Wednesday’s slate resulted in Philadelphia earning a first-round bye in the playoffs while Kansas City and Detroit moved closer toward Wild Card spots in the American League. The Dodgers can clinch the division with one more win, clarifying the top three spots in the National League. However, with the Atlanta and Mets postponed series until Monday, things may get muddled based on how baseball handled the games. Playing a potential doubleheader on a scheduled off-day will prove less than optimal with a short series looming.
As for yesterday’s games, nine relievers recorded wins and six secured saves, covered in our condensed recaps.
Closer CliffsNotes
Kevin Ginkel (ARI) allowed a single and recorded two outs at the top of the ninth via strikeout, securing a six-run win. He threw ten pitches (80 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (30 SwStr%). A.J. Puk worked a clean combined inning, striking out two on 16 pitches (62.5 Strike%) and induced one whiff. This extended his scoreless streak to 24 games, spanning 22.2 innings, with 38 strikeouts versus three walks since August 4. Justin Martinez gave up three hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out two over 1.1 innings.
- Updated Hierarchy: *A.J. Puk | *Justin Martinez | *Kevin Ginkel
- *= closer-by-committee
Keegan Akin (BAL) took over with a two-run lead at the top of the ninth and retired his only two batters for his first save, preserving a two-run win over the Yankees. Jacob Webb stranded two runners in the fifth and logged 1.1 scoreless, giving up two hits and striking out one while collecting his second win.
- Hierarchy remains: *Seranthony Domínguez | *Yennier Cano| *Gregory Soto
- *= closer-by-committee
Jared Shuster (CHW) tossed a scoreless top of the tenth, stranding the “place” runner while issuing a walk. He collected his second win courtesy of a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. Fraser Ellard retired the side and recorded a strikeout in the ninth. Justin Anderson suffered his fifth blown save, giving up three hits, an earned run, and a walk in the eighth, taking over against the 5-6-7 lineup pocket.
- Hierarchy remains: Justin Anderson | Fraser Ellard | Prelander Berroa
Emmanuel Clase (CLE) navigated around a hit and two walks for a scoreless ninth, securing his career-high and new franchise-best 47th save. He threw 21 pitches (13 strikes – 61.9 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). He’s converted 34 straight saves since May 20 and has been scoreless in his last ten appearances. Hunter Gaddis gave up three hits and an earned run in the eighth, suffering his fifth blown save and collecting his sixth win.
- Hierarchy remains: Emmanuel Clase | Hunter Gaddis | Cade Smith
Jackson Jobe (DET) allowed a one-out single during a scoreless top of the ninth, finishing a six-run win over the Rays while making his major league debut. He threw nine pitches (77.8 Strike%) and induced one whiff. Will Vest gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless eighth. Tyler Holton fired 1.1 clean innings and recorded a strikeout for his 14th hold. Brenan Hanifee worked around a hit and a walk for a scoreless combined inning. Sean Guenther collected his third win, tossing two scoreless frames and recording three strikeouts.
- Hierarchy remains: *Jason Foley | *Tyler Holton | *Beau Brieske
- *= closer-by-committee
Lucas Erceg (KC) completed a combined shutout in Washington with a clean bottom of the ninth while striking out one for his 13th save. He threw 12 pitches (75 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%) against the 5-6-7 lineup pocket. He’s converted all five save opportunities this month and been scoreless in seven of his past eight outings with 12 strikeouts versus one walk. Daniel Lynch IV took over at the bottom of the third and logged 2.2 scoreless frames, scattering two hits and walking one while striking out two, collecting his second win.
- Hierarchy remains: Lucas Erceg | John Schreiber | Kris Bubic
José Quijada (LAA) took over a tied game at the bottom of the tenth. He suffered his first loss, allowing a walk-off RBI single by Andrew Benintendi after recording a strikeout.
- Hierarchy remains: *José Quijada | *Guillo Zuñiga | Brock Burke
- *= closer-by-committee
Michael Kopech (LAD) tossed a scoreless ninth, walking and striking out one while preserving a one-run win over San Diego. He threw 14 pitches (57.1 Strike%) and induced one whiff against the 5-6-7-8 hitters. He’s secured a save in consecutive outings and converted six since August 16. Blake Treinen retired the side and recorded two strikeouts versus the 2-3-4 lineup pocket for his 15th hold. Evan Phillips fired a clean seventh, striking out one and notching his ninth hold. Alex Vesia collected his fifth win with a scoreless sixth despite issuing two walks.
- Updated Hierarchy: *Michael Kopech | *Blake Treinen | *Evan Phillips
- *= closer-by-committee
Michael Peterson (MIA) entered a tied contest at the bottom of the sixth. He suffered his first loss, giving up two hits and an earned run.
- Hierarchy remains: Jesús Tinoco | Declan Cronin | Anthony Bender
Griffin Jax (MIN) collected his fifth win, yielding a hit and striking out two over 1.1 scoreless frames. Through ten outings this month, he’s recorded two wins, converted two of four save chances, and two holds with 16 strikeouts versus three walks.
- Hierarchy remains: Jhoan Durán | Griffin Jax | Cole Sands
Carlos Estévez (PHI) allowed two hits, including Dansby Swanson’s RBI double, before inducing a game-ending flyout in a non-save outing, finishing a three-run win. He threw 21 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and induced one whiff. Through his last 12 appearances, he’s been scoreless in nine and converted five of six save chances. Jeff Hoffman fired a clean eighth and recorded two strikeouts. Orion Kerkering notched his 14th hold, navigating around a hit and a walk for a scoreless seventh. José Ruiz collected his fifth win despite giving up Nico Hoerner’s solo home run and struck out one over 1.1 innings.
- Hierarchy remains: Carios Estévez | Jeff Hoffman | Matt Strahm
Aroldis Chapman (PIT) locked down his 12th save when Willy Adames was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. Chapman threw 17 pitches (12 strikes – 70.6 Strike%) and induced one whiff while striking out one in his scoreless outing. He’s been scoreless in his last four games and converted his last six save chances since September 9 with eight strikeouts against one walk.
- Hierarchy remains: Aroldis Chapman | Dennis Santana | David Bednar
Jeremiah Estrada (SD) took over a tied game at the bottom of the sixth. He allowed two walks and an earned run, resulting in his third loss over two-thirds of an inning. Adrian Morejon took over with two runners on base in the sixth, giving up Shohei Ohtani’s go-ahead RBI single, scoring the game-winning run.
- Hierarchy remains: *Robert Suarez | *Tanner Scott | Jason Adam
- *= closer-by-committee
Ryan Helsley (STL) was summoned with a runner on and one out. He retired his only batter in Colorado, resulting in his 48th save, tying the Cardinals’ franchise record by a reliever in a season. He only needed one pitch to induce a game-ending double play groundout by Sam Hilliard. He’s converted his last six save chances and been scoreless in each.
- Updated Hierarchy: Ryan Helsley | Andrew Kittredge | Matthew Liberatore
Matt Festa (TEX) entered at the bottom of the fourth, stranding three inherited runners, and collected his sixth win, tossing 2.1 scoreless frames. He allowed two hits, recorded two strikeouts on 29 pitches (21 strikes – 72.4 Strike%), and induced three whiffs. Andrew Chafin worked 1.1 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and striking out one. José Leclerc logged 1.2 clean innings, striking out one.
- Hierarchy remains: Kirby Yates | David Robertson | José Leclerc
Vulture Save Options for Thursday, September 26
- Kris Bubic (KC): Erceg has appeared on consecutive days.
- Prelander Berroa (CHW): Anderson has pitched in back-to-back contests.
Vulture Save Stash for Friday, September 27
- Kevin Ginkel (ARI): If there’s a save on Friday against the Padres with a right-handed pocket in the ninth, it will be Ginkel for the save. Stay tuned.
- Andrew Kittredge (STL): If Helsley pitches today, it will be back-to-back outings.
Three Takeaways (Keeper League Theme)
The Red Sox were eliminated; Slaten, save chances, please.: With yesterday’s results, Boston was eliminated from postseason contention. Deploying Chris Martin, a pending free agent entering his Age-39 season, for save chances does not make sense for the team’s last three games against the Rays. Justin Slaten deserves a mini-audition for the ninth inning during the last series of the season. He’s appeared in 43 games, logging 54.1 innings with six wins, one save, 13 holds, and three blown saves in his rookie campaign. He’s produced a 1.01 WHIP with a 14.3 swinging strike percentage, and throws strikes 67.3 percent of the time. He features four pitches, though he’s been mixing in more curves since returning from the injured list:
Here are his splits by pitch this year:
- Cutter: .275 weighted on-base average (wOBA), 11.4 K-BB%, 11.6 SwStr%
- Four-seam: .179 wOBA, 26.7 K-BB%, 11.8 SwStr%
- Slider: .322 wOBA, 22.8 K-BB%, 20.5 SwStr%
- Curve: .139 wOBA, 52.6 K-BB%, 16.9 SwStr%
Edgardo’s debut: Although it happened on Tuesday, with a dynasty league theme today, we are circling back to Edgardo Henriquez making his debut against the Padres in a loss. He allowed a one-out single by Kyle Higashioka in a scoreless seventh. He also recorded two strikeouts, including one against Fernando Tatis Jr., and potentially deserved a third on a missed call against Luis Arraez. Here is his Statcast box from his outing:
He has hit 104 m.p.h. in the minors this year and features a potent mix of talent with velocity. Monitor his results and usage patterns closely this weekend and this postseason if he makes the roster.
Bigge on the radar: Teams should hang up when Tampa Bay calls about a reliever. However, the Cubs included Hunter Bigge in their trade for Isaac Paredes. With the Rays, Bigge has recorded his first major league save and 12 scoreless appearances in his first 13 games, posting 15 strikeouts against two walks (27. K-BB%). As a reliever, among his peers with at least ten innings since July 30, he’s tied for 13th in swinging strike percentage (18.7%) with Devin Williams. Pete Fairbanks will open 2025 as the closer, but a change could happen via trade or injury, putting Bigge firmly on our radar for next season.
Those seeking full game recaps should surf the team pages; they’ve all been updated with Wednesday’s results.
Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe and be well.
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