Sunday’s slate provided a bevy of high-leverage events and a potential injury issue for fantasy managers. Relievers recorded six wins, though one was accompanied by a blown save (Reid Detmers), and 12 saves while suffering five losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Option for September 8
- Hunter Gaddis (CLE): Cade Smith has pitched in three consecutive games. Gaddis has also worked in the previous two, but it’s do-or-die season with the team two and a half games out of the last Wild Card spot.
Potential Hierarchy Change
Chicago Cubs – An untimely meltdown turned a save situation into a rough outing for Daniel Palencia. He took over with a two-run lead at the top of the ninth, and allowed a lead-off home run by Robert Hassell III, followed by a single and a walk against the top of the lineup. Josh Bell entered as a pinch-hitter and launched a go-ahead three-run home run, then Daylen Lile’s triple, forcing his removal. Palencia finished with four hits, five earned runs, and a walk, resulting in his sixth loss and third blown save. However, the worst part was that he left after throwing this pitch. He was unavailable after the game, still undergoing treatment according to Bruce Levine on X.
It’s all speculative right now, but shoulder issues can be tricky. If he misses time, Brad Keller should be his replacement in the ninth inning. He secured his 23rd hold with a clean top of the eighth, striking out two. This extended his scoreless streak to 20 games, during which he has recorded a win, a save, and nine holds with a minuscule 0.443 WHIP and 25 strikeouts versus six walks (26.7 K-BB%) over his last 20.1 innings.
If Palencia lands on the injured list, our adjusted hierarchy would be:
Brad Keller | Andrew Kittredge | Caleb Thielbar
Stay tuned. If there’s a fluid situation, these three should be heavily involved, and Porter Hodge could work his way into the high-leverage mix with more solid outings. For now, it’s all speculative as we await an update on the severity of Palencia’s injury.
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Sunday.
Leverage Ledger
Boston Red Sox – Padding his statistics with a wild pitch, Aroldis Chapman recorded his 29th save, striking out all four batters faced. However, one reached, benefiting his fantasy managers with the extra strikeout. He threw 23 pitches (69.6% strike rate) and generated six whiffs (26.1 SwStr%).
This extended his hitless streak to 17 games, during which he has 21 strikeouts against four walks (34.7 K-BB%) and a minuscule 0.272 over his last 14.2 innings.
- Garrett Whitlock collected his sixth win after stranding two runners at the bottom of the seventh and logging 1.2 clean frames while striking out one.
- Zack Kelly was charged with his second blown save, giving up two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one during one-third of the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Garrett Whitlock | Greg Weissert
Chicago White Sox – Summoned with a two-run lead against the Tigers’ 7-8-9 lineup pocket, Mike Vasil retired the side and recorded a strikeout while securing his fourth save. He threw eight pitches (75% strike rate) without a whiff.
- Jordan Leasure was gaining fantasy managers’ trust, but was deployed against the heart of the batting order in Detroit, issuing a walk and striking out two in a scoreless eighth for his 12th hold. He posted a save in his three previous outings this month and remains the preferred target for those seeking saves on the waiver wire.
- Grant Taylor stranded a runner and retired both batters faced in the seventh via strikeout, collecting his second win.
Hierarchy Remains: *Jordan Leasure | *Grant Taylor | *Mike Vasil
*= closer-by-committee
Cincinnati Reds – Despite allowing a solo home run by Juan Soto, Tony Santillan closed out an eventual one-run win over the Mets for his fifth save. He finished with two hits and an earned run, throwing 22 pitches (59.1% strike rate) and inducing one whiff. It’s his first save since August 19.
- Nick Martinez worked a clean top of the eighth, securing his third hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Tony Santillan | Nick Martinez
Cleveland Guardians – For the first time this season, Cade Smith appeared in three straight games and recorded his 11th save, striking out the side while sealing a one-run lead in Tampa Bay. He threw 18 pitches (72.2% strike rate) and generated six whiffs (33.3 SwStr%) while facing the 6-7-8 lineup pocket, extending his scoreless streak to three games.
- Hunter Gaddis notched his 30th save, stranded a runner at the bottom of the seventh and retiring all four batters, one via strikeout.
- Matt Festa gave up a hit and struck out two during two-thirds of the seventh for his ninth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis | Erik Sabrowski
Los Angeles Angels – Preserving a one-run lead, Kenley Jansen locked down his 26th save, retiring the side against the A’s 5-6-7 lineup pocket. He threw nine pitches (77.8% strike rate) and induced one whiff (11.1 SwStr%).
This extended his modest scoreless streak to five games, during which he has converted three saves with a 0.40 WHIP over five innings. He’s also within five saves of tying Lee Smith for third all-time (478).
- Reid Detmers allowed two hits and an earned run on a sacrifice fly, resulting in his fifth blown save at the top of the eighth. However, he collected his fifth win courtesy of a go-ahead rally at the bottom of the inning.
- Luis García recorded his 11th hold, navigating around a hit and a walk during a scoreless seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Reid Detmers | Luis García
Los Angeles Dodgers – Presented a three-run lead at the bottom of the ninth in Baltimore, Jack Dreyer worked around Jorge Mateo’s two-out single with three strikeouts, shutting the door on his third save. He threw 14 pitches (78.6% strike rate) and induced two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). This extended his scoreless streak to seven games and marked his first save since August 15.
- Justin Wrobleski logged two scoreless frames, scattering two hits and striking out five for his fourth hold.
- Edgardo Henriquez was credited with his fourth hold despite letting his only inherited runner score on Alex Jackson’s RBI double, and retired Dylan Carlson via flyout at the bottom of the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: *Tanner Scott | *Michael Kopech | *Blake Treinen
*= closer-by-committee
Miami Marlins – Reliever roulette landed on Lake Bachar with a two-run lead at the top of the ninth against the Phillies. He worked himself into trouble, walking the first two batters he faced, recorded an out on a failed sacrifice bunt attempt, and allowed an RBI single by Kyle Schwarber, but held on for his third save by inducing a game-ending groundout by Bryce Harper. Bachar threw 28 pitches (53.6% strike rate) and produced one whiff in a traffic-infused outing. Saves continue to be devalued in this bullpen.
- Ronny Henriquez was awarded his seventh win. He stranded a runner at the top of the seventh and logged 1.1 scoreless innings, yielding a hit and striking out two.
- Michael Peterson issued a walk and recorded a strikeout for his first hold during two-thirds of the seventh.
- Calvin Faucher gave up two hits, two earned runs, and a walk during the sixth, getting credit for his seventh hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Calvin Faucher | *Ronny Henriquez | *Tyler Phillips
*= closer-by-committee
Minnesota Twins – Pressed into duty with two runners on and two outs, Génesis Cabrera made things more difficult, walking Carter Jenson before inducing a game-ending flyout by Mike Yastrzemski, resulting in his first save, protecting a four-run lead in Kansas City.
- Justin Topa stranded all three inherited runners at the bottom of the eighth, then gave up a hit and a walk while recording two outs in the ninth, for a scoreless combined inning and his fourth hold.
- Kody Fundreburk allowed two hits and a walk while striking out one in two-thirds of the eighth.
- Cole Sands logged 1.2 scoreless frames, issuing a walk while securing his 13th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Justin Topa | *Cole Sands | *Kody Funderburk
*= closer-by-committee
New York Yankees – Handed a one-run lead at the top of the ninth, David Bednar worked around a one-out single by Nathan Lukes with a caught stealing and a game-ending groundout, securing his 22nd save, fifth since his acquisition. He threw 12 pitches (66.7% strike rate) and produced one whiff.
He’s been scoreless in five of his last six appearances, while posting a win and converting two saves.
- Devin Williams notched his tenth hold, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless eighth.
Hierarchy: David Bednar | Luke Weaver | Fernando Cruz
St. Louis Cardinals – Sealing a one-run win over the Giants, Riley O’Brien entered against the 7-8-9 lineup pocket, giving up a Casey Schmitt’s lead-off single, a lineout, and inducing a game-ending double play groundout against Patrick Bailey to secure his third save. After not pitching since August 28, he has appeared in consecutive contests, posting a win and a save.
- JoJo Romero notched his 21st hold, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out two in a scoreless top of the eighth, working through the heart of the lineup. He remains the HLR, not a closer in the traditional sense.
- Matt Svanson stranded two of three inherited runners at the top of the sixth, and logged 1.2 scoreless frames, yielding a hit while striking out three for his fourth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *JoJo Romero | *Riley O’Brien | Matt Svanson
*= closer-by-committee
Texas Rangers – Called upon with a runner on and two outs at the top of the eighth, Shawn Armstrong nailed down his seventh save, retiring all four Astros faced while striking out one. He threw 13 pitches (84.6% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%) against the 3-through-6 hitters.
Since August 17, he has converted all four save opportunities and been scoreless in seven of eight appearances while posting a 0.619 WHIP with seven strikeouts against two walks across 9.2 innings.
- Robert Garcia notched his 13th hold, allowing a hit during two-thirds scoreless in the eighth.
- Phil Maton gave up a hit and an earned run while striking out two in the seventh, resulting in his third win.
Updated Hierarchy: Shawn Armstrong | Chris Martin | Phil Maton
Washington Nationals – Capping his team’s five-run outburst at the top of the ninth, Jose A. Ferrer secured his seventh save, working around Matt Shaw’s lead-off single and Ian Happ’s two-out walk with a game-ending groundout for a scoreless ninth. He threw 15 pitches (60% strike rate) and induced two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%).
- Mason Thompson gave up two hits and an earned run while striking out one at the bottom of the eighth, which proved fortuitous when he was awarded his first win.
- Jackson Rutledge tossed a scoreless seventh, giving up a hit and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Jose A. Ferrer | Cole Henry | PJ Poulin
Quick Hits
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Taking over at the top of the eighth, Taylor Rashi retired the side and recorded two strikeouts against the Red Sox 2-3-4 lineup pocket. Things changed upon his return in the ninth. He allowed a one-out single by Romy Gonzalez, walked Nate Eaton, then gave up Nick Sogard’s pinch-hit, two-RBI double, resulting in his removal and his first loss. Kyle Backhus let the inherited runner score on a single and recorded a strikeout.
- Baltimore Orioles: Appearing in a loss, Keegan Akin issued two walks during a scoreless top of the seventh, taking over against the Dodgers’ top of the lineup. Yennier Cano fired a clean eighth, striking out one while facing the 6-7-8 lineup pocket.
- Detroit Tigers: Forced into action with the bases loaded and no outs at the top of the eighth, Will Vest let two of three runners score on Lenyn Sosa’s two-RBI single. Vest finished with two hits and a strikeout during a scoreless outing. However, Tommy Kahnle suffered his fourth loss and fifth blown save. He retired both batters in the seventh, then gave up consecutive singles and a walk during the eighth, forcing his removal, and resulting in two earned runs.
- Milwaukee Brewers: Closing out a lopsided win, Craig Yoho fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts, throwing 10 pitches (70% strike rate) with three whiffs (30 SwStr%) in Pittsburgh.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Pitching with an eight-run deficit, Dennis Santana worked a scoreless top of the ninth, giving up a hit and striking out one on 17 pitches (70.6% strike rate) with one whiff.
- Tampa Bay Rays: Taking over with a one-run lead at the top of the sixth, Garrett Cleavinger not only had his 22-game scoreless streak snapped, but he also suffered his fifth loss and third blown save, giving up two hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out one over two-thirds of the inning.
- The Athletics: With the score tied at the bottom of the eighth, Osvaldo Bido suffered his fifth loss, allowing a hit, an earned run, and two walks during one-third of the inning.
- Toronto Blue Jays: In an eventual one-run loss, Jeff Hoffman walked one and tossed a scoreless bottom of the eighth. Braydon Fisher fired a clean seventh, striking out the side. Ryan Borucki logged 1.2 clean frames, striking out two.
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