Thursday’s 12-game slate resulted in four wins by relievers and five saves, while relief pitchers were tagged with two losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for September 26
- Kyle Finnegan (DET): Will Vest has pitched in back-to-back games, throwing 31 pitches.
- Rosi Sasaki (LAD): After clinching the division, it makes sense to find out how he handles the ninth inning before the postseason ensues.
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Here are the leverage events of interest from Thursday.
Leverage Ledger
Baltimore Orioles – Taking over a tied game at the top of the ninth, Keegan Akin retired the side on 10 pitches (80% strike rate) and induced one whiff while facing the Rays’ 4-5-6 lineup pocket, collecting his fifth win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning.
- Rico Garcia escaped with a scoreless eighth, scattering three hits and striking out two.
- Kade Strowd tossed a clean seventh, recording two strikeouts.
Hierarchy Remains: Keegan Akin | Rico Garcia | Kade Strowd
Cincinnati Reds – With a bit of help from his friends, especially Noelvi Marte’s home-run-robbing catch, Emilio Pagán recorded his 30th save, preserving a one-run lead against the Pirates. He retired the side on seven pitches (57.1% strike rate) without a whiff.
This extended his scoreless streak to eight games, during which he has converted four saves with a 0.75 WHIP and eight strikeouts versus two walks.
- Tony Santillan allowed a hit and an earned run while striking out one at the top of the eighth for his 32nd hold.
- Graham Ashcraft retired both batters, one via strikeout, securing his 21st hold during the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Tony Santillan | Nick Martinez
Detroit Tigers – Snapping his team’s eight-game losing streak, Will Vest shut the door on his 22nd save, striking out the side against Cleveland’s 5-6-7 lineup pocket. He threw 12 pitches (75% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%).
He has been scoreless in his last two appearances, and this was his first save since September 14.
- Kyle Finnegan let his only inherited runner score, giving up an RBI double by José Ramírez, and recorded two outs while striking out one for his third hold.
- Tyler Holton gave up a hit and an earned run, striking out one during his combined inning, getting credit for his 17th hold.
- Tommy Kahnle retired all four batters, securing his 16th hold.
- Brant Hurter collected his fourth win, tossing 1.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out two.
Updated Hierarchy: *Will Vest | *Kyle Finnegan | Tyler Holton
*= closer-by-committee
New York Mets – Despite giving up a lead-off single by Carson Kelly, Edwin Díaz nailed down his 28th save, inducing a flyout, followed by a game-ending double play groundout, preserving the three-run margin. He threw eight pitches (75% strike rate) without a whiff.
He has converted a save in consecutive outings, and been scoreless over his last six, allowing two hits (0.286 WHIP) while striking out 11 (52.4 K-BB%) across seven innings.
- Tyler Rogers tossed a clean eighth, securing his 31st hold.
- Brooks Raley struck out the side in the seventh, earning his ninth hold.
- Ryne Stanek gave up a hit and retired two batters in the sixth, notching his 11th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Edwin Díaz | Tyler Rogers | Brooks Raley
New York Yankees – Locking down is 26th save, David Bednar retired the side and recorded a strikeout at the top of the ninth, sealing a two-run lead. He threw 18 pitches (77.8% strike rate) and generated four whiffs (22.2 SwStr%).
He has been scoreless in seven of his last eight games, posting a 0.361 WHIP with nine strikeouts versus one walk (29.6 K-BB%) across 8.1 innings.
- Devin Williams navigated around a hit and a walk, recording two strikeouts during a scoreless eighth for his 15th hold, extending his scoreless streak to eight contests.
- Luke Weaver notched his 21st hold, retiring the side in the seventh.
Updated Hierarchy: David Bednar | Devin Williams | Luke Weaver
Philadelphia Phillies – Entering after a rain delay, David Robertson worked around a two-out single with a game-ending lineout, securing his second save and preserving a combined shutout against the Marlins. He threw ten pitches (70% strike rate) without a whiff.
- Matt Strahm fired a clean eighth, striking out one for his 22nd hold.
- Taijuan Walker allowed a hit and two walks while striking out three across two scoreless frames, notching his second hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Duran | Matt Strahm | David Robertson
Quick Hits
- Colorado Rockies: Zach Agnos worked a scoreless bottom of the eighth, walking one and striking out two in an eventual loss at Seattle.
- Houston Astros: Preserving a six-run lead, Bryan Abreu retired the side and recorded a strikeout versus the A’s 4-5-6 hitters, throwing 12 pitches (58.3% strike rate) with one whiff. It’s his first outing in four days, and he has not received a save chance since September 16.
- Kansas City Royals: Closing out a five-run lead against the Angels, Luinder Avila retired the side and recorded two strikeouts on 15 pitches (66.7% strike rate) with three whiffs (20 SwStr%).
- Los Angeles Dodgers: Finishing a combined shutout while clinching the National League West, Anthony Banda worked a clean bottom of the ninth, striking out two. Will Klein allowed a hit and struck out two in the eighth. Tanner Scott faced the 7-8-9 lineup pocket and retired the side while striking out one. He threw 20 pitches (75% strike rate) and generated four whiffs (20 SwStr%). This was a soft landing for the struggling reliever; he has been scoreless in five of his last six appearances.
- Miami Marlins: Appearing during a shutout loss, Calvin Faucher stranded a runner while retiring both batters, one via strikeout at the bottom of the eighth.
- Minnesota Twins: Completing a combined shutout, Cole Sands retired the side and recorded a strikeout at the bottom of the ninth in Texas, throwing 12 pitches (66.7% strike rate) with two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%). Pierson Ohl gave up a hit and recorded a strikeout during the eighth, extending his scoreless streak to five games, spanning six innings. Kody Funderburk notched his seventh hold, striking out two at the bottom of the seventh.
- Seattle Mariners: Caleb Ferguson was awarded his fifth win, issuing a walk during a scoreless seventh. Matt Brash worked a scoreless eighth, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out two.
- Tampa Bay Rays: Summoned at the bottom of the eighth with a runner on and two outs, Kevin Kelly allowed a game-tying two-run home run by Coby Mayo, followed by a triple before getting an inning-ending strikeout. Returning for the ninth, Kelly served up a walk-off lead-off home run by Dylan Beavers, suffering his fifth loss and fourth blown save.
- Toronto Blue Jays: Maintaining his team’s tie atop the division, Jeff Hoffman closed out a five-run lead over Boston with a scoreless top of the ninth, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out one, extending his modest scoreless streak to five. Yariel Rodríguez was awarded his third win, retiring both batters in the sixth, one via strikeout.
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