Monday provided pockets of intrigue during high-leverage events. There were two wins, though one accompanied a blown save (Ryan Thompson) and four saves by relievers. Minnesota used a curious usage pattern, and Justin Martinez closed out a win in extra-innings for Arizona. Our condensed recaps cover all the leverage outcomes of interest from yesterday’s action.
Closer CliffsNotes
- Justin Martinez (ARI) secured his first save, the second of his career, with a scoreless bottom of the tenth in Cleveland. He worked around an intentional walk of José Ramirez and recorded two strikeouts. Ryan Thompson suffered his sixth blown save, allowing an earned run in the ninth, but picked up his sixth win.
- Emmanuel Clase (CLE) let the “place” runner score in the top of the tenth on consecutive sacrifices, a bunt, and a flyball, resulting in his second loss.
- Caleb Ferguson (HOU) suffered his fourth loss and a second blown save. With two outs, he gave up Josh Smith’s walk-off, two-out walk-off home run in the bottom of the tenth.
- Daniel Hudson (LAD) appeared for a third time in four days and recorded his eighth save. His outing began with a lead-off Nick Castellanos single and ended on a pop-out after retiring the next three hitters. This marked his first save since July 22.
- Griffin Jax (MIN) recorded his eighth save, his first since June 23, with a scoreless ninth. He allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout, finishing a combined shutout against the Cubs. Jhoan Durán notched his fifth hold, yielding a hit and striking out one in a scoreless eighth.
- Edwin Díaz (NYM) preserved a combined shutout in a non-save outing, his first in August. He retired the side and recorded a strikeout.
- Tyler Ferguson (OAK) warmed up for a save chance but closed out a four-run win instead. He fired a clean top of the ninth and struck out two versus the White Sox.
- Camilo Doval (SFG) locked down his 21st save, striking out the side during a three-run win over the Marlins.
- Kirby Yates (TEX) worked a clean ninth but struggled in the tenth, allowing an unearned run on an intentional walk and two hit batters. However, he collected his fourth win courtesy of a walk-off home run. He logged two innings and recorded four strikeouts on 25 pitches.
Three Takeaways
- Arizona remains unstable: Although Ryan Thompson has appeared in the ninth inning for three straight games in August, he’s only converted one save and allowed a run in each contest on five hits with one strikeout against one walk. His WHIP in the second half sits at 1.23 after this game, but his 9.4 K-BB percentage does not merit his use in save situations. A.J. Puk retired his only batter, Andrés Giménez, in the eighth for his ninth hold, and Justin Martinez intentionally walked José Ramírez and recorded two strikeouts for his first save. Of course, this could all be moot since it feels like Torey Lovullo wants Paul Sewald back in the ninth inning, which could happen as soon as today since the three relievers mentioned above have appeared in consecutive games. Stay tuned; this hierarchy seems far from settled.
- Dodgers leaning on Banda and Kopech: This does not affect saves, though Anthony Banda secured his first Sunday in Oakland. He’s been scoreless in eight of his last nine outings with 13 strikeouts against three walks and a 0.72 WHIP across 9.2 innings. Working with increased velocity this season and an adjusted pitch mix, he’s entered our hierarchy, which may not affect those in saves-only formats, but he’s moving up in leagues that count holds or SOLDS (saves plus holds). Michael Kopech notched his second hold with his new team and has only allowed one baserunner through three appearances with five strikeouts of ten batters faced. Like the Diamondbacks above, it feels like Dave Roberts hopes Evan Phillips can reclaim his leverage role, and he could get a chance today. However, the Phillies left-handed hitters present a major match-up issue based on his results against them this season.
- Mixing it up in Minnesota: For the first time since June 26, Jhoan Durán made an appearance in the eighth inning. He matched up with the Cubs’ 8-9-1 lineup pocket and recorded his fifth hold, allowing an Ian Happ double and striking out one. Griffin Jax secured his eighth save, first since June, with a scoreless ninth. This could be a one-game outlier or a shift in philosophy toward using relievers in specific lineup lanes in the late innings. It would not be the first time Rocco Baldelli moved the goal line on fantasy players. Monitor this closely; hopefully, it’s a blip, not a trend.
Vulture Save Options for Tuesday, August 6
- Andrew Chafin (TEX): Yates threw 25 pitches during a two-inning outing, and Robertson threw 27 in the eighth, which may demand a day off for each reliever. This puts Chafin atop the hierarchy in a pivotal game against Houston.
- Evan Phillips (LAD): Hudson and Banda have appeared in two straight, and Phillips was warming in the eighth in case he was needed last night. He may get his first save chance since July 23 tonight.
- Michel Otañez (OAK): Ferguson and Adams pitched in consecutive games after last night’s win.
Vulture Save Options for Wednesday, August 7
- Tyler Rogers (SFG): If Doval pitches again tonight, it will be back-to-back outings.
- Tayler Scott (HOU): The Astros used Hader, Pressly, and Abreu during a loss. If they all work again tonight, Scott will be in line for the save on Wednesday.
Full Game Recaps from August 5
Arizona Diamondbacks – With a one-run lead in the bottom of the tenth, Justin Martinez secured his first save, retiring Lane Thomas via lineout, intentionally walking José Ramírez, and producing consecutive strikeouts. He threw 10 pitches (80 Strike%) and generated two whiffs. He’s been scoreless in six of his last seven with 12 strikeouts against five walks.
- Ryan Thompson suffered his sixth blown save, allowing a one-out triple and a game-tying sacrifice fly. He collected his sixth win courtesy of a rally in the top of the tenth.
- Entering with a runner on and two outs, A.J. Puk struck out Andrés Giménez for his ninth hold in the bottom of the eighth.
- Kevin Ginkel notched his 12th hold, giving up a hit and striking out one over two-thirds scoreless in the eighth.
Updated Hierarchy: *A.J. Puk | *Justin Martinez | *Ryan Thompson
*= closer-by-committee
Cleveland Guardians – Taking over a tied game in the top of the tenth, Emmanuel Clase suffered his second loss. He permitted the “place” runner to score on a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly while retiring all three batters on eight pitches. This snapped his eight-game scoreless streak, but he’s converted 20 straight save chances since May 20.
- Eli Morgan tossed a clean ninth, recording a strikeout.
- Scott Barlow was tagged with his first blown save, giving up a game-tying Joc Pederson home run, letting an inherited runner score, and putting an earned run on his ledger.
- Tim Herrin was credited with his 12th hold, retiring two and hitting a batter, resulting in an earned run.
- Hunter Gaddis tossed two-thirds scoreless, yielding a hit and striking out one for his 24th hold.
Hierarchy remains: Emmanuel Clase | Hunter Gaddis | Scott Barlow
Houston Astros – With a one-run lead in the bottom of the tenth, Caleb Ferguson suffered his fourth loss and second blown save, giving up Josh Smith’s walk-off two-run home run. Ferguson recorded two outs via strikeout and was tagged with two runs (one earned) in his outing.
- Josh Hader tossed a scoreless top of the ninth, allowing a walk and striking out three. He threw 26 pitches (18 strikes – 69.2 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (19.2 SwStr%).
- Ryan Pressly gave up a game-tying Corey Seager solo home run, resulting in his seventh blown save.
- Bryan Abreu retired the side and recorded a strikeout in the seventh.
Hierarchy remains: Josh Hader | Ryan Pressly | Bryan Abreu
Los Angeles Dodgers – Appearing for the third time in four days, Daniel Hudson navigated around a lead-off Nick Castellanos single by retiring the next three batters en route to his eighth save. He threw 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) and induced one whiff. This was his first save since July 22. and he has a three-game scoreless streak.
- Anthony Banda worked around a hit and a walk with two strikeouts for a scoreless eighth inning and his seventh hold.
- Michael Kopech gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless seventh, securing his third hold. He’s retired nine of 10 batters since joining Los Angeles, five via strikeout.
Updated Hierarchy: *Daniel Hudson | *Evan Phillips | *Anthony Banda
Minnesota Twins – Preserving a combined shutout, Griffin Jax worked around a one-out Cody Bellinger single with a strikeout and a game-ending groundout for his eighth save. He threw 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless through three outings in August with two holds and this save.
- Jhoan Durán gave up a two-out Ian Happ double and recorded an inning-ending strikeout for his fifth hold. He faced the Cubs’ 8-9-1-2 hitters, throwing 15 pitches (66.7 Strike%) with three whiffs (20 SwStr%).
- Jorge Alcala notched his 13th hold with a clean seventh.
- Caleb Thielbar fired a clean sixth and struck out the side while securing his seventh hold.
Hierarchy remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Jorge Alcala
*= closer-by-committee
San Francisco Giants – Shutting the door on his 21st save, Camilo Doval fired a clean bottom of the ninth while striking out the side, preserving a three-run win in Washington. He threw 13 pitches (9 strikes – 69.2 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (30.8 SwStr%). This represents his first clean outing since July 2, and he’s converted his last four save opportunities.
- Tyler Rogers stranded two runners and retired his only batter in the eight, securing his 23rd hold.
- Taylor Rogers allowed two hits and struck out two in two-thirds of the eighth for his eighth hold.
- Ryan Walker notched his 2oth hold, stranded two runners in the sixth, and retired four of five batters (one reached via hit-by-pitch) while striking out two.
Hierarchy remains: Camilo Doval | Tyler Rogers | Ryan Walker
Texas Rangers – Logging his second two-inning outing this season, Kirby Yates allowed the “place” runner to score after an intentional walk and consecutive one-out hit batters. He collected his fourth win courtesy of a walk-off home run in the bottom of the inning. Yates finished his two innings with an unearned run, a walk, and four strikeouts.
- David Robertson gave up two hits, an earned run, and two walks (one intentional) with two strikeouts in the top of the eighth.
- Andrew Chafin stranded two runners while giving up a walk and striking out two over two-thirds scoreless in the seventh.
- José Leclerc allowed a hit and a walk during one-third of the seventh.
Hierarchy remains: Kirby Yates | David Robertson | Andrew Chafin
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