Thursday’s nine-game slate resulted in three shutouts, but relievers still recorded three wins and five saves while suffering four losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There are no vulture recommendations for tonight’s contests.
News, Notes, and Observations
It appears Reid Detmers‘ breakout season as a reliever has ended:
Grant Taylor will avoid the injured list for now, but may not be available this weekend:
Marlins’ reliever Ronny Henriquez has joined a limited company in the team’s reliever records:
He allowed a hit and recorded two strikeouts during a scoreless top of the eighth, throwing 14 pitches (71.4% strike rate) with three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%).
Here are the leverage events of interest from Thursday.
Leverage Ledger
Baltimore Orioles – Preserving a one-run lead, Keegan Akin notched his fifth save, working around a one-out single with a strikeout and a game-ending caught stealing. He threw 13 pitches (69.2% strike rate) with one whiff.
He has emerged as the most trusted option for saves as the season winds down. Akin has been scoreless in four of his five appearances this month, converting both save chances.
- Kade Strowd allowed a hit and a walk while striking out two during a scoreless top of the eighth for his third hold.
- Grant Wolfram gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless seventh, collecting his third win.
Hierarchy Remains: *Keegan Akin | *Rico Garcia | *Yennier Cano
*= closer-by-committee
Cleveland Guardians – Despite giving up a lead-off hit-by-pitch, Cade Smith preserved his team’s one-run lead with consecutive strikeouts, one on a failed bunt attempt, and induced a game-ending flyout for his 13th save. He threw 12 pitches (75% strike rate) and produced one whiff.
He has recorded a save in four consecutive appearances and been scoreless in his last five.
- Matt Festa collected his fourth win, yielding a hit and striking out one during a scoreless top of the eighth.
- Hunter Gaddis stranded a runner, retiring his only batter in the seventh.
- Erik Sabrowski recorded two outs via strikeout and issued a walk during two-thirds scoreless in the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis | Erik Sabrowski
Los Angeles Angels – Summoned at the bottom of the 11th, Sammy Peralta could not preserve a one-run lead, resulting in his first blown save. He returned for the 12th, once again with a one-run margin, but gave up Jorge Polanco’s RBI double leading off the inning, issued an intentional walk to Eugenio Suárez, allowed a bunt single by Victor Robles, and a walk-off sacrifice fly by Harry Ford for his first loss.
- Robert Stephenson escaped with a scoreless tenth, recording two strikeouts.
- Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth despite issuing a walk, extending his scoreless streak to seven games, during which he has converted all four save chances.
Updated Hierarchy: Kenley Jansen | Luis García | Brock Burke
Philadelphia Phillies – Dispensing of the Mets’ 2-3-4 hitters at the top of the ninth in dominant fashion, Jhoan Duran locked down his 29th save, 13th since the trade deadline, striking out the side on 11 pitches (81.8% strike rate) and generating four whiffs (36.4 SwStr%).
This extended his scoreless streak to seven games, during which he has recorded a 0.25 WHIP with 11 strikeouts and no walks (47.8 K-BB%) over seven innings while posting a robust 18.1 swinging strike percentage.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Duran | Matt Strahm | Orion Kerkering
San Diego Padres – Slamming the door on his National League-leading 37th save, Robert Suarez retired the side and recorded a strikeout while preserving a shutout against Colorado. He threw nine pitches (77.8% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (22.2 SwStr%) while facing the 2-3-4 lineup pocket.
Through six appearances this month, he has a loss and converted two saves with a 0.685 WHIP and eight strikeouts versus one walk across 7.1 innings.
- Mason Miller notched his seventh hold, striking out two during a clean top of the eighth. He has recorded multiple strikeouts in all five appearances this month, striking out 12 of 17 batters (70.6 K%) while posting a robust 38.6 swinging strike percentage in his last 5.1 innings.
- Jeremiah Estrada worked a clean seventh, striking out two, and secured his 28th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Suarez | Mason Miller | Adrian Morejon
Seattle Mariners – Although he gave up two hits and an intentional walk (Zach Neto), letting the “place” runner score at the top of the 12th, José Castillo collected his second win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning.
- Luke Jackson also allowed two hits, an unearned run, and issued an intentional walk during the 11th.
- Andrés Muñoz fired a clean top of the tenth, stranding the “place” runner while striking out two on 11 pitches (63.6% strike rate) with two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%), extending his scoreless streak to four.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Matt Brash | Gabe Speier
Quick Hits
- Chicago White Sox: Closing out a four-run win, Jordan Leasure retired the side at the top of the ninth, throwing 13 pitches (69.2% strike rate) with three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%). This extends his scoreless streak to eight games, spanning nine innings, during which he has recorded a win, three saves, and a hold with a minuscule 0.33 WHIP while racking up 11 strikeouts against two walks (30 K-BB%).
- Colorado Rockies: Appearing in a shutout loss, Victor Vodnik tossed a scoreless bottom of the eighth, working around a lead-off single by Luis Arraez. He has been scoreless over his last ten games, recording a win and four saves with a 0.40 WHIP and six strikeouts versus one walk.
- Kansas City Royals: Taking over with a one-run lead at the bottom of the seventh, John Schreiber stranded a runner, inducing an inning-ending groundout. Returning for the eighth, he suffered his third loss and fourth blown save, allowing a lead-off single, followed by a go-ahead two-run home run by C.J. Kayfus.
- Miami Marlins: Completing a combined shutout, Michael Peterson retired the side and recorded two strikeouts at the top of the ninth against the Nationals.
- New York Mets: Entering with a one-run lead at the bottom of the sixth, Reed Garrett suffered his sixth loss and sixth blown save, giving up three hits, three earned runs, and a walk while striking out one during two-thirds of an inning. Brooks Raley replaced him, letting one of two inherited runners score, yielding a hit and a walk during one-third of the sixth.
- New York Yankees: Called upon at the top of the seventh, Ryan Yarbrough closed out a lopsided contest and recorded his first save. He allowed three hits, two earned runs, and two walks while striking out two during his three innings against the Tigers. He threw 49 pitches (57.1% strike rate) and induced four whiffs. It’s his first save since April 3, 2024, and the fourth of his career.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: After stranding two runners at the bottom of the sixth, Colin Holderman allowed a lead-off single by Jackson Holliday, followed by a stolen base, issued a one-out intentional walk (Gunnar Henderson), and recorded a strikeout before being removed with two runners on. Evan Sisk let one of the two runners score on Dylan Beavers’ go-ahead RBI single, resulting in Holderman’s second loss.
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