Although small in stature, Thursday’s seven-game slate featured multiple high-leverage events of interest. Oakland used Mason Miller for a two-inning save against the Mets with an off day looming on Friday. Devin Williams appeared on consecutive days versus the Dodgers and recorded his third save of the season.
Four relievers recorded wins and four secured saves. Our condensed game recaps cover these events.
Closer CliffsNotes
- Jason Foley (DET) notched his first save since July 10 with a clean top of the ninth, preserving a one-run win and a sweep of Seattle. Shelby Miller logged 1.1 clean frames and collected his sixth win.
- Daniel Hudson (LAD) entered with a one-run lead against the Brewers’ 2-3-4 lineup pocket in the bottom of the eighth but allowed three hits, three earned runs, and a walk. He suffered his second loss and a seventh blown save.
- Devin Williams (MIL) shut the door on his third save with a clean top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts. He also appeared on consecutive days for the first time this season. Since his activation, he racked up 11 strikeouts of 22 batters faced.
- Jhoan Durán (MIN) recorded his 17th save, preserving a one-run win in Texas. He retired the side, two via strikeout. Jorge Alcala collected his third win, tossing a clean eighth and striking out one.
- Reed Garrett (NYM) suffered his fourth loss and a fourth blown save. He gave up three hits, two earned runs, and a walk in the top of the sixth against Oakland, ceding the lead.
- Mason Miller (OAK) logged two scoreless frames while issuing a walk and striking out three for his 18th save, preserving a one-run win over the Mets.
- Andrés Muńoz (SEA) took over with a runner on third and two outs but gave up Javier Báez’s go-ahead two-run home run, resulting in his fourth loss and a fourth blown save. This appearance snapped his 12.1-inning hitless streak and his 14.1-inning scoreless inning streak.
- Kirby Yates (TEX) appeared on back-to-back days, and for the third time in four games, he suffered his second loss. He allowed two one-out walks, threw a wild pitch, and gave up a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth against Minnesota.
Vulture Save Options for Friday, August 16
- Griffin Jax (MIN): Durán has pitched on consecutive days.
- Joel Payamps (MIL): Devin Williams logged his first back-to-back appearances on Wednesday and Thursday.
- David Robertson (TEX): Yates has appeared in on consecutive days and in three of the last four.
- Austin Voth (SEA): Muñoz and García have pitched the previous two days.
Vulture Save Options for Saturday, August 17
Usage patterns will determine this on Friday. It isn’t easy, though, with 16 teams off on Thursday and resetting their bullpens.
Three Takeaways
- D-Will goes back-to-back: Perhaps his seven-pitch outing on Wednesday played a part in his second straight save chance on Thursday, but Devin Williams recorded outings on consecutive days for the first time this season, securing his second save in many days against the Dodgers top of the lineup. Across the two appearances, he threw 23 pitches with 16 strikes (69.6 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (13 SwStr%). How he responds after this usage pattern likely determines his workload management moving forward, but it’s encouraging. Trevor Megill worked a scoreless outing in his first rehab contest and could return soon, beefing up the Brewers’ leverage ladder.
- Dodgers Part 1: In this column for The Los Angeles Times, Mike DiGiovanna discusses the “trust tree,” as Dave Roberts references his high-leverage usage patterns. Michael Kopech and Daniel Hudson were assigned the heart-of-the-order lineup lanes in yesterday’s game against Milwaukee. Kopech recorded a scoreless inning versus the 3-4-5 hitters, but Hudson suffered a loss and a blown save, with some bad luck on comeback contact. Los Angeles relievers have accrued the fifth most innings this season and face an upcoming roster crunch with Ryan Brasier’s pending activation on Saturday and Blake Treinen returning next week. Only Michael Grove and Brent Honeywell have been logging multiple-inning outings, with one on the block for a roster spot. The team may cut Joe Kelly when Brasier returns in St. Louis, but keeping relievers fresh when using four an outing will be challenging.
- Dodgers Part 2: Acknowledging Michael Kopech has performed well since his acquisition, could he enter the conversation for saves soon? In a separate column for The Los Angeles Times, DiGiovanna broached this with Roberts. The cagey manager responded, “We’ll see,” and “We’ve got time.” With a two-game lead for the National League West and a game-and-a-half lead for a first-round bye, the runway may be shorter than he’s used to. Nothing definitive for fantasy managers other than Kopech’s 7.1 scoreless frames with the Dodgers while allowing a hit and a walk with 11 strikeouts of 24 batters faced (41.7 K-BB percentage, 0.27 WHIP). Those with roster space can stash him for saves if room allows or be ready to pounce if he gets an opportunity this weekend in St. Louis.
American League – Full Recaps, August 15
Detroit Tigers – Capping a comeback rally, Jason Foley secured his 16th save with a clean ninth and recorded a strikeout. He threw 14 pitches (9 strikes – 64.3 Strike%) and induced one whiff against the Mariners’ 6-7-8 lineup pocket. This marks his first save since July 10.
- Shelby Miller collected his sixth win. He stranded a runner in the seventh and retired all four batters, one via strikeout during his appearance.
- Kenta Maeda was the “bulk follower.” He logged 5.2 innings, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out five.
Hierarchy remains: *Tyler Holton | *Jason Foley | Shelby Miller
*= closer-by-committee
Minnesota Twins – Taking over in the ninth with a one-run lead, Jhoan Durán retired the Rangers’ 9-1-2 hitters in order, two via strikeout while recording his 17th save. He threw 18 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (16.7 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in four of five outings in August with two saves.
- Jorge Alcala collected his third win. He fired a clean bottom of the eighth and struck out one ahead of his team’s go-ahead rally in the top of the ninth.
- Griffin Jax allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless seventh, keeping the game tied.
Hierarchy remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Jorge Alcala
Oakland A’s – Preserving a one-run win, Mason Miller logged two scoreless frames against the Mets. After striking out the side in the eighth, he hit a batter and issued a two-out walk before inducing a game-ending lineout by Francisco Alvarez, securing his 18th save. Miller threw 39 pitches (25 strikes – 64.1 Strike%) and generated nine whiffs (23.1 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless through four appearances in August while converting all three save opportunities.
- Scott Alexander navigated around two hits and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless seventh for his eighth hold.
- Tyler Ferguson collected his first win. He worked two scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out two.
Hierarchy remains: Mason Miller | Tyler Ferguson | Austin Adams
National League – Full Recaps, August 15
Los Angeles Dodgers – Daniel Hudson took over with a one-run lead in the bottom of the eighth against Milwaukee’s 2-3-4 lineup pocket. He allowed a lead-off double, a walk, and a ricocheted infield single, loading the bases. Willy Adames produced an RBI single and consecutive runs scored on a fielder’s choice groundouts, handing Hudson his second loss and a seventh blown save. He allowed three hits, three earned runs, and a walk during his two-thirds of the eighth. He’s given up at least a run in three of his last four games.
- Anthony Banda stranded a runner and retired his only batter in the eighth.
- Alex Vesia issued two walks leading off the seventh, then retired the next three batters for his tenth hold.
- Michael Kopech fired a clean sixth and recorded a strikeout for his fifth hold. He remains scoreless as a Dodger with 11 strikeouts against one walk across 7.1 innings.
Hierarchy remains (for now): *Daniel Hudson | *Michael Kopech | *Evan Phillips
*= closer-by-committee
Milwaukee Brewers – Making his first appearance on consecutive days, Devin Williams shut the door on his third save with a clean ninth and striking out two. He threw 16 pitches (9 strikes – 56.3 Strike%) and induced two whiffs. He’s recorded a save in three straight games and been scoreless in five of six with 11 strikeouts of 22 batters faced.
- Bryan Hudson collected his fifth win. He logged two clean frames, recorded two strikeouts, and stranded a runner in the seventh.
- Elvis Peguero let one of two inherited runners score, yielding two hits and retiring one batter between the sixth and seventh innings.
Updated Hierarchy: Devin Williams | Joel Payamps | Bryan Hudson
New York Mets – Pitching in a one-run loss, Edwin Díaz tossed a scoreless top of the ninth, issuing a walk and striking out two. He threw 20 pitches (60 Strike%) and induced two whiffs.
- Ryne Stanek worked a scoreless eighth, walking one and striking out one.
- Phil Maton escaped with a scoreless seventh despite allowing a hit and two walks.
- Reed Garrett suffered his fourth loss and a fourth blown save, giving up three hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out one in the sixth.
- Huascar Brazobán gave up a hit, an earned run, and two walks with one strikeout in the fifth.
Hierarchy Remains: Edwin Díaz | Phil Maton | Reed Garrett
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