Saturday’s slate featured 16 games, courtesy of a doubleheader between Washington and Pittsburgh. Kyle Finnegan saved both games during a sweep, with relievers securing nine saves in yesterday’s action. Eight relievers also recorded wins, including three logging three innings or more. Our condensed game recaps cover the high-leverage events of interest.
Closer CliffsNotes
Kenley Jansen (BOS) took the mound with a two-run lead at the top of the ninth. He recorded his 26th save with a clean outing and recorded a strikeout. He threw seven pitches (85.7 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (42.9 SwStr%). This marked his first save of September.
- Updated Hierarchy: Kenley Jansen | Justin Slaten | Josh Winckowski
Jason Foley (DET) worked around a single with a fielder’s choice groundout and a game-ending strikeout, securing his 21st save. He threw ten pitches (80 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He’s converted five saves and allowed one unearned run over his last 11 appearances since August 15 with a 0.75 WHIP in 9.1 innings.
- Hierarchy remains: *Jason Foley | *Tyler Holton | Shelby Miller
- *= closer-by-committee
Lucas Erceg (KC) shut the door on his tenth save, retiring the side and recording one strikeout while preserving a two-run win over Minnesota. He threw 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%). He’s made consecutive clean appearances and converted seven of nine save chances since the trade deadline. Daniel Lynch IV collected his first win, tossing three scoreless frames. He allowed a hit and recorded four strikeouts on 33 pitches (24 strikes – 72.7 Strike%) with seven whiffs (21.9 SwStr%).
- Hierarchy remains: Lucas Erceg | John Schreiber | Kris Bubic
Jesús Tinoco (MIA) retired the side against Philadelphia, finishing a four-run win. He threw 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He’s been scoreless in 13 of 15 appearances since his acquisition, with 24 strikeouts against four walks across 18.1 innings. This game’s bullpen structure may be the template moving forward, putting Tinoco in line for potential saves in the interim.
- Updated Hierarchy: *Jesús Tinoco | *Declan Cronin | *John McMillon
- *= closer-by-committee
Devin Williams (MIL) fired a clean top of the ninth while striking out the side against the Rockies, locking down his ninth save. He threw 11 pitches (81.8 Strike%) and generated seven whiffs (63.6 SwStr%) in a dominating performance. He’s logged three consecutive clean appearances this month with seven strikeouts (77.8 Strike%).
- Hierarchy remains: Devin Williams | Trevor Megill | Joel Payamps
Jhoan Durán (MIN) could not preserve the shutout. He gave up a one-out single, hit a batter, and Kyle Isbel’s RBI single, prompting his removal. It was speculated that he was summoned against the bottom of the lineup to avoid Bobby Witt Jr.’s lineup pocket. Griffin Jax took over with two runners on and one out, allowing Tommy Pham’s RBI single and a go-ahead Witt Jr. RBI single. All told, Durán finished with two hits against and three earned runs in one-third of an inning, while Jax yielded three hits and an earned run in two-thirds of the eighth.
- Hierarchy remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Cole Sands
Edwin Díaz (NYM) navigated around a lead-off hit-by-pitch and a one-out Ty Francie single with a strikeout and a game-ending pop-out in a non-save capacity. He threw 16 pitches (56.3 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (18.8 SwStr%). This extended his scoreless streak to six games, and he’s racked up 13 strikeouts versus one walk but last recorded a save on September 1.
- Hierarchy remains: Edwin Díaz | Phil Maton | Reed Garrett
Nestor Cortes (NYY) took the baton from Clarke Schmidt, logging 4.1 scoreless frames for his ninth win. He allowed a walk and recorded three strikeouts on 48 pitches (33 strikes – 68.8 Strike%) with six whiffs (12.5 SwStr%). During the eighth, Clay Holmes was warming. Luke Weaver was ready if necessary during the ninth.
- Hierarchy remains: *Luke Weaver | *Tommy Kahnle | *Jake Cousins
- *= closer-by-committee
David Bednar (PIT) issued three walks (one intentional) and allowed an earned run on a sacrifice fly at the top of the ninth against Washington during an eventual loss in Game 1. He threw 25 pitches (44 Strike%) and induced two whiffs. Aroldis Chapman could not preserve a split in Game 2. He allowed four hits, four earned runs, and a walk while striking out two in two-thirds of the ninth. Connor Joe dropped a potential game-ending catch, resulting in two runs and ceding the lead. Chapman threw 30 pitches (60 Strike%) and induced three whiffs. He suffered his fifth loss and a fifth blown save.
- Updated Hierarchy: *Aroldis Chapman | *Dennis Santana | Colin Holderman
- *= closer-by-committee
Ryan Walker (SF) recorded a scoreless ninth and sixth save, preserving a three-run win in San Diego. He threw ten pitches (60 Strike%) without a whiff. He’s converted all six save chances since August 10 and has been scoreless over his last seven games with 16 strikeouts against one walk.
- Hierarchy remains: Ryan Walker | Tyler Rogers | Camilo Doval
Ryan Helsley (STL) worked around a two-out single for his MLB-leading 43rd save with three strikeouts while preserving a combined shutout of Seattle. He threw 16 pitches (15 strikes – 93.8 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (31.3 SwStr%). He’s allowed an unearned run over his last 12 innings since August 7 while converting eight of nine save opportunities with 16 strikeouts versus three walks. Andrew Kittredge collected his fourth win, navigating around a hit and a walk with one strikeout in a scoreless eighth.
- Hierarchy remains: Ryan Helsley | Andrew Kittredge | JoJo Romero
Kirby Yates (TEX) retired the side and recorded one strikeout while closing out his 28th save during a two-run win over the Angels. He threw 12 pitches (7 strikes – 58.3 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He’s converted all seven save chances and collected two wins since August 19 with scoreless outings in eight of nine games. José Leclerc collected his sixth win, retiring both batters, one via strikeout in the seventh.
- Updated Hierarchy: Kirby Yates | David Robertson | José Leclerc
Kyle Finnegan (WSH) preserved both games during a doubleheader sweep in Pittsburgh, recording his 35th and 36th saves. During his two innings, he allowed a combined three hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out two strikeouts. He threw 42 pitches (28 strikes – 66.7 Strike%) and induced four whiffs. He’s converted six of seven save chances since August 18.
- Updated Hierarchy: Kyle Finnegan | Derek Law | Jose Ferrer
Vulture Save Options for Sunday, September 8
- Phil Maton (NYM): Díaz has made consecutive appearances and three in the last four days.
- Dennis Santana (PIT): Chapman threw 30 pitches during his blown save in Game 2 yesterday.
- Tyler Holton (DET): Foley has worked in back-to-back games in three of the previous four. If Holton opens, pivot to Ricky Vanasco.
Vulture Save Stashes for Monday, September 9
- John Schreiber (KC): If Erceg pitches on Sunday, it will be consecutive outings.
- Cole Sands (MIN): If Durán and Jax pitch today, it will be back-to-back games.
Three Takeaways
Durán in the eighth inning?: It happens occasionally but may be a production issue against divisional rivals. Jhoan Durán opened the eighth with a 2-0 lead, facing the Royals’ 6-7-8 lineup pocket. The Twins broadcast speculated this usage pattern was to avoid him facing Bobby Witt Jr. However, after allowing a one-out single, hitting a batter, and an RBI single, he was replaced by Griffin Jax with the lineup turning over. Through five appearances against Kansas City, Durán has allowed nine hits across 3.2 innings, seven runs (four earned), and a 2.727 WHIP. He’s also struggled versus Cleveland. The Guardians have produced four hits and four earned runs in 2.2 innings over three games, resulting in a 2.25 WHIP by Durán facing them. Fantasy managers must monitor his outings down the stretch because getting him right for the postseason will be a priority. He’s had his four-game scoreless snapped in Saturday’s loss and has allowed multiple runs in three of his last seven contests.
Tinoco time in Miami?: In case you missed it, in an avalanche of roster moves on Saturday, Miami placed Calvin Faucher (shoulder impingement) on the 15-day injured list before its game versus Philadelphia. Although it was a non-save appearance, Jesús Tinoco closed out the four-run win. This usage pattern indicates he could be in line for the primary save share over the next two weeks. Since joining Miami, he’s recorded a win and five holds with 24 strikeouts against four walks (30.3 K-BB%) in 15 games, spanning 18.1 innings. His slider generates a 17 percent swinging strike rate, and the broadcast intimated that he could receive future save chances. This will be a difficult window for the Marlins, but this scoring period’s schedule yields three games at Pittsburgh and four at Washington before a stretch of three straight series against playoff teams.
Jansen decides he’s ready: It was announced before Saturday’s game that Kenley Jansen would be available, and he secured his 26th save with a clean ninth, which needed only seven cutters. His interest in pitching may align with the team’s chances for the postseason. He’s dealt with multiple minor injury issues throughout the season, making it tough to predict when he will pitch and, more importantly, pitch well. Fantasy managers should monitor the usage patterns of relievers before the ninth in case he’s shut down, which also happened last season. Justin Slaten notched his 12th hold with a clean eighth and recorded two strikeouts in last night’s game. Josh Winckowski recorded his first save of 2024 on Saturday. Stashing Slaten could prove beneficial over the last three weeks from a fantasy lens. One hopes Liam Hendriks can return this season, but he may not receive a save chance, but it’s possible. Stay tuned.
Those seeking full game recaps should surf the team pages; they’ve all been updated with Saturday’s results.
Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe and be well.
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