Saturday’s 17 games featured two extra-inning games, a split doubleheader between St. Louis and Atlanta, and three one-run contests. Relievers recorded six wins and six saves, with only one ancillary one by Kyle Leahy of the Cardinals in Game 2.
During an eventual win against Boston, Evan Phillips allowed another home run by Tyler O’Neill on a sweeper in the top of the tenth inning. Kyle Finnegan secured his 27th save. Will he be moved ahead of the deadline? Last in our three takeaways, is there a reliever emerging in Colorado?
Three Takeaways
- Phillips and home runs: During the broadcast on Fox, Adam Wainwright suggested slumps happen for pitchers, and Phillips is currently mired in one. He gave up a go-ahead home run in the top of the tenth, his first allowed by a right-handed hitter this season on a hanging sweeper. His surface statistics are in line with past results. However, over the last 365 days, he’s given up eight home runs with a 75.9 percent contact rate allowed and an 11.9 swinging strike percentage. The Dodgers will remain patient with their high-leverage reliever, but he must produce better outings soon, or save chances will be sparse in the second half. Here’s his 15-game rolling game chart:
- Is Finnegan on the move?: When the team moved Hunter Harvey before the draft, it signaled the Nationals were selling ahead of the trade deadline. Fantasy managers would like to know if this includes Kyle Finnegan. He’s under team control through the end of 2025, and general manager Mike Rizzo has been a proponent of his closer but also remains pragmatic about the team’s future in this post by Mark Zuckerman for MASN. Rizzo will listen, but if the price remains too high, Finnegan may remain with the Nationals, which may ultimately be decided by how teams like Texas and the Cubs handle their rosters before July 30.
- Can fantasy managers trust a Rockies reliever this year?: There’s a risk with any reliever playing half of his games in Coors Field, especially for those protecting ratio statistics. On Saturday, Victor Vodnik secured his third save of the season, first in the second half, while protecting a one-run lead against the Giants. Over the last 30 days, he has recorded a win, three saves in four chances, a hold, and a 15:5 K:BB (20.4 K-BB percentage) through 12.1 innings. In these outings, he also has a 10.3 swinging strike percentage and a 75.8 percent contact rate allowed. Hope lies in his 0.89 WHIP with a 2.81 SIERA versus a 2.19 ERA. He may be a worthwhile streaming option, especially if the team moves Jalen Beeks, but those in shallower formats may prefer a larger sample.
Closer CliffsNotes
American League
Boston Red Sox – After blowing his fourth save chance in the bottom of the tenth, Greg Weissert suffered his second loss, allowing a walk-off RBI single by Will Smith. He logged 1.1 innings, giving up three hits, three runs (one earned), and two walks (one intentional) while striking out two.
- Kenley Jansen allowed a game-tying Kiké Hernández solo home run in the ninth, resulting in his second blown save, the first since April 16. He finished with two hits allowed, an earned run, and a walk (intentional) while striking out one.
- Josh Winckowski notched his first hold, navigating around two hits and a walk in a scoreless eighth.
- Cam Booser secured his fourth hold, working a scoreless seventh. He issued a walk and recorded two strikeouts.
Hierarchy remains: Kenley Jansen | Zack Kelly | Brennan Bernardino
Detroit Tigers – Forced into action in the third inning, Alex Faedo collected his fifth win, tossing two scoreless frames. He allowed a hit and recorded three strikeouts after replacing Reese Olson, who left with a shoulder issue.
- Kenta Maeda was credited with his first hold, giving up three hits, including a two-run home run by Vlad Guerrero Jr., and three earned runs while striking out one during his two innings of relief.
- Tyler Holton worked two scoreless innings, yielding a hit and striking out three. He owns a 10-game scoreless streak, spanning 12.1 innings, since June 29.
- Shelby Miller closed out the four-run win with a clean bottom of the ninth.
Hierarchy remains: *Jason Foley | *Tyler Holton | *Shelby Miller
*= closer-by-committee
Houston Astros – Appearing on consecutive days, Josh Hader recorded his 20th save, issuing a walk (on a pitch timer violation) and striking out two while preserving a two-run win. He threw 19 pitches (13 strikes – 68.4 Strike%) and generated six whiffs (31.6 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in his last five, with a save in each.
- Ryan Pressly extended his scoreless streak to 14 games, securing his 17th hold and striking out one in a clean eighth.
- Bryan Abreu navigated around a lead-off walk with a pickoff at first and two strikeouts, posting his 23rd hold.
- Tayler Scott collected his seventh win. He retired his only batter in the sixth.
Hierarchy remains: Josh Hader | Ryan Pressly | Bryan Abreu
Minnesota Twins – Steven Okert let one of two inherited runners score while giving up two hits, three runs (two earned), and a walk during his two-thirds combined innings. Josh Staumont struggled in the 12th, letting all three inherited runners score and allowing three hits with two earned runs on his ledger.
- Cole Sands gave up a hit and two runs (one earned) during one-third of the 11th.
- Jhoan Durán fired a clean tenth and recorded two strikeouts while stranding the “place” runner. He threw 12 pitches (7 strikes – 58.3 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
- Griffin Jax retired the side in the ninth.
- Jorge Alcala worked a scoreless eighth with his team down one, giving up a hit.
Hierarchy remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Jorge Alcala
National League
Arizona Diamondbacks – Shutting the door on his 15th save and preserving a combined shutout, Paul Sewald tossed a scoreless ninth, giving up a one-out double and striking out one. He threw 18 pitches (14 strikes – 77.8 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (16.7 SwStr%). He extended his modest scoreless streak to five games and converted four straight save chances.
- Ryan Thompson retired the side in the eighth for his 17th hold.
- Justin Martinez notched his sixth hold, firing a clean seventh and striking out two.
- Kevin Ginkel worked a clean sixth, securing his eighth hold.
Hierarchy remains: Paul Sewald | Kevin Ginkel | Justin Martinez
Atlanta Braves – After inducing a lineout double play in the top of the tenth, Pierce Johnson collected his third win courtesy of a walk-off in the bottom of the inning of Game 1. He threw 17 pitches (13 strikes – 76.5 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
- Raisel Iglesias tossed a scoreless ninth, issuing a walk and striking out one on 13 pitches (7 strikes – 53.8 Strike%) with two whiffs.
- Joe Jiménez retired the side in the eighth.
- Dylan Lee gave up Nolan Arenado’s solo home run among his two hits and recorded two strikeouts in the seventh.
Hierarchy remains: Raisel Iglesias | Joe Jiménez | A.J. Minter
Colorado Rockies – Securing his third save, Victor Vodnik retired the side and recorded a strikeout during a one-run win over the Giants. He threw 15 pitches (60 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He owns a three-game scoreless streak and has forged a save share at the onset of the second half.
- Nick Mears notched his eighth hold, logging two clean frames and striking out four on 26 pitches (19 strikes – 73.1 Strike%) with seven whiffs (26.9 SwStr%).
Updated Hierarchy: *Jalen Beeks | *Victor Vodnik | Tyler Kinley
*= closer-by-committee
Los Angeles Dodgers – Benefiting from a walk-off rally in the bottom of the 11th, Blake Treinen earned his third win. He worked a scoreless top of the inning, stranding the “place” runner by retiring the side and striking out one. He threw 20 pitches (70 Strike%) and generated five whiffs (25 SwStr%).
- Evan Phillips allowed a two-run home run by Tyler O’Neill in the tenth, putting an earned run on his ledger and recording a strikeout. He’s allowed a home run in consecutive appearances and four of six games in July.
- Brent Honeywell logged two scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out three.
Hierarchy remains: *Evan Phillips | *Daniel Hudson | Alex Vesia
*= closer-by-committee
Milwaukee Brewers – Despite suffering his first blown save in the 11th, giving up a game-tying Carlos Santana two-run home run, Jakob Junis was credited with his second win courtesy of a five-run rally in the top of the 12th. Junis logged two innings, allowing two hits and three runs (one earned) while striking out one.
- Trevor Megill tossed a scoreless tenth, issuing Byron Buxton an intentional walk and striking out one. He threw eight pitches (62.5 Strike%) without a whiff.
- Joel Payamps worked a scoreless ninth, yielding a hit and striking out one.
- Devin Williams had his rehab transferred to Triple-A Nashville, but Saturday’s game was postponed, canceling his scheduled appearance.
Hierarchy remains: Trevor Megill | Elvis Peguero | Bryan Hudson
New York Mets – Starting the second half in style, Edwin Díaz nailed down his 11th save with a clean bottom of the ninth while recording one strikeout. He threw 12 pitches (75 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (25 SwStr%) against the Marlins’ 8-9-1 lineup pocket. He’s been scoreless over his last nine outings and converted six of seven save chances since June 13.
- Dedniel Núñez navigated around two hits with three strikeouts in a scoreless eighth for his eighth hold.
- José Buttó tossed a scoreless seventh, issuing a walk and striking out two, securing his first hold.
Hierarchy remains: Edwin Díaz | Dedniel Núñez | Phil Maton
St. Louis Cardinals – Taking over a tied game in the bottom of the tenth, Chris Roycroft suffered his second loss. He allowed a sacrifice bunt, issued a walk, and a walk-off Ozzie Albies sacrifice fly, scoring the “place” runner in Game 1.
- Andrew Kittredge worked around two hits for a scoreless ninth and recorded one strikeout.
- Ryan Fernandez was tagged with his first blown save. He took over with a runner on and two outs in the bottom of the seventh and gave up a game-tying Eddie Rosario two-run home run. Fernandez finished 1.1 innings with one hit, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one on his ledger.
Game 2: Kyle Leahy secured his first major league save with two scoreless innings, allowing a hit and striking out two.
Hierarchy remains: Ryan Helsley | Andrew Kittredge | JoJo Romero
Washington Nationals – Preserving a one-run win, Kyle Finnegan locked down his 27th save with a clean ninth and recorded a strikeout. He threw 15 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and induced two whiffs. He’s been scoreless over his last four appearances and secured a save in each.
- Derek Law collected his sixth win, allowing a hit and striking out two through two scoreless innings.
- Dylan Floro logged two scoreless frames, scattering two hits and a walk while striking out one.
- Robert Garcia retired the side and struck out one in the fourth.
Hierarchy remains: Kyle Finnegan | Robert Garcia | Derek Law
Vulture Save Options for Sunday, July 21
- Tayler Scott (HOU): With his team’s entire hierarchy having pitched on consecutive days in Seattle, Scott should be atop the list for the vulture save, if provided, on Sunday.
- Bryce Jarvis (ARI): HIs manager has used Sewald, Thompson, Martinez, and Ginkel in the first two games of the second half, leaving the leverage options thin in today’s contest. Jarvis could provide a vulture win or save, so he gets the nod in our process.
- Robert Garcia (WSH): Although Finnegan has appeared in two straight, he only faced two batters on Friday, so there’s a chance he goes for three straight with an off day on Monday. If not, it may be time for the Nationals to see how the southpaw responds in a save situation.
Vulture Save Options for Monday, July 22
- Dedniel Núñez (NYM): He’s pitched in two straight and will receive Sunday off. If Díaz pitches today, it will be consecutive outings and an off-day on Monday, putting Núñez in line for a potential save chance against the Marlins.
- Colin Holderman (PIT): If Bednar and Chapman pitch this afternoon, each will have back-to-back appearances, leaving Holderman atop the hierarchy on Monday.
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