Wednesday’s split slate yielded seven reliever wins and five saves, while relief pitchers were tagged with seven losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for September 18
- Hunter Gaddis (CLE): Cade Smith has appeared in consecutive contests and in four of the last five.
- José Buttó (SF): Ryan Walker has worked in back-to-back games.
- Bryan Baker (TB): Pete Fairbanks pitched last night and has not appeared in two straight since August 15 and 16.
Here are the leverage events of interest from Wednesday.
Leverage Ledger
Baltimore Orioles – Working around a lead-off single at the bottom of the ninth, Keegan Akin secured his seventh save, retiring the next three batters and preserving a two-run margin, completing a sweep of the White Sox. He threw 15 pitches (86.7% strike rate) without a whiff.
He has been scoreless in five of his last six appearances, recording a save in three of his last four.
- Rico Garcia notched his ninth hold, retiring the side and striking out one at the top of the eighth.
- Yaramil Hiraldo tossed a clean seventh, striking out one for his second hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Keegan Akin | *Rico Garcia | *Yennier Cano
*= closer-by-committee
Cleveland Guardians – Completing a combined shutout, Cade Smith retired the side and recorded two strikeouts at the bottom of the ninth in Detroit. He threw eight pitches, all strikes, producing two whiffs (25 SwStr%).
He has posted multiple strikeouts in eight straight appearances this month, retiring 17 of 29 batters via strikeout (58.6 K%).
- Jakob Junis notched his sixth hold, retiring both batters at the bottom of the eighth.
- Erik Sabrowski stranded a runner in the seventh and worked a scoreless combined inning while walking one.
- Matt Festa worked two-thirds scoreless, getting his 12th hold.
- Tim Herrin worked two-thirds scoreless in the sixth, giving up a hit and striking out one, securing his 13th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis | Erik Sabrowski
Houston Astros – Filling in capably, Bryan King took over at the top of the eighth with two runners on and two outs. He induced an inning-ending flyout against Dylan Moore, then retired the side in the ninth, preserving a three-run lead against Texas while securing his second save. He threw 14 pitches (78.6% strike rate) with one whiff.
This extended his scoreless streak to 10 games, during which he has posted a 0.513 WHIP with nine strikeouts against one walk over 10.2 innings.
- Steven Okert got credit for his tenth hold, despite yielding a hit and two walks during two-thirds of the eighth.
- Craig Kimbrel tossed a clean seventh, striking out one for his second hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Bryan Abreu | Bryan King | Steven Okert
Kansas City Royals – Showing no signs of a lingering issue with his back in terms of velocity, Carlos Estévez became the first reliever this season with 40 saves despite allowing an earned run at the top of the ninth. He allowed consecutive hits by Eugenio Suárez and Josh Naylor, induced a double play groundout that scored a run, gave up a single by Luke Raley, and then induced a game-ending groundout. Estévez threw 17 pitches (70.6% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (11.8 SwStr%).
This outing snapped his 11-game scoreless streak, but he has converted his last 15 save opportunities since July 20.
- Lucas Erceg collected his eighth win, giving up three hits, an earned run, and striking out one at the top of the eighth.
- Angel Zerpa suffered his fourth blown save, yielding a hit and an earned run in the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Carlos Estévez | Lucas Erceg | John Schreiber
San Diego Padres – Hanging on for his National League-leading 39th save, Robert Suarez navigated around Brett Baty’s lead-off single with consecutive groundouts, walked Francisco Lindor, then knocked down a line drive comebacker by Juan Soto, throwing him out at first, sealing the three-run margin. Suarez threw 26 pitches (65.4% strike rate) and induced three whiffs (11.5 SwStr%).
He has been scoreless in his last three, securing a save in each.
- Mason Miller stranded a runner and retired all five batters, including two strikeotus for his ninth hold.
- Jeremiah Estrada was credited with his 29th hold, allowing a hit, an earned run, and a walk during one-third of the seventh.
- Adrian Morejon collected his 12th win, tossing 1.1 clean frames and striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Suarez | Mason Miller | Adrian Morejon
San Francisco Giants – Despite letting the “place” runner score at the bottom of the 11th, Joel Peguero earned his third win, logging two innings, allowing a walk, and striking out one in Arizona. He threw 26 pitches (57.7% strike rate) and induced two whiffs.
- Ryan Walker worked into, and then out of, trouble while keeping the game tied at the bottom of the ninth. He allowed a one-out triple by Corbin Carroll, intentionally walked Gabriel Moreno, hit Blaze Alexander with a pitch to load the bases, then recorded a strikeout, followed by an inning-ending groundout by Alek Thomas.
- Spencer Bivens turned in a clean bottom of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Walker | José Buttó | Joey Lucchesi
Tampa Bay Rays – Shutting the door on his 27th save, Pete Fairbanks fired a clean top of the ninth, preserving a one-run lead and striking out one against the Blue Jays’ 3-4-5 lineup pocket. He threw 10 pitches (70% strike rate) and induced one whiff.
He has been scoreless in his last four appearances, converting all three save chances.
- Edwin Uceta secured his 20th hold, retiring the side and striking out two at the top of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks | Edwin Uceta | Bryan Baker
Quick Hits
- Chicago White Sox: In an eventual loss, Tyler Gilbert retired his only batter, Gunnar Henderson, via strikeout at the top of the ninth. Jordan Leasure matched his season high, logging 1.2 clean frames while recording one strikeout. This extended his scoreless streak to nine games, during which he has posted a 0.28 WHIP with 12 strikeouts against two walks (28.6 K-BB%) through 10.2 innings.
- Cincinnati Reds: Appearing in a non-save capacity, Emilio Pagán finished a four-run margin against the Cardinals with a scoreless bottom of the ninth, issuing a walk and striking out three. He threw 22 pitches (54.5% strike rate) and produced four whiffs (18.2 SwStr%).
- Colorado Rockies: Called upon at the top of the sixth, Jaden Hill suffered his first loss, allowing a hit, an earned run, and a walk.
- Los Angeles Dodgers: Capping a combined shutout, Tanner Scott navigated around a hit and a walk while striking out one at the top of the ninth. He threw 21 pitches (57.1% strike rate) and produced four whiffs (19 SwStr%). Alex Vesia retired the side and secured his 24th hold in the eighth.
- Miami Marlins: Lake Bachar collected his seventh win, taking over in the bottom of the fifth, tossing two clean frames and striking out two. Ronny Henriquez notched his 24th hold, walking one during a scoreless seventh.
- Milwaukee Brewers: Finishing a seven-run lead against the Angels, Abner Uribe worked around a one-out single by recording all three outs via strikeout. He threw 16 pitches (75% strike rate) and generated four whiffs (25 SwStr%).
- New York Yankees: Closing out a five-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, Camilo Doval retired the side and recorded two strikeouts against the Twins. Luke Weaver notched his 20th hold, giving up a hit and striking out one at the bottom of the eighth. Devin Williams worked around a hit while recording three strikeouts for his 14th hold. Fernando Cruz stranded two runners in the fifth and retired all four batters while collecting his third win.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: As the first reliever in, Yohan Ramírez suffered his third loss, allowing a hit, three unearned runs, and a walk during two-thirds of the sixth inning. Evan Sisk let both inherited runners score, giving up two hits during his one-third of the sixth.
- Seattle Mariners: A rare meltdown by Matt Brash resulted in his third loss and first blown save. He allowed four hits, including Adam Frazier’s go-ahead two-run home run at the bottom of the eighth, finishing with four hits, four earned runs, and a walk while striking out one.
- The Athletics: Tasked with a tied game at the bottom of the tenth, Michael Kelly suffered his fourth loss. He issued Nathaniel Lowe an intentional walk, recorded an out on a sacrifice bunt, then gave up Nick Sogard’s walk-off RBI single.
- Toronto Blue Jays: With the score tied at the bottom of the seventh, Yariel Rodríguez allowed two hits, including a go-ahead RBI single, an earned run, and a walk, resulting in his second loss.
- Washington Nationals: Proving life comes at you fast, Clayton Beeter not only took over at the top of the sixth, but he let his only inherited runner score, allowing two hits, two earned runs on his ledger, and two walks while striking out one, resulting in his third loss and second blown save. This outing also snapped his 14-game scoreless streak.
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