Tuesday’s slate featured three relievers recording the first save of their careers, with two lasting three or more innings: Jake Cousins (NYY), Joey Wentz (DET), and Landon Knack (LAD). In all, four relievers collected wins and nine secured saves. Another intriguing note of interest is that workload management has been put aside by teams pushing for postseason positioning. Cleveland used Emmanuel Clase for a fourth straight game, and he responded with his 37th save, tying Ryan Helsley for the lead this season. San Diego used Robert Suarez in back-to-games and he’s appeared five times in the last seven days. Both teams will be off on Thursday, but usage patterns like these make streaming for saves even more difficult.
Our condensed recaps cover Tuesday’s high-leverage events of interest.
Closer CliffsNotes
- Joe Mantiply (ARI) collected his sixth win courtesy of a walk-off rally in the bottom of the ninth. He retired the side in the top of the inning and recorded a strikeout against the Rockies’ 6-7-8 lineup pocket.
- Raisel Iglesias (ATL) shut the door on his 25th save with a clean bottom of the tenth. He’s been scoreless in his last 11 appearances.
- Kenley Jansen (BOS) took over in the top of the eighth with a two-run lead and stranded a runner. He finished the five-run win with 1.1 clean frames and recorded a strikeout for his 22nd save, his fourth requiring at least four outs.
- Drew Smyly (CHC) stranded a runner in the fifth but allowed a Jhonkensy Noel’s go-ahead solo home run in the sixth, resulting in his sixth loss.
- Alexis Díaz (CIN) worked around a two-out walk and recorded a strikeout during a scoreless ninth against St. Louis, securing his 24th save.
- Emmanuel Clase (CLE) appeared for a fourth straight game and recorded his fourth consecutive save with a scoreless ninth, sealing a one-run win. He’s the first reliever in team history since José Mesa (1995) to achieve this feat. Clase also tied for the major league lead in saves while securing his 37th of the season.
- Victor Vodnik (COL) suffered his third loss and a third blown save. He gave up a one-out triple, consecutive two-out walks, and Jake McCarthy’s walk-off two-RBI single in the bottom of the ninth.
- Joey Wentz (DET) took the baton from starter Tarik Skubal, logging three scoreless frames. He issued a walk and struck out three for his first major league save, finishing a lopsided win over Seattle.
- Josh Hader (HOU) nailed down his 26th save with a clean bottom of the ninth and struck out one, preserving a one-run win in Tampa Bay.
- Landon Knack (LAD) recorded his first major league save, logging four innings during a five-run win in Milwaukee. He allowed three hits and an earned run while striking out two.
- Edwin Díaz (NYM) pitched during a loss. He worked a scoreless top of the ninth, allowing a hit and striking out two on 16 pitches (13 strikes – 81.3 Strike%) with four whiffs (25 SwStr%).
- Jake Cousins (NYY) was summoned in the bottom of the ninth with no outs, inheriting runners on second and third. He navigated around the traffic, and a one-out walk for his first major league save. He recorded a strikeout, induced a shallow flyout, and produced a game-ending strikeout.
- Austin Adams (OAK) stranded two runners, protecting a three-run lead in the bottom of the fifth, retiring three batters, two via strikeout. As a result, he collected his first win of the season.
- Robert Suarez (SDP) secured his 27th save, completing a combined shutout of the Pirates. He allowed a two-out single and recorded a strikeout while appearing for the fifth time in seven days.
- Randy Rodríguez (SFG) let the “place” runner score on an RBI single in the top of the tenth, resulting in his second loss.
Vulture Save Options for Wednesday, August 14
- Joe Jiménez (ATL): Iglesias pitched in two straight, logging three innings and three of the previous four days.
- Chris Martin (BOS): Jansen has appeared in consecutive games.
- Jeremiah Estrada (SDP): Heavy usage patterns for the leverage triumvirate may result in a day off for Suarez, Scott, and Adam, leaving Estrada in line for a potential save today.
Vulture Save Option for Thursday, August 15
- TBD: With 16 teams receiving an off-day, how bullpens get deployed today will determine if a vulture option emerges for Thursday’s seven-game slate.
Three Takeaways
- V-squared struggling with traffic: It’s not easy being the closer, especially on a bad team. Victor Vodnik has converted eight of 11 save chances this season. However, he suffered his third loss and a blown save during a walk-off loss in Arizona. Since the All-Star break, he’s only produced a 9.4 K-BB percentage with a 1.46 WHIP and a 4.31 SIERA. Throwing strikes will be a key if he rebounds. In the second half, he owns a 60.3 strike percentage with only a 6.5 swinging strike percentage, and he’s allowed an 84.4 percent contact rate. He’s not yet on the “hot” seat, but he is worth monitoring based on the rising WHIP. Relievers with low whiff rates cannot afford traffic on the bases, especially with a contact rate over 80 percent.
- Padres bullpen anchoring recent surge: San Diego has won 18 of its last 21 games since July 20, with relievers posting a 9-1 record with seven saves, a 22.2 K-BB percentage, and a 1.12 WHIP over 80.1 innings. This justifies A.J. Preller’s plan of building a “superpen” ahead of the playoffs. As this run illustrates, his team can shorten games and fill in when necessary during high-leverage events. However, Robert Suarez, Tanner Scott, and Jason Adam will welcome Thursday’s day off, but the team will play 18 games in 18 days after.
- Is Seranthony the Orioles closer?: It’s tough to label volatile situations, especially when the team hopes the reliever it invested $13 million in can eventually retake his role in the ninth inning. However, in multiple posts, including the latest by Roch Kubatko for MASN, it’s intimated that Seranthony Domínguez is regarded as the closer. He secured his team’s last save chance and has pitched well since being acquired at the trade deadline. Through eight games with the Orioles, he’s recorded nine strikeouts against two walks (23.3 K-BB percentage) with a 0.75 WHIP, a 15.5 swinging strike percentage, and a 65.3 percent contact rate allowed. One cannot overlook his 1.13 ERA versus his 3.11 SIERA in this sample, but he may be a preferred option for those seeking saves in the next two weeks.
American League – Full Recaps, August 13
Boston Red Sox – Summoned with a two-run lead in the top of the eighth, Kenley Jansen stranded a runner and retired all four batters in his outing, once via strikeout, for his 22nd save. He threw 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9 Strike%) and induced two whiffs. This marked his fifth appearance requiring four or more outs and his fourth save in them. He’s been scoreless through three games this month and converted both save chances.
- Bailey Horn notched his second hold, allowing a hit and striking out one during a scoreless combined inning.
- Lucas Sims stranded a bases-loaded situation in the sixth, securing his 14th hold while logging 1.1 scoreless innings. He allowed a hit and recorded two strikeouts.
Hierarchy remains: Kenley Jansen | Chris Martin | Lucas Sims
Cleveland Guardians – Workload management be damned. Emmanuel Clase took over with a one-run lead, appearing for a fourth straight day, and recorded his 37th save, moving into a tied for the major league lead. He navigated around a two-out infield single and a stolen base for a scoreless ninth. He threw 10 pitches (70 Strike%) and induced one whiff while recording a strikeout in his outing. He’s converted 24 straight saves since May 20 and should receive a well-deserved day off on Wednesday.
- Hunter Gaddis notched his 26th hold, retiring the side and striking out one in the eighth.
- Cade Smith issued a walk and secured his 19th hold with a scoreless seventh.
- Pedro Avila collected his fourth win. He gave up a hit and a walk while striking out two in two-thirds of the sixth.
Hierarchy remains: Emmanuel Clase | Hunter Gaddis | Cade Smith
Houston Astros – Locking down his 26th save, Josh Hader retired the side and recorded a strikeout while preserving a one-run win in Tampa Bay. He threw 10 pitches (80 Strike%) and produced two whiffs. He’s converted 26 straight save chances and been scoreless in his last seven appearances, spanning 6.1 innings.
- Ryan Pressly gave up two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one in the eighth, getting credit for his 21st hold.
- Bryan Abreu secured his American League-leading 30th hold and is now tied for the MLB lead in the category. He logged 1.1 clean frames, stranding a runner in the seventh and striking out two of four batters faced.
Hierarchy remains: Josh Hader | Ryan Pressly | Bryan Abreu
New York Yankees – Inheriting runners on second and third with no outs, Jake Cousins navigated around a one-out walk with a shallow flyout and a game-ending strikeout for his first career major league save. He threw 17 pitches (11 strikes – 64.7 Strike%) and five whiffs (29.4 SwStr%).
- Tommy Kahnle gets credit for his ninth hold. He stranded two runners in the eighth but issued a walk and gave up a double in the ninth, prompting his removal.
- Mark Leiter Jr. allowed a hit, an earned run, and two walks over two-thirds of the seventh.
Updated Hierarchy: Clay Holmes | Luke Weaver | Jake Cousins
National League – Full Recaps, August 13
Arizona Diamondbacks – Benefiting from a walk-off rally, Joe Mantiply collected his sixth win. He retired the side and recorded a strikeout in the top of the ninth, keeping his team within one run.
- Paul Sewald fired a clean eighth, striking out two on 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He faced the Rockies’ 3-4-5 lineup pocket with his team down one. He’s been scoreless through five outings in August with five strikeouts against three walks and a 1.00 WHIP.
- Kevin Ginkel tossed a scoreless seventh, allowing a walk and striking out two.
- Dylan Floro worked a clean seventh and struck out one.
Hierarchy remains: Justin Martinez | A.J. Puk | Paul Sewald
Atlanta Braves – Shutting the door on his 25th save, Raisel Iglesias retired the side and stranded the “place” runner in the bottom of the tenth, preserving a one-run win. He threw eight pitches (62.5 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He’s been scoreless across 10 second-half outings, spanning 11 innings, and converted all three save chances with 14 strikeouts against one walk.
- Dylan Lee earned his fourth win, working a clean bottom of the ninth and benefiting from his team’s rally in the top of the tenth.
- Pierce Johnson suffered his second blown save in the eighth. He gave up a lead-off double, then Heliot Ramos reached on an error. After inducing a double play, a wild pitch scored the game-tying run, which was unearned.
- Jesse Chavez notched his first hold, firing a clean seventh and striking out two.
Hierarchy remains: Raisel Iglesias | Joe Jiménez | Pierce Johnson
Cincinnati Reds – Finishing a three-run win, Alexis Díaz issued a two-out walk and recorded a strikeout during a scoreless ninth, securing his 24th save. He threw 18 pitches (55.6 Strike%) and induced two whiffs. He’s been scoreless in five of his last six and converted five saves with six strikeouts against two walks over 5.2 innings.
- Tony Santillan retired the side and struck out two for his first hold in the top of the eighth. He’s recorded multiple strikeouts in four straight appearances.
Updated Hierarchy: Alexis Díaz | Fernando Cruz | Tony Santillan
Colorado Rockies – With a one-run lead, Victor Vodnik could secure the win in Arizona. He allowed a one-out Corbin Carroll triple and recorded a strikeout, but with two outs, things went awry. He issued consecutive walks to load the bases and gave up Jake McCarthy’s walk-off two-RBI single, resulting in his third loss and third blown save. He finished with two hits, two earned runs, and two walks while striking out one during his two-thirds of an inning. He’s logged seven appearances in August with five scoreless and converted four of five saves, but his 2.22 WHIP over 6.1 innings must be monitored.
- Tyler Kinley notched his 11th hold. He retired the side and recorded a strikeout in the eighth.
- Noah Davis navigated around a hit and a walk for a scoreless seventh and his first hold.
Hierarchy remains: Victor Vodnik | Tyler Kinley | Justin Lawrence
San Diego Padres – Preserving a combined shutout and appearing for the fifth time in seven days, Robert Suarez secured his 27th save with a scoreless ninth. He allowed a two-out single and recorded a strikeout while throwing nine pitches (66.7 Strike%) without a whiff. He’s collected a win and three saves since August 7.
- Tanner Scott secured his fifth hold with a scoreless eighth, giving up a hit and striking out two.
- Jason Adam notched his 20th hold with a clean seventh and recorded two strikeouts.
Hierarchy remains: Robert Suarez | Tanner Scott | Jason Adam
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