Tuesday’s 13-game slate resulted in five wins recorded by relievers and four securing saves. Two games required extra innings, and two ended in walk-off rallies at the bottom of the ninth. Our condensed recaps cover yesterday’s high-leverage events of interest.
Closer CliffsNotes
Justin Martinez (ARI) took over at the bottom of the eighth with two outs and two runners on. He let one score on a single before recording an inning-ending strikeout. Returning for the ninth, he held on for his eighth save, giving up a lead-off single and a one-out Heliot Ramos double while preserving a one-run win. Martinez finished with three hits, an earned run, and three strikeouts over his 1.1 innings.
- Hierarchy remains: Justin Martinez | A.J. Puk | Ryan Thompson
Raisel Iglesias (ATL) shut the door on his 29th save. He retired the side and recorded one strikeout against the Rockies, completing a combined shutout. He extended his MLB-leading scoreless streak to 22.1 innings, producing 26 strikeouts against two walks with a minuscule 0.27 WHIP. In this outing, he threw 12 pitches (7 strikes – 58.3 Strike%) without a whiff.
- Hierarchy remains: Raisel Iglesias | Joe Jiménez | Pierce Johnson
Lucas Erceg (KC) made his first appearance since injuring his finger on August 29. He allowed two hits, three earned runs, and hit a batter while recording two strikeouts over two-thirds of the eighth. James McArthur let all three inherited runners score, issuing a walk and allowing Steven Kwan’s two-RBI single during his one-third of the eighth.
- Updated Hierarchy: Lucas Erceg | John Schreiber | James McArthur
Roansy Contreras (LAA) suffered his fourth loss taking over at the top of the tenth. He let the “place” runner score on a one-out Miguel Rojas single, intentionally walked Shohei Ohtani with two outs, and allowed Mookie Betts’ three-run home run before being removed. He finished with two hits, four runs (three earned), and a walk while recording two outs. Ben Joyce retired the side and recorded two strikeouts against the 4-5-6 lineup pocket, including the fastest pitch on a strikeout in the Statcast era. He extended his scoreless streak to seven games with ten strikeouts against zero walks over his last eight innings.
- Hierarchy remains: Ben Joyce | Hunter Strickland | José Quijada
Michael Kopech (LAD) collected his fifth win after firing a clean bottom of the ninth against the Angels, courtesy of a four-run rally at the top of the tenth. He threw 12 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%) versus the 4-5-6 lineup pocket. He’s been scoreless in 14 of his 15 appearances since his acquisition, posting three wins and converting three saves with 20 strikeouts against four walks over 15.1 innings.
- Hierarchy remains: *Michael Kopech | *Evan Phillips | Anthony Banda
- *= closer-by-committee
Elvis Peguero (MIL) suffered his fourth loss. He entered at the top of the 12th, giving up a hit, three runs (one earned), and a walk while striking out two. Devin Williams fired a clean ninth and recorded two strikeouts on an efficient 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) with four whiffs (28.6 SwStr%).
- Hierarchy remains: Devin Williams | Trevor Megill | Joel Payamps
Clay Holmes (NYY) suffered his MLB-leading 11th blown save on Wyatt Langford’s walk-off grand slam. He allowed a Carson Kelly single, a stolen base by pinch-runner Leody Taveras, followed by consecutive walks ahead of the home run, resulting in his fifth loss. Holmes threw 25 pitches (48 Strike%) and induced one whiff during his one-third of the ninth. He’s firmly affixed on the “hot seat.”
- Hierarchy remains: Clay Holmes | Tommy Kahnle | Luke Weaver
Hogan Harris (OAK) logged three scoreless frames, taking the baton from J.T. Ginn against Seattle, and collected his third win courtesy of a walk-off rally in the bottom of the ninth. Harris allowed two walks and recorded two strikeouts on 37 pitches (22 strikes – 59.5 Strike%) with five whiffs (13.5 SwStr%).
- Hierarchy remains: Mason Miller | Tyler Ferguson | Michel Otañez
Matt Strahm (PHI) held on for his second save. He allowed Leo Jiménez’s two-out solo home run and recorded two strikeouts, closing a one-run win in Toronto. He threw 21 pitches (12 strikes – 57.1 Strike%) and induced four whiffs (19 SwStr%). Orion Kerkering worked a scoreless eighth, yielding a hit and collecting his fourth win.
- Hierarchy remains: Carlos Estévez | Jeff Hoffman | Matt Strahm
David Bednar (PIT) retired the side and recorded a strikeout, finishing a combined shutout in a non-save capacity. He threw nine pitches (77.8 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (22.2 SwStr%). He’s recorded consecutive clean outings since being removed from the closer role.
- Hierarchy remains: *Aroldis Chapman | *Dennis Santana | Kyle Nicolas
- *= closer-by-committee
Trent Thornton (SEA) issued a one-out walk, gave up Shea Langeliers’ single, and a walk-off Seth Brown RBI single in the bottom of the ninth in Oakland, resulting in his third loss.
- Hierarchy remains: Andrés Muñoz | Collin Snider | Austin Voth
Ryan Helsley (STL) logged his second multiple-inning outing of the season. He suffered his fourth blown save at the bottom of the 11th and collected his seventh win after working a clean bottom of the 12th. He matched his season-high, throwing 27 pitches (22 strikes – 81.5 Strike%) and generating six whiffs (22.2 Strike%). He allowed a hit and an unearned run while striking out four over two innings.
- Hierarchy remains: Ryan Helsley | Andrew Kittredge | JoJo Romero
Garrett Cleavinger (TB) recorded a one-out save, stranding two runners after inducing a game-ending groundout and preserving a one-run win over the Twins. Edwin Uceta gets credit for his fifth hold. He allowed two hits and recorded two strikeouts at the top of the ninth before getting pulled.
- Hierarchy remains: *Manuel Rodríguez | *Edwin Uceta | *Garrett Cleavinger
- *= closer-by-committee
Walter Pennington (TEX) collected his first major league win after issuing a walk and recording one out in the top of the ninth, stranding a runner. He benefited from his team’s walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the inning.
- Hierarchy remains: Kirby Yates | David Robertson | Andrew Chafin
Chad Green (TOR) suffered his second blown save in his last two games. He took over with a one-run lead at the top of the ninth and gave up three consecutive hits, including Kyle Schwarber’s go-ahead three-run home run. Green bounced back with back-to-back strikeouts before being removed but was tagged with his fifth loss.
- Hierarchy remains: Chad Green | Génesis Cabrera | Erik Swanson
Vulture Save Options for Wednesday, September 4
- Andrew Kittredge (STL): Helsley worked two innings and matched his season-high with 27 pitches yesterday.
- Luke Weaver (NYY): Holmes has appeared in two straight, and Weaver was warming during last night’s blown save.
Vulture Save Stash for Thursday, September 5
- Pierce Johnson (ATL): If Iglesias and Jiménez pitch today, it will be consecutive outings.
Three Takeaways
- “The Good:” Preserving a tied game at the top of the ninth, Ben Joyce retired the side and recorded two strikeouts against the Dodgers’ 4-5-6 lineup pocket. He’s been scoreless over his last seven games, spanning eight innings, with ten strikeouts and no walks with a 0.63 WHIP. Since August 16, he ranks sixth in swinging strike percentage (23.9), tied for ninth in contact rate allowed (58.5 percent), and 11th in SIERA (1.36) among his peers.
- “The Bad:” For a second straight appearance, Chad Green suffered a blown save, allowing a go-ahead three-run home run last night. He converted his first 16 save chances this season but may be fatigued. He only logged 27 innings between 2022 and 2023 and has 46.1 innings after Tuesday’s outing. This may be a blip, but monitor his strikeout rate and contact allowed over the last four weeks of the season:
- “The Ugly:” It’s tough quantifying 11 blown saves by Clay Holmes. His underlying data suggests it’s part bad luck and tough timing. However, how many more times can his team palate these outings? Last night, he struggled with his sinker location, which fueled the walk-off grand slam. His ground ball has declined slightly, and his home run per fly ball percentage has increased, but his meltdowns are usually when he lacks command. The hardest part is that there’s no clear option to replace him, which makes this situation more difficult down the stretch:
Those seeking full game recaps should surf the team pages; they’ve all been updated with Tuesday’s results.
Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe and be well.
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