All ten games on Monday were decided by three runs or fewer. However, two of those contests featured relievers (Cincinnati and Arizona) allowing at least a run in the bottom of the ninth during a road win. Four relievers recorded a win, and six saves were secured. Boston suffered its MLB-leading 12th blown save in the second half during an eventual walk-off loss in Houston. Baltimore also allowed a walk-off home run in its loss against the Mets. Our condensed recaps cover last night’s high-leverage events of interest.
Closer CliffsNotes
- Paul Sewald (ARI) had his six-game scoreless streak snapped in a non-save outing in Miami. He allowed three hits and two earned runs while closing out a win. His average velocity with his four-seam fastball was only 90.7 m.p.h. in this appearance.
- Seranthony Domínguez (BAL) took over a tied game in the bottom of the ninth, producing a strikeout, then served up a walk-off home run by Francisco Alvarez, resulting in his third loss.
- Kenley Jansen (BOS) had his six-game scoreless streak snapped by Yainer Diaz’s walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth, handing the closer his second loss.
- Tony Santillan (CIN) took over in the bottom of the fifth and collected his first win. He worked 1.1 scoreless frames, giving up a walk and striking out one. Alexis Díaz closed out the win in a non-save opportunity. He allowed a solo home run and recorded a strikeout.
- John Schreiber (KCR) returned from the injured list and secured his second save with a scoreless ninth against the Angels. He worked around a lead-off single with a double play groundout and a game-ending lineout.
- Evan Phillips (LAD) fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts, preserving a combined shutout of Seattle. He’s only allowed one unearned run during nine appearances this month, with 13 strikeouts versus one walk.
- Edwin Díaz (NYM) fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded a strikeout. He collected his fourth win courtesy of a walk-off home run in the bottom of the inning. He’s been scoreless in six of his last seven appearances with this win, two saves, and 12 strikeouts against two walks.
- Mason Miller (OAK) secured his 19th save while preserving a combined shutout. He allowed a walk and struck out one against the Rays. His 357 pitches at 100 m.p.h. or faster leads all major league pitchers this season.
- Robert Suarez (SDP) posted his 28th save despite allowing an earned run on a two-out walk and an RBI single. He’s converted all five save chances in August but has given up a run in three of his last five games.
- Jordan Hicks (SFG) held on for his first save with a scoreless top of the ninth. He allowed two hits in a bend-but-not-break outing, preserving a two-run win over the White Sox. He’s been scoreless through six relief outings in August. He also became the second Giants pitcher to record at least 20 starts and a save in a season, joining Tim Lincecum (2014).
- Kirby Yates (TEX) recorded his 22nd save with a clean ninth while striking out two. He preserved a one-run win against the Pirates on 15 pitches (80 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (20 SwStr%).
Vulture Save Options for Tuesday, August 20
- Bryan Abreu (HOU): Hader has recorded back-to-back outings.
- David Robertson (TEX): Yates has logged consecutive appearances.
- Yennier Cano (BAL): Domínguez has pitched in the two previous games.
- Michel Otañez (OAK): Miller and Ferguson have logged back-to-back appearances.
Vulture Save Stashes for Wednesday. August 21
- Pending usage patterns from Tuesday.
Three Takeaways
- Phillips ditched the cutter: Evan Phillips recorded his first save since July 23 and changed his pitch mix, fueling his bounce back in August. He’s allowed an unearned run in nine appearances this month with 12 strikeouts against one walk and a 0.69 WHIP over 7.1 innings. In previous posts, his struggles with his cutter, especially against left-handed batters, have been emphasized. However, in his last nine games, he’s relied on his four-seam fastball (20 SwStr%, 37.9 percent whiff rate, .162 weighted on-base average) and his sweeper (9.1 SwStr%, 23.5 percent whiff rate, .138 xwOBA) while shelving the cutter. It’s a positive sign for the remainder of his season. This chart, courtesy of Statcast, illustrates his adapted pitch mix:
- Boston and blown saves: Amid a stretch of 27 games in 27 days (8/9-9/4), the Red Sox need its leverage ladder to remain in the mix for the Wild Card. Unfortunately, the team leads the majors in blown saves (12) in the second half, and last night’s blown save resulted in a walk-off loss. Kenley Jansen suffered the loss, but Lucas Sims blew the lead in the eighth inning. He’s only allowed runs in three outings since his acquisition, all against Houston, resulting in six runs. Through its last 29 contests, the Red Sox have only recorded four saves, and its relievers rank dead last in Win Probability Added since the All-Star break. Help may be on the way in the form of Justin Slaten and Liam Hendriks, but will it happen early enough to keep playoff aspirations alive?
- Sewald and velocity: Just when it seemed like the door was ajar enough for a return into high-leverage relevance for Paul Sewald, his velocity declined during his outing on Monday in Miami. He allowed three hits and two earned runs while averaging 90.7 m.p.h. with his four-seam fastball. His results with his four-seam above and below 92 m.p.h. cannot be ignored, and these velocities do not bode well:
American League – Full Game Recaps, August 19
Baltimore Orioles – With the score tied in the bottom of the ninth, Seranthony Domínguez recorded a strikeout, then allowed Francisco Alvarez’s walk-off solo home run, resulting in his third loss. He threw eight pitches (50 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He’s allowed a home run in his last two games, and all three earned runs with the Orioles have come via a solo home run. Through 11 games, he’s converted all three save chances with a 14:3 K:BB and a 0.84 WHIP across 10.2 innings.
- Keegan Akin fired two clean frames and recorded five strikeouts.
- Colin Selby stranded two runners in the fifth and retried all four batters faced, three on strikeouts.
Hierarchy remains: Seranthony Domínguez | Yennier Cano | Cionel Pérez
Boston Red Sox – After striking out Yordan Alvarez on three pitches, Kenley Jansen suffered his second loss, allowing Yainer Diaz’s walk-off home run. This represents his first loss since May 16 and snapped his modest six-game scoreless streak.
- Lucas Sims struggled with his command, allowing two hits, an earned run, and two walks while striking out one during his fourth blown save in the eighth. The Red Sox have produced 12 blown saves in the second half, most in the majors.
- Chris Martin navigated around two hits and recorded three strikeouts in a scoreless seventh, securing his 12th hold.
Hierarchy remains: Kenley Jansen | Chris Martin | Lucas Sims
Houston Astros – Benefiting from a walk-off home run, Josh Hader collected his sixth win. He retired the side against Boston’s 7-8-9 lineup pocket on 12 pitches (75 Strike%) and induced one whiff. His scoreless streak reached ten games, producing 12 strikeouts versus three walks over his last 10.1 innings.
- Caleb Ferguson fired a clean eighth and recorded two strikeouts.
- Tayler Scott let his only inherited runner score, allowing Masataka Yoshida’s home run, putting one earned on his ledger during his 1.1-inning outing.
Hierarchy remains: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Tayler Scott
Kansas City Royals – Back from the injured list, John Schreiber secured his second save, preserving a two-run win over the Angels. He navigated around Logan O’Hoppe’s leadoff single with a double play groundout and a game-ending lineout. He threw eight pitches (75 Strike%) without a whiff. This marked his first outing since July 28 and his first save since May.
- Kris Bubic gave up Zach Neto’s solo home run and recorded two strikeouts for his third hold in the eighth.
Updated Hierarchy: *Lucas Erceg | *Kris Bubic | *John Schreiber
*= closer-by-committee
Oakland A’s – Securing his 19th save, Mason Miller navigated around a two-out walk with a game-ending lineout, preserving the combined shutout. He threw 17 pitches (10 strikes – 58.8 Strike%) and induced two whiffs while recording one strikeout. He’s converted four saves since his reinstatement from the injured list while being scoreless in six contests with nine strikeouts versus three walks.
- Tyler Ferguson recorded his fourth hold with a clean eighth and two strikeouts. He’s been scoreless in 15 of his last 17.
- Grant Holman notched his second hold in as many outings with a scoreless seventh. He allowed a walk and recorded two strikeouts.
Hierarchy remains: Mason Miller | Tyler Ferguson | Michel Otañez
Texas Rangers – Bouncing back after suffering his first blown save, Kirby Yates preserved a one-run win with a clean ninth for his 22nd save. He threw 15 pitches (80 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (20 SwStr%) while recording two strikeouts. This snapped his streak of runs allowed at two.
- José Ureña collected his fourth win. He logged four scoreless innings, scattering two hits and issuing two walks while striking out three.
Hierarchy remains: Kirby Yates | David Robertson | Andrew Chafin
National League – Full Game Recaps, August 19
Los Angeles Dodgers – Completing a combined shutout and recording his first save since July 23, Evan Phillips nailed down his 16th save with a clean ninth while striking out two against Seattle. He threw 13 pitches (9 strikes – 69.2 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He’s allowed an unearned run across nine appearances in August with 13 strikeouts against one walk.
- Joe Kelly retired the side and struck out one in the eighth, securing his 13th hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Michael Kopech | Evan Phillips | Daniel Hudson
New York Mets – After retiring the side in the top of the ninth and keeping the game tied, Edwin Díaz collected his fourth win courtesy of a walk-off home run in the bottom of the inning. He threw 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (27.3 SwStr%) against Baltimore’s 5-6-7 lineup pocket. He’s been scoreless in six of his last seven appearances with this win, two saves, and 12 strikeouts against two walks.
- José Buttó allowed a walk during a scoreless eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Edwin Díaz | Phil Maton | Reed Garrett
San Diego Padres – Although he could not complete the combined shutout, Robert Suarez recorded his 28th save. He issued Edouard Julien a two-out walk, who took second on defensive indifference, then scored on Christian Vazquez’s RBI single. Suarez produced a game-ending groundout against pinch-hitter José Miranda. He threw 22 pitches (12 strikes – 54.5 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He’s converted all five save chances in August but has allowed a run in three of his last five.
- Tanner Scott notched his sixth hold with a clean top of the eighth.
- Jason Adam fired a clean seventh, striking out the side for his 21st hold.
Hierarchy remains: Robert Suarez | Tanner Scott | Jason Adam
San Francisco Giants – Holding on for his first save, Jordan Hicks navigated around two hits for a scoreless ninth, securing a two-run win over the White Sox. He threw 22 pitches (16 strikes – 72.7 Strike%) without a whiff. He’s been scoreless in all six relief outings this month.
- Tyler Rogers let both inherited runners score, yielding two hits and recording a strikeout over two-thirds of the eighth for his 26th hold.
- Spencer Bivens gave up two hits and two earned runs over one-third of the eighth.
- Erik Miller tossed a scoreless seventh, walking and striking out one.
Hierarchy remains: Ryan Walker | Tyler Rogers | Jordan Hicks
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