Rarely does Sunday not feature a full slate of games, but four teams had the day off. Across the 13 games played, relievers recorded four wins and seven saves. Two saves were of the ancillary variety, with George Soriano (MIA) notching a one-out save and Will Vest being summoned with a one-run lead in San Francisco. There is no closer in Detroit; fantasy managers should plan accordingly. Our condensed game recaps cover Sunday’s high-leverage outings of interest.
Closer CliffsNotes
- Joe Jiménez (ATL) let both inherited runners score while allowing four hits and three earned runs on his ledger over one-third of the eighth in Colorado, resulting in his fourth loss and second blown save.
- Craig Kimbrel (BAL) took over a tied game in the bottom of the eighth and suffered his fourth loss. He allowed three walks and one earned run, working with reduced velocity.
- Lucas Sims (BOS) was forced into action after James Paxton left with an injury. Sims suffered his sixth loss, giving up a hit, an earned run, and a walk while striking out two over two innings.
- Alexis Díaz (CIN) shut the door on his 23rd save with a clean bottom of the ninth, striking out two while preserving a one-run win in Milwaukee.
- Emmanuel Clase (CLE) worked into, then out of trouble while recording his American League-leading 35th save. He gave up a lead-off single, issued a walk, and allowed another single, loading the bases with no outs. Bearing down, he recorded a strikeout and a game-ending double play grounder, preserving the two-run win and converting his 23rd straight save opportunity.
- Victor Vodnik (COL) culminated his team’s seven-run rally in the bottom of the eighth and preserved the one-run win with his eighth save. He allowed a lead-off hit, induced a double play groundout, and ended the game on a strikeout.
- Will Vest (DET) was summoned with a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth. He responded by recording his first save, working around a two-out walk with a game-ending strikeout.
- Ben Joyce (LAA) struggled in a non-save outing. He allowed three hits, two earned runs, and two walks on 29 pitches (17 strikes – 58.6 Strike%).
- George Soriano (MIA) produced a fantasy fan favorite with a one-out save, striking out his only batter and recording his first save in a one-run win over the Padres.
- Joe Ross (MIL) entered a tied game in the seventh and allowed the eventual game-winning run score on a sacrifice fly. He suffered his sixth loss, giving up a hit, an earned run, and two walks while striking out three over three innings.
- Clay Holmes (NYY) threw a season-high 45 pitches during 1.1 innings and held on for his 25th save. After stranding a runner in the eighth, he recorded two strikeouts in the ninth before issuing consecutive walks, allowing an RBI single and inducing a game-ending groundout during a one-run win.
- Mason Miller (OAK) retired the side on eight pitches in Toronto while finishing a four-run win.
- Pete Fairbanks (TBR) secured his 23rd save, closing out a one-run win over the Orioles. He allowed a two-out single and recorded three strikeouts for his eighth straight scoreless appearance.
Vulture Save Option for Monday, August 12
- Scott Barlow (CLE): Clase, Gaddis, and Smith have pitched back-to-back games.
- Aroldis Chapman (PIT): Bednar logged two innings and threw 38 pitches; he may need two days off.
- Colin Poche (TBR): Fairbanks and Rodríguez have appeared in two straight.
- Luke Weaver (NYY): This leverage ladder is running on fumes and Holmes tossed 45 pitches during Sunday’s save.
Vulture Save Option for Tuesday, August 13
- Tanner Scott (SDP): If Suarez pitches today, it will be four appearances in six days, which lines up Scott, if he’s not used for Tuesday.
- Fernando Cruz (CIN): If Díaz pitches tonight, he will have appeared on consecutive days.
- Kyle Nicolas (PIT): If Chapman pitches in today’s contest, it will be back-to-back outings and Bednar should be unavailable until Wednesday.
Three Takeaways
- Bednar pre-and-post-injury splits: Could this be viewed as cherrypicking results? Absolutely. However, David Bednar has allowed at least a run in his last five appearances, including a walk-off loss against the Dodgers yesterday. He did work a scoreless ninth, but with two outs, he gave up Teoscar Hernández’s single, resulting in his team’s seventh consecutive loss. Before his in-season oblique injury, Bednar had a 3-3 record while converting 16 of 19 save chances with a 32:7 K:BB (18.7 K-BB percentage), a 1.12 WHIP, and a 3.48 SIERA. Since returning on July 12, he’s suffered two losses and converted four of six saves with a 9:8 K:BB (2 K-BB percentage), a 2.14 WHIP, and a 5.50 SIERA. He’s also throwing strikes less often, down over six percent since his return from the oblique issue. Time may be running out on the Pirates, and their closer will be on watch the rest of the second half by fantasy managers, not distracted by football.
- Kimbrel’s velocity remains down: Usage patterns forced Brandon Hyde’s hand, and he had to deploy Craig Kimbrel in a high-leverage outing on Sunday. The veteran closer took over a tied game in the bottom of the eighth and suffered his fourth loss. It started with a lead-off walk, featured four stolen bases allowed, and ended with his team down by one. Kimbrel last recorded a save on July 7 and had his last save opportunity on July 25. Once again, his velocity dipped, even with four days off in this outing and when he’s below 94 m.p.h. with his four-seam, he’s not the same pitcher:
- Camilo’s debut at Triple-A: One pitch from an immaculate inning during his first appearance at Triple-A since 2021, Camilo Doval threw four straight balls, walking the batter instead. With two outs, he allowed Nolan Jones’ RBI triple and an RBI single by Elehuris Montero before an inning-ending flyout. Doval threw 25 pitches (72 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (20 SwStr%), allowing two hits, two earned runs, and a walk with two strikeouts.
American League – Full Recaps from August 11
Baltimore Orioles – Taking over a tied game in the bottom of the eighth, Craig Kimbrel suffered his fourth loss. His outing began with a lead-off walk, a leverage no-no, a strikeout, a stolen base, another walk, and a double steal, putting runners on second and third. Kimbrel gave up Curtis Mead’s sacrifice fly and another stolen base (four in his outing), then induced an inning-ending strikeout of José Siri. Kimbrel threw 23 pitches (10 strikes – 43.5 Strike%) and recorded three whiffs. This snapped his three-game scoreless streak, and he’s allowed 10 runs (eight earned) over his last nine outings with 11 strikeouts and walks across 8.2 innings since July 14.
- Cionel Pérez was tagged with his first blown save. He gave up a double and Dylan Carlson’s game-tying RBI single during his one-third of the seventh.
Hierarchy remains: *Seranthony Domínguez | *Yennier Cano (HLR) | Craig Kimbrel
*= closer-by-committee
Cleveland Guardians – Pulling a “Houdini,” Emmanuel Clase loaded the bases on two singles sandwiched around a walk with no outs and a two-run lead in Minnesota. He bore down, recording a strikeout against Will Castro and then inducing a game-ending double play ground ball by Trevor Larnarch for his American League-leading 35th save. He threw 20 pitches (60 Strike%) and only induced one whiff. However, he’s converted 23 consecutive save chances since May 20 with 23 strikeouts versus five walks over his last 31 innings.
- Nick Sandlin let an inherited runner score and an earned run on his ledger, giving up Byron Buxton’s home run in the eighth.
- Hunter Gaddis worked a combined inning, allowing a hit and an earned run while striking out two.
- Cade Smith retired three of four batters, yielding a hit and striking out one.
Hierarchy remains: Emmanuel Clase | Hunter Gaddis | Scott Barlow
Detroit Tigers -With a one-run lead, Will Vest secured his first save. He worked around a two-walk to LaMonte Wade Jr. with a game-ending strikeout of Heliot Ramos. He threw 17 pitches (11 strikes – 64.7 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He’s been scoreless in four of five outings in August with this save, two holds, and a blown save.
- Brenan Haniffee notched his first hold, tossing 1.2 scoreless frames and giving up a hit. He also stranded a runner in the seventh.
- Tyler Holton was credited with his eighth hold. However, he allowed his only inherited runner to score on a Jerar Encarnacion RBI double and issued a walk during 1.1 scoreless innings.
Hierarchy remains: *Tyler Holton | *Jason Foley | *Will Vest
*= closer-by-committee
New York Yankees – An eventful 25th save for Clay Holmes. He took over in the eighth with a runner on and induced an inning-ending groundout by Corey Seager. In the ninth, he recorded two quick outs via strikeout, then his struggles ensued. After issuing consecutive two-out walks, Holmes allowed Adolis García’s RBI single. With runners on second and third, Leody Tavares grounded out. Holmes threw a season-high 45 pitches (24 strikes – 53.3 Strike%) and induced five whiffs (11.1 SwStr%). This marked his most pitches since August 20, 2019 (64 pitches over 3.2 innings). Since July 5, he’s converted six of 11 save chances.
- Mark Leiter Jr. gave up three hits, including two home runs, three earned runs, and a walk, while striking out two in two-thirds of the eighth.
- Tommy Kahnle allowed two hits and an unearned run in the seventh.
Hierarchy remains: Clay Holmes | Luke Weaver | Mark Leiter Jr.
Tampa Bay Rays – Protecting a one-run lead, Pete Fairbanks secured his 23rd save. He worked around a two-out single by Cedric Mullins and recorded all three outs via strikeout. He threw 14 pitches (12 strikes – 85.7 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (21.4 Strike%). He’s converted 13 straight save chances and been scoreless over his last eight appearances.
- Manuel Rodríguez earned his second win. He navigated around a hit and a walk while striking out one for a scoreless eighth, ahead of his team’s go-ahead rally in the bottom of the inning.
- Edwin Uceta worked two scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out one.
Hierarchy remains: Pete Fairbanks | Colin Poche | Manuel Rodríguez
National League – Full Recaps from August 11
Cincinnati Reds – Shutting the door on his 23rd save, Alexis Díaz fired a clean bottom of the ninth, striking out two and preserving a one-run win. He threw 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (28.6 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in four of his last five while converting all four save chances.
- Emilio Pagán allowed a walk during a scoreless eighth for his fourth hold.
- Sam Moll worked a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit, and secured his tenth hold.
- Buck Farmer let one of two inherited runners score on Willy Adames’ RBI single, tying the game, and recorded two outs. He suffered his first blown save but collected his second win when his teammates rallied for a go-ahead run in the top of the seventh.
Hierarchy remains: Alexis Díaz | Fernando Cruz | Sam Moll
Colorado Rockies – Capping his team’s seven-run eighth-inning rally, Victor Vodnik navigated around a lead-off single in the top of the ninth by inducing a double play groundout and recording a game-ending strikeout of Travis d’Arnaud for his eighth save. He threw 17 pitches (11 strikes – 64.7 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (11.8 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in seven of his last eight and converted five saves.
- Jake Rogers was credited with his second win despite allowing three hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one over 1.2 innings.
- Justin Lawrence struggled once again. He gave up three hits, four earned runs, and a walk during one-third of the seventh.
Hierarchy remains: Victor Vodnik | Tyler Kinley | Justin Lawrence
Los Angeles Dodgers – Despite letting the “place” runner score in the top of the tenth, Evan Phillips collected his third win courtesy of a walk-off rally in the bottom of the inning. He allowed a one-out RBI single by Bryan Reynolds and induced an inning-ending double play groundout by Oneil Cruz. Phillips threw 15 pitches (60 Strike%) without a whiff while recording a strikeout. He’s recorded a strikeout against eight of his last 12 batters faced.
- Joe Kelly worked a clean top of the ninth, striking out two.
- Michael Grove stranded a runner and issued a walk in one-third of the eighth.
- Anthony Banda suffered his second blown save, allowing three hits, including Andrew McCutchen’s game-tying two-run home run during two-thirds of the eighth.
Updated Hierarchy: *Daniel Hudson | *Evan Phillips | Michael Kopech
*= closer-by-committee
Miami Marlins – A wild finish resulted in George Soriano recording his first save. With a one-run lead and a runner on second, he recorded a strikeout against Luis Campusano.
- Andrew Nardi was credited with his 15th hold. He logged 1.2 innings, giving up three hits, including Donovan Solan’s pinch-hit two-run home run, and struck out two. Nardi threw 37 pitches (24 strikes – 64.9 Strike%) and induced three whiffs.
- Declan Cronin stranded a runner and retired both batters in the seventh via strikeout for his third hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Calvin Faucher | Andrew Nardi | George Soriano
Pittsburgh Pirates – After tossing a scoreless bottom of the ninth and allowing a hit, David Bednar returned for the bottom of the tenth with a one-run lead, marking his first multiple-inning outing of the season. He allowed Enrique Hernández’s RBI double leading off the inning and issued a walk before recording consecutive outs. With two outs and two on, Teoscar Hernández produced a walk-off RBI single, resulting in Bednar’s fifth loss. He logged 1.2 innings, allowing three hits, two runs (one earned), and a walk while striking out one. He’s allowed at least a run during his last five outings.
- Aroldis Chapman tossed a scoreless eighth, yielding a hit and striking out one.
- Kyle Nicolas gave up a hit and retired one in the eighth.
- Jalen Beeks logged 1.1 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out one.
Hierarchy remains: David Bednar | Aroldis Chapman | Kyle Nicolas
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