Monday’s slate featured two doubleheaders, with Toronto and Boston completing a June game that had been suspended. Kansas City and the Blue Jays recorded sweeps in their double dips, causing a shift in the American League standings. During the 12-game slate, relievers recorded six wins and converted seven saves. Our condensed recaps cover the high-leverage events of interest.
Closer CliffsNotes
- Jared Shuster (CHW) suffered his third loss and a second blown save, allowing four hits, four earned runs, and a walk while striking out three over 1.1 innings.
- Hunter Gaddis (CLE) allowed Bobby Witt Jr.’s go-ahead lead-off home run in the top of the eighth, recorded an out, and gave up a double before being removed. He suffered his third loss during Game 1 of a doubleheader. Emmanuel Clase navigated around two hits for a scoreless ninth during an eventual loss in Game 2.
- Tyler Kinley (COL) locked down his seventh save with a clean ninth while striking out two during a one-run win over Miami. He’s been scoreless in 12 of 13 appearances since July 28, with 16 strikeouts against three walks through 14 innings.
- Tyler Holton (DET) retired the side against the White Sox 7-8-9 hitters on 11 pitches for his fifth save. He’s been scoreless over his last seven games, spanning 10.1 innings, and this marked his first save since August 6.
- Josh Hader (HOU) logged his sixth multi-inning outing, though he did not record an out in the tenth. After striking out the side in the ninth, he issued Trea Turner a lead-off walk in the bottom of the tenth and gave up Bryce Harper’s walk-off RBI single, resulting in his seventh loss.
- Lucas Erceg (KCR) notched his eighth save and fifth with the Royals, tossing a scoreless ninth while navigating around a walk in Game 1. He’s been scoreless since his acquisition, posting 15 strikeouts against one walk across 12.1 innings. John Schreiber earned his fourth win, firing 1.2 clean frames and striking out one.
- Daniel Lynch IV (KCR) logged three scoreless innings and recorded his first career save, closing out a five-run win in Game 2. He allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one in his appearance. Sam Long collected his third win, working 1.1 scoreless frames, navigating around a hit and a walk while striking out one.
- Clay Holmes (NYY) shut the door on his 28th save with a clean ninth. This sets a career-high in the category, and he’s been scoreless over his last three.
- Matt Strahm (PHI) retired the side at the top of the tenth versus the Astros’ top of the lineup and collected his fifth win courtesy of a walk-off rally in the bottom of the inning.
- Chad Green (TOR) closed out a three-run win during the conclusion of the suspended game in Boston. He will be credited with his third save, but it’s his 15th of the season. He gave up a two-out double and recorded three strikeouts in a scoreless ninth.
- Brendon Little (TOR) tossed 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing a hit and striking out one for his first career save in Game 2, preserving a sweep in Boston.
Vulture Save Options for Tuesday, August 27
- Jeff Hoffman (PHI): Estévez has pitched in two straight.
- Jason Adam (SDP): Suarez and Scott have appeared in the two previous games.
- Tayler Scott (HOU): Hader, Abreu, and Neris have logged back-to-back outings.
Vulture Save Stash for Wednesday, August 28
- Tommy Kahnle (NYY): If Holmes pitches tonight, it will be back-to-back appearances.
Three Takeaways
- Kinley Shoves: It was against the Marlins, but Tyler Kinley nailed down his seventh save and first since Victor Vodnik landed on the injured list. After this outing, 12 of Kinley’s last 13 appearances have been scoreless since July 28, and he’s recorded 16 strikeouts against three walks (26.5 K-BB%) across 14 innings. He’s also improved his strike rate (65 percent) and produced an 18 percent swinging strike rate with a 0.50 WHIP. If these outings continue, he may remain the closer, even when Vodnik can be activated in early September. Stay tuned.
- A Royal Sweep: Beating the Guardians at their own game, Kansas City used timely hitting with strong outings by its bullpen to pull within one game in the division, sweeping a doubleheader on Monday. Relievers recorded a win and a save in both games. Before his back issues flared, Hunter Harvey emerged as the preferred save option. However, Lucas Erceg secured his ninth save in Game 1 and has converted five saves over his last six appearances, been scoreless through his 11 games since being acquired, and over his last 14 games since July 22 with 18 strikeouts versus one walk across 15.1 innings with a minuscule 0.46 WHIP. Also of interest, Daniel Lynch IV notched his first career save with three scoreless frames in the nightcap. Moving forward, he replaced Angel Zerpa in the bullpen and could provide solid outings in deeper formats while logging multiple-inning outings. When Harvey returns in September, this will be a deep leverage ladder.
- Toronto Takes Two with a caveat: If one searches game logs on Baseball Reference, Chad Green’s save yesterday afternoon will appear as his third save of the season, recorded on June 26. However, it will be considered his 15th of the season for our purposes. Unofficially, he’s converted all eight save chances this month during his 12 outings and has been a sneakily productive fantasy reliever.
Monday’s Full Recaps
Colorado Rockies – Locking down his seventh save, Tyler Kinley retired the side and recorded two strikeouts while preserving a one-run win over Miami. He threw 15 pitches (11 strikes – 73.3 Strike%) and generated seven whiffs (46.7 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in 12 of 13 appearances since July 28, with 16 strikeouts against three walks through 14 innings.
- Angel Chivilli notched his third hold, giving up a hit and striking out two in a scoreless eighth.
- Justin Lawrence gave up a hit during a scoreless seventh, securing his fourth hold.
- Jake Bird collected his second win. He tossed a scoreless sixth, issuing a walk and striking out two.
Updated Hierarchy: Tyler Kinley | Angel Chivilli | Justin Lawrence
Detroit Tigers – Summoned with a three-run lead against the White Sox 7-8-9 lineup pocket, Tyler Holton retired the side, securing his fifth save. He threw 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He’s been scoreless in his last seven games, spanning 10.1 innings, and this marked his first save since August 6.
- Beau Brieske allowed a solo home run during his 1.1-inning outing.
- Sean Guenther collected his first win, logging 1.2 scoreless frames. He allowed a hit and recorded one strikeout.
Hierarchy remains: *Jason Foley | *Tyler Holton | Shelby Miller
*= closer-by-committee
Kansas City Royals – Preserving a one-run win in Game 1, Lucas Erceg navigated around a one-out walk to José Ramírez for a scoreless ninth and his eighth save. He threw 14 pitches (50 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He remains scoreless since the trade deadline through 11 appearances with 15 strikeouts versus one walk across 12.1 innings.
- John Schreiber collected his fourth win. He logged 1.2 clean frames and recorded a strikeout.
- Kris Bubic suffered his second blown save, giving up four hits and an earned run while striking out one during his 1.1-inning outing.
- James McArthur worked a scoreless fifth, walking and striking out one.
Making his first appearance since June, Daniel Lynch IV recorded his first career save. He logged three scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out one during a five-run win in Game 2 in Cleveland.
- Sam Long collected his third win, working 1.1 scoreless frames, navigating around a hit and a walk while striking out one.
Updated Hierarchy: Lucas Erceg | John Schreiber | Kris Bubic
New York Yankees – Shutting the door in his 28th save, Clay Holmes set a new career high while retiring the side during a three-run win in Washington. He threw 19 pitches (13 strikes – 68.4 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He’s been scoreless over his last three and converted six of eight save chances in August.
- Jake Cousins allowed a walk and recorded two outs in the eighth for his fourth hold.
- Mark Leiter Jr. gave up Jacob Young’s solo home run during two-thirds innings, getting credit for his 15th hold.
Hierarchy remains: Clay Holmes | Tommy Kahnle | Luke Weaver
Philadelphia Phillies – After stranding the “place” runner in the top of the tenth, Matt Strahm collected his sixth win courtesy of a walk-off rally in the bottom of the inning. He retired the top of the Astros lineup on eight pitches (75 Strike%).
- Carlos Estévez tossed a clean ninth, including pinch-hitter Jose Altuve, on 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) with two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%).
- Jeff Hoffman worked around a hit and a walk for a scoreless eighth.
- Orion Kerkering allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless seventh.
Hierarchy remains: Carlos Estévez | Jeff Hoffman | Matt Strahm
Toronto Blue Jays – Securing his 15th save in the suspended contest against Boston, Chad Green worked a scoreless ninth. He allowed a two-out Masataka Yoshida double and recorded all three outs via strikeout. He threw 19 pitches (13 strikes – 68.4 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (15.8 SwStr%). This will be reported as his third save of the season, but we all know better, right?
- Erik Swanson allowed Jarren Duran’s solo home run in the eighth.
- Génesis Cabrera notched his fourth hold with a clean seventh and striking out one.
- Zach Pop was awarded his first win; he stranded two runners while retiring his only batter in the sixth.
- Ryan Yarbrough logged 3.1 scoreless frames, yielding two hits and a walk while striking out four.
Brendon Little recorded 1.1 scoreless innings for his first career save in Game 2. He allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout on 13 pitches (9 strikes – 69.2 Strike%) with two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%).
Hierarchy remains: Chad Green | Génesis Cabrera | Erik Swanson
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