On the last full slate of the regular season, relievers recorded three wins and secured nine saves. Six relievers recorded their first save of 2024, with four being the first of a pitcher’s career: Ryne Nelson (ARI), Kris Bubic (KC), Edgardo Henriquez (LAD), José Ruiz (PHI).
In case you missed it, Closer Monkey’s 2025 Projected Closer by Teams was posted yesterday.
There will be two games today between Atlanta and the New York Mets; here are the tiebreaker scenarios per MLB.com:
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Closer CliffsNotes
Ryne Nelson (ARI) logged three scoreless frames, allowing a hit and striking out one for his first career save. He threw 37 pitches (26 strikes – 70.3 Strike%) and induced four whiffs, closing a nine-run win over the Padres. Joe Mantiply let his only inherited runner on a fielder’s choice groundout and struck out one in two-thirds of the sixth.
Justin Slaten (BOS) secured his second save with a scoreless ninth, working around a lead-off bunt single by Dylan Carlson and retiring the next three hitters. He threw 16 pitches (11 strikes – 68.8 Strike%) and induced one whiff. Over his last 13 games, he was scoreless in ten while earning a win and recording a save with 13 strikeouts against zero walks.
Ethan Roberts (CHC) gave up three hits, three earned runs, and a walk at the top of the tenth, resulting in his first loss. Nate Pearson stranded two runners in the eighth and logged 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing a hit and striking out one.
Enyel De Los Santos (CHW) took over with the bases loaded and two outs at the bottom of the eighth. Inducing an inning-ending groundout. He returned for the ninth and worked around a one-out single with a game-ending double play groundout for his second save. He threw 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) and produced one whiff.
Buck Farmer (CIN) capped a three-run rally at the top of the tenth, recording his first save with a scoreless bottom of the inning despite issuing a walk. Tony Santillan collected his third win, firing a clean ninth and striking out one.
Victor Vodnik (COL) suffered his fourth loss and a sixth blown save, giving up three hits, including a game-tying Chris Taylor solo home run, and two earned runs over one-third of the eighth. Seth Halvorsen stranded one of two inherited runners while retiring all five batters faced, three via strikeout. He threw 21 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and generated five whiffs (23.8 SwStr%).
Kris Bubic (KC) not only converted his first career save but also secured the fifth seed in the playoffs, finishing a two-run win in Atlanta. He allowed Gio Urshela’s lead-off single, then retired the next three batters for a scoreless appearance. He threw 17 pitches (12 strikes – 70.6 Strike%) and induced one whiff while recording one strikeout.
Edgardo Henriquez (LAD) preserved a one-run win in Colorado with a scoreless ninth for his first career save. He allowed a walk and recorded two strikeouts on 17 pitches (10 strikes – 58.8 Strike%) with three whiffs (17.6 SwStr%). Michael Kopech notched his ninth hold, firing a clean eighth and striking out two against the 2-3-4 lineup pocket. He threw eighth pitches (87.5 Strike%) and generated three whiffs (37.5 SwStr%). Evan Phillips collected his fifth win, retiring the side and striking out two in the seventh, ahead of his team’s rally at the top of the eighth.
Anthony Bender (MIA) took over at the bottom of the eighth. He stranded a runner and logged 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing a walk while striking out two for his first save. He threw 25 pitches (52 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
Edwin Díaz (NYM) completed a combined shutout with a scoreless ninth in a non-save outing. He issued a walk and recorded three strikeouts on 26 pitches (50 Strike%) with seven whiffs (26.9 SwStr%). Since August 29, he’s been scoreless in 13 of 14 appearances, converting six saves with 28 strikeouts versus three walks over 14.1 innings.
Clay Holmes (NYY) was called upon with a two-run lead at the top of the ninth against his former team, Pittsburgh. He retired the side and recorded a strikeout facing the 2-3-4 lineup pocket on 11 pitches (63.6 Strike%) with one whiff for his 30th save. He finished the regular season on a modest five-game scoreless streak. Luke Weaver collected his seventh win, tossing a scoreless eighth, allowing a hit, and striking out two. Over his last seven appearances, he’s recorded three wins and converted four saves with 24 strikeouts against three walks across 11 innings.
José Ruiz (PHI) navigated around two hits and a walk with two strikeouts in a scoreless bottom of the ninth against the Nationals for his first career save. He threw 25 pitches (64 Strike%) and induced two whiffs.
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