Thursday’s 11-game slate began with Ben Joyce recording his third save with 1.1 scoreless innings and Ryan Helsley securing his 41st. Things became more chaotic as the day progressed into the evening contests. In all, relievers recorded five wins and secured eight saves, but our three takeaways will cover some usage patterns and a potential injury. For now, our condensed recaps cover yesterday’s high-leverage events of interest.
Closer CliffsNotes
- Justin Martinez (ARI) took over a tied game in the top of the ninth. He allowed a one-out double and a two-out, go-ahead RBi single, resulting in his fifth loss.
- Grant Holmes (ATL) took over with a runner on second and one out with a one-run lead at the bottom of the seventh. After inducing a groundout, he allowed Nick Castellanos’ go-ahead two-run home run, resulting in his first loss and a blown save. Holmes finished 1.2 innings, allowing two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one.
- Emilio Pagán (CIN) stranded a runner while retiring all three batters, one via strikeout. He benefited from his team’s walk-off rally and collected his fourth win. Alexis Díaz entered with a one-run lead and suffered his fourth blown save. He gave up Lawrence Butler’s lead-off home run, a walk, a double, and a two-RBI single, prompting his removal without recording an out.
- Josh Hader (HOU) nailed down his 29th save with a clean ninth and one strikeout. Across 12 appearances in August, he’s been scoreless in 11 with two wins and eight saves. He’s also converted his last 29 save chances after blowing his first save chance of the season on April 2.
- Lucas Erceg (KCR) appeared for the third time in four days and was not sharp. He could not protect a one-run lead in the bottom of the eighth. His outing began with a walk (Jose Altuve), and after inducing a Yordan Alvarez flyout, things unraveled. Victor Caratini singled, and a comebacker off of Erceg combined with an errant throw scored the game-tying run and removed him from the contest with two runners on. He suffered his fifth loss and fifth blown save, allowing two hits, three earned runs, and a walk over one-third of the eighth.
- Ben Joyce (LAA) took over a bases-loaded situation with two outs in the eighth and responded with an inning-ending strikeout of Spencer Torkelson. After allowing a lead-off single in the ninth, Joyce retired the next three hitters, secured his third save, and completed the combined shutout. He’s recorded four or more outs in all three saves this season.
- Evan Phillips (LAD) preserved a three-run win despite hitting leadoff hitter Cedric Mullins by retiring the next three batters, including two via strikeout. He’s been scoreless in seven of his last eight appearances, converting two of three save chances with 12 strikeouts versus one walk.
- Jésus Tinoco (MIA) collected his first win, logging 2.1 scoreless innings. He gave up two hits and recorded three strikeouts on 21 pitches (85.7 Strike%) with four whiffs (19 SwStr%).
- Edwin Díaz (NYM) recorded his 15th save with a clean bottom of the ninth while striking out two. He only threw one slider among his 18 pitches, relying on his four-seam fastball while preserving a one-run win in Arizona. This marked his first save since August 7 and second in August.
- Grant Holman (OAK) received his first save chance but suffered his first loss and blown save during a walk-off rally in Cincinnati. He gave up a lead-off walk, a Jonathan India single, a wild pitch moving both runners into scoring position, and a walk to Elly De La Cruz, loading the bases with no outs. Tyler Stephenson delivered an RBI single, and TJ Friedl’s walk-off two-RBI single sealed the loss.
- Jeff Hoffman (PHI) preserved a one-run win with a clean top of the ninth and recorded a strikeout for his tenth save. This represents his first save since July 10, and he’s been scoreless over his last four appearances. The “floating closer” concept may be back for the Phillies.
- Ryan Helsley (STL) shut the door on his MLB-leading 41st save, closing out a three-run win over the Padres. This marked his 20th save with a clean appearance, also most in the majors. Since August 3, he’s recorded two wins and converted all eight save chances.
- Kirby Yates (TEX) gave up a one-out Andrew Benintendi solo home run while recording his 25th save, preserving a one-run win over the White Sox. Through 11 appearances this month, he’s recorded a win in two of three decisions and converted six of seven save chances with 21 strikeouts against five walks over 13 innings.
- Chad Green (TOR) closed out his 16th save and a combined shutout in Boston. He worked around a hit batter for a scoreless ninth. He’s been scoreless over his last five appearances and converted all eight save chances in August.
Vulture Save Options for Friday, August 30
- A.J. Puk (ARI): Martinez has pitched in consecutive outings. Puk will face Shohei Ohtani’s lineup pocket in the late innings; if it’s not the ninth, it may be Ryan Thompson for the save. These two teams will be playing this series like the playoffs.
- Andrew Kittredge (STL): Helsley has appeared on back-to-back days.
- James McArthur (KCR): Erceg and Schreiber have pitched in three of the previous four days.
- Phil Maton (NYM): Díaz has worked in consecutive outings.
- Trevor Megill (MIL): He could receive the save in Game 2 if the Brewers can sweep. DL Hall is also in play for those in leagues with daily streaming as the bulk reliever in this contest.
- Tony Santillan (CIN): Díaz and Pagán have appeared in back-to-back games.
- Andrew Chafin (TEX): Yates and Robertson have worked in three consecutive games.
Vulture Save Stashes for Saturday, August 31
- Héctor Neris (HOU): If Hader, Pressly, and Abreu pitch again tonight, it will be consecutive outings for the Astros triumvirate.
- John Schreiber (KCR): Depending on the severity of Erceg’s injury, he may be in line for the save on Saturday.
Three Takeaways
- Different Díaz, same slider issues: It’s been a tough season for the embattled Reds’ closer. Alexis Díaz suffered his fourth blown save, allowing Lawrence Butler’s lead-off home run at the top of the ninth. Since the All-Star break, Díaz has a loss and converted five of seven save opportunities but has allowed four home runs, at least a run in five of 13 appearances, and multiple runs in two of his last three. Five of his six home runs this season have been off his slider. With shaky four-seam fastball command, it’s letting hitters sit on the slider as his split-by-pitch indicate:
Link: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/CK44C/3/
- Not a “floating closer,” yet: With the leverage arms fully rested ahead of a pivotal series against Atlanta, Rob Thomson summoned Jeff Hoffman with a one-run lead at the top of the ninth last night. In a postgame interview, he maintained that Carlos Estévez was healthy and had gone with Hoffman since he began warming up in case he was needed during the eighth inning, which television replays confirm. Being cautious, the hierarchy will adjust as a shared save situation just in case, and the next few chances will be monitored closely.
- Royals in potential flux: Matched up with the top of Houston’s lineup at the bottom of the eighth, Lucas Erceg had a tough outing, not only in his results, but he also left with an injured finger after being hit by a comebacker. A blown save is tough enough for fantasy managers, but the team sent him and teammate Vinnie Pasquantino for X-rays following this play. With Hunter Harvey still sidelined with a lower back issue, this leverage ladder will be shorthanded this weekend if Erceg misses time as well:
Adjusted Hierarchies
Philadelphia Phillies – *Carlos Estévez | *Jeff Hoffman | Matt Strahm
*= closer-by-committee
Those seeking full game recaps should surf the team pages; they’ve all been updated with Wednesday’s results.
Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe and be well.
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