Sunday’s slate provided many high-leverage intrigue events, many with playoff implications. Six relievers recorded wins, and ten secured saves. Atlanta and the Mets lost due to ninth-inning rallies by their opponents, and Arizona produced a walk-off win against Milwaukee featuring curious usage patterns in the tenth inning. Our condensed game recaps cover Sunday’s action, including three relievers securing the first save of their careers.
Closer CliffsNotes
Blake Walston (ARI) recorded a strikeout against Willy Adames, his only batter faced, and collected his first win courtesy of a walk-off rally at the bottom of the tenth. Justin Martinez worked a scoreless ninth, issuing a walk and striking out one. He returned for the tenth and issued a two-out intentional walk to Brice Turang before allowing a go-ahead two-RBI triple by Jackson Chourio, forcing his removal. He threw 29 pitches (18 strikes – 62.1 Strike%), inducing two whiffs. He finished with a hit, two runs (one earned), and two walks (one intentional) while striking out two.
- Hierarchy remains: Justin Martinez | A.J. Puk | Ryan Thompson
Raisel Iglesias (ATL) had allowed eight earned runs in his first 62 appearances and entered this outing without allowing an earned run over his last 35.1 innings since June 18. This ended in an implosion against the Dodgers at the top of the ninth. After giving up a one-out Will Smith triple, Iglesias issued Shohei Ohtani an intentional walk with two outs. Mookie Betts responded with a go-ahead RBI single, Freddie Freeman scored two on an opposite-field single, and Teoscar Hernández launched a two-run home run. This resulted in a second loss for Iglesias, giving up four hits, five earned runs, and a walk while striking out one.
- Hierarchy remains: Raisel Iglesias | Joe Jiménez | Pierce Johnson
Tyson Miller (CHC) inherited a bases-loaded situation with no outs in the top of the ninth with his team ahead by five. He let one runner score on a fielder’s choice groundout, then recorded consecutive strikeouts, preserving a four-run win while recording his first career save. He threw 19 pitches (12 strikes – 63.2 Strike%) and generated five whiffs (26.3 SwStr%). This extended his scoreless streak to five games.
- Hierarchy remains: Porter Hodge | Nate Pearson | Tyson Miller
Fraser Ellard (CHW) secured his first career save, preserving a one-run win over Oakland despite allowing a solo home run. He threw 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9 Strike%) and induced one whiff while striking out one in his outing. He faced the A’s 6-7-8-9 batters. Prelander Berroa notched his first hold, firing 1.1 clean frames and striking out two, throwing 14 pitches (9 strikes – 64.3 Strike%) with four whiffs (28.6 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in all six appearances this month with 11 strikeouts against two walks over 8.1 innings.
- Updated Hierarchy: *Justin Anderson | *Gus Varland | Prelander Berroa
- *= closer-by-committee
Emmanuel Clase (CLE) shut the door on his MLB-leading 45th save. He retired the side and recorded a strikeout, completing a combined shutout of the Rays. He threw 12 pitches (75 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (25 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless through all five outings this month, with a save in each, and converted 32 straight save opportunities since May 20.
- Hierarchy remains: Emmanuel Clase | Hunter Gaddis | Cade Smith
Jason Foley (DET) took over at the top of the eighth and retired all four batters, two on strikeouts, while securing his 23rd save. He threw ten pitches (80 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (30 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in 13 of his last 15 appearances since August 14, converting all eight save chances while posting 12 strikeouts against four walks.
- Hierarchy remains: *Jason Foley | *Tyler Holton | Will Vest
- *= closer-by-committee
Josh Hader (HOU) was tossed into a bases-loaded situation with one out at the bottom of the ninth. He allowed an RBI fielder’s choice groundout and a two-out Charles Leblanc single, scoring the other two inherited runners before inducing a game-ending strikeout for his 31st save. Hader threw nine pitches (88.9 Strike%) and recorded one whiff. Although he let all three runners score, he’s converted a save in his last two appearances.
- Hierarchy remains: Josh Hader | Ryan Pressly | Bryan Abreu
Michael Kopech (LAD) kept the game tied with a scoreless bottom of the eighth and collected his sixth win, benefiting from his team’s seven-run rally at the top of the ninth. He issued Marcell Ozuna a lead-off walk and gave up Matt Olson’s double, then retired Travis d’Arnaud on a shallow flyout and ended the threat with consecutive strikeouts. Matched up with the 4-5-6 lineup pocket, he threw 23 pitches (13 strikes – 56.5 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (21.7 SwStr%).
- Hierarchy remains: *Michael Kopech | *Evan Phillips | Blake Treinen
- *= closer-by-committee
Jared Koenig (MIL) tossed a scoreless ninth, keeping the game tied. When he returned for the tenth, he did not record an out, allowing a lead-off RBI single, Ketel Marte’s single, and Corbin Carroll’s, loading the bases. After hitting Christian Walker with a pitch, scoring the game-tying run, Koenig allowed a walk-off hit by Eugenio Suarez, resulting in his fourth loss. After the game, Pat Murphy reported Joel Payamps did not return for the eighth after reporting soreness in his forearm.
- Hierarchy remains: Devin Williams | Trevor Megill | Joel Payamps
Cole Sands (MIN) collected his eighth win while logging two scoreless frames. He allowed a hit and a walk while striking out two on 36 pitches (21 strikes – 58.3 Strike%) with five whiffs. Jorge Alcala worked two scoreless innings, giving up a hit and striking out four while closing a seven-run victory.
- Hierarchy remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Cole Sands
Edwin Díaz (NYM) took over a tied game at the bottom of the ninth and allowed Nick Castellanos’s one-out single, then during a strikeout, he stole second. With two outs, J.T. Realmuto produced a walk-off RBI single, handing Díaz his fourth loss. He finished with two hits, an earned run, and two strikeouts over two-thirds of the ninth. He threw 16 pitches (13 strikes – 81.3 Strike%) and induced two whiffs. This snapped his eight-game scoreless streak.
- Hierarchy remains: Edwin Díaz | Phil Maton | Reed Garrett
Tommy Kahnle (NYY) was summoned with two on and one out at the top of the ninth against Boston. He induced a game-ending ground ball double play, securing his first save. He only needed four pitches against Jarren Duran. Kahnle’s been scoreless in his last three appearances. Jake Cousins was awarded his eighth hold despite hitting Trevor Story with a pitch and issuing a one-out walk before his removal.
- Hierarchy remains: *Luke Weaver | *Tommy Kahnle | Jake Cousins
- *= closer-by-committee
José Ruiz (PHI) fired a clean top of the ninth and collected his fourth win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. He threw 12 pitches (75 Strike%) and induced one whiff against the Mets’ 5-6-7 lineup pocket.
- Hierarchy remains: Carlos Estévez | Jeff Hoffman | Matt Strahm
Aroldis Chapman (PIT) retired the side and recorded a strikeout against the Royals’ 2-3-4 lineup pocket for his ninth save. He threw 12 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%). This ended a three-game streak of allowing at least a run, and he has converted three of his last four save chances.
- Hierarchy remains: Aroldis Chapman | Dennis Santana | David Bednar
Adrian Morejon (SD) took over at the bottom of the tenth and retired the side but let the “place” runner score on a sacrifice fly while securing his second save. He threw 15 pitches (66.7 Strike%) without a whiff. Robert Suarez was tagged with his fifth blown save, allowing a game-tying Heliot Ramos solo home run, but collected his ninth win courtesy of the rally at the top of the tenth. He’s given up a home run and suffered a blown save in two of his last three outings.
- Hierarchy remains: Robert Suarez | Tanner Scott | Jason Adam
Andrew Kittredge (STL) entered a tied contest at the bottom of the eighth. However, he allowed two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one, resulting in his fifth loss. JoJo Romero stranded two runners and retired his only batter in the eighth.
- Hierarchy remains: Ryan Helsley | Andrew Kittredge | JoJo Romero
Chad Green (TOR) allowed a hit and a walk but recorded his 17th save with a game-ending pop-out by Jordan Walker. Green threw 22 pitches (15 strikes – 68.2 Strike%) without a whiff, recording one strikeout. He snapped a streak of three consecutive blown saves with a much-needed scoreless outing. Zach Pop was awarded his second win after retiring his only batter at the top of the eighth.
- Hierarchy remains: Chad Green | Génesis Cabrera | Erik Swanson
Jose A. Ferrer (WSH) allowed two hits and an earned run while finishing a one-run win over the Marlins, recording his first major league save. He threw 16 pitches (75 Strike%) and induced one whiff against the Marlins’ 4-5-6-7 batters. He’s been scoreless in 15 of 17 appearances since August 10 with six holds and this save.
- Hierarchy remains: Kyle Finnegan | Derek Law | Jose A. Ferrer
Vulture Save Options for Monday, September 16
- A.J. Puk (ARI): Martinez logged 1.2 innings and threw 29 pitches on Sunday.
- Ryan Pressly (HOU): Hader has pitched in three of the previous four and four of the last six games.
Vulture Save Stash for Tuesday, September 17
- Pierce Johnson (ATL): If Iglesias and Jiménez pitch today, it will be consecutive outings, with three in the last four.
- David Bednar (PIT): It will be back-to-back contests if Chapman and Santana appear in today’s game.
Three Takeaways
Overextending Martinez: It’s tough to attempt a two-inning outing, including the tenth inning, but setting up a reliever for potential failure while battling for a spot in the playoffs makes Sunday’s outcome even more frustrating. After tossing a scoreless ninth, Justin Martinez returned for the tenth inning. He retired the first two batters, and then interim manager Jeff Banister opted to intentionally walk Brice Turang, putting two runners one, and face Jackson Chourio. Not only did Chourio slice an opposite-field triple on a 103 m.p.h. sinker, but it results in Martinez being unavailable in the first game at Colorado. Instead of a solid outing in the ninth, he threw 29 pitches in a 1.2-inning appearance.
No Airbender in a loss: As confounding as Arizona’s decision-making was, things were equally confusing for the Brewers. After the game, it was shared that Joel Payamps did not return for the eighth inning with soreness in his forearm, which could force some tough decisions as the team prepares for the postseason. However, with the lead at the top of the tenth, Devin Williams was warming up, then sat down. Jared Koenig returned for the tenth with thoughts shared by Pat Murphy in this tweet by Curt Hogg. Not using Williams for workload purposes can be justified, but why did he warm up twice? Many teams track warmup pitches in the bullpen and actual pitches in a game for their workload management. Although the reasoning can be justified, getting him loose twice does not.
Prelander rising: It’s been a tough season for Prelander Berroa. He battled some early injury issues and spent most of his season at Triple-A with mixed results. However, through six appearances in September, he’s produced 8.1 scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts against two walks (31 K-BB%) and a 0.60 WHIP. He’s generating a 25 percent swinging strike rate with his slider and a 44.7 whiff percentage, resulting in a .141 expected weighted on-base average (xwOBA). He did not receive the save chance on Sunday, but he did the heavy lifting, facing the A’s 3-4-5 lineup pocket with a two-run lead in the eighth. Those in keeper formats should monitor his usage patterns and outcomes over the last two weeks.
Those seeking full game recaps should surf the team pages; they’ve all been updated with Saturday’s results.
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