Monday’s 13-game slate provided six reliever wins, featuring late-inning rallies and two extra-inning contests. Six relievers secured saves, with only Cole Sands providing a vulture one because his team padded its lead. Another late-inning collapse cost the Red Sox, and it may affect their trade deadline maneuvers, which are covered in today’s takeaways.
Three Takeaways
- Boston’s bullpen creates tough decisions: With the caveat that the recent struggles in the bullpen are due to the lack of depth, Pete Abraham’s tweet encapsulates how front offices must manage in-season events versus the future. During a four-game losing streak at the onset of the second half, the Red Sox have suffered five blown saves. Having Chris Martin and Justin Slaten on the injured list, Liam Hendriks still throwing fastballs only in his side sessions, and Kenley Jansen out for the Colorado series, this leverage ladder is running on fumes. These next two games against the Rockies and this weekend’s set versus the Yankees may decide this team’s modus operandi at the trade deadline, but since peaking at 53 percent postseason odds at Fangraphs on July 18, after last night’s loss, the team’s trending in the wrong direction:
- As the Dodgers bullpen turns: No, it’s not a new miniseries idea, but recent events in this Los Angeles hierarchy have made things difficult. Daniel Hudson notched his fourth save in as many appearances Monday night and owns the top spot in our updated leverage ladder. However, Dave Roberts maintains Evan Phillips will continue being used in high-leverage situations, though as Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times notes in this post, it may be certain lineup lanes, not save chances in the near term.
- Díaz, contact, and usage patterns: Displaying signs of rust during his first appearance since July 14, Alexis Díaz could not preserve the combined shutout during a traffic-laden bottom of the ninth. It began with Marcell Ozuna’s lead-off single, a one-out walk by Adam Duvall, a sacrifice fly, a Sean Murphy walk, and a game-ending flyout by Orlando Arcia. Díaz allowed a hit, an earned run, and two walks while throwing 21 pitches (10 strikes – 47.6 Strike%) with two whiffs. After this outing, he owns a 1.67 WHIP through six innings in July with two saves. It’s tough finding a rhythm as a reliever with sporadic usage patterns. Twenty of his 38 appearances have occurred on two days’ rest or more. He’s also allowing more contact while producing fewer whiffs since the second half of last year. His 1.54 WHIP over the last statistical year ranks sixth-worst among all qualified relievers, and his 4.9 K-BB percentage does not inspire confidence. With the Reds becoming sellers, they must determine if he’s their closer entering next season, but these trends must improve:
Next, our condensed game recaps cover Monday’s high-leverage events of interest.
Closer CliffsNotes
American League
Boston Red Sox – Tasked with a bases-loaded situation and two outs in the bottom of the 12th, Chase Anderson allowed a walk-off RBI single by Ezequiel Tovar. Bailey Horn suffered his first loss and a blown save. He gave up a hit, two runs (one earned), and two walks (both intentional) while striking out one in two-thirds of the 12th.
- Greg Weissert tossed a scoreless 11th, intentionally walking Michael Toglia and striking out one.
- Zack Kelly logged two innings, which included a scoreless ninth. However, in the tenth, he could not preserve a two-run lead, giving up a game-tying two-run home run by Sam Hilliard. Kelly recorded three strikeouts in his outing on 26 pitches (20 strikes – 76.9 Strike%) and generated eight whiffs (30.8 SwStr%).
Hierarchy remains: Kenley Jansen | Zack Kelly | Brennan Bernardino
Chicago White Sox – Taking over in the tenth, Steven Wilson recorded two quick outs. He issued two intentional walks (Corey Seager and Josh Smith) ahead of Wyatt Langford’s walk-off RBI single, resulting in his sixth loss.
- John Brebbia suffered his second blown save and his team’s 25th of the season. He gave up two hits, including Jonah Heim’s game-tying single with two outs, one earned run, and a walk while striking out one in the bottom of the ninth.
- Michael Kopech stranded a runner in the seventh and logged 1.2 scoreless frames, striking out one. He threw 17 pitches (12 strikes – 70.6 Strike%) and induced two whiffs, extending his modest four-game scoreless streak.
Hierarchy remains: Michael Kopech | John Brebbia | Tanner Banks
Los Angeles Angels – Shutting the door on his 19th save, Carlos Estévez fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded a strikeout during a two-run win in Seattle. He threw nine pitches, all strikes, and produced three whiffs (33.3 SwStr%) facing the 4-5-6 lineup pocket. He boasts a 17-game scoreless streak, converting all 12 save opportunities with 15 strikeouts against two walks since May 28.
- Luis García was awarded the win for a second straight game, his fifth on the season, working a scoreless bottom of the eighth. He allowed a hit and recorded two strikeouts.
- Hunter Strickland retired the side and struck out two in the seventh.
- Hans Crouse stranded two runners, striking out his only batter in the sixth.
Hierarchy remains: Carlos Estévez | Luis García | Ben Joyce
Minnesota Twins – After retiring the side at the top of the eighth and protecting a two-run lead, Cole Sands remained in the game for the ninth after his teammates tacked on three runs at the bottom of the eighth. He secured his third save, working around a hitter reaching on an error for two scoreless frames and recording two strikeouts. He threw 30 pitches (70 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (13.3 SwStr%). He’s only given up two unearned runs over six games in July, with 11 strikeouts versus zero walks across nine innings. Jhoan Durán was warming for the ninth but sat down when the lead expanded beyond a save chance.
Hierarchy remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Jorge Alcala
Seattle Mariners – With the game in the balance, Andrés Muñoz took over with two runners on and one out in the top of the eighth. After a double steal put the runners on second and third, he suffered his third blown save, letting one of the two inherited runners score on a Taylor Ward game-tying sacrifice fly. Muñoz threw 10 pitches (50 Strike%) and induced one whiff while retiring both hitters in the eighth.
- Ryne Stanek gets credit for his 15th hold despite issuing two walks and an earned run on his ledger while striking out one in one-third of the eighth.
- Trent Thornton gets tagged with his second loss. He gave up consecutive two-out walks and a go-ahead RBI single by Jo Adell, scoring two runs (one earned) in the top of the ninth.
Hierarchy remains: Andrés Muñoz | Ryne Stanek | Gregory Santos
Texas Rangers – Benefiting from a walk-off rally at the bottom of the tenth, Jonathan Hernández collected his third win. He retired the side at the inning’s top and recorded two strikeouts. He threw nine pitches (88.9 Strike%) and generated five whiffs (55.6 SwStr%).
- Kirby Yates allowed his first home run of the season, a solo shot by Paul DeJong, issued a walk, and struck out two in the top of the ninth.
- David Robertson tossed a clean eighth, striking out one.
- José Leclerc fired two clean frames and recorded four strikeouts.
Hierarchy remains: Kirby Yates | David Robertson | José Leclerc
National League
Chicago Cubs – Recording his 14th save, Héctor Neris worked around a two-out Garrett Mitchell double with a game-ending William Contreras ground-out, preserving a two-run win against the Brewers. He threw 12 pitches (83.3 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He extended his scoreless streak to nine games, collecting two wins and converting all four save chances.
- Porter Hodge was credited with his fourth hold despite allowing Willy Adames’ solo home run in the eighth.
- Mark Leiter Jr. fired a clean seventh, striking out the side.
- Tyson Miller notched his sixth hold, yielding a hit and striking out two in a scoreless sixth.
- Drew Smyly earned his third win and gave up a hit through 1.2 scoreless frames.
Hierarchy remains: Héctor Neris | Mark Leiter Jr. | Porter Hodge
Colorado Rockies – Despite letting the “place” runner score in the top of the 12th, Justin Lawrence collected his third win following his team’s walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. He logged two innings, allowing an RBI single and striking out one.
- Victor Vodnik gave up two hits and two runs (one earned) while recording a strikeout during his two-inning outing. He tossed a scoreless ninth and gave up both runs in the top of the tenth on a Dominic Smith double and a sacrifice fly.
- Jalen Beeks suffered his seventh blown save, giving up three hits, including a game-tying Connor Wong solo home run in the eighth.
- Nick Mears retired the side and recorded a strikeout in the seventh.
Updated Hierarchy: *Jalen Beeks | *Victor Vodnik | Nick Mears
*= closer-by-committee
Los Angeles Dodgers – Capping an eighth-inning rally, Daniel Hudson secured his seventh save. He navigated around a two-out walk with a game-ending flyout, preserving the one-run win. He threw 19 pitches (11 strikes – 57.9 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (21.1 SwStr%) while recording two strikeouts. This marked his second instance of appearing three times in four days this season, and he’s recorded four straight saves.
- Blake Treinen collected his fourth win, working a scoreless eighth. He issued a walk and recorded two strikeouts.
- Ryan Yarbrough suffered his second blown save, allowing a game-tying Tyler Fitzgerald solo home run and striking out two in the seventh.
- Alex Vesia took over in the sixth with runners on the corners and recorded consecutive strikeouts, stranding both in a high-leverage moment.
Updated Hierarchy: *Daniel Hudson | *Alex Vesia | *Blake Treinen
*= closer-by-committee
New York Mets –Hanging on for his 12th save, Edwin Díaz worked himself into and out of trouble in the bottom of the ninth in Miami. He allowed a one-out single, walked Jazz Chilsolm Jr., and loaded the bases with a Bryan De La Cruz single. After giving up a run on a fielder’s choice groundout, Díaz induced a game-ending pop-out by Jake Burger, finishing the two-run win. He threw 28 pitches (15 strikes – 53.6 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (17.9 SwStr%). This snapped the closer’s nine-game scoreless streak.
- Phil Maton tossed a clean eighth, recording his 11th hold.
- José Buttó notched his second hold, allowing a De La Cruz solo home run and striking out three over two innings.
Hierarchy remains: Edwin Díaz | Dedniel Núñez | Phil Maton
Pittsburgh Pirates – Securing his 18th save, David Bednar navigated around a two-out Paul Goldschmidt with a game-ending Nolan Gorman strikeout. He threw 13 pitches (11 strikes – 84.6 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (30.8 SwStr%) while preserving a one-run win. He’s been scoreless in four of his last five while converting four saves.
- Aroldis Chapman collected his second win. He retired the side and struck out one in the eighth, ahead of his team taking the lead in the bottom of the inning. He’s made consecutive clean appearances in the second half, striking out four of six batters.
Hierarchy remains: David Bednar | Aroldis Chapman | Colin Holderman
Vulture Save Options for Tuesday, July 23
- Ben Joyce (LAA): Estévez and García have worked in back-to-back games, leaving the rookie in line for the save chance.
- Jonathan Hernández (TEX): Yates and Robertson have pitched on consecutive days. Leclerc also logged two innings in Monday’s game, leaving the leverage ladder a bit thin and Hernández potentially atop the hierarchy for a save chance. Josh Sborz will also be in the mix.
- Gregory Santos (SEA): Muñoz has appeared in two straight, and Stanek’s nursing a sore back.
- Jorge López (CHC): It’s a long shot, but the Cubs hierarchy has pitched the last two days, leaving the veteran in line for the vulture save chance in Milwaukee.
Vulture Save Stash for Wednesday, July 23
- Colin Holderman (PIT): If Bednar and Chapman pitch tonight, it will be consecutive outings and three of the last four.
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