Monday’s eight-game slate featured two wins, three saves, two losses, and three blown saves by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 868 saves this season by 216 different pitchers. For perspective, this season has already surpassed last year for the number of pitchers with at least one save and is within seven more relievers recording their first save to tie the record of 223 set in 2024.
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Trade Deadline Tracker for Relievers
Trade Deadline Takeaways
Stock Up for Saves
Luke Weaver (PIT): He may not receive all of the save chances going forward, but he will be the anchor in his new bullpen. Since May 1, he owns a 0.688 WHIP with a save and 13 holds while posting 37 strikeouts against seven walks (25.2 K-BB%) in 30 appearances, spanning 32 innings.
Jeff Hoffman (MIN): There was not a closer in the Twins’ bullpen until Yoendrys Gómez took over, and Derek Shelton may mix and match following Hoffman’s arrival. However, saves will be at the manager’s discretion. Here are each reliever’s results since June 1:
A change of scenery may be exactly what Hoffman needed. Now we find out if he has the constitution for the ninth inning. He should be provided the opportunity in this bullpen down the stretch.
Dylan Smith (SF): Just when Erik Miller was taking over as the preferred option for saves, he was traded to Boston. His primary setup option should be his replacement. There will be bumps in the road, but he has a save and six holds while suffering one blown save this season, posting a 1.22 WHIP with a 3.71 SIERA, and a 12.1 swinging strike percentage through 22 games, spanning 19.2 innings.
Jordan Romano (COL): He was already the closer for the Rockies, and with the team trading Antonio Senzatela and Victor Vodnik, it’s his bullpen now. Understand his 1.30 WHIP since joining the team comes with a 12.1 percent walk rate, so there will be some migration of his 1.17 ERA toward his 3.49 SIERA, but in many leagues, saves are saves, and he’s assured of getting chances.
Honorable Mention
- Ben Joyce (LAA): With health and a promotion soon, the pathway to saves has been cleared for him.
- Daniel Palencia (CHC): Begins his minor league rehab outings at Triple-A today, in Iowa.
- Justin Martinez (ARI): Starting his rehab assignment at Single-A Visalia today. He needs more time than Palencia.
Stock Up for SOLDS
- Brooks Raley (PHI)
- Ryan Zeferjahn (CHC)
- Huascar Brazobán (CHW)
- Camilo Doval (PIT)
- Tyler Wells (TB)
- Brendon Little (TOR)
Stock Down for Saves
- Erik Miller (BOS)
- Yoendrys Gómez (MIN)
- Ryan Zeferjahn (CHC)
- Tyler Wells (BAL)
Here are the leverage events of interest from Monday.
American League
Toronto Blue Jays – Closing out a two-run lead in Houston, Tyler Rogers retired the side while facing the 3-4-5 pocket on 12 pitches (66.7% Strike Rate), inducing two groundouts and a game-ending flyout for his third save. This marked his first save since May 27, and he has been scoreless in 12 of his last 13 appearances.
- Brendon Little stranded a runner in the seventh and logged 1.1 scoreless innings, walking one and striking out four, notching his first hold. He can carve out a larger leverage role over the last two months, and his strikeout against Yordan Alvarez suggests he will.
- Braydon Fisher stranded both inherited runners in the sixth, but gave up a hit and two walks during his scoreless combined inning, getting his tenth hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Louis Varland | Tyler Rogers | Braydon Fisher
Quick Hits
- Houston Astros: Deployed as a reliever, Tatsuya Imai fired three clean innings and recorded five strikeouts in an eventual loss against the Blue Jays. He threw 34 pitches (26 strikes – 76.5% Strike Rate) and generated ten whiffs (29.4 SwStr%).
- New York Yankees: Called on at the top of the eighth with a runner on and no outs, Angel Chivilli imploded, allowing five hits, three home runs, six earned runs, and a walk, resulting in his first loss and first blown save. Before this outing, he had allowed three runs (one earned) in 14 games, spanning 15.2 innings. Fernando Cruz tossed a clean top of the ninth, striking out two in the eventual six-run loss. After this loss, the team sent Chivilli back to Triple-A.
- Tampa Bay Rays: Pressed into duty with a runner and two outs at the bottom of the ninth, Kevin Kelly induced a game-ending flyout by pinch hitter TJ Rumfield, preserving a four-run lead in Colorado on one pitch.
National League
Arizona Diamondbacks – Protecting a four-run lead, Brandyn Garcia retired the side at the top of the ninth while facing the Padres’ 4-5-6 hitters, throwing 12 pitches (83.3% Strike Rate) and inducing two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in his last four appearances and in 20 of his previous 21, recording a 0.635 WHIP with 25 strikeouts and four walks (32.8 K-BB%) across 17.1 innings, converting three saves and eight holds.
- Juan Morillo stranded two runners with an inning-ending strikeout of Xander Bogaerts at the top of the seventh and worked a scoreless eighth, yielding a hit and a strikeout. He notched his 14th hold, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings with two strikeouts.
Hierarchy Remains: *Brandyn Garcia | *Juan Morillo | *Jonathan Loáisiga
*= closer-by-committee
Philadelphia Phillies – Shutting the door on his 25th save, Jhoan Duran worked a scoreless top of the ninth, hitting a batter and striking out two while preserving a one-run lead over the Nationals. He threw 15 pitches (60% Strike Rate) and produced two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%). It’s his first save of the second half, and he has been scoreless in 16 of his last 17 appearances since June 10, posting a 0.957 WHIP with 22 strikeouts and one walk (32.8 K-BB%) across 15.2 innings, converting nine of ten save opportunities.
- Orion Kerkering notched his 12th hold, retiring the side and striking out two in the eighth.
- Kyle Backhus collected his second win, tossing a scoreless seventh, walking and striking out one ahead of his team’s go-ahead rally at the bottom of the frame.
Updated Hierarchy: Jhoan Duran | Orion Kerkering | Brooks Raley
Pittsburgh Pirates – Sealing a one-run lead and his third save, Mason Montgomery worked around Joey Ortiz’s infield single with consecutive strikeouts of Brice Turang and Jackson Chourio. He threw 18 pitches (14 strikes – 77.8% Strike Rate) and racked up seven whiffs (38.8 SwStr%) while striking out three. He has been scoreless in 14 of his last 15 games, recording a 0.698 WHIP with 28 strikeouts and six walks (40 K-BB%) over 14.1 innings.
- Camilo Doval fired a clean eighth and struck out one against the Brewers’ 5-6-7 hitters, securing his fifth hold.
- Gregory Soto stranded a runner in the seventh and logged 1.1 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out three for his eighth hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Luke Weaver | Mason Montgomery | Gregory Soto
San Francisco Giants – With a runner on and one out at the bottom of the ninth, Reiver Sanmartin took over in Texas. He only faced one batter, inducing a game-ending double-play groundout by Cam Cauley, resulting in two-thirds of an inning.
- Tristan Beck spoiled the shutout, allowing Ezequiel Duran’s solo home run and issuing a walk during his one-third of the ninth.
- Sam Hentges stranded a runner in the seventh and logged 1.1 scoreless innings, walking and striking out one for his seventh hold.
- Keaton Winn gave up a hit and struck out one during two-thirds of the seventh, securing his 12th hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Dylan Smith | Keaton Winn | Sam Hentges
Quick Hits
- Los Angeles Dodgers: Summoned with the bases loaded and one out in the sixth, Tanner Scott thought he had an inning-ending strikeout, but an ABS challenge resulted in a bases-loaded walk to Carson Kelly, followed by a two-RBI, two-out single by Michael Busch, resulting in all three inherited runners scoring. Scott recorded an inning-ending strikeout, but the game moved out of reach.
- Milwaukee Brewers: Appearing in an eventual one-run loss, Chad Patrick retired the side and recorded two strikeouts at the top of the ninth. Aaron Ashby logged two scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out three.
Holds Tally
Here are the holds from Monday’s slate:
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Statistical Credits: