Monkey Bytes: August 17

Even though it was not a full slate, Friday’s 14 games featured 11 games decided by three or fewer runs, nine by two or less, and seven one-run contests. Relievers recorded six wins, though a blown save accompanied two. High-leverage relievers also secured eight saves in a stress-filled slate.

Our condensed game recaps cover all of the high-leverage outings of interest. Plus, today’s Three Takeaways looks into Los Angeles relievers bringing the heat during their save chances last night, another bumpy save with David Bednar, and Craig Kimbrel’s decline continues with a hat tip for one of my Dad’s favorite movies, “The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly.”

Closer CliffsNotes

  • Justin Martinez (ARI) took over a tied game in the bottom of the ninth. After issuing a one-out walk, a two-out single scored the runner on a fielding error in centerfield, handing Martinez his third loss. He finished two-thirds of an inning with two hits, an unearned run, and a walk while striking out two. 
  • Craig Kimbrel (BAL) allowed a walk and two home runs, resulting in three earned runs in the top of the seventh with his four-seam fastball averaging 92.7 m.p.h. 
  • Kenley Jansen (BOS) shut the door on his 23rd save with a clean bottom of the ninth and two strikeouts versus the Orioles’ 2-3-4 lineup pocket. He’s not allowed a baserunner through 4.2 innings in August while converting all three save chances. 
  • Héctor Neris (CHC) had been pitching well in the second half, but with one out and the bases loaded, he was called for a balk, then allowed a two-out, two-RBI triple, ceding a three-run lead. He was charged with his fifth blown save and his first since June 17. Tyson Miller emerged with his fourth win courtesy of a clean top of the tenth and a walk-off rally in the bottom of the inning. 
  • Chad Kuhl (CHW) held on for his first save during a one-run over the Astros. He gave up Jon Singleton’s solo shot in the bottom of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts in his appearance. Justin Anderson was awarded his first win. He logged 1.1 scoreless frames. 
  • Victor Vodnik (COL) finished a four-run win in a non-save capacity. He dealt with traffic. His outing began with a hitter reaching on an error, followed by a single. He induced a double play groundout, issued a walk, and induced a game-ending groundout for a scoreless ninth. 
  • Ben Joyce (LAA) recorded his second save. He took over in the eighth with two runners on and one out, inducing an inning-ending double play groundout. Against the top of Atlanta’s lineup in the ninth, he worked around Marcell Ozuna’s two-out single and recorded a strikeout for 1.2 scoreless frames. 
  • Michael Kopech (LAD) nailed down his first save with the Dodgers, firing a clean bottom of the ninth and striking out two while preserving a one-run win in St. Louis. He’s the 12th reliever with a save this season which ties a team record set in 2022. He’s also retired 25 of 27 batters faced since the trade deadline with 13 strikeouts. 
  • Joel Payamps (MIL) filled in capably for his closer, securing his sixth save with a clean top of the ninth and striking out one against the Guardians. 
  • Jhoan Durán (MIN) appeared for a third straight contest and notched his 18th save with a scoreless bottom of the ninth. He allowed a two-out infield hit but produced a game-ending strikeout, preserving the one-run win. 
  • Clay Holmes (NYY) nailed down his 26th save with a clean ninth and recorded two strikeouts while preserving a combined shutout in Detroit. 
  • Carlos Estevez (PHI) could not finish the combined shutout, giving up three consecutive hits in the top of the ninth, and suffered his fourth blown save. However, he collected his third win courtesy of a walk-off rally in the bottom of the inning. Estévez allowed three hits and two earned runs while striking out two on 27 pitches. 
  • David Bednar (PIT) allowed a run for a sixth straight appearance but held on for his 21st save during a two-run win. He gave up two hits and an earned run while recording three strikeouts against the Mariners. 
  • Andrew Kittredge (STL) suffered his sixth blown save. He let both inherited runners score on three hits, including a three-run home run by Kevin Kiermaier, ceding the lead in the top of the sixth without retiring a batter. 
  • Pete Fairbanks (TBR) not only lost a nine-game scoreless streak, but his stretch of 13 straight saves also ended on Corbin Carroll’s game-tying two-run home run in the top of the ninth. He collected his third win, benefiting from his team’s walk-off rally in the bottom of the inning. 
  • Chad Green (TOR) took over a tied game in the bottom of the tenth and issued a walk, followed by Seiya Suzuki’s walk-off RBI single, resulting in his third loss. 
  • Kyle Finnegan (WSH) suffered his sixth loss on a walk-off in Philadelphia. After allowing two hits, he intentionally walked Kyle Schwarber before giving up Trea Turner’s walk-off single without recording an out. 

Vulture Save Option for Saturday, August 17

  • Griffin Jax (MIN): Durán has appeared in three straight; will Jax be next? It feels like Rocco Baldelli’s all in on pursuing the Guardians. If Jax gets today off, Jorge Alcala would be in line for the vulture save. 
  • Aroldis Chapman (PIT): Bednar threw 26 pitches on Friday, so the team may prefer giving him today off.

Vulture Save Stashes for Sunday, August 18

  • Paul Sewald (ARI): I’m not sure if he qualifies as a vulture, but if Martinez pitches again on Saturday, it will be consecutive outings, leaving the wily veteran in play for the save on Sunday. 
  • Jake Cousins (NYY): If Holmes, Weaver, and Kahnle pitch today, it will be back-to-back outings for all three, leaving Cousins atop the hierarchy on Sunday.

Three Takeaways

  • The Good: Michael Kopech (LAD) and Ben Joyce (LAA) recorded saves on Friday night. Kopech nailed down his first with the Dodgers and his tenth of the season with a clean ninth while striking out two. He averaged 99.9 m.p.h. with his four-seam fastball and threw his highest maximum speed this season, reaching 102.6 in this outing. Joyce took over with two runners on and one out in the eighth, inducing an inning-ending double play groundout. He finished his second save with 1.2 scoreless frames, though he only faced four hitters and recorded a strikeout. He averaged 102.7 m.p.h. with his four-seam fastball with a max velocity of 104 m.p.h. Per Statcast, he’s thrown 184 of his 199 four-seams this year at 100 m.p.h. or faster.
  • The Bad: For a sixth straight appearance, David Bednar allowed at least a run during his 21st save. He gave up Jorge Polanco’s solo home run leading off in the ninth and a single before retiring the next three batters via strikeout. For the season, his ERA (5.83) sits over two runs above his SIERA (3.80), but his WHIP sits at 1.37 after this contest. Since the All-Star break, he’s posted a 2.36 WHIP and a 5.9 K-BB percentage. Over his last six games, he’s converted three of five save chances with two losses, nine runs (eight earned), an 8:7 K:BB, a .387 batting average against, and a 1.190 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS). He remains the team’s preferred save option, but stashing Aroldis Chapman for ancillary saves may not be a bad idea.
  • The Ugly: It’s tough seeing the recent results for the reliever with the fifth-most saves all-time, but Craig Kimbrel‘s struggles continued in the seventh inning against Boston last night. He allowed a walk and three earned runs while serving up two home runs without a strikeout. Of bigger concern, he averaged 92.7 m.p.h. with his four-seam fastball in this contest. He’s given up at least a run in five of his last eight games, allowing nine hits, ten runs (eight earned), nine walks against eight strikeouts, a .290 batting average against, and a 1.055 OPS. He’s only throwing strikes in 55.1 percent of his pitches in these contests, resulting in a 2.35 WHIP, 6.25 SIERA, and a 9.6 swinging strike percentage. He may need a reset or a stint on the injured list, but he should not be in lineups moving forward.

American League – Full Recaps for August 17

Boston Red Sox – Shutting the door on his 23rd save and the 443rd of his career, Kenley Jansen retired the side and recorded two strikeouts against the Orioles’ 2-3-4 lineup pocket. He threw 12 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (25 SwStr%). He’s not allowed a baserunner through four appearances in August and converted all three saves with seven strikeouts in 4.2 innings.

  • Chris Martin allowed three hits and an earned run during his 11th hold in the eighth.
  • Luis García gave up four hits and three earned runs in the seventh.
  • Lucas Sims retired all three batters and stranded a runner in the sixth for his 15th hold.
  • Bailey Horn stranded two runners in the fifth, issued a walk, and recorded two strikeouts in two-thirds scoreless, securing his third hold.

Hierarchy remains: Kenley Jansen | Chris Martin | Lucas Sims

Los Angeles Angels – Summoned with two runners on and one out in the top of the eighth, Ben Joyce induced an inning-ending double play groundout. He returned against the top of Atlanta’s lineup on the ninth, worked around Marcell Ozuna’s two-out single, and recorded a strikeout in 1.2 scoreless frames for his second save. He threw 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%).

  • Matt Moore gave up a hit and a walk over one-third scoreless in the eighth, getting credit for his tenth hold.
  • Hunter Strickland navigated around two hits and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless seventh, securing his eighth hold.
  • Brock Burke collected his first win, logging 1.2 scoreless innings, issuing two walks, and striking out two.

Updated Hierarchy: Ben Joyce | Hunter Strickland | Matt Moore

Minnesota Twins – Appearing for a third straight game, Jhoan Durán secured his 18th save with a scoreless ninth. He allowed a two-out infield single before producing a game-ending strikeout. He threw 13 pitches (9 strikes – 69.2 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (30.8 SwStr%). He’s converted three saves in August and been scoreless in five of six outings this month.

  • Griffin Jax locked down his 20th hold with a clean eighth and recorded two strikeouts.
  • Steven Okert notched his seventh hold, stranding a runner while retiring both batters in the seventh, one via strikeout.
  • Cole Sands escaped with his fourth hold, scattering three hits and striking out one in two-thirds scoreless.

Hierarchy remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Jorge Alcala

New York Yankees – Completing a combined shutout and his 26th save, Clay Holmes retired the side and recorded two strikeouts in Detroit. He threw 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). He’s converted three straight save chances and five of his last six.

  • Tommy Kahnle fired a clean eighth, securing his tenth hold.
  • Luke Weaver allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless seventh, notching his 19th hold.

Hierarchy remains: Clay Holmes | Luke Weaver | Jake Cousins

National League – Full Recaps for August 17

Arizona Diamondbacks – Taking over a tied game in the bottom of the ninth, Justin Martinez suffered his third loss. He issued a one-out walk and gave up a walk-off single, with a fielding error by Jake McCarthy scoring the walk-off run. Martinez finished his outing with a hit, an unearned run, and a walk while striking out two on 14 pitches (50 Strike%) with two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%).

  • Ryan Thompson was tagged with his seventh blown save. He allowed four hits, three earned runs, and a walk while striking out two in two-thirds of the eighth.
  • A.J. Puk notched his 11th hold, stranding a runner and retiring all three batters he faced, one via strikeout.

Hierarchy remains: Justin Martinez | A.J. Puk | Paul Sewald

Chicago Cubs – Benefiting from a walk-off rally, Tyson Miller notched his fourth win after retiring the side in the top of the tenth.

  • Héctor Neris suffered his fifth blown save and first since June 17 in the ninth. His outing began with consecutive singles, and a one-out hit loaded the bases. With one out, he was called for a balk, scoring a runner, before eventually recording a strikeout. However, with two outs, George Springer launched a game-tying two-RBI triple. Neris finished with four hits and three earned runs while striking out two. He had been scoreless in eight of his previous ten games in the second half.
  • Porter Hodge secured his eighth hold with a scoreless eighth inning, giving up a hit and striking out two.
  • Jorge López fired a clean seventh and struck out two for his eighth hold. This extended his scoreless streak to 14 games, and he’s posted 20 strikeouts against six walks with a 1.125 WHIP over his last 16 innings.
  • Drew Smyly worked a clean sixth while striking out the side for his sixth hold. 

Updated Hierarchy: Héctor Neris | Porter Hodge | Jorge López

Los Angeles Dodgers – Summoned with a one-run lead, Michael Kopech recorded his first save with his new team and his tenth of the season. He retired the side against the Cardinals’ 9-1-2 lineup pocket and recorded two strikeouts. This save tied a franchise record set in 2022, becoming the 12th pitcher with at least a save for Los Angeles this season. He threw 13 pitches (69.2 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%). He’s allowed two baserunners of his 27 batters faced since the trade deadline with 13 strikeouts (48.1 K%).

  • Joe Kelly secured his 12th hold with a scoreless eighth, giving up a walk and striking out one.
  • Evan Phillips notched his fourth hold, walking one and striking out one.
  • Anthony Banda navigated around two hits and recorded a strikeout during thirds scoreless in the sixth for his eighth hold, though he let both inherited runners score.

Updated Hierarchy: *Daniel Hudson | *Michael Kopech | Evan Phillips

*= closer-by-committee

Milwaukee Brewers – Filling in capably during his closer’s day off, Joel Payamps nailed down his sixth save with a clean top of the ninth and recorded a strikeout. He threw 14 pitches (9 strikes – 64.3 Strike%) and induced one whiff against the Guardians’ 8-9-1 hitters.

  • Nick Mears notched his 12th hold, striking out both batters in the eighth.
  • Bryse Wilson gave up three hits, including two home runs and three earned runs, during one-third of the eighth.
  • Elvis Peguero worked a scoreless seventh, issuing a walk and striking out two.

Hierarchy remains: Devin Williams | Joel Payamps | Bryan Hudson

Philadelphia Phillies – Suffering his first blown save since April 16, Carlos Estévez allowed an opposite-field, bloop, and José Tena’s RBI single before recording an out. The game-tying run scored on a fielder’s choice RBI groundout. Estévez bore down, recording consecutive strikeouts, keeping the game tied. He collected his second win courtesy of a walk-off rally in the bottom of the inning. Of more considerable concern, he’s allowed a run in four of his first eight appearances since the trade deadline while converting one save.

  • Jeff Hoffman stranded a runner and secured his 17th hold, retiring both batters in the eighth, one via strikeout.
  • Matt Strahm stranded two runners in the seventh and left with a runner on in the eighth, resulting in his 12th hold.

Hierarchy remains: Carlos Estévez | Jeff Hoffman | Matt Strahm

Pittsburgh Pirates – It was difficult, but David Bednar held on for his 21st save, snapping his team’s 10-game losing streak. However, he did allow Jorge Polanco’s solo home run, extending his streak of giving up a run to six straight appearances. Bednar finished with two hits, an earned run, and three strikeouts in this outing. He threw 26 pitches (15 strikes – 57.7 Strike%) and produced six whiffs (23.1 SwStr%). He’s converted three of his last five save opportunities.

  • Aroldis Chapman fired a clean eighth and recorded a strikeout for his 19th hold.
  • Kyle Nicolas tossed a clean seventh, securing his fifth hold. 

Hierarchy remains: David Bednar | Aroldis Chapman | Kyle Nicolas

Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe and be well.

Statistical Credits:

Fangraphs.com

Baseball-Reference.com

Statcast

Monkey Bytes: August 16

Although small in stature, Thursday’s seven-game slate featured multiple high-leverage events of interest. Oakland used Mason Miller for a two-inning save against the Mets with an off day looming on Friday. Devin Williams appeared on consecutive days versus the Dodgers and recorded his third save of the season.

Four relievers recorded wins and four secured saves. Our condensed game recaps cover these events.

Closer CliffsNotes

  • Jason Foley (DET) notched his first save since July 10 with a clean top of the ninth, preserving a one-run win and a sweep of Seattle. Shelby Miller logged 1.1 clean frames and collected his sixth win. 
  • Daniel Hudson (LAD) entered with a one-run lead against the Brewers’ 2-3-4 lineup pocket in the bottom of the eighth but allowed three hits, three earned runs, and a walk. He suffered his second loss and a seventh blown save. 
  • Devin Williams (MIL) shut the door on his third save with a clean top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts. He also appeared on consecutive days for the first time this season. Since his activation, he racked up 11 strikeouts of 22 batters faced. 
  • Jhoan Durán (MIN) recorded his 17th save, preserving a one-run win in Texas. He retired the side, two via strikeout. Jorge Alcala collected his third win, tossing a clean eighth and striking out one.
  • Reed Garrett (NYM) suffered his fourth loss and a fourth blown save. He gave up three hits, two earned runs, and a walk in the top of the sixth against Oakland, ceding the lead. 
  • Mason Miller (OAK) logged two scoreless frames while issuing a walk and striking out three for his 18th save, preserving a one-run win over the Mets.
  • Andrés Muńoz (SEA) took over with a runner on third and two outs but gave up Javier Báez’s go-ahead two-run home run, resulting in his fourth loss and a fourth blown save. This appearance snapped his 12.1-inning hitless streak and his 14.1-inning scoreless inning streak.
  • Kirby Yates (TEX) appeared on back-to-back days, and for the third time in four games, he suffered his second loss. He allowed two one-out walks, threw a wild pitch, and gave up a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth against Minnesota.

Vulture Save Options for Friday, August 16

  • Griffin Jax (MIN): Durán has pitched on consecutive days. 
  • Joel Payamps (MIL): Devin Williams logged his first back-to-back appearances on Wednesday and Thursday. 
  • David Robertson (TEX): Yates has appeared in on consecutive days and in three of the last four. 
  • Austin Voth (SEA): Muñoz and García have pitched the previous two days. 

Vulture Save Options for Saturday, August 17

Usage patterns will determine this on Friday. It isn’t easy, though, with 16 teams off on Thursday and resetting their bullpens.

Three Takeaways

  • D-Will goes back-to-back: Perhaps his seven-pitch outing on Wednesday played a part in his second straight save chance on Thursday, but Devin Williams recorded outings on consecutive days for the first time this season, securing his second save in many days against the Dodgers top of the lineup. Across the two appearances, he threw 23 pitches with 16 strikes (69.6 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (13 SwStr%). How he responds after this usage pattern likely determines his workload management moving forward, but it’s encouraging. Trevor Megill worked a scoreless outing in his first rehab contest and could return soon, beefing up the Brewers’ leverage ladder.
  • Dodgers Part 1: In this column for The Los Angeles Times, Mike DiGiovanna discusses the “trust tree,” as Dave Roberts references his high-leverage usage patterns. Michael Kopech and Daniel Hudson were assigned the heart-of-the-order lineup lanes in yesterday’s game against Milwaukee. Kopech recorded a scoreless inning versus the 3-4-5 hitters, but Hudson suffered a loss and a blown save, with some bad luck on comeback contact. Los Angeles relievers have accrued the fifth most innings this season and face an upcoming roster crunch with Ryan Brasier’s pending activation on Saturday and Blake Treinen returning next week. Only Michael Grove and Brent Honeywell have been logging multiple-inning outings, with one on the block for a roster spot. The team may cut Joe Kelly when Brasier returns in St. Louis, but keeping relievers fresh when using four an outing will be challenging.
  • Dodgers Part 2: Acknowledging Michael Kopech has performed well since his acquisition, could he enter the conversation for saves soon? In a separate column for The Los Angeles Times, DiGiovanna broached this with Roberts. The cagey manager responded, “We’ll see,” and “We’ve got time.” With a two-game lead for the National League West and a game-and-a-half lead for a first-round bye, the runway may be shorter than he’s used to. Nothing definitive for fantasy managers other than Kopech’s 7.1 scoreless frames with the Dodgers while allowing a hit and a walk with 11 strikeouts of 24 batters faced (41.7 K-BB percentage, 0.27 WHIP). Those with roster space can stash him for saves if room allows or be ready to pounce if he gets an opportunity this weekend in St. Louis.

American League – Full Recaps, August 15

Detroit Tigers – Capping a comeback rally, Jason Foley secured his 16th save with a clean ninth and recorded a strikeout. He threw 14 pitches (9 strikes – 64.3 Strike%) and induced one whiff against the Mariners’ 6-7-8 lineup pocket. This marks his first save since July 10.

  • Shelby Miller collected his sixth win. He stranded a runner in the seventh and retired all four batters, one via strikeout during his appearance.
  • Kenta Maeda was the “bulk follower.” He logged 5.2 innings, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out five.

Hierarchy remains: *Tyler Holton | *Jason Foley | Shelby Miller

*= closer-by-committee

Minnesota Twins – Taking over in the ninth with a one-run lead, Jhoan Durán retired the Rangers’ 9-1-2 hitters in order, two via strikeout while recording his 17th save. He threw 18 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (16.7 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in four of five outings in August with two saves.

  • Jorge Alcala collected his third win. He fired a clean bottom of the eighth and struck out one ahead of his team’s go-ahead rally in the top of the ninth.
  • Griffin Jax allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless seventh, keeping the game tied.

Hierarchy remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Jorge Alcala

Oakland A’s – Preserving a one-run win, Mason Miller logged two scoreless frames against the Mets. After striking out the side in the eighth, he hit a batter and issued a two-out walk before inducing a game-ending lineout by Francisco Alvarez, securing his 18th save. Miller threw 39 pitches (25 strikes – 64.1 Strike%) and generated nine whiffs (23.1 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless through four appearances in August while converting all three save opportunities.

  • Scott Alexander navigated around two hits and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless seventh for his eighth hold.
  • Tyler Ferguson collected his first win. He worked two scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out two.

Hierarchy remains: Mason Miller | Tyler Ferguson | Austin Adams

National League – Full Recaps, August 15

Los Angeles Dodgers – Daniel Hudson took over with a one-run lead in the bottom of the eighth against Milwaukee’s 2-3-4 lineup pocket. He allowed a lead-off double, a walk, and a ricocheted infield single, loading the bases. Willy Adames produced an RBI single and consecutive runs scored on a fielder’s choice groundouts, handing Hudson his second loss and a seventh blown save. He allowed three hits, three earned runs, and a walk during his two-thirds of the eighth. He’s given up at least a run in three of his last four games.

  • Anthony Banda stranded a runner and retired his only batter in the eighth.
  • Alex Vesia issued two walks leading off the seventh, then retired the next three batters for his tenth hold.
  • Michael Kopech fired a clean sixth and recorded a strikeout for his fifth hold. He remains scoreless as a Dodger with 11 strikeouts against one walk across 7.1 innings.

Hierarchy remains (for now): *Daniel Hudson | *Michael Kopech | *Evan Phillips

*= closer-by-committee

Milwaukee Brewers – Making his first appearance on consecutive days, Devin Williams shut the door on his third save with a clean ninth and striking out two. He threw 16 pitches (9 strikes – 56.3 Strike%) and induced two whiffs. He’s recorded a save in three straight games and been scoreless in five of six with 11 strikeouts of 22 batters faced.

  • Bryan Hudson collected his fifth win. He logged two clean frames, recorded two strikeouts, and stranded a runner in the seventh.
  • Elvis Peguero let one of two inherited runners score, yielding two hits and retiring one batter between the sixth and seventh innings.

Updated Hierarchy: Devin Williams | Joel Payamps | Bryan Hudson

New York Mets – Pitching in a one-run loss, Edwin Díaz tossed a scoreless top of the ninth, issuing a walk and striking out two. He threw 20 pitches (60 Strike%) and induced two whiffs.

  • Ryne Stanek worked a scoreless eighth, walking one and striking out one.
  • Phil Maton escaped with a scoreless seventh despite allowing a hit and two walks.
  • Reed Garrett suffered his fourth loss and a fourth blown save, giving up three hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out one in the sixth.
  • Huascar Brazobán gave up a hit, an earned run, and two walks with one strikeout in the fifth.

Hierarchy Remains: Edwin Díaz | Phil Maton | Reed Garrett

Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe and be well.

Statistical Credits:

Fangraphs.com

Baseball-Reference.com

Statcast

Monkey Bytes: August 15

Seranthony Domínguez celebrates his second save with the Orioles.

Wednesday’s split slate featured 15 games, with seven relievers recording a win while five secured a save. Michael Tonkin (NYY) notched the third three-inning save in the last two days, closing out an eight-run win over the White Sox. The slate also included three extra-inning games, with Detroit, Houston, and Texas emerging victorious.

For those seeking saves, Seranthony Domínguez (BAL) and Lucas Erceg (KCR) nailed down their second saves with their new teams, which will be covered in our Three Takeaways. First, our condensed recaps cover yesterday’s high-leverage events of interest.

Closer CliffsNotes

  • Seranthony Domínguez (BAL) navigated around a lead-off walk with a strikeout and a game-ending double play groundout for his third save, second with the Orioles. 
  • Zack Kelly (BOS) suffered his second loss. He allowed Jonah Heim’s go-ahead two-run home run in the top of the tenth. Josh Winckowski was tagged with his first blown save, serving up a three-run home run in the ninth. 
  • Sam Moll (CIN) retired the side in the third inning as the first reliever out of the bullpen and collected his third win as a result. 
  • Tyler Holton (DET) retired the side and recorded a strikeout in the top of the tenth. He collected his fifth win courtesy of a walk-off rally in the bottom of the inning. 
  • Josh Hader (HOU) worked two clean frames and recorded his fifth win. He took over a tied game and preserved his win while striking out three. This marks his fourth two-inning outing this season, extending his scoreless streak to eight games. 
  • Lucas Erceg (KCR) stranded two runners in the eighth and logged 1.1 clean frames while securing his fifth save, second with the Royals.
  • Brent Honeywell (LAD) suffered his first loss, hitting a batter, allowing an unearned run, and recording two strikeouts over two innings.
  • Devin Williams (MIL) secured his second save against the top of the Dodgers’ lineup with a clean ninth and a strikeout on seven pitches, preserving a one-run win. Joel Payamps retired all four batters and collected his third win. 
  • Jhoan Durán (MIN) made his third appearance since August 9 in the seventh inning against the top of the Royals’ lineup. He allowed two hits and an earned run while striking out one on 22 pitches. 
  • Michael Tonkin (NYY) recorded his second save, logging three scoreless frames during a lopsided win over the White Sox. He gave up two hits and struck out two. Tim Hill collected his fourth win after retiring the side in the sixth and his teammates’ three-run rally in the top of the seventh. 
  • José Ruiz (PHI) took over at the top of the fifth and was awarded his third win. He stranded two runners and retired both batters, one via strikeout. 
  • Collin Snider (SEA) gave up a walk and Akil Baddoo’s walk-off RBI double at the bottom of the tenth, resulting in his second loss. Yimi García suffered his second blown save, allowing a game-tying Kerry Carpenter two-run home run in the eighth. 
  • Garrett Cleavinger (TBR) allowed a two-out walk followed by a go-ahead RBI single at the top of the tenth, resulting in his third loss. 
  • Kirby Yates (TEX) closed out a two-run extra-inning win in Boston with a clean tenth while recording one strikeout for his 21st save. Matt Festa earned his first win, logging 1.1 clean frames.

Vulture Save Option, Thursday, August 15

  • Joel Payamps (MIL): Until Devin Williams appears on consecutive days we must plan on a vulture save the day after he works, though the closer intimates his availability today in this postgame interview.
  • Matt Strahm (PHI): Estévez and Hoffman have pitched in back-to-back games.

Vulture Save Option, Friday, August 16

  • Austin Voth (SEA): If Muñoz and García pitch today, it will be two straight outings.

Three Takeaways

  • Seranthony secures his second consecutive save: With the bullpen fully rested, Brandon Hyde summoned Seranthony Domínguez with a three-run lead in the top of the ninth against the Nationals. Despite allowing a lead-off walk, Domínguez notched his second save with the Orioles, and third this season, with a scoreless ninth while striking out one. He’s been scoreless in eight out of his nine games since his acquisition, with 10 strikeouts versus three walks (21.2 K-BB%) and a 0.78 WHIP. He’s also recorded a game finished in four of his last five games with saves in each of the last two. He may not be the closer by designation, but he’s being deployed like one.
  • Erceg records his second save with KC, but: In the seventh inning, Lucas Erceg was throwing in case he was needed. However, he was not brought into the contest until the eighth, with runners on the corners and two outs. He stranded both runners and retired the side in order in the ninth for his second save with the Royals and fifth this season. With Hunter Harvey on the injured list, Erceg will continue receiving save chances. Still, it’s possible he will revert into the highest-leveraged reliever (HLR) next week or even in games this weekend. This does not mean fantasy managers cannot reap the rewards of his upcoming save chances; they must not be on tilt if he’s called upon in the seventh or eighth inning with the game on the line based on his usage patterns since being acquired. The good news is he’s been scoreless through his first seven games with Kansas City, securing two saves and five holds with eight strikeouts against zero walks (30.8 K-BB%) and a 0.39 WHIP through 7.2 innings.
  • Hader and multi-inning outings: Before signing his contract with the Astros, Josh Hader made his last multiple-inning outing on August 14, 2020. He worked in one inning or less in the next 193 outings through the end of last season. He was upset about losing money in arbitration hearings when his save total was depressed by recording four or more outs, making him less available. During his first season with Houston, he’s already logged five appearances requiring four or more outs, including yesterday’s two-innings against Tampa Bay. Through 54.1 innings this year, he ranks second in strikeouts by relievers (82) and he’s averaging almost four batters faced per outing with the increased workload. This must be accounted for in next year’s projections since he’s willing to appear in multiple-inning outings after receiving his five-year contract.

American League – Full Game Recaps, August 14

Baltimore Orioles – After issuing a lead-off walk during a 10-pitch at-bat, Seranthony Domínguez bore down, recording a strikeout of Luis García Jr. and inducing a game-ending double play groundout for his third save, second with the Orioles. He threw 19 pitches (12 strikes – 63.2 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (15.8 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in eight of his last nine appearances since July 26, with 10 strikeouts versus three walks.

  • Cionel Pérez notched his 17th hold with a clean eighth and recorded a strikeout.
  • Yennier Cano retired the side for his 27th hold on 10 pitches (70 Strike%).

Updated Hierarchy: Seranthony Domínguez | Yennier Cano | Cionel Pérez

Detroit Tigers – Benefiting from a walk-off rally, Tyler Holton collected his fifth win. He retired the side and recorded two strikeouts in a clean top of the tenth against Seattle’s 2-3-4 hitters on 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9 Strike%) with three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in nine of ten games in the second half with 14 strikeouts against two walks with this win and two saves.

  • Jason Foley worked a clean ninth and struck out one, keeping the game tied.
  • Shelby Miller stranded the bases-loaded in the eighth while retiring both batters, one via strikeout.
  • Will Vest gave up a hit, an earned run, a walk, and a hit batter over one-third of the eighth.

Updated Hierarchy: *Tyler Holton | *Jason Foley | Shelby Miller

*= closer-by-committee

Houston Astros – Logging his fourth two-inning outing this season, Josh Hader collected his fifth win during a one-run extra-inning contest in Tampa Bay. Hader retired all six batters, three on strikeouts. He threw 29 pitches (21 strikes – 72.4 Strike%) and generated a season-high 10 whiffs (34.5 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in his last eight games while converting six saves with 10 strikeouts versus three walks over 8.1 innings.

  • Bryan Abreu suffered his fourth blown save. He issued a walk, gave up two stolen bases, and a game-tying fielder’s choice groundout, scoring an earned run in the eighth.
  • Tayler Scott stranded two runners and retired both batters, one via strikeout, for his sixth hold in the seventh.
  • Kaleb Ort was credited with his first hold despite recording one out and walking two in the seventh.

Hierarchy remains: Josh Hader | Ryan Pressly | Bryan Abreu

Kansas City Royals – Summoned with two runners and two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Lucas Erceg stranded both while retiring all four batters for his fifth save, second with the Royals. He threw 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%). He has remained scoreless since the trade deadline, appearing in seven games spanning 7.2 innings with eight strikeouts versus zero walks.

  • Sam Long was credited with his fourth hold, recording two outs and allowing two hits before his removal in the eighth.

Hierarchy remains: *Lucas Erceg | *Kris Bubic | James McArthur

*=  closer-by-committee

National League – Full Game Recaps, August 14

Milwaukee Brewers – Matched up with the top of the Dodger’s lineup with a one-run lead, Devin Williams turned in a dominant performance, retiring the side and recording a strikeout for his second save. He threw seven pitches, all strikes, and induced one whiff (14.3 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in four out of five games this season, with nine strikeouts versus one walk.

  • Joel Payamps collected his third win, retiring all four batters. He also stranded two runners in the seventh, keeping the game tied before a go-ahead rally in the bottom of the inning.
  • Jared Koenig suffered his second blown save, giving up three hits and an earned run while recording both outs via strikeout in the seventh.
  • Nick Mears worked 1.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out one for his 11th hold.

Hierarchy Remains: Devin Williams | Joel Payamps | Elvis Peguero

Philadelphia Phillies – Preserving a four-run win, Carlos Estévez retired the side and recorded two strikeouts against the Marlins. He threw 15 pitches (60 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (20 SwStr%).

  • José Alvarado worked around a hit and a walk for a scoreless eighth.
  • Jeff Hoffman gave up a hit and struck out three in a scoreless seventh, notching his 16th hold.
  • Matt Strahm fired a clean sixth, striking out one for his 11th hold.
  • José Ruiz collected his third win. He stranded a runner while retiring both batters, one via strikeout, in the top of the fifth.

Hierarchy remains: Carlos Estévez | Jeff Hoffman | Matt Strahm

Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe and be well.

Statistical Credits:

Fangraphs.com

Baseball-Reference.com

Statcast

Monkey Bytes: August 14

Tuesday’s slate featured three relievers recording the first save of their careers, with two lasting three or more innings: Jake Cousins (NYY), Joey Wentz (DET), and Landon Knack (LAD). In all, four relievers collected wins and nine secured saves. Another intriguing note of interest is that workload management has been put aside by teams pushing for postseason positioning. Cleveland used Emmanuel Clase for a fourth straight game, and he responded with his 37th save, tying Ryan Helsley for the lead this season. San Diego used Robert Suarez in back-to-games and he’s appeared five times in the last seven days. Both teams will be off on Thursday, but usage patterns like these make streaming for saves even more difficult.

Our condensed recaps cover Tuesday’s high-leverage events of interest.

Closer CliffsNotes

  • Joe Mantiply (ARI) collected his sixth win courtesy of a walk-off rally in the bottom of the ninth. He retired the side in the top of the inning and recorded a strikeout against the Rockies’ 6-7-8 lineup pocket. 
  • Raisel Iglesias (ATL) shut the door on his 25th save with a clean bottom of the tenth. He’s been scoreless in his last 11 appearances. 
  • Kenley Jansen (BOS) took over in the top of the eighth with a two-run lead and stranded a runner. He finished the five-run win with 1.1 clean frames and recorded a strikeout for his 22nd save, his fourth requiring at least four outs. 
  • Drew Smyly (CHC) stranded a runner in the fifth but allowed a Jhonkensy Noel’s go-ahead solo home run in the sixth, resulting in his sixth loss. 
  • Alexis Díaz (CIN) worked around a two-out walk and recorded a strikeout during a scoreless ninth against St. Louis, securing his 24th save. 
  • Emmanuel Clase (CLE) appeared for a fourth straight game and recorded his fourth consecutive save with a scoreless ninth, sealing a one-run win. He’s the first reliever in team history since José Mesa (1995) to achieve this feat. Clase also tied for the major league lead in saves while securing his 37th of the season. 
  • Victor Vodnik (COL) suffered his third loss and a third blown save. He gave up a one-out triple, consecutive two-out walks, and Jake McCarthy’s walk-off two-RBI single in the bottom of the ninth. 
  • Joey Wentz (DET) took the baton from starter Tarik Skubal, logging three scoreless frames. He issued a walk and struck out three for his first major league save, finishing a lopsided win over Seattle. 
  • Josh Hader (HOU) nailed down his 26th save with a clean bottom of the ninth and struck out one, preserving a one-run win in Tampa Bay. 
  • Landon Knack (LAD) recorded his first major league save, logging four innings during a five-run win in Milwaukee. He allowed three hits and an earned run while striking out two. 
  • Edwin Díaz (NYM) pitched during a loss. He worked a scoreless top of the ninth, allowing a hit and striking out two on 16 pitches (13 strikes – 81.3 Strike%) with four whiffs (25 SwStr%). 
  • Jake Cousins (NYY) was summoned in the bottom of the ninth with no outs, inheriting runners on second and third. He navigated around the traffic, and a one-out walk for his first major league save. He recorded a strikeout, induced a shallow flyout, and produced a game-ending strikeout. 
  • Austin Adams (OAK) stranded two runners, protecting a three-run lead in the bottom of the fifth, retiring three batters, two via strikeout. As a result, he collected his first win of the season. 
  • Robert Suarez (SDP) secured his 27th save, completing a combined shutout of the Pirates. He allowed a two-out single and recorded a strikeout while appearing for the fifth time in seven days. 
  • Randy Rodríguez (SFG) let the “place” runner score on an RBI single in the top of the tenth, resulting in his second loss.

Vulture Save Options for Wednesday, August 14

  • Joe Jiménez (ATL): Iglesias pitched in two straight, logging three innings and three of the previous four days.
  • Chris Martin (BOS): Jansen has appeared in consecutive games.
  • Jeremiah Estrada (SDP): Heavy usage patterns for the leverage triumvirate may result in a day off for Suarez, Scott, and Adam, leaving Estrada in line for a potential save today.

Vulture Save Option for Thursday, August 15

  • TBD: With 16 teams receiving an off-day, how bullpens get deployed today will determine if a vulture option emerges for Thursday’s seven-game slate.

Three Takeaways

  • V-squared struggling with traffic: It’s not easy being the closer, especially on a bad team. Victor Vodnik has converted eight of 11 save chances this season. However, he suffered his third loss and a blown save during a walk-off loss in Arizona. Since the All-Star break, he’s only produced a 9.4 K-BB percentage with a 1.46 WHIP and a 4.31 SIERA. Throwing strikes will be a key if he rebounds. In the second half, he owns a 60.3 strike percentage with only a 6.5 swinging strike percentage, and he’s allowed an 84.4 percent contact rate. He’s not yet on the “hot” seat, but he is worth monitoring based on the rising WHIP. Relievers with low whiff rates cannot afford traffic on the bases, especially with a contact rate over 80 percent.
  • Padres bullpen anchoring recent surge: San Diego has won 18 of its last 21 games since July 20, with relievers posting a 9-1 record with seven saves, a 22.2 K-BB percentage, and a 1.12 WHIP over 80.1 innings. This justifies A.J. Preller’s plan of building a “superpen” ahead of the playoffs. As this run illustrates, his team can shorten games and fill in when necessary during high-leverage events. However, Robert Suarez, Tanner Scott, and Jason Adam will welcome Thursday’s day off, but the team will play 18 games in 18 days after.
  • Is Seranthony the Orioles closer?: It’s tough to label volatile situations, especially when the team hopes the reliever it invested $13 million in can eventually retake his role in the ninth inning. However, in multiple posts, including the latest by Roch Kubatko for MASN, it’s intimated that Seranthony Domínguez is regarded as the closer. He secured his team’s last save chance and has pitched well since being acquired at the trade deadline. Through eight games with the Orioles, he’s recorded nine strikeouts against two walks (23.3 K-BB percentage) with a 0.75 WHIP, a 15.5 swinging strike percentage, and a 65.3 percent contact rate allowed. One cannot overlook his 1.13 ERA versus his 3.11 SIERA in this sample, but he may be a preferred option for those seeking saves in the next two weeks.

American League – Full Recaps, August 13

Boston Red Sox – Summoned with a two-run lead in the top of the eighth, Kenley Jansen stranded a runner and retired all four batters in his outing, once via strikeout, for his 22nd save. He threw 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9 Strike%) and induced two whiffs. This marked his fifth appearance requiring four or more outs and his fourth save in them. He’s been scoreless through three games this month and converted both save chances.

  • Bailey Horn notched his second hold, allowing a hit and striking out one during a scoreless combined inning.
  • Lucas Sims stranded a bases-loaded situation in the sixth, securing his 14th hold while logging 1.1 scoreless innings. He allowed a hit and recorded two strikeouts.

Hierarchy remains: Kenley Jansen | Chris Martin | Lucas Sims

Cleveland Guardians – Workload management be damned. Emmanuel Clase took over with a one-run lead, appearing for a fourth straight day, and recorded his 37th save, moving into a tied for the major league lead. He navigated around a two-out infield single and a stolen base for a scoreless ninth. He threw 10 pitches (70 Strike%) and induced one whiff while recording a strikeout in his outing. He’s converted 24 straight saves since May 20 and should receive a well-deserved day off on Wednesday.

  • Hunter Gaddis notched his 26th hold, retiring the side and striking out one in the eighth.
  • Cade Smith issued a walk and secured his 19th hold with a scoreless seventh.
  • Pedro Avila collected his fourth win. He gave up a hit and a walk while striking out two in two-thirds of the sixth.

Hierarchy remains: Emmanuel Clase | Hunter Gaddis | Cade Smith

Houston Astros – Locking down his 26th save, Josh Hader retired the side and recorded a strikeout while preserving a one-run win in Tampa Bay. He threw 10 pitches (80 Strike%) and produced two whiffs. He’s converted 26 straight save chances and been scoreless in his last seven appearances, spanning 6.1 innings.

  • Ryan Pressly gave up two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one in the eighth, getting credit for his 21st hold.
  • Bryan Abreu secured his American League-leading 30th hold and is now tied for the MLB lead in the category. He logged 1.1 clean frames, stranding a runner in the seventh and striking out two of four batters faced.

Hierarchy remains: Josh Hader | Ryan Pressly | Bryan Abreu

New York Yankees – Inheriting runners on second and third with no outs, Jake Cousins navigated around a one-out walk with a shallow flyout and a game-ending strikeout for his first career major league save. He threw 17 pitches (11 strikes – 64.7 Strike%) and five whiffs (29.4 SwStr%).

  • Tommy Kahnle gets credit for his ninth hold. He stranded two runners in the eighth but issued a walk and gave up a double in the ninth, prompting his removal.
  • Mark Leiter Jr. allowed a hit, an earned run, and two walks over two-thirds of the seventh.

Updated Hierarchy: Clay Holmes | Luke Weaver | Jake Cousins

National League – Full Recaps, August 13

Arizona Diamondbacks – Benefiting from a walk-off rally, Joe Mantiply collected his sixth win. He retired the side and recorded a strikeout in the top of the ninth, keeping his team within one run.

  • Paul Sewald fired a clean eighth, striking out two on 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He faced the Rockies’ 3-4-5 lineup pocket with his team down one. He’s been scoreless through five outings in August with five strikeouts against three walks and a 1.00 WHIP.
  • Kevin Ginkel tossed a scoreless seventh, allowing a walk and striking out two.
  • Dylan Floro worked a clean seventh and struck out one.

Hierarchy remains: Justin Martinez | A.J. Puk | Paul Sewald

Atlanta Braves – Shutting the door on his 25th save, Raisel Iglesias retired the side and stranded the “place” runner in the bottom of the tenth, preserving a one-run win. He threw eight pitches (62.5 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He’s been scoreless across 10 second-half outings, spanning 11 innings, and converted all three save chances with 14 strikeouts against one walk.

  • Dylan Lee earned his fourth win, working a clean bottom of the ninth and benefiting from his team’s rally in the top of the tenth.
  • Pierce Johnson suffered his second blown save in the eighth. He gave up a lead-off double, then Heliot Ramos reached on an error. After inducing a double play, a wild pitch scored the game-tying run, which was unearned.
  • Jesse Chavez notched his first hold, firing a clean seventh and striking out two.

Hierarchy remains: Raisel Iglesias | Joe Jiménez | Pierce Johnson

Cincinnati Reds – Finishing a three-run win, Alexis Díaz issued a two-out walk and recorded a strikeout during a scoreless ninth, securing his 24th save. He threw 18 pitches (55.6 Strike%) and induced two whiffs. He’s been scoreless in five of his last six and converted five saves with six strikeouts against two walks over 5.2 innings.

  • Tony Santillan retired the side and struck out two for his first hold in the top of the eighth. He’s recorded multiple strikeouts in four straight appearances.

Updated Hierarchy: Alexis Díaz | Fernando Cruz | Tony Santillan

Colorado Rockies – With a one-run lead, Victor Vodnik could secure the win in Arizona. He allowed a one-out Corbin Carroll triple and recorded a strikeout, but with two outs, things went awry. He issued consecutive walks to load the bases and gave up Jake McCarthy’s walk-off two-RBI single, resulting in his third loss and third blown save. He finished with two hits, two earned runs, and two walks while striking out one during his two-thirds of an inning. He’s logged seven appearances in August with five scoreless and converted four of five saves, but his 2.22 WHIP over 6.1 innings must be monitored.

  • Tyler Kinley notched his 11th hold. He retired the side and recorded a strikeout in the eighth.
  • Noah Davis navigated around a hit and a walk for a scoreless seventh and his first hold.

Hierarchy remains: Victor Vodnik | Tyler Kinley | Justin Lawrence

San Diego Padres – Preserving a combined shutout and appearing for the fifth time in seven days, Robert Suarez secured his 27th save with a scoreless ninth. He allowed a two-out single and recorded a strikeout while throwing nine pitches (66.7 Strike%) without a whiff. He’s collected a win and three saves since August 7.

  • Tanner Scott secured his fifth hold with a scoreless eighth, giving up a hit and striking out two.
  • Jason Adam notched his 20th hold with a clean seventh and recorded two strikeouts. 

Hierarchy remains: Robert Suarez | Tanner Scott | Jason Adam

Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe and be well.

Statistical Credits:

Fangraphs.com

Baseball-Reference.com

Statcast

Monkey Bytes: August 13

Monday’s 11-game slate started slowly but finished with a flurry. Relievers recorded five wins and five saves, with each of the four last games decided by two runs or less. Our condensed game recaps cover the slate’s high-leverage events of interest.

In case you missed it, our Updated saves and SOLDS rankings were posted last night.

Closer CliffsNotes

  • Justin Martinez (ARI) worked around a lead-off single in the top of the ninth with consecutive groundouts and secured his third save, preserving a one-run win over the Rockies. He’s recorded his team’s last three saves, but Torey Lovullo will not confirm his as his closer. 
  • Raisel Iglesias (ATL) retired all six batters faced, four via strikeout, and collected his second win during an extra-inning game in San Francisco. 
  • Josh Winckowski (BOS) collected his third courtesy of a walk-off rally in the bottom of the tenth. He retired all three batters in the top of the inning, with the “place” runner scoring on a fielder’s choice groundout. 
  • Julian Merryweather (CHC) took over in the seventh and worked a scoreless inning. In the eighth, he allowed José Ramírez’s lead-off double, an infield single, and a go-ahead RBI Josh Naylor chopper over the infield, resulting in his first loss. 
  • Touki Toussaint (CHW) earned his first win during an eventual lopsided margin against the Yankees. He took over in the top of the fifth with a runner on and two outs, stranding him. He finished with 1.1 scoreless frames, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out one. 
  • Jakob Junis (CIN) stranded two runners in the seventh and retired all seven batters, three via strikeout, preserving a five-run win over St. Louis. 
  • Emmanuel Clase (CLE) shut the door on his American League-leading 36th save. He retired the side and recorded two strikeouts while preserving a one-run win over the Cubs. This marked the second time he’s appeared over three straight days this season, and he’s converted 23 straight save chances since May 20. 
  • Anthony Molina (COL) allowed two hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out two in a combined inning, resulting in his first loss. Tyler Kinley let an inherited runner score the game-winning run on a wild pitch, then retired four straight batters in his first blown save. 
  • Daniel Hudson (LAD) recorded his ninth save with a clean ninth during a three-run win in Milwaukee on 10 pitches, snapping a two-game streak allowing at least a run. 
  • Robert Suarez (SDP) held on for his 26th save. He allowed two hits and an earned run in an eventual one-run win over the Pirates. 
  • Taylor Rogers (SFG) suffered his fourth loss, letting the “place” runner score on Sean Murphy’s RBI single in the top of the tenth. 
  • Gerson Garabito (TEX) gave up two hits and two runs (one earned) in the bottom of the tenth in Boston, resulting in his first loss and a first blown save. Walter Pennington allowed Rob Refsnyder’s game-winning RBI single. 
  • Chad Green (TOR) allowed Jo Adell’s lead-off home run in the bottom of the ninth, then retired the next three hitters en route to his 12th save, his sixth of the second half.

Vulture Save Options for Tuesday, August 13

  • Pierce Johnson (ATL): Iglesias logged two innings on 21 pitches in Monday’s win, and Jiménez appeared in three straight. 
  • Hunter Gaddis (CLE): Clase’s appeared in three straight contests.
  • Jason Adam (SDP): Suarez pitched in four of the previous six days, and Scott appeared in three of the last four. 

Vulture Save Options for Wednesday, August 14

  • Paul Sewald (ARI): If Martinez pitches tonight, it will be back-to-back outings, and Torey Lovullo may give his veteran another shot in the ninth. 
  • Lucas Sims (BOS): If Jansen appears in today’s game, it will be his third consecutive outing, and he should be off on Wednesday.

Three Takeaways

  • Will the Rangers shed payroll through waivers?: In today’s post for The Athletic, Ken Rosenthal shared that Texas could place veteran pitchers on waivers if the team’s struggles in the second half continue. This would allow the team to save money over the last 40-plus games of the season. He mentioned Kirby Yates and David Robertson as potential candidates if this happens. It will be intriguing since players on the 40-man roster before August 31 are eligible for the playoffs. 
  • Closers and coach speak: In his postgame presser, manager Torey Lovullo would not confirm Justin Martinez as his team’s closer despite his recording its last three saves since August 5. Balancing roles and egos in the bullpen remains difficult throughout a 162-game season. This does not represent a slight for the rookie but rather trust in a veteran like Paul Sewald by Lovullo. Fantasy managers will reap the rewards of Martinez’s production over the last two weeks while monitoring how Sewald gets worked back into the high-leverage mix moving forward.
  • Kopech’s adjustments: It’s easy throwing the White Sox under the bus, but Michael Kopech started tweaking his arsenal after allowing four earned runs against Miami in a walk-off loss on July 8. In his next 11 outings, he’s been scoreless with 17 strikeouts against two walks with a minuscule 0.36 WHIP over his last 11 innings. Although the Dodgers prefer his cutter, he’s thriving with slightly fewer four-seam fastballs in this sample. Here is his splits-by-pitch since July 9:

Link: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/nhh8C/1/

American League – Full Recaps, August 12

Boston Red Sox – Benefiting from his team’s walk-off rally, Josh Winckowski collected his third win. He allowed the “place” runner to score in the top of the tenth on a fielder’s choice groundout while retiring the side on 11 pitches.

  • Kenley Jansen tossed a clean ninth and struck out one. He threw 14 pitches (64.3 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%) in his first outing since August 6.
  • Chris Martin allowed a hit and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless eighth.
  • Bailey Horn suffered his second blown save, giving up Corey Seager’s game-tying two-run home run in one-third of the seventh.
  • Zack Kelly was awarded his eighth hold, issuing a walk, which resulted in an earned run and recording a strikeout in two-thirds of the seventh.

Updated Hierarchy: Kenley Jansen | Chris Martin | Lucas Sims

Cleveland Guardians – Appearing for a third straight game for the second time this season (May 19-21), Emmanuel Clase recorded his 36th save, preserving a one-run win over the Cubs. He retired the side and recorded two strikeouts on 10 pitches (80 Strike%) with two whiffs. He’s converted 23 straight saves since May 20.

  • Nick Sandlin was awarded his seventh win despite letting his only inherited runner score, giving up a double and a sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth, resulting in his third blown save.
  • Peter Strzelecki allowed a walk and an earned run while striking out one in two-thirds of the eighth for his first hold.
  • Scott Barlow let both inherited runners score, allowing two hits, a hit batter, and two earned runs without recording an out in the seventh.

Updated Hierarchy: Emmanuel Clase | Hunter Gaddis | Cade Smith

Toronto Blue Jays – Although he allowed a lead-off home run by Jo Adell in the bottom of the ninth, Chad Green settled in and retired the next three batters for his 12th save. He’s converted all six save opportunities in the second half but has allowed a run in two of his last three games.

  • Génesis Cabrera stranded a runner and retired his only batter in the eighth, securing his seventh hold.
  • Zach Pop allowed a walk and recorded two outs in the eighth, getting credit for his tenth hold.

Updated Hierarchy: Chad Green | Génesis Cabrera | Erik Swanson

National League – Full Recaps, August 13

Arizona Diamondbacks – Summoned with a one-run lead, Justin Martinez navigated around Michael Toglia’s lead-off single by inducing a double play groundball and a game-ending groundout, securing his third save with a scoreless ninth. He threw 13 pitches (7 strikes – 53.8 Strike%) and produced one whiff. He’s been scoreless over his last seven appearances with 12 strikeouts versus three walks and has recorded his team’s last three saves. He may not be the closer by name, but he’s being deployed like one.

  • Ryan Thompson notched his 22nd hold and retired the side against the Rockies’ 3-4-5 lineup pocket in the top of the eighth. 

Hierarchy remains: Justin Martinez | A.J. Puk | Paul Sewald

Atlanta Braves – Completing a combined shutout and collecting his second win, Raisel Iglesias fired two clean frames and recorded four strikeouts in San Francisco. He threw 21 pitches (16 strikes – 76.2 Strike%) and generated a season-high seven whiffs (33.3 SwStr%). This extended his scoreless streak to ten games. He’s recorded a win and three saves with 15 strikeouts against one walk during his last 11 innings.

  • Joe Jiménez retired the side and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless bottom of the eighth.

Updated Hierarchy: Raisel Iglesias | Joe Jiménez | Pierce Johnson

Los Angeles Dodgers – Securing his ninth save, Daniel Hudson retired the side and preserved a three-run win in Milwaukee. This snapped a streak of two consecutive outings, allowing at least a run. He threw 10 pitches (70 Strike%) without a whiff against the 6-7-8 lineup pocket.

  • Michael Kopech notched his fourth hold with a scoreless eighth. He allowed a walk and recorded two strikeouts on 19 pitches (10 strikes – 52.6 Strike%) with seven whiffs (36.8 SwStr%). He’s given up a hit and a walk through six outings since the trade deadline while striking out 10 of 21 batters.
  • Alex Vesia nailed down his ninth hold, striking out the side in the seventh.
  • Joe Kelly let his only inherited runner score in the sixth on a William Contreras home run, among his three hits in one-third of an inning.

Hierarchy remains: *Daniel Hudson | *Evan Phillips | Michael Kopech

*= closer-by-committee

San Diego Padres – Hanging on for his 26th save, Robert Suarez could not complete a combined shutout but preserved a one-run win over the Pirates. He allowed Bryan De La Cruz’s one-out single, advanced on defensive indifference with two outs, and then scored on Andrew McCutchen’s RBI single before a game-ending lineout by Bryan Reynolds. Suarez threw 19 pitches (12 strikes – 63.2 Strike%) and induced two whiffs. Even though he’s allowed a run in two of his last three outings, he’s been scoreless in seven of nine in the second half, recording three wins and converting four of five save chances.

  • Tanner Scott secured his fourth hold with a scoreless eighth, giving up a hit and striking out two.
  • Jeremiah Estrada collected his fourth win, working around a hit and a walk with three strikeouts in a scoreless seventh.

Hierarchy remains: Robert Suarez | Tanner Scott | Jason Adam

San Francisco Giants – Taking over in the top of the tenth, Taylor Rogers suffered his fourth loss, letting the “place” runner score on Sean Murphy’s RBI single.

  • Ryan Walker worked a scoreless ninth, navigating around Marcell Ozuna’s one-out single. Walker threw 15 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and induced two whiffs while recording a strikeout.
  • Tyler Rogers retired the side and struck out one in the eighth.
  • Randy Rodríguez stranded two runners and retired both batters via strikeout in the seventh.

Hierarchy remains: Ryan Walker | Tyler Rogers | Jordan Hicks

Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe and be well.

Statistical Credits:

Fangraphs.com

Baseball-Reference.com

Statcast