Two more teams, Baltimore and San Diego, punched their postseason tickets with wins during Tuesday’s contests; Houston clinched the American League West. Relievers recorded seven wins and eight saves during the 15-game slate. Our condensed game recaps cover last night’s high-leverage events of interest.
Closer CliffsNotes
Raisel Iglesias (ATL) retired the side against the Mets, moving his team within one of the last Wild Card position, finishing a four-run win in a non-save capacity. He only needed five pitches (80 Strike%). He’s been scoreless in eight of ten appearances in September, recording a win and converting four saves. Joe Jiménez tossed a scoreless eighth, giving up a hit and striking out two.
- Hierarchy remains: Raisel Iglesias | Joe Jiménez | Pierce Johnson
Seranthony Domínguez (BAL) entered with a runner on and one out at the bottom of the ninth. He retired both batters, recording his 11th save. He threw seven pitches (57.1 Strike%) without a whiff. Gregory Soto tossed a scoreless combined inning, walking and striking out one for his tenth hold. Yennier Cano let both inherited runners score, yielding two hits and recording two outs, getting credit for his 34th hold.
- Updated Hierarchy: *Seranthony Domínguez | *Yennier Cano| *Gregory Soto
- *= closer-by-committee
Chase Shugart (BOS) recorded his first career save in an eventual one-run win after taking over at the bottom of the tenth with two on base and one out. He let one inherited runner score after issuing two walks and inducing two outs. Zach Penrod allowed a hit, two runs (one earned), and a walk during his one-third of the tenth for his second hold. Chris Martin collected his third win, walking and striking out one in a scoreless bottom of the ninth. Luis Guerrero walked one but worked a scoreless eighth.
- Hierarchy remains: *Chris Martin | *Justin Slaten | Lucas Sims
- *= closer-by-committee
Drew Smyly (CHC) navigated around a hit and a walk while striking out one at the bottom of the fifth. He was awarded his fourth win as a result. Tyson Miller retired the side in the sixth.
- Hierarchy remains: Porter Hodge | Tyson Miller | Nate Pearson
Justin Anderson (CHW) recorded his first save of the season and first since May 26, 2019. He worked around a walk and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless top of the ninth, preserving a one-run win over the Angels. He threw 18 pitches (50 Strike%) without a whiff. Prelander Berroa collected his first win despite allowing a solo home run and a walk while striking out two in the eighth.
- Hierarchy remains: Justin Anderson | Fraser Ellard | Prelander Berroa
Emmanuel Clase (CLE) sealed a five-run win, retiring the side and recording a strikeout against the Reds. He threw 11 pitches (81.8 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless through nine outings in September with ten strikeotus against two walks while giving up two hits (0.22 WHIP).
- Hierarchy remains: Emmanuel Clase | Hunter Gaddis | Cade Smith
Victor Vodnik (COL) took over with a one-run lead at the top of the seventh. He suffered his fifth blown save, allowing a lead-off walk and a one-out double, putting runners on second and third. After another batter reached on a fielder’s choice, Vodnik induced a groundout but could not handle the throw covering first on an attempted double play, scoring the game-tying run. He finished with a hit, an earned run, and a walk while striking out two. Angel Chivilli gave up three hits, four earned runs, and a walk while striking out one in two-thirds of the eighth, resulting in his third loss. This usage pattern confirms Seth Halvorsen as the closer through the end of the season.
- Updated Hierarchy: Seth Halvorsen | Angel Chivilli | Victor Vodnik
Beau Brieske (DET) took over at the top of the eighth and could not complete the combined shutout but did secure his first save, closing a one-run win over the Rays. He allowed Brandon Lowe’s solo home run and recorded three strikeouts on 23 pitches (20 strikes – 87 Strike%) with seven whiffs (30.4 SwStr%). This snapped his six-game scoreless streak, but he’s recorded a win and this save in his last seven contests.
- Hierarchy remains: *Jason Foley | *Tyler Holton | *Beau Brieske
- *= closer-by-committee
Josh Hader (HOU) retired all four batters, three via strikeout, preserving a one-run win over Seattle for his 34th save and clinching the American League West. He threw 17 pitches (12 strikes – 70.6 Strike%) and generated eight whiffs (47.1 SwStr%). Coming off one of his worst outings of the season, Hader rebounded with a tremendous outing and has converted five of seven save chances in September. Ryan Pressly gave up a hit and a walk during two-thirds scoreless in the eighth for his 24th hold. Bryan Abreu notched his MLB-leading 37th hold, firing 1.1 clean frames and striking out one.
- Hierarchy remains: Josh Hader | Ryan Pressly | Bryan Abreu
Lucas Erceg (KC) preserved a 1-0 win over Washington, retiring the side and striking out two for his 12th save. He threw 12 pitches (75 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (25 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in six of his past seven outings, converting four saves and striking out 11 against one walk. Angel Zerpa collected his second win, retiring the side in the ninth.
- Hierarchy remains: Lucas Erceg | John Schreiber | Kris Bubic
Jesús Tinoco (MIA) stranded two runners in the eighth and retired all five batters, one via strikeout, finishing a three-run win over the Twins for his third save. He threw 19 pitches (11 strikes – 57.9 Strike%) and induced two whiffs. He’s been scoreless in six of his seven games in September, converting all three saves with seven strikeouts against zero walks.
- Hierarchy remains: Jesús Tinoco | Declan Cronin | Anthony Bender
Hoby Milner (MIL) took over at the bottom of the fifth. He retired the side and recorded a strikeout against the Pirates, collecting his fifth win. Colin Rea secured his first hold, logging 1.1 scoreless innings, yielding two hits and striking out two. Trevor Megill stranded two runners in the seventh.
- Hierarchy remains: Devin Williams | Trevor Megill | Joel Payamps
Mason Miller (OAK) collected his second win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning, working around two hits for a scoreless top of the ninth. He threw 26 pitches (64 Strike%) and induced three whiffs while recording two strikeouts in his outing. In his last seven appearances, he’s been scoreless in six while recording this win and converting four saves with eight strikeouts versus two walks. Scott Alexander suffered his third blown save, giving up a game-tying Jonah Heim solo home run and striking out one in the eighth.
- Hierarchy remains: Mason Miller | Tyler Ferguson | Michel Otañez
Robert Suarez (SD) allowed three consecutive singles and an earned run before inducing an improbable, game-ending triple-play, securing his 35th save and clinching his team’s postseason berth. He threw 12 pitches (75 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (25 SwStr%) while facing the Dodgers’ 6-7-8-9 hitters. Through 11 appearances this month, he’s converted six of nine save opportunities but has allowed at least a run in four of his last eight. Jason Adam notched his 30th hold, yielding a hit in a scoreless eighth. Tanner Scott recorded his 11th hold, giving up a single, inducing a double play, and striking out Shohei Ohtani in a scoreless seventh.
- Hierarchy remains: *Robert Suarez | *Tanner Scott | Jason Adam
- *= closer-by-committee
Andrew Kittredge (STL) retired the side and recorded a strikeout in the seventh, then collected his fight win courtesy of a four-run rally at the top of the eighth by his teammates. Matthew Liberatore navigated around two hits for a scoreless eighth. Ryan Fernandez gave up Jacob Stallings’ two-out double and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth, finishing the four-run win.
- Hierarchy remains: Ryan Helsley | Andrew Kittredge | JoJo Romero
Josh Sborz (TEX) entered a tied game at the bottom of the ninth in Oakland. He allowed a lead-off single, recorded a strikeout with Zach Gelof stealing second, and a walk-off RBI single by Jacob Wilson, resulting in his second loss. David Robertson worked a scoreless eighth, walking and striking out one.
- Hierarchy remains: Kirby Yates | David Robertson | José Leclerc
Tommy Nance (TOR) gave up two hits, three runs (two earned), and a walk while striking out one at the top of the tenth, resulting in his third loss. Chad Green stranded two runners in the eighth and logged 1.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit. Génesis Cabrera was tagged with his third blown save, yielding three hits and an earned run while striking out one in two-thirds of the eighth.
- Hierarchy remains: Chad Green | Erik Swanson | Génesis Cabrera
Kyle Finnegan (WSH) suffered his seventh loss after the “place” runner scored on a throwing error at the top of the tenth against the Royals. Finnegan allowed an infield single and a walk while striking out two on 24 pitches (50 Strike%) with two whiffs. This ended his five-game scoreless streak. Jose A. Ferrer logged two clean frames and recorded two strikeouts. Derek Law worked two scoreless innings, giving up two hits and a walk while striking out three.
- Hierarchy remains: Kyle Finnegan | Derek Law | Jose A. Ferrer
Vulture Save Options for Wednesday, September 25
- A.J. Puk (ARI): Today’s game has entered the must-win territory, and this may yield Puk in the ninth, but there’s a chance Torey Lovullo plays the match-ups in the late innings.
- Justin Slaten (BOS): Martin has appeared in consecutive games, and if provided, it’s time to let the rookie log a save appearance in Toronto.
- Tanner Scott (SD): If Ohtani’s lineup pocket will hit in the ninth, it will be Scott for the save chance.
Vulture Save Stash for Thursday, September 26
- Declan Cronin (MIA): If Tinoco pitches today, it will be back-to-back outings.
Three Takeaways
Baltimore’s fluidity: In recent contests, the Orioles have been deploying a match-up-based approach, with Gregory Soto facing left-handed hitting pockets and Seranthony Domínguez against right-handed hitters. This likely carries into the postseason as well. It’s less than optimal for fantasy managers, but last night’s usage patterns return Domínguez back atop the hierarchy for the remainder of the season.
American League Wild Card Update: Minnesota has had a rough stretch, and Tuesday’s loss against the Marlins makes threading the postseason needle more difficult. Entering gameplay today, here are the updated playoff odds from Baseball-Reference:
From Fangraphs, the Wild Card odds have updated with Detroit in the driver’s seat, followed by Kansas City with five games remaining:
National League Wild Card Update: With the Padres securing their spot in the playoffs, three teams are left for two spots: Arizona, Atlanta, and the New York Mets. Here are their remaining schedules:
- Arizona: 1 against San Francisco and three versus San Diego
- Atlanta: 2 versus the Mets and three against Kansas City
- New York Mets: 2 against Atlanta and three at Milwaukee
With this in mind, the Diamondbacks have fallen below the cut line in Fangraphs playoff projections:
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.
Statistical Credits:
