Usually, the introduction recaps the previous day’s slate of high-leverage outcomes. However, after watching the last game in Oakland yesterday and witnessing the outpouring of emotion, I agree with the sentiments shared by Jeff Passan and cannot say it any better:
My Grandpa introduced me to baseball, taking me to Opening Day in Syracuse throughout my childhood. He taught me to keep score and shared his love for the game. Baseball is a generational sport, and situations like this prevent bonds like this from forming.
As for the game results, the Yankees and the Dodgers clinched their respective divisions. Minnesota lost an extra-inning game to Miami, putting the magic number for Detroit and Kansas City at one. Life comes at you fast. In yesterday’s contests, relievers recorded five wins and secured six saves. Our condensed game recaps cover the high-leverage events of interest.
Closer CliffsNotes
Seth Halvorsen (COL) secured his second save, capping a five-run rally at the bottom of the eighth, allowing a two-out single and striking out one in a scoreless top of the ninth. He threw 14 pitches (11 strikes – 78.6 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He’s made quite an impression as a rookie. Through his first 11 appearances, he’s been scoreless in ten with two wins and two saves. Angel Chivilli was awarded his second win despite giving up two hits, including Pedro Pagés two-run home run and striking out one. Victor Vodnik tossed a scoreless seventh, walking and striking out one.
- Hierarchy remains: Seth Halvorsen | Angel Chivilli | Victor Vodnik
Jason Foley (DET) shut the door on his 27th save. He fired a clean top of the ninth, recording two strikeouts while preserving a comeback win over the Rays. He threw 12 pitches (7 strikes – 58.3 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (25 SwStr%). Since August 15, he’s converted 11 of 12 save chances while being scoreless in 16 of his 19 appearances. Beau Brieske earned his fourth win, tossing two clean frames. Over his last eight games, he’s been scoreless in seven and recorded two wins in his last three.
- Hierarchy remains: *Jason Foley | *Tyler Holton | *Beau Brieske
- *= closer-by-committee
Lucas Erceg (KC) retired the side and recorded a strikeout, capping a three-run rally at the top of the ninth while securing his 14th save. He threw 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He’s converted all six save opportunities in his last nine outings with eight scoreless games and 13 strikeouts against one walk. Kris Bubic collected his first win, tossing a scoreless eighth. He gave up a hit and struck out two.
- Hierarchy remains: Lucas Erceg | John Schreiber | Kris Bubic
Michael Kopech (LAD) tossed a scoreless top of the ninth, giving up a hit and striking out one on 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) with three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%) in a non-save outing during his team’s clinching of the National League West. Since his acquisition, he’s appeared in 23 games with Los Angeles, with 20 being scoreless, posting four wins, six saves, and seven holds with a 27:10 K:BB and 0.83 WHIP across 23 innings. Blake Treinen notched his 16th hold, walking one during a scoreless eighth. Anthony Banda stranded a runner in the sixth and retired all four batters, collecting his third win.
- Updated Hierarchy: Michael Kopech | Blake Treinen | Evan Phillips
Darren McCaughan (MIA) retired the side while preserving a two-run win over the Twins for his first career save, though he did permit the “place” runner to score. Anthony Maldonado collected his first win. He logged two scoreless frames, giving up a hit and two walks. Michael Peterson suffered his first blown save, issuing two walks and letting the “place” runner score in the tenth on a sacrifice fly. Jesús Tinoco was tagged with his first blown save. He took over with a runner on and one out in the bottom of the eighth but gave up a single, followed by Brooks Lee’s two-RBI double, scoring the inherited runner and putting an earned run on his ledger. Tinoco finished his 1.2 innings with three hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one.
- Hierarchy remains: Jesús Tinoco | Declan Cronin | Anthony Bender
Devin Williams (MIL) navigated around a one-out Nick Gonzalez double with a strikeout and a game-ending flyout for his 14th save. He threw 21 pitches (13 strikes – 61.9 Strike%) and induced two whiffs. He’s converted nine straight save chances and been scoreless over his last 12 appearances with 21 strikeouts against six walks.
- Hierarchy remains: Devin Williams | Trevor Megill | Joel Payamps
Mason Miller (OAK) set a franchise record with his 28th save as a rookie, throwing the last pitch at Oakland Coliseum. He preserved a one-run win over Texas, retiring all four batters, two via strikeout on 19 pitches (12 strikes – 63.2 Strike%) with five whiffs (26.3 SwStr%). Since June 18, he’s converted 16 consecutive save chances with 45 strikeouts against nine walks over 32.1 innings.
- Hierarchy remains: Mason Miller | Tyler Ferguson | Michel Otañez
Tanner Scott (SD) took over with the score tied at the bottom of the seventh and one out. He allowed an Enrique Hernández single, Andy Pages reached on catcher’s interference, and Shohei Ohtani drove in the go-ahead run on an RBI single. Mookie Betts followed with a two-RBI single, putting three runs (two earned) on Scott’s final line with three hits and a walk (intentional – Teoscar Hernández) during his two-thirds inning, resulting in his sixth loss.
- Updated Hierarchy: Robert Suarez | Tanner Scott | Jason Adam
Ryan Fernandez (STL) stranded a runner in the seventh but suffered his sixth loss and a third blown save. He allowed three hits, four earned runs, and a walk while striking out two in his combined inning of relief. Patrick Leahy let his only inherited runner score, giving up two hits and an earned run in one-third of the eighth.
- Hierarchy remains: Ryan Helsley | Andrew Kittredge | Matthew Liberatore
Garrett Cleavinger (TB) took over with a one-run lead at the bottom of the eighth but suffered his fifth loss and a second blown save. He gave up a one-out single by Riley Greene, threw a wild pitch, issued a walk, and a game-tying RBI single by Cole Keith. He allowed the go-ahead run score on a sacrifice fly.
- Hierarchy remains: *Edwin Uceta | *Garrett Cleavinger | *Hunter Bigge
- *= closer-by-committee
Kyle Finnegan (WSH) entered a tied game at the top of the ninth. He allowed two hits, three earned runs, and three walks while recording two outs, resulting in his eighth loss. He threw 28 pitches (50 Strike%) and only induced one whiff. He’s been tagged with a loss in consecutive outings and given up at least a run in three of his last eight.
- Hierarchy remains: Kyle Finnegan | Derek Law | Jose A. Ferrer
Vulture Save Options for Friday. September 27
- Kris Bubic (KC): Erceg has appeared in three consecutive games, Schreiber in the previous two. Alec Marsh should log multiple innings if needed in tonight’s game.
- Justin Slaten (BOS): He was mentioned as an option for saves; Alex Cora should use him for one this weekend, but will he?
- Kevin Ginkel (ARI): It will be all hands on deck for the Diamondbacks, and if it’s a right-handed pocket in the ninth, recent usage patterns lean toward Ginkel. If it’s a left-handed pocket, plan on A.J. Puk.
- Trevor Megill (MIL): The Brewers cannot improve their seed for the playoffs, so using Devin Williams on consecutive days may not occur. It’s workload management season.
- Daniel Hudson (LAD): Kopech, Treinen, and Phillips have all worked in back-to-back games.
Vulture Save Stashes for Saturday, September 28
They will be based on Friday’s usage patterns and which teams remain in the race for the playoffs. If Slaten and Ginkel do not pitch tonight, plan on having them listed once again.
Three Takeaways
Erceg’s hat trick: Appearing and recording the save in three straight games, Lucas Erceg is now tied for first in WAR (wins above replacement) for all qualified relievers since his first game with the Royals on July 31. He’s suffered three losses but converted 11 of his 13 save chances with 31 strikeouts against eight walks across 25 innings. He’s now recorded a game-finished in 12 of his 23 appearances with Kansas City and enters the postseason as the team’s preferred save option.
Puk’s renaissance as a reliever: After operating as a starting pitcher at the onset of the season, A.J. Puk has thrived since transitioning back to a reliever. He’s tied with Erceg in WAR in the timeframe above and also ranks as noted among all relievers since July 31:
- K-BB% – 1st (41.7%)
- SIERA – 1st (1.19)
- WHIP – 3rd (0.58)
- Swinging Strike Percentage – 6th (20.4%)
- Contact rate allowed – Tied for 10th (62.1%)
His role is not as defined as Erceg’s, but how he’s used this weekend and potentially in the playoffs may provide the blueprint for his role in 2025. Stay tuned.
Padres relievers and fatigue: Since July 31, Tanner Scott has logged more appearances than his peers (28), and Jason Adam is tied for third (26). Although the bullpen should be a position of strength for San Diego entering postseason play, heavy usage patterns may necessitate a weekend of rest against Arizona. Using this timeframe, here are the high-leverage triumvirate’s results:
- Robert Suarez: 22 games, 21.1 IP, 5 clean outings, 16:7 K:BB (9.7 K-BB%), 1.45 WHIP, 4.08 SIERA, 12.6 SwStr%, 76.9 percent contact rate allowed
- Tanner Scott: 28 games, 26.1 IP, 6 clean outings, 31:9 K:BB (19.6 K-BB%). 1.33 WHIP, 2.98 SIERA, 16.5 SwStr%, 70.2 percent contact rate allowed
- Jason Adam: 26 games, 25.1 IP, 13 clean outings, 30:7 K:BB (23.7 K-BB%), 0.79 WHIP, 2.83 SIERA, 19.9 SwStr%, 59.5 percent contact rate allowed
Getting each reliever one more outing makes sense, but managing their workloads should be a priority. Traffic in high-leverage playoff innings does not end well.
Those seeking full game recaps should surf the team pages; they’ve all been updated with Thursday’s results.
Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe and be well.
Statistical Credits:
