Following a voluminous trade deadline for relievers, roles will continue to evolve through this weekend. It is challenging to say one reliever will be the closer when teams may be deploying a match-up-based approach or auditioning players for their leverage role. Because of this, the hierarchies and our closer depth chart will undergo multiple updates over the next few days.
Yesterday, two relievers recorded wins, and there were only four saves. While many keep chasing saves in unsettled situations, a reliever may emerge for the Rockies. Change may be on tap in Arizona, and the Dodgers remain challenging to predict.
Closer CliffsNotes
- Ryan Thompson (ARI) was called upon with one out in the ninth and two runners on. He produced a strikeout, scored a runner on a wild pitch, intentionally walked a batter, and induced a game-ending groundout, preserving a one-run win.
- Pierce Johnson (ATL) collected his fourth win. He took over in the sixth and stranded two runners. He finished with 1.1 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out two.
- Zack Kelly (BOS) worked a scoreless top of the tenth, navigating around a wild pitch and a walk while striking out one. He earned his fourth win via a walk-off double by Rafael Devers leading off the bottom of the inning.
- Victor Vodnik (COL) nailed down his fourth save. He retired the side against the Angels and recorded a strikeout while preserving a one-run win.
- Josh Hader (HOU) notched his 21st save with a scoreless ninth. He allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout while finishing a one-run come-from-behind win over the Pirates.
- Jared Koenig (MIL) was tagged with his third loss. He gave up a hit, two unearned runs, and a walk while striking out one in two-thirds of the seventh. Elvis Peguero replaced him, letting two of three inherited runners score on an Austin Riley single.
- Clay Holmes (NYY) recorded his 22nd save, allowing a hit during a scoreless ninth.
Two Takeaways
- Sewald on the hot seat: Although his manager deflected a direct answer in this video, Paul Sewald began July with three blown saves, and he ended it with a hold but was removed from his save opportunity yesterday on the brink of his fifth in a 12-game span. His four-seam fastball velocity remains down this season and the lingering effects of his oblique injury may signal it’s not going to rebound with time off. In the near term, fantasy managers await Torey Lovullo’s plan for future saves, but a mix of A.J. Puk, Ryan Thompson, and Kevin Ginkel may happen as soon as this weekend. For the visual crowd, here is his splits-by-pitch this year versus last:
Link: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/MEhoi/3/
- V-squared: Targeting a Rockies reliever can cause apprehension, but with so many bullpens thrust into disarray, could Victor Vodnik help fantasy managers in the near term? He secured his fourth save in July and has a 20.3 K-BB percentage with a 0.92 over his last 16.1 innings since June 21.
Vulture Save Option for Thursday, August 1
- A.J. Minter (ATL): He did not pitch yesterday, but Iglesias and Jiménez did, leaving him atop our hierarchy for today’s match-up against Miami.
- Calvin Faucher (MIA): If being contrarian, he worked the ninth during a four-run win and could receive the team’s first save chance in the post-Scott era.
American League – Game Recaps from July 31
Boston Red Sox – Navigating around a wild pitch, Zack Kelly collected his fourth win after stranding the “place” runner in the top of the tenth. He allowed a walk and recorded a strikeout during his scoreless outing before his team’s walk-off rally in the bottom of the frame.
- Kenley Jansen tossed a scoreless ninth, issuing a walk and striking out one. He did “tweak” his back, and he’s considered day-to-day until their next game on Friday.
- Josh Winckowski retired the side in the eighth and recorded a strikeout.
- Lucas Sims stranded two runners despite issuing a walk during two-thirds scoreless in the seventh.
Hierarchy remains: Kenley Jansen | Lucas Sims | Zack Kelly
Houston Astros – Securing his 21st save, Josh Hader worked around a one-out Jared Triolo single with a strikeout and a game-ending groundout, preserving the one-run win. He threw 13 pitches (76.9 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%). He finished July with nine saves while making 12 appearances, eight scoreless with 14 strikeouts versus four walks, and a 097 WHIP through 10.1 innings.
- Ryan Pressly navigated around two hits for a scoreless eighth and his 18th hold.
- Bryan Abreu retired the side in the seventh, notching his 26th hold.
Hierarchy remains: Josh Hader | Ryan Pressly | Bryan Abreu
New York Yankees – Working around a lead-off Kyle Schwarber single, Clay Holmes retired Austin Hays on a flyout and induced a game-ending double play groundout by Bryce Harper for his 22nd save, preserving a one-run win and a sweep. He threw seven pitches (85.7 Strike%) with one whiff. He converted three of seven save opportunities in July and allowed at least a run in four outings.
- Mark Leiter Jr. gave up three hits and an earned run while striking out two in the eighth, getting credit for his 16th hold.
- Tommy Kahnle notched his seventh hold, stranding a runner and issuing a walk with a strikeout in two-thirds of the seventh.
- Luke Weaver recorded his 16th hold, allowing two hits and an earned run during his combined inning.
Hierarchy remains: Clay Holmes | Luke Weaver | Mark Leiter Jr.
National League – Game Recaps from July 31
Arizona Diamondbacks – Summoned with two runners on and one out in the top of the ninth, Ryan Thompson recorded a strikeout against Harold Ramírez, intentionally walked Luis García Jr., and induced a game-ending groundout by Riley Adams for his first save.
- Paul Sewald gets credit for his first hold despite his rough outing. It started with a lead-off walk, a leverage mortal sin, a groundout, a CJ Abrams RBI double, and two more walks, prompting his removal. Sewald finished with a hit, two earned runs, and three walks on 24 pitches (9 strikes – 37.5 Strike%). He finished July with a bloated 2.20 WHIP through 12 appearances spanning 10 innings and converted five of nine save chances, though this outing does not qualify.
- Kevin Ginkel allowed three hits and an earned run while striking out one in the eighth.
- A.J. Puk fired a clean seventh, striking out one.
Updated Hierarchy: Paul Sewald (hot seat) | A.J. Puk | Ryan Thompson
Atlanta Braves – Pressed into action with two runners on and two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Pierce Johnson kept the game tied despite issuing a walk with an inning-ending strikeout. He added a scoreless seventh inning and collected his fourth win when his teammates rallied for two in the top of the inning. Johnson finished with a hit and a walk while striking out two over his 1.1 scoreless innings.
- Joe Jiménez tossed a scoreless eighth, giving up a hit and striking out two.
- Raisel Iglesias retired the side and recorded two strikeouts in the ninth, preserving the four-run win. He threw 15 pitches (60 Strike%) and induced two whiffs. He’s been scoreless in his last six outings but has not secured a save in the second half.
Hierarchy remains: Raisel Iglesias | Joe Jiménez | A.J. Minter
Colorado Rockies – Locking down his fourth save, Victor Vodnik retired the side and recorded a strikeout while preserving a one-run win over the Angels. He threw eight pitches (75 Strike%) and induced one whiff. Through 11 outings in July, he converted all four save chances with 13 strikeouts versus three walks and a 0.90 WHIP across 13.1 innings.
- Tyler Kinley notched his eighth hold with a scoreless eighth. He allowed a walk and struck out two.
Updated Hierarchy: Victor Vodnik | Tyler Kinley | Justin Lawrence
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