserved a two-run win over Toronto for his 21st save. He threw 21 pitches (71.4% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (9.5 SwStr%).
It’s his first save since August 16, and his first requiring more than three outs since August 6.
- Fernando Cruz stranded a runner in the seventh and worked around a hit and a walk while striking out one for his 14th hold in a scoreless combined inning.
- Luke Weaver took over after the rain delay at the top of the seventh and allowed a hit during two-thirds scoreless, securing his 18th hold.
Updated Hierarchy: David Bednar | Luke Weaver | Fernando Cruz
Philadelphia Phillies – Shutting the door on his 27th save, 11th with the Phillies, Jhoan Duran retired the side, including a game-ending strikeout, preserving a two-run lead in Miami. He threw 10 pitches (70% strike rate) and induced two whiffs.
He has turned in five consecutive clean appearances, converting all four save chances with six strikeouts (40 K-BB%).
- Matt Strahm notched his 18th hold, firing a clean eighth and striking out two against the 3-4-5 lineup pocket.
- David Robertson navigated around a lead-off double with a groundout, a caught stealing, and an inning-ending groundout for his sixth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Duran | Matt Strahm | Orion Kerkering
San Diego Padres – Although he allowed a one-out solo home run by Mickey Moniak, Robert Suarez recorded his National League-leading 36th save, giving up two hits while finishing a two-run win in Coors Field. He threw 18 pitches (72.2% strike rate) and produced two whiffs.
This marks his first save since August 26 and snapped his six-game scoreless streak.
- Mason Miller logged 1.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out two, securing his sixth hold.
- Jeremiah Estrada struggled, giving up three hits, four earned runs, and a walk while striking out two during two-thirds of the seventh.
Updated Hierarchy: Robert Suarez | Mason Miller | Adrian Morejon
Tampa Bay Rays – For a second straight appearance, Pete Fairbanks has allowed at least a run, this one resulting in his fifth loss. He took over a tied game at the top of the ninth, giving up a lead-off single and a walk, recorded an out on a sacrifice bunt, followed by a strikeout, but let the go-ahead run score on Steven Kwan’s RBI single. Fairbanks has suffered two losses while yielding at least a run in four of his last seven games.
- Edwin Uceta fired a clean eighth, striking out one.
- Bryan Baker issued a walk and struck out two in a scoreless seventh.
- Garrett Cleavinger extended his scoreless streak to 22 games, handing out a walk and striking out two in the sixth.
For now, but how the team structures the bullpen in a save chance today, if Fairbanks is not used, should be monitored closely:
Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks | Bryan Baker | Garrett Cleavinger
Washington Nationals – Sealing a one-run lead against the Cubs, Cole Henry navigated around Nico Hoerner’s one-out single with a strikeout and a game-ending by Willi Castro for his second save. He threw 17 pitches (58.8% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (17.6 SwStr%) while facing the 4-5-6-7 hitters.
Jose A. Ferrer notched his 21st hold, retiring the top of the lineup on 16 pitches (56.3% strike rate) and inducing one whiff.
This extends his scoreless streak to 12 games, during which he has two wins, six saves, and two holds while posting a 0.699 WHIP with 13 strikeouts versus one walk (23.5 K-BB%) across 14.1 innings.
- Clayton Beeter issued two walks during a scoreless seventh for his fourth hold.
- PJ Poulin stranded a runner and walked one during one-third of the sixth, getting credit for his fifth hold.
For those frustrated by this usage pattern, Mark Zuckerman’s post explains how Miguel Cairo will continue to do it for the remainder of the season. Ferrer’s the preferred option for the ninth, unless he’s needed against the toughest lineup pocket prior.
Updated Hierarchy: Jose A. Ferrer | Cole Henry | PJ Poulin
Quick Hits
- Atlanta Braves: With the score tied at the top of the seventh, Daysbel Hernández allowed three hits, two home runs, and three earned runs while retiring two batters, resulting in his third loss.
- Baltimore Orioles: It seemed relatively innocuous when Albert Suárez logged three innings, giving up two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one. However, he collected his first win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the ninth. He threw 42 pitches (66.7% strike rate) and induced three whiffs.
- Chicago Cubs: Appearing during an eventual one-run loss, Daniel Palencia fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts on 13 pitches (76.9% strike rate) with three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%). It’s his first outing since securing a save on September 2.
- Cincinnati Reds: Despite giving up Francisco Lindor’s one-out double, followed by a Juan Soto single, Emilio Pagán gave up an earned run on a wild pitch, then retired the next two batters via strikeout, closing out a three-run win over the Mets. He threw 18 pitches (77.8% strike rate) and generated five whiffs (27.8 SwStr%). He has not recorded a save in September and allowed at least a run in two of his last three outings.
- San Francisco Giants: Presented a 2-0 lead at the bottom of the ninth, Ryan Walker suffered his fifth loss and his sixth blown save, giving up four hits and three earned runs, culminating in Jordan Walker’s walk-off two-RBI single, snapping his ten-game scoreless streak.
- Seattle Mariners: Although he was tagged with his sixth blown save at the bottom of the sixth, Gabe Speier let one of three inherited runners score on a game-tying sacrifice fly while retiring both batters. However, he collected his third win, benefiting from his team’s four-run rally at the top of the seventh.
- St. Louis Cardinals: Making his first appearance since August 28, Riley O’Brien tossed a scoreless top of the ninth and recorded a strikeout with his team down by two runs. He collected his third win courtesy of a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. He threw eight pitches (87.5% strike rate) and induced one whiff.
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