On Trade Deadline eve, things will get crazy soon in the reliever market. One move was made yesterday, as Seranthony Domínguez switched locker rooms between games during a doubleheader.
Our updated hierarchies are shared in the game recaps. As a gentle reminder:
Trade Deadline Links
As for yesterday’s results, reslievers recorded seven wins and converted nine saves while suffering six losses. There was a one-out save, a three-plus inning save, and a save converted by a veteran closer working for a third consecutive contest:
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for July 30
- Bennett Sousa (HOU): Hader and Abreu have pitched in back-to-back games.
- Taylor Rogers (CIN): Pagán and Santillan have appeared in three of the last four days.
- John Schreiber (KC): Estévez and Erceg have been used in three of the previous four games.
- Reid Detmers (LAA): Jansen has pitched in three consecutive contests.
Here are the leverage events of interest from Tuesday.
Leverage Ledger
Baltimore Orioles – (Game 1) – Facing Toronto’s 2-3-4 lineup pocket, Yennier Cano worked around Davis Schneider’s lead-off single with a flyout and an inning-ending double play groundout against Bo Bichette.
(Game 2) – Capping his team’s go-ahead rally at the bottom of the eighth, Corbin Martin recorded his first career save despite hitting Ernie Clement with a pitch and walking Tyler Heineman leading off the top of the ninth. Martin bore down, retiring Myles Straw on a sacrifice bunt, then striking out Nathan Lukes and Bo Bichette, preserving the one-run win. He threw 22 pitches (36.4% strike rate) and induced three whiffs (13.6 SwStr%).
- Andrew Kittredge allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one at the top of the eighth, collecting his second win.
- Keegan Akin navigated around a hit and a walk for a scoreless seventh in his first appearance since June 30.
In the two save situations since Félix Bautista was placed on the injured list, interim manager Tony Mansolino has used a match-up-based approach. As for “The Mountain,” it may be some time before he returns:
Updated Hierarchy: *Andrew Kittredge | *Yennier Cano | *Keegan Akin
*= closer-by-committee
Boston Red Sox – After warming up for the ninth, Aroldis Chapman was not initially used when the lead grew to five. Jorge Alcala entered instead, but allowed two hits, including Brooks Lee’s two-run home run, and left with a runner on and two outs. Chapman stranded the runner, retiring Mickey Gasper via strikeout for his 19th save, throwing three pitches, all strikes.
- Garrett Whitlock notched his 14th hold, yielding a hit and striking out two during a scoreless bottom of the eighth, extending his scoreless streak to nine games.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Garrett Whitlock | Jordan Hicks
Cincinnati Reds – Entering with the score tied at the top of the ninth, Emilio Pagán issued Michael Conforto a lead-off walk, a leverage mortal sin. He almost worked around it by retiring the next two batters, but Will Smith made him pay, producing a go-ahead RBI double before Freddie Freeman’s inning-ending strikeout. Pagán suffered his third loss, giving up a hit, an earned run, and a walk with one strikeout on 25 pitches (64% strike rate). His illustrator:
And results:
- Tony Santillan retired the side in the eighth.
- Graham Ashcraft gave up three hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out two, resulting in his fourth blown save.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Tony Santillan | Graham Ashcraft
Houston Astros – Nailing down his 28th save, Josh Hader fired a clean top of the ninth while striking out the side, preserving a three-run lead against the Naitonals. He threw 13 pitches (69.2% strike rate) and generated five whiffs (38.5 SwStr%).
This extended his modest scoreless streak to four games, and he has registered multiple strikeouts in seven of nine games in July, posting 16 strikeouts through 11 innings. Bryan Abreu gave up two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out two in the eighth.
- Bryan King gave up three hits and an earned run while getting one strikeout.
- Bennett Sousa collected his fifth win, tossing 1.1 clean frames and striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Bennett Sousa
Los Angeles Angels – For a 13th consecutive full season, Kenley Jansen has recorded at least 20 saves. Appearing in a third straight contest, he preserved a three-run lead, allowing Marcus Semien’s two-out single and striking out one during a scoreless top of the ninth versus Texas. He threw 11 pitches (72.7% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%).
He has been scoreless through all 11 games in July, recording two wins and five saves while posting a 0.354 WHIP with 13 strikeouts and zero walks (35.1 K-BB%).
- Connor Brogdon allowed Kyle Higashioka’s solo home run in the eighth, getting credit for his third hold.
- Reid Detmers tossed a scoreless top of the seventh, yielding a hit and striking out two, to collect his fourth win.
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Reid Detmers | Ryan Zeferjahn
Los Angeles Dodgers – Handed a one-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, Alex Vesia slammed the door on his fourth save, retiring the side and recording two strikeouts against the Reds’ 8-9-1 hitters. He threw eight pitches (75% strike rate) and induced two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%).
It’s his first save since June 11 and extended his scoreless streak to four games.
- Alexis Díaz stranded a runner at the bottom of the seventh while retiring all four batters, collecting his first win, and gaining a measure of revenge against his former team.
Also, an update for Tanner Scott:
Updated Hierarchy: *Blake Treinen | *Alex Vesia | *Jack Dreyer
*= closer-by-committee
New York Yankees – Hanging on for his 17th save, Devin Williams allowed Josh Lowe’s lead-off triple, followed by José Caballero’s walk, then retired the next two batters, scoring a run. With two outs, Yandy Díaz reached on a throwing error, but Williams produced a game-ending strikeout of Jonathan Aranda. He finished with a hit, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one on 25 pitches (60% strike rate) with five whiffs (20 SwStr%). His illustrator:
And results:
The good news is that he has converted a save in his last four appearances. However, he has allowed at least a run in three of his last five games.
- Jonathan Loáigisa notched his seventh hold, stranded a runner at the top of the seventh, and allowed two hits during 1.1 scoreless innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Devin Williams | Luke Weaver | Tim Hill
Pittsburgh Pirates – Filling in capably, and possibly being showcased for scouts, Dennis Santana nailed down his sixth save, retiring the side and recording two strikeouts in San Francisco. He threw 12 pitches (75% strike rate) and generated four whiffs (33.3 SwStr%).
This marks his first save since May 21 and extends his scoreless streak to seven, during which he has a 1.00 WHIP with nine strikeouts versus three walks.
- Braxton Ashcraft earned his third win, logging three clean frames and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: David Bednar | Dennis Santana | Caleb Ferguson
San Diego Padres – In order of appearance, Jeremiah Estrada fired a clean top of the fifth, recording one strikeout, extending his scoreless streak to 17 games, during which he has two wins, a save, and ten holds while posting a 0.539 WHIP with 22 strikeouts against three walks in 16.2 innings.
- Wandy Peralta was awarded his fifth win, tossing a scoreless sixth despite allowing a hit.
- Adrian Morejon notched his 16th hold, retiring the side in the seventh. He has given up one earned run during his last 30 appearances since May 23, recording seven wins, a save, and ten holds.
- Ron Marinaccio worked a scoreless eighth, yielding a hit and striking out one.
- Yuki Matsui finished the six-run win with a clean ninth, striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Suarez | Jason Adam | Jeremiah Estrada
Toronto Blue Jays – Summoned at the bottom of the eighth during a tied contest against Baltimore’s 2-3-4 lineup pocket, Jeff Hoffman allowed consecutive one-out doubles by Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman, hit a batter, and recorded a strikeout, resulting in his fourth loss. His illustrator:
And his results:
He has suffered a loss while allowing a run in back-to-back appearances.
- Seranthony Domínguez made his team debut, retiring the side and striking out two at the bottom of the seventh.
- Yariel Rodríguez issued a walk during a scoreless sixth.
Updated Hierarchy: Jeff Hoffman | Seranthony Domínguez | Yariel Rodríguez
Quick Hits
- Detroit Tigers: Taking over at the top of the second, Brant Hurter stranded two runners and logged 3.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out three. He collected his third win while throwing 37 pitches (70.3% strike rate) and produced five whiffs (13.5 SwStr%)
- Miami Marlins: Completing a combined shutout, Valente Bellozo tossed two innings, walking one and striking out three. Ronny Henriquez fired a clean seventh, striking out one. Calvin Faucher allowed a hit and a walk while striking out two.
- Milwaukee Brewers: With two runners on and two outs at the top of the sixth, Aaron Ashby stranded them and logged 3.1 innings while recording his second save. He allowed a hit, an earned run, and a walk while striking out two on 42 pitches (61.9% strike rate) with three whiffs (7.1 SwStr%).
- New York Mets: Called into a tied game at the bottom of the sixth, José Buttó suffered his second loss. He gave up five hits, five earned runs, and two walks while striking out one during his 1.2 innings.
- San Francisco Giants: A rare meltdown for Tyler Rogers resulted in his third loss. He entered a tied contest at the top of the eighth, allowing four hits and two earned runs while striking out one, snapping his nine-game scoreless streak in July. It’s the first time he has allowed multiple runs since June 25.
- Texas Rangers: A rough outing for Jon Gray at the bottom of the sixth. He gave up three hits, four earned runs, and three walks while striking out one, resulting in his first loss and a second blown save.
- Washington Nationals: Taking over a tied game at the bottom of the fifth, Andrew Chafin gave up a hit, an earned run, and a walk during two-thirds of the inning, resulting in his first loss.
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