Thursday’s eight-game slate provided plenty of intrigue, but the news cycle off the field was even more robust. Four relievers recorded a win yesterday, and there were five saves, including two career-firsts. Because of the smaller slate, here are the Closer CliffsNotes:
- Yennier Cano (BAL) was awarded his fourth win after replacing Craig Kimbrel during a blown save in the bottom of the ninth. Cionel Pérez secured his second save in the bottom of the tenth against Miami.
- Shelby Miller (DET) notched his second save in a potential trade showcase with a clean ninth inning, preserving a combined shutout of Cleveland.
- David Robertson (TEX) tossed two clean frames for his second save during a one-run win over the White Sox.
- Brent Honeywell (LAD) secured his first major league save, finishing a two-run win over the Giants.
- Phil Maton (NYM) collected his second win after tossing a clean tenth inning against Atlanta and courtesy of his team’s walk-off.
- Tyler Ferguson (OAK) nailed down his first major league save with a clean ninth against the Angels, finishing a one-run win on the road.
Before Oakland’s game in Los Angeles, the team announced Mason Miller was placed on the 15-day injured list, and after their game, Miami traded A.J. Puk to Arizona. Today’s takeaways feature these news items and the Dodgers’ ever-evolving bullpen. If you have not done so, please bookmark our Trade Deadline Tracker; it will update each trade as it happens through Tuesday.
Three Takeaways
- Miller lands on the IL: The first instinct in these situations usually works out, but for fantasy managers on Thursday night, things did not go as planned. It started with news that Mason Miller was placed on the 15-day injured list with a fractured pinky. His manager provided the full story of how the injury transpired. After our update was sent via email, Mark Kotsay suggested he would run a match-up-based approach during save situations while Miller is sidelined. This played out in Thursday’s save situation and is reflected in our updated hierarchy in the game recap below. Before rushing to add Lucas Erceg or Tyler Ferguson, last night’s save was the team’s first since July 10 and third since June 21.
- Miami trades Puk for two prospects: Many of us; myself included, felt A.J. Puk could be the heir apparent to replace Tanner Scott atop the Marlins’ bullpen hierarchy. This will not happen since he’s been traded to Arizona. He arrives with a 13-game scoreless streak, recording four wins and a robust 22 strikeouts against three walks across 15 innings. Our adjusted hierarchy places Puk as next-in-line to Paul Sewald, but if the veteran closer’s struggles continue into August, the newly acquired southpaw could earn a share of saves with a postseason spot on the line.
- As the Dodgers bullpen turns: This may be a recurring series in our takeaways segment. Not only did Daniel Hudson not get the save opportunity yesterday, he took over in the sixth inning with a two-run lead. This usage pattern resembles match-ups based on lineup pockets. Hudson took over against Mike Yastrzemski, a left-handed hitter, then faced Michael Conforto as a pinch-hitter as the lineup turned over to the top. Evan Phillips would line up against the first four right-handed hitters but settled for taking over in the sixth versus the 3-4-5 hitters. Alex Vesia was summoned against the Yastrzemski pocket in the eighth but allowed two earned runs. Blake Treinen entered with a runner on second and two outs, giving up a game-tying RBI single by Jorge Soler. This left Brent Honeywell as the last reliever standing in the ninth, and he responded with his first career save. Long story short, this will be a confusing leverage ladder unless roles settle in early August.
Vulture Save Option for Friday, July 26
- Yennier Cano (BAL): Kimbrel suffered a blown save and threw 28 pitches against the Marlins and should be unavailable tonight.
Vulture Save Option for Saturday, July 27
- A.J. Minter (ATL): If Iglesias pitches against tonight, he will be off on Saturday.
- Jake Diekman (NYM): If Díaz pitches this evening, it will be consecutive outings and Saturday off.
Game Recaps from Thursday, July 25
Baltimore Orioles – Securing his second save, Cionel Pérez retired the side and recorded two strikeouts in the bottom of the tenth in Miami. He threw 12 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (33.3 SwStr%) while facing the 5-6-7 lineup pocket.
- Yennier Cano collected his fourth win. He took over with two runners on and two outs in the bottom of the ninth. He stranded both courtesy of an inning-ending strikeout of Bryan De La Cruz.
- Craig Kimbrel suffered his sixth blown save. He allowed a one-out single and issued consecutive walks, loading the bases before a fielding error by Gunnar Henderson scored a run. Kimbrel also gave up a sacrifice fly and an RBI single by Josh Bell before his removal. He threw 28 pitches (16 strikes – 57.1 Strike%) and induced three whiffs. He’s given up multiple runs in two of his last three appearances.
Hierarchy remains: Craig Kimbrel | Yennier Cano | Cionel Pérez
Detroit Tigers – Finishing a bullpen game and perhaps being showcased for a trade, Shelby Miller recorded his second save, issuing a walk and striking out one in a scoreless ninth. He preserved the combined shutout, throwing 18 pitches (50 Strike%) and induced two whiffs. This extended his scoreless streak to eight games, spanning ten innings.
- Andrew Chafin notched his eighth hold, tossing 1.1 scoreless frames with a hit batter and two strikeouts while stranding a runner in the seventh.
- Jason Foley allowed a hit during two-thirds scoreless in the eighth for his sixth hold.
- Alex Faedo logged two scoreless innings, giving up a hit and striking out three, securing his eighth hold.
- Easton Lucas worked two clean frames and recorded two strikeouts for his first career win.
Updated Hierarchy: *Jason Foley | *Shelby Miller | *Tyler Holton
*= closer-by-committee
Los Angeles Dodgers – Things were interesting with the bullpen working the last five innings of Clayton Kershaw’s season debut. Brent Honeywell recorded his first career save with a scoreless ninth. He allowed a lead-off single, induced a groundball double play, and produced a game-ending strikeout of Patrick Bailey. Honeywell threw 12 pitches (7 strikes – 58.3 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
- Blake Treinen collected his fifth win despite suffering his third blown save. He took over in the eighth with a runner at second and two outs, giving up a game-tying Jorge Soler RBI single before recording a strikeout. His team’s two solo home run rally proved beneficial.
- Alex Vesia was credited with his seventh hold, allowing two hits and two earned runs while recording two strikeouts in his two-thirds of the eighth.
- Evan Phillips retired the side and recorded a strikeout for his second hold in the seventh, facing two right-handed batters.
- Daniel Hudson notched his 14th hold, tossing a scoreless sixth. He issued a walk and struck out two versus the Giants’ 8-9-1 hitters.
- Joe Kelly navigated around a hit and a walk while striking out three in a scoreless fifth.
Updated Hierarchy: *Daniel Hudson | *Evan Phillips | *Blake Treinen
*= closer-by-committee
Miami Marlins – Taking over in the top of the tenth, Calvin Faucher suffered his second loss. He allowed a lead-off single by Anthony Santander, then recorded a strikeout, followed by a go-ahead Ryan Mountcastle RBI single with two runners being thrown out on the bases, ending the inning. Faucher finished with two hits allowed and an unearned run.
- JT Chargois escaped with a scoreless ninth despite giving up three hits.
- Declan Croniin logged three scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out two.
Updated Hierarchy: Tanner Scott | Andrew Nardi | Calvin Faucher
Oakland A’s – With their closer landing on the injured list, Mark Kotsay said he would use a match-up-based approach during save opportunities. Rookie Tyler Ferguson locked down his first MLB save with a clean ninth and recorded two strikeouts while preserving a one-run win over the Angels. He threw 13 pitches (9 strikes – 69.2 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%) while facing the 5-6-7 lineup pocket.
- Lucas Erceg retired the 2-3-4 batters in order in the eighth, recording one strikeout on 11 pitches for his 12th hold. He was used like an HLR, so be patient for save chances with Miller sidelined.
- Austin Adams notched his 19th hold, allowing a hit and striking out one in a scoreless seventh.
- Scott Alexander stranded a runner and struck out his only batter in the sixth, securing his sixth hold.
Updated Hierarchy: *Lucas Erceg | *Tyler Ferguson | *Scott Alexander
New York Mets – After retiring the side in the top of the tenth, Phil Maton collected his second win courtesy of a walk-off rally in the bottom of the inning. He only needed seven pitches against Atlanta’s ninth and lead-off batters on a sacrifice bunt; the “place” runner retired in a rundown and an inning-ending groundout.
- Edwin Díaz tossed a scoreless ninth, issuing a walk and recording two strikeouts. He threw 13 pitches (7 strikes – 53.8 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in six of seven outings in July and converted five of six save chances.
- José Buttó logged three clean frames and struck out four on 40 pitches (62.5 Strike%) with ten whiffs (25 SwStr%). He’s worked 13.2 innings over seven appearances as a reliever, giving up one earned run while posting 17 strikeouts against five walks. He has been a SPARP (starting pitcher as a relief pitcher) stud in formats with pitcher designations.
Hierarchy remains: Edwin Díaz | Dedniel Núñez | Phil Maton
Texas Rangers – Slamming the door on his second save, David Robertson logged two clean frames and recorded two strikeouts, preserving a one-run win over the White Sox. He threw 19 pitches (15 strikes – 78.9 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (15.8 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in 11 of his last 12 appearances, with 17 strikeouts against walks across 12.1 innings.
- José Leclerc notched his seventh hold, stranding two runners and retiring his only batter (Nick Senzel) on an inning-ending groundout.
- Jacob Latz was credited with his ninth hold despite allowing two hits and a walk while striking out one in two-thirds of the seventh.
Hierarchy remains: Kirby Yates | David Robertson | José Leclerc
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