Full slate Fridays produce a multitude of high-leverage events, and last night did not disappoint, including a walk-off grand slam, tightening up the National League Wild Card race:
Relievers recorded seven wins, though two were accompanied by a blown save (Cole Sands and Carlos Vargas), and seven saves while suffering six losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
For the save streamers, a light forecast:
Vulture Save Option for September 13
- Matt Brash (SEA): Andrés Muñoz has pitched in back-to-back games.
News, Notes, and Observations
There have been limited status updates for Josh Hader, but this was on X yesterday:
Speaking of bad news, it appears Trevor Megill suffered a setback in his return to pitch protocol:
Initially, he was set to return on his first day eligible (September 9), but the date was later changed to September 16. Now, fantasy managers may not be able to use him, though he may get a tune-up outing or two before the playoffs. Stay tuned.
There is no closer in Minnesota, and one of the options has been removed:
Here are the leverage events of interest from Friday.
Leverage Ledger
Chicago Cubs – Locking down his fourth save, Andrew Kittredge retired the Rays’ 4-5-6 lineup pocket on seven pitches (85.7% strike rate) and induced one whiff (14.3 SwStr%).
He has converted consecutive saves and extended his scoreless streak to seven games, spanning 6.2 innings, posting a 0.448 WHIP with seven strikeouts versus one walk (28.5 K-BB%).
- Brad Keller fired a clean top of the eighth against the top of the order, recording two strikeouts on 13 pitches (61.5% strike rate) and inducing one whiff for his 25th hold. He has not allowed an earned run in his last 22 appearances, posting a 0.448 WHIP with 28 strikeouts against six walks (28.2 K-BB%) across his last 22.1 innings.
- Drew Pomeranz worked a clean seventh, striking out one for his 12th hold.
- Porter Hodge notched his eighth hold, tossing a clean sixth, striking out one.
Updated Hierarchy: *Andrew Kittredge | *Brad Keller | Caleb Thielbar
*= closer-by-committee
Colorado Rockies – The good news is Victor Vodnik received his first save chance in a week, which he converted for his eighth of the season. However, his 11-game scoreless streak was snapped at the bottom of the ninth in San Diego. He allowed a one-out single by Manny Machado, followed by a Gavin Sheets double, and an RBI groundout. Vodnik also issued a walk but produced a game-ending strikeout during the two-run win. He threw 21 pitches (61.9% strike rate) and generated five whiffs (23.8 SwStr%) while giving up two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one.
- Jimmy Herget fired a clean eighth, striking out one for his sixth hold.
- Juan Mejia worked around a hit and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless seventh, securing his ninth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Victor Vodnik | Jimmy Herget | Juan Mejia
Houston Astros – Finishing a lopsided win in Atlanta, Colton Gordon recorded his first save, tossing four innings, giving up three hits, three earned runs, and a walk while striking out three. He threw 60 pitches (66.7% strike rate) and induced two whiffs.
- Nick Hernandez tossed a scoreless sixth, walking and striking out one.
- AJ Blubaugh was awarded his third win, yielding a hit during a scoreless fourth.
Hierarchy Remains: Bryan Abreu | Bryan King | Enyel De Los Santos
Los Angeles Dodgers – Summoned with a runner on and one out at the bottom of the tenth, Tanner Scott walked Jung Hoo Lee, intentionally walked Casey Schmitt, then allowed Patrick Bailey’s walk-off grand slam, bloating his season ERA to 5.01 and representing the 11th home run against this season, matching his total from the three previous years combined.
It feels like one step up and two steps back for the reliever this year, and he’s frustrated:
Blake Treinen was tagged with his fourth loss. He stranded two runners at the bottom of the ninth, intentionally walking Willy Adames, then inducing a flyout with the runner being thrown out at home, ending the inning. Treinen finished with an unearned run and a walk on his ledger during his combined inning.
- Jack Dreyer worked 1.1 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and striking out three.
Hierarchy Remains: *Tanner Scott | *Michael Kopech | *Blake Treinen
*= closer-by-committee
New York Yankees – Locking down his 23rd save, sixth since being acquired, David Bednar fired a clean bottom of the ninth, preserving a three-run lead and recording two strikeouts against Boston’s 6-7-8 lineup pocket. He threw 13 pitches (76.9% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%).
He’s been scoreless in his last three appearances, securing a save in each while striking out five of ten batters.
- Devin Williams notched his 11th hold, giving up a hit and striking out one in a scoreless eighth.
Updated Hierarchy: David Bednar | Luke Weaver | Devin Williams
San Francisco Giants – Facing the top of the Dodgers’ lineup at the top of the tenth, Joel Peguero intentionally walked Shohei Ohtani leading off the inning, benefited from a double play flyout by Mookie Betts, with the “place” runner being thrown out at third, and induced an inning-ending groundout against Freddie Freeman. Peguero collected his second win on a walk-off grand slam at the bottom of the frame.
- Ryan Walker retired the side in the ninth against the 7-8-9 lineup pocket, throwing 14 pitches (71.4% strike rate) with two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%).
- Joey Lucchesi worked a clean seventh, striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Walker | José Buttó | Joey Lucchesi
Seattle Mariners – Nailing down his 35th save, Andrés Muñoz fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts while preserving a one-run lead against the Angels. He threw 12 pitches (66.7% strike rate), ten of which were sliders, and generated five whiffs (41.7 SwStr%) while facing the 5-6-7 hitters.
He has converted his last four save chances during a five-game scoreless streak, posting a 0.40 WHIP with nine strikeouts against one walk (47 K-BB%) over five innings.
- Gabe Speier secured his 22nd hold, retiring the side and striking out one in the eighth.
- Carlos Vargas let his only inherited runner score during the seventh on Logan Davidson’s RBI double and hit a batter, but recorded all three outs via strikeout. He was awarded his fifth win and charged with his seventh blown save as a result.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Matt Brash | Gabe Speier
The Athletics – Securing his second save of the season, and first since August 16, Sean Newcomb fired a clean top of the ninth, striking out the side while facing the Reds’ 9-1-2 lineup pocket. He threw 18 pitches (72.2% strike rate) and produced four whiffs (22.2 SwStr%).
In the eight games between his saves, he entered games in the fourth (once), the fifth (once), the sixth (once), the seventh (four times), and the ninth (once). Long story short, there is no discernible usage pattern in this bullpen.
- Justin Sterner notched his 14th hold, allowing two hits and striking out two in a scoreless eighth.
- Hogan Harris gave up a hit during a scoreless seventh for his third hold.
- Tyler Ferguson logged 1.2 scoreless frames, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out three, earning his fourth win.
Updated Hierarchy: *Sean Newcomb | *Justin Sterner | *Hogan Harris
*= closer-by-committee
Toronto Blue Jays – Summoned with one out and a five-run lead at the top of the ninth, Yariel Rodríguez allowed a hit and retired two batters, closing out a five-run lead over the Orioles.
- Brendon Little notched his 28th hold, tossing a clean combined inning and striking out one.
- Louis Varland fired 1.1 clean frames, striking out two for his 22nd hold.
- Braydon Fisher collected his fifth win, stranding two runners at the top of the sixth, walking one, and retiring two.
Hierarchy Remains: Jeff Hoffman | Seranthony Domínguez | Yariel Rodríguez
Washington Nationals – Although he had his 14-game scoreless streak snapped, Jose A. Ferrer held on for his ninth save, giving up three hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out one at the top of the ninth against the Pirates. His outing began with a lead-off double by Nick Gonzales, followed by an RBI Nick Yorke single, before recording an out on a strikeout. With two on and two outs, he induced a game-ending flyout but was not sharp. Ferrer threw 25 pitches (56% strike rate) and only induced one whiff.
However, he has recorded two wins and converted nine saves since August 6, posting a 1.018 WHIP with 15 strikeouts against three walks.
- Clayton Beeter notched his fifth hold, retiring the side and striking out two in the eighth.
- PJ Poulin tossed a clean seventh, striking out two, and collected his second win.
Hierarchy Remains: Jose A. Ferrer | Cole Henry | PJ Poulin
Quick Hits
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Entering with a one-run lead and the bases loaded with zero outs at the bottom of the ninth, Andrew Saalfrank suffered his second blown save, walking in a run, then allowing a walk-off sacrifice fly. Jake Woodford did not record an out, allowing two hits, three earned runs, and a walk, resulting in his fourth loss at the bottom of the ninth.
- Atlanta Braves: During a lopsided loss, Alexis Díaz retired the side and recorded a strikeout at the top of the eighth against the Astros’ top of the batting order. He threw 14 pitches (57.1% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%).
- Baltimore Orioles: Taking over a tied game at the bottom of the sixth, Dietrich Enns suffered his third loss, allowing three hits, two earned runs, and a walk during his 1.1 innings.
- Kansas City Royals: Appearing in an eventual loss, Luinder Avila tossed a clean bottom of the eighth and recorded one strikeout against the Phillies’ top of the lineup. He threw 11 pitches (72.7% strike rate) and produced one whiff. He has been scoreless in his last four.
- Los Angeles Angels: Tasked with a tied game at the bottom of the seventh, Connor Brogdon allowed Mitch Garver’s go-ahead solo home run, resulting in his second loss. He finished his two innings with two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out four.
- Minnesota Twins: Despite suffering his fourth blown save, Cole Sands collected his fourth win courtesy of a walk-off rally at the bottom of the ninth. Sands gave up four hits, including Gabriel Moreno’s go-ahead three-run home run, and four earned runs.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Called upon with a one-run lead at the bottom of the seventh, Kyle Nicolas allowed three hits, four earned runs, and a walk while striking out one, resulting in his second loss and first blown save. Dauri Moreta let both inherited runners score while logging 1.1 scoreless innings, yielding a hit and striking out one.
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