Tuesday night’s 14 games featured six reliever wins and nine saves. There was a rainout, which means Atlanta and Cincinnati will play a doubleheader on today’s slate. There were two ancillary saves, including the first of the season by Matt Strahm.
Last night’s most common theme was command, which affected results by some key leverage relievers, covered in today’s takeaways.
Three Takeaways
- Durán suffers his fifth loss: Entering a scoreless game in the top of the ninth, Jhoan Durán allowed a one-out Bryce Harper double, issued consecutive walks, and gave up a go-ahead Brandon Marsh sacrifice fly, followed by a two-RBI Nick Castellanos double. He was removed after giving up three runs and suffered his fifth loss. His final line was two hits, three earned runs, and two walks over two-thirds of an inning. He threw 27 pitches (11 strikes – 40.7 Strike%) and only induced one whiff. Before this appearance, Durán posted 16 strikeouts against four walks across 16 innings while recording five wins and converting five of six save chances. Rocco Baldelli stood by his closer in postgame comments, but he must command his arsenal better than this moving forward:
- Did Hoffman issue two walks?: Before Durán’s outing in the ninth, Jeff Hoffman could not finish the eighth inning for the Phillies. He handed out two walks for the first time in any appearance this season and the first time since August 2 last year. He threw 20 pitches (55 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (15 SwStr%) against the Twins’ 9-1-2-3 lineup pocket before his removal. Although he’s been scoreless through seven games in July, he’s allowed four walks during his last 3.2 innings.
- Dodgers call on Phillips?: Alex Vesia began his outing in the ninth with a four-run lead by issuing consecutive walks. He had allowed two walks against his previous 46 batters. After allowing an earned run and his pitch count rising, Evan Phillips took over for Vesia and walked Jorge Soler before getting a game-ending groundout for his 15th save. Suggesting Phillips is past his recent struggles would be premature, but he’s still in Dave Roberts’ trust tree and has been placed back into our updated bullpen hierarchy below.
Our condensed game recaps cover Tuesday’s high-leverage events of interest.
Also, we updated the reliever buy/sell posts with less than a week before the trade deadline:
Closer CliffsNotes
American League
Cleveland Guardians – Shutting the door on his American League-leading 30th save, Emmanuel Clase preserved a one-run while retiring the side against Detroit. He threw nine pitches (88.9 Strike%) without a whiff and has converted his last 17 save opportunities since May 20. His 116 saves since the start of 2022 leads all major league relievers.
- Scott Barlow secured his 18th hold, allowing a hit and striking out one in a scoreless eighth.
- Hunter Gaddis notched his 21st hold despite letting both inherited runners score on a sacrifice fly and his throwing error. He issued a walk during two-thirds of the seventh.
- Nick Sandlin gave up a hit, two runs (one earned), and a walk while striking out one in one-third of the seventh.
- Cade Smith collected his fifth win, logging 1.2 clean frames and recording three strikeouts.
Hierarchy remains: Emmanuel Clase | Hunter Gaddis | Scott Barlow
Tampa Bay Rays – Securing his 19th save, Pete Fairbanks retired the side, closing out a two-run win in Toronto. He threw 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) without a whiff. He’s converted six straight save chances despite allowing a run in three outings.
- Jason Adam recorded his 19th hold, firing a clean eighth and striking out one. Kevin Kelly tossed a clean seventh for his 12th hold.
- Manuel Rodriguez was credited with his fourth hold, although he allowed two solo home runs in the sixth.
- Tyler Alexander collected his third win, logging three scoreless frames as the “bulk follower,” scattering three hits and striking out four.
Hierarchy remains: Pete Fairbanks | Jason Adam | Colin Poche
Texas Rangers – Summoned for a third straight game, Kirby Yates retired both batters, one via strikeout, while recording his 18th save. He threw six pitches (83.3 Strike%) and induced one whiff (16.7 SwStr%). He’s converted seven saves in July with 13 strikeouts against three walks across 8.2 innings.
- Josh Sborz gets credit for his sixth hold. He allowed Andrew Benintendi’s solo home run leading off the ninth and recorded a strikeout over two-thirds combined innings.
Hierarchy remains: Kirby Yates | David Robertson | José Leclerc
National League
Los Angeles Dodgers – With a three-run lead, two runners on, and two outs, the Dodgers called upon Evan Phillips to face Jorge Soler. Although he issued a walk loading the bases, he induced a game-ending LaMonte Wade Jr. groundout for his 15th save, his first since July 5. He threw nine pitches (33.3 Strike%) without a whiff.
- Alex Vesia struggled with his command, walking the first two batters he faced and allowing an RBI single before recording two outs. He was removed after throwing 26 pitches (15 strikes – 57.7 Strike%) and only getting one whiff. He had issued two walks in his previous 46 batters faced over 12 games.
- Blake Treinen secured his eighth hold, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless eighth.
- Brent Honeywell logged two scoreless frames, yielding a hit for his first hold.
Updated Hierarchy: *Daniel Hudson | *Alex Vesia | *Evan Phillips
*= closer-by-committee
Miami Marlins – Not only did Tanner Scott record his 17th save with a scoreless ninth against the Orioles, but he’s completed a reliever no-hitter with nine straight hitless appearances, spanning 9.2 innings since June 27. He worked around a hit-batter with two strikeouts during the three-run win, throwing 15 pitches (66.7 Strike%) with two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless over his last 15 games with 19 strikeouts against five walks.
- A.J. Puk fired two clean frames while recording three strikeouts and collected his fourth win. He owns a 13-game scoreless streak with four wins and 22 strikeouts versus three walks across 15 innings.
- Andrew Nardi notched his 11th hold, retiring the side and striking out two in the sixth.
Hierarchy remains: Tanner Scott | A.J. Puk | Calvin Faucher
Milwaukee Brewers – Navigating around a lead-off single, Trevor Megill retired the next three hitters for a scoreless ninth, preserving a shutout during his 20th save. He threw 16 pitches (11 strikes – 68.8 Strike%) and induced two whiffs. He’s converted three of four save opportunities in July and been scoreless in five of seven appearances.
- Jared Koenig worked around two hits and a walk for a scoreless eighth, hanging on for his fight hold.
- Elvis Peguero collected his sixth win, tossing a clean seventh and striking out one.
- Bryan Hudson worked a clean sixth, recording one strikeout.
Hierarchy remains: Trevor Megill | Elvis Peguero | Bryan Hudson
New York Mets – With limited bullpen options, Jake Diekman stepped up for his teammates. He posted his fourth save with a scoreless bottom of the ninth, preserving a one-run win over the Yankees. He navigated around a one-out Juan Soto walk with a strikeout of Aaron Judge and a game-ending ground-out by Ben Rice.
- Phil Maton notched his 12th hold, walking one and striking out one in a scoreless eighth.
- Dedniel Núñez secured his ninth hold, issuing a walk and striking out one in a scoreless seventh.
- Alex Young retired two batters and stranded one for his fifth hold in the sixth.
- Adam Ottavino gave up two hits and an earned run during his one-third of the sixth, getting credit for his 14th hold.
Hierarchy remains: Edwin Díaz | Dedniel Núñez | Phil Maton
Philadelphia Phillies – Capping a ninth-inning rally, Matt Strahm secured his first save. He retired the side and recorded two strikeouts in the bottom of the ninth against the Twins, throwing 11 pitches (63.6 Strike%) with two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%).
- Gregory Soto collected his first win, issuing a walk and stranding two runners in the bottom of the eighth, retiring his only batter via a fielder’s choice groundout.
- Jeff Hoffman issued two walks and recorded two strikeouts in the eighth but was removed after two outs. He remains unscored upon through seven appearances in July, but this outing represents the first time all year he’s allowed more than one walk.
Hierarchy remains: *Jeff Hoffman | *José Alvarado | Gregory Soto
*= floating closer
St. Louis Cardinals – Nailing down his MLB-leading 33rd save, Ryan Helsley preserved a one-run in Pittsburgh by striking out the side. He threw 13 pitches (9 strikes – 69.2 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (18.6 SwStr%). This represents his 17th clean save, leading all relievers this season.
- Ryan Fernandez collected his first win. He induced an inning-ending groundball double play in the eighth and stranded a runner, ahead of his team taking the lead in the top of the ninth.
- JoJo Romero suffered his fifth blown save, giving up two hits and an earned run during one-third of the eighth. Andrew Kittredge secured his 27th hold, retiring the side and striking out one in the seventh.
Hierarchy remains: Ryan Helsley | Andrew Kittredge | JoJo Romero
Vulture Save Options for Wednesday, July 24
- David Robertson (TEX): Yates has appeared in three straight games, leaving the veteran atop the hierarchy for today’s contest against the White Sox.
- Jakob Junis (MIL): Megill has pitched in three of the last four days. Junis should be in line for a multiple-inning outing. He’s recorded two wins and a save through four outings in July. Joel Payamps may get the save chance, but it depends on how the late-innings progress.
- Grant Holmes (ATL): Same idea as Junis, with a doubleheader on tap, he may absorb a multi-inning appearance with a shot at a vulture win or save finishing up a contest. Pierce Johnson could also be in play as the preferred vulture save chance if Atlanta can sweep Cincinnati.
Vulture Save Options for Thursday, July 25
- Scott Barlow (CLE): If Clase and Gaddis pitch today, and Barlow does not, he would be in line for the save on Thursday.
- A.J. Puk (MIA): If Scott appears today, Puk could get the vulture save chance on Thursday.
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