Saturday’s slate provided plenty of intrigue in a few games but only three saves. Six relievers recorded wins, though two were attached two blown saves. Three trades were made, with Carlos Estévez being the headliner. Our Trade Deadline Tracker covers these as they occur. As bullpens display signs of fatigue early in the second half, the price of relievers keeps rising in the trade market, which will be intriguing over the next three days; two teams will be highlighted in today’s three takeaways.
Closer CliffsNotes
- Kenley Jansen (BOS) allowed Trent Grisham’s two-out, two-strike, game-tying RBI double, resulting in his third blown save. Chase Anderson suffered his second loss, allowing three runs (two earned) in the top of the tenth.
- Julian Merryweather (CHC) took over with a runner on and one out in the bottom of the sixth. He gave up a Freddy Fermin double, followed by Hunter Renfroe’s two-RBI single, scoring the inherited runner and putting an earned run on his ledger, but collected his first win on a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh.
- Josh Hader (HOU) retired the side at the top of the ninth during a tied game and notched his fourth win on a walk-off home run at the bottom of the frame.
- Sam Long (KCR) inherited a bases-loaded situation in the seventh and allowed a pinch-hit Patrick Wisdom grand slam during his first blown save.
- Blake Treinen (LAD) stranded the bases loaded in the eighth, retiring Jose Altuve via strikeout, but suffered his third loss on a walk-off Alex Bregman home run leading off the ninth.
- Bryan Hoeing (MIA) recorded his first win after logging three scoreless frames in Milwaukee as the “bulk follower,” scattering three hits and issuing a walk while striking out three.
- Clay Holmes (NYY) kept the game tied with a scoreless ninth and preserved his second win with a scoreless tenth. He allowed a walk and struck out two during his two-inning appearance.
- Tyler Ferguson (OAK) fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts for his second save.
- Camilo Doval (SFG) held on for his 19th save, navigating around a hit batter and a single with a game-ending double play.
- Andrés Muñoz (SEA) let an inherited runner score in the eighth on a wild pitch but retired all four batters for his 17th save.
Roster Updates
Philadelphia Phillies – One of the big closer chips was moved. Carlos Estévez has been traded to Philadelphia for two breakout pitching prospects, announced first by Ken Rosenthal. This year, Estévez owns a 0.74 WHIP with 32 strikeouts against five walks (21.8 K-BB percentage) and converted 20 of 23 save chances. He will join the Phillies amid an 18-game scoreless streak with a robust 15:2 K:BB and minuscule 0.28 WHIP through 18 innings. His role in the team’s “floating closer” concept can cause some apprehension, but he will be firmly affixed in save chances and moves atop our hierarchy:
Adjusted Hierarchy: *Carlos Estévez | *Jeff Hoffman | *José Alvarado
Milwaukee Brewers – Announced by Jeff Passan, Milwaukee traded two pitching prospects to Colorado for Nick Mears. He’s been scoreless in five of his last six appearances with 10 strikeouts against one walk and a 0.60 WHIP through 6.2 innings. This may not move the needle from a fantasy perspective, but this could be a sneaky good deal for depth with strikeout upside moving forward.
Chicago Cubs – With eyes on 2025 and beyond, the Cubs have traded two prospects, one requiring Rule 5 protection, to Toronto for reliever Nate Pearson, as Jesse Rogers of ESPN reported first. This does not currently impact the hierarchy, but it potentially signals upcoming trades for veterans like Héctor Neris and possibly Mark Leiter Jr. Stay tuned.
Three Takeaways
- Boston’s second-half struggles: For the eighth time in eight games in the second half, the Red Sox blew a lead in the seventh inning or later, per Alex Speier of The Boston Globe. Saturday represented the third time it happened twice in one contest. There are seven blown saves since the All-Star Break, two by closer Kenley Jansen. The bullpen has posted a combined 3.7 K-BB percentage, a 2.12 WHIP, and a 5.11 SIERA, all worst in the majors in the second half. Help may be on the way with Chris Martin and Justin Slaten resuming throwing programs, plus Liam Hendriks nearing a rehab assignment, but the team needs reinforcements now:
- Dodgers’ bullpen reeling: Since Yoshinobu Yamamoto was placed on the injured list on June 15, Los Angeles relievers have logged the second-most innings (145.2) in the majors. Their 13 blown saves in these games represent the most in the majors, with the fifth-worst WHIP (1.43). When the team’s best reliever since 2022 (Evan Phillips) has an 11.42 ERA in his last 11 appearances, it creates ripple effects in the leverage ladder, with roles being reshuffled on the fly. Like Boston, help may arrive soon. Brusdar Graterol, Ryan Brasier, and Michael Grove are on rehab assignment at Triple-A. But does this team need a bonafide closer for the stretch run? Stay tuned.
- Adjusted Angels Hierarchy: Estévez’s trade creates a restructured bullpen for the Angels. Currently, veteran Luis García takes over the top spot, but fantasy managers await save chances for Ben Joyce. Ron Washington has mentioned him as a potential option for the ninth inning before in this post by Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register. Joyce was also mentioned in yesterday’s column with advice from his former teammate, also by Fletcher. Where there is smoke, there is fire, but we await actual usage patterns before declaring the team’s flamethrower closer: Updated Hierarchy: Luis García | Ben Joyce | Roansy Contreras
Vulture Save Options for Sunday, July 28
- Luis García (LAA): If he’s not traded today, he will line up for the save chance until Ben Joyce, hopefully, takes over as the team’s replacement for Estévez.
- Tyler Rogers (SFG): If the Giants can sweep the four-game set with the Rockies, they will do so without Doval and Walker available. Each has pitched on consecutive days.
- Greg Weissert (BOS): He was one of two unused relievers last night and may need a two-inning save if the team has a lead late in tonight’s pivotal match with New York.
- Luke Weaver (NYY): If taking the other side of this contest, Holmes has pitched three innings over the last two days.
- Brent Honeywell (LAD): With the bullpen running on fumes and Alex Vesia potentially matching up with Yordan Alvarez before the ninth, the crafty veteran may be called upon for his second save opportunity.
Vulture Save Options for Monday, July 29
- Ryan Pressly (HOU): If Hader pitches today it will be back-to-back outings.
- Mark Leiter Jr. (CHC): If the team used Neris today, he will have thrown on consecutive days.
- A.J. Minter (ATL): If Iglesias pitches this afternoon, it will be two straight outings this weekend.
American League – Game Recaps
Boston Red Sox – Entering in the top of the tenth, Chase Anderson suffered his second loss. He allowed two hits, three runs (two earned), and a walk against the Yankees.
- Kenley Jansen was tagged with his third blown save. He gave up a one-out Ben Rice double, induced a groundout, and with two strikes, Trent Grisham produced a game-tying RBI double. Jansen has allowed at least a run in four of his last five while converting two of four save chances.
- Zack Kelly was awarded his sixth hold despite letting one of two inherited runners score, yielding a hit during his two-thirds of the eighth.
- Bailey Horn was credited with his first hold, giving up a hit, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one in one-third of the eighth.
- Cam Booser incurred his first blown save, permitting one of two inherited runners to score during his two-thirds of the seventh.
Updated Hierarchy: Kenley Jansen | Zack Kelly | Greg Weissert
Houston Astros – After retiring the side in the top of the ninth, Josh Hader collected his fourth win courtesy of a walk-off, Alex Bregman home run leading off the bottom of the inning. Hader threw nine pitches (44.4 Strike%) and did not induce a whiff against the Dodgers’ 3-4-5 lineup pocket.
- Tayler Scott gave up a Cavan Biggio solo home run and a walk while striking out three in the eighth.
- Bryan Abreu fired a clean seventh.
Hierarchy remains: Josh Hader | Ryan Pressly | Bryan Abreu
New York Yankees – With the score tied in the bottom of the ninth, Clay Holmes retired the side and returned for the tenth with a three-run lead. He navigated around a two-out walk with a game-ending Masataka Yoshida groundout, collecting his second win. He threw 26 pitches (19 strikes – 73.1 Strike%) and induced three whiffs.
- Tommy Kahnle stranded the bases loaded in the seventh and retired all four batters in his outing, two via strikeout.
- Michael Tonkin gave up three hits, two earned runs, and a walk during one-third of the eighth.
- Tim Hill worked a scoreless combined inning, walking and striking out one.
Updated Hierarchy: Clay Holmes | Luke Weaver | Tommy Kahnle
Oakland A’s – Shutting the door on his second save, Tyler Ferguson fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded one strikeout, securing a two-run win. He threw an efficient seven pitches, all strikes, and induced two whiffs (28.6 SwStr%). He’s amid a seven-game scoreless streak with 12 strikeouts against two walks in his last 8.1 innings.
- Michel Otañez notched his first hold, issuing a walk and striking out one in a scoreless eighth.
- Austin Adams gave up a hit and struck out one during a scoreless seventh, resulting in his 20th hold.
Hierarchy remains: *Lucas Erceg | *Tyler Ferguson | Scott Alexander
Seattle Mariners – Securing his MLB-leading seventh save requiring four or more outs, Andrés Muńoz closed out a three-run win against the White Sox. He took over a bases-loaded situation in the eighth and spiked a slider, scoring an inherited runner before recording an inning-ending strikeout of Luis Robert Jr. Muńoz finished 1.1 scoreless frames with two strikeouts and his 17th save. He threw 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and induced two whiffs, extending his scoreless streak to nine games.
- Gregory Santos gave up two hits, an earned run, a walk, and a hit batter while striking out one in two-thirds of the eighth.
- Yimi García notched his 11th hold with a clean seventh and struck out two in his team debut. Austin Voth allowed an unearned run and a hit while striking out one in the sixth.
- Collin Snider collected his first win, navigating around two hits and striking out one in a scoreless fifth.
Hierarchy remains: Andrés Muñoz | Yimi García | Gregory Soto
National League – Game Recaps
Los Angeles Dodgers – Pressed into action in the bottom of the eighth with the bases loaded and two outs, Blake Treinen recorded a strikeout of Jose Altuve, keeping the game tied. Treinen returned for the ninth and allowed a walk-off Alex Bregman home run, resulting in his third loss.
- Daniel Hudson suffered his sixth blown save. He gave up three hits, two earned runs, and a walk during two-thirds of the eighth before being removed. This outing snapped his nine-game scoreless streak and represents his first blown save since June 29.
- Anthony Banda stranded two runners in the sixth and retired all four batters, two via strikeout for his fifth hold.
- Evan Phillips entered a messy situation with two runners on and two outs in the sixth. He put gasoline on the fire, allowing four consecutive hits and two earned runs on his ledger, along with both inherited runners scoring without recording an out. He’s allowed at least a run in six of his 10 appearances this month.
Updated Hierarchy: *Daniel Hudson | *Blake Treinen | *Alex Vesia
*= closer-by-committee
Miami Marlins – Logging three scoreless innings as the “bulk follower,” Bryan Hoeing collected his first win. He scattered three hits and allowed a walk while striking out three.
- Huascar Brazobán fired a clean eighth and recorded two strikeouts on 13 pitches (9 strikes – 69.2 Strike%) with one whiff. He’s been scoreless over his last six outings with seven strikeouts against zero walks across 7.1 innings.
- Calvin Faucher worked a scoreless ninth, giving up a hit and striking out one while finishing a four-run win in Milwaukee.
Hierarchy remains: Tanner Scott | Andrew Nardi | Huascar Brazobán
San Francisco Giants – (Game 1): Despite two runners reaching base, one via a hit-by-pitch and another on a single, Camilo Doval benefited from his defense when Matt Chapman turned a game-ending double play. Doval finished a three-run win with his 19th save but owns a 1.60 WHIP through 40 innings. He threw 12 pitches (75 Strike%) and induced two whiffs. He’s allowed at least a run in two of his last four outings.
- Tyler Rogers notched his 21st hold with a clean eighth while recording a strikeout.
- Ryan Walker suffered his fourth blown save, allowing a game-tying Michael Toglia solo home run, but he collected his seventh win courtesy of a two-run rally at the bottom of the seventh.
Hierarchy remains: Camilo Doval | Tyler Rogers | Ryan Walker
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