Friday’s slate featured the playoff picture in the American League finished. Detroit and Kansas City will be the last Wild Card teams, with Minnesota being eliminated from the postseason. In the National League, San Diego clinched the top Wild Card spot and will host a three-game series. Things became more tense for Atlanta, Arizona, and the Mets for the remaining two playoff berths:
During Friday’s slate, relievers recorded five wins and secured ten saves. There were also no blown saves, a rare occasion. Our condensed recaps cover all of the high-leverage events of interest.
Closer CliffsNotes
Raisel Iglesias (ATL) retired his only batter on one pitch while recording his 33rd save. With two outs and two runners on, Iglesias induced a Salvador Perez flyout. He’s converted all five save chances in September with 14 strikeouts versus five walks across 13 innings.
- Hierarchy remains: Raisel Iglesias | Joe Jiménez | Pierce Johnson
Seranthony Domínguez (BAL) turned in a sideways outing in a non-save appearance. He took over a shutout at the bottom of the ninth, walking the lead-off hitter, followed by a Byron Buxton double and a two-RBI single by Carlos Santana before recording an out. He ended the game on three groundouts and finished with two hits, two earned runs, and a walk on 22 pitches (12 strikes – 54.5 Strike%) without a whiff. He’s allowed at least a run in three of his past five outings.
- Hierarchy remains: *Seranthony Domínguez | *Yennier Cano| *Gregory Soto
- *= closer-by-committee
Porter Hodge (CHC) completed a combined shutout and secured his eighth save. He retired the side and recorded a strikeout against the Reds’ 3-4-5 lineup pocket. He threw eight pitches (87.5 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (25 SwStr%). Since August 4, he’s appeared in 18 games and been scoreless in 17 while converting seven of eight save chances with 25 strikeouts against nine walks. Tyson Miller notched his 15th hold with a clean eighth, striking out one on ten pitches (70 Strike%) with three whiffs.
- Updated Hierarchy: Porter Hodge | Tyson Miller | Nate Pearson
Jared Shuster (CHW) suffered his fifth loss while logging two innings in Detroit. He allowed a hit, two earned runs, and three walks while striking out four. This loss will be remembered since it’s the most by an MLB team in a season ever.
- Hierarchy remains: Justin Anderson | Fraser Ellard | Prelander Berroa
Jason Foley (DET) stranded a runner while retiring his only batter, Andrew Vaughn, via a flyout for his 28th save and postseason-clinching victory. He’s converted 13 of 14 save opportunities in his last 20 appearances with a 0.82 WHIP over 17 innings. Tyler Holton allowed a walk and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless, combined inning, securing his 15th hold. Will Vest logged 1.2 clean frames and recorded two strikeouts for his 14th hold. Brandon Hurter collected his sixth win, tossing four innings, giving up two hits and an earned run while striking out one.
- Hierarchy remains: *Jason Foley | *Tyler Holton | *Beau Brieske
- *= closer-by-committee
Josh Hader (HOU) could not complete a combined shutout in a non-save outing. He issued a lead-off walk to Jsoh Naylor, followed by a Lane Thomas single and a David Fry RBI double. After recording a strikeout, Hader allowed a fielder’s choice RBI, scoring a second run before inducing a game-ending flyout. He threw 23 pitches (16 strikes – 69.6 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (17.4 SwStr%). However, his final line was two hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out one. Bryan Abreu notched his MLB-leading 38th hold, stranding three inherited runners and striking out both batters in the bottom of the eighth.
- Hierarchy remains: Josh Hader | Ryan Pressly | Bryan Abreu
Ben Casparius (LAD) took over at the bottom of the second and collected his second win as the “bulk follower.” He logged 4.1 innings, giving up six hits, two runs (one earned), and two walks while striking out seven against Colorado.
- Hierarchy remains: *Michael Kopech | *Blake Treinen | *Evan Phillips
- *= closer-by-committee
Trevor Megill (MIL) stranded two runners at the top of the eighth and remained in for the ninth. He finished 1.1 scoreless innings, giving up a lead-off Francisco Lindor single in the ninth and recorded one strikeout for his 21st save, completing a four-run win over the Mets. Megill threw 14 pitches (92.9 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%). This marked his first save since July 23, and he’s been scoreless in his last four. Hoby Milner allowed two hits, two runs (one earned), and struck out one in two-thirds of the eighth. Joe Ross collected his third win, tossing three scoreless frames, scattering two hits, and walking one while striking out three.
- Hierarchy remains: Devin Williams | Trevor Megill | Joel Payamps
Tommy Kahnle (NYY) gave up two hits, including Bryan Reynolds’ go-ahead two-run home run, and recorded two strikeouts, resulting in his second loss. Clay Holmes tossed a clean seventh. Ian Hamilton retired both batters, one via strikeout in the sixth.
- Hierarchy remains: Luke Weaver | Tommy Kahnle | Ian Hamilton
Aroldis Chapman (PIT) shut the door on his eighth save while retiring the side and recorded two strikeouts while finishing a two-run win over the Yankees. He threw eight pitches (87.5 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (50 SwStr%) against the 7-8-9 lineup pocket. He’s converted seven consecutive save opportunities and been scoreless in his last five. Dennis Santana fired a clean eighth, striking out one for his 11th hold. Carmen Mlodzinski collected his fifth win, retiring the side and striking out two in the seventh, ahead of his team’s two-run rally at the top of the eighth.
- Hierarchy remains: Aroldis Chapman | Dennis Santana | David Bednar
Robert Suarez (SD) tossed a scoreless bottom of the ninth, allowing a walk and striking out one while completing a two-run win in Arizona and his 36th save. He threw 22 pitches (14 strikes – 63.6 Strike%) and induced one whiff against the 9-1-2-3 hitters. He’s converted his last three save opportunities. This win secured the top Wild Card position and a home series in the first round of the playoffs.
- Updated Hierarchy: Robert Suarez | Tanner Scott | Jason Adam
Troy Taylor (SEA) recorded his first major league save, completing a combined shutout of the A’s. He took over against the 4-5-6 lineup pocket and worked around a lead-off Tyler Soderstrom double with consecutive strikeouts followed by a game-ending groundout. He threw 20 pitches (60 Strike%) and induced one whiff. There was no word about why Andrés Muñoz was not used. He’s pitched through elbow and back issues this season, so he may be shut down with his team eliminated from playoff contention.
- Hierarchy remains: Andrés Muñoz | Collin Snider | Troy Taylor
Ryan Helsley (STL) set a franchise record with his MLB-leading 49th save. He navigated around a one-out single by Mike Yastrzemski with consecutive strikeouts, preserving a three-run win in San Francisco. He threw 13 pitches (11 strikes – 84.6 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (30.8 SwStr%). He’s converted his last seven save chances with 11 strikeouts against zero walks with a minuscule 0.45 WHIP through 6.2 innings.
- Hierarchy remains: Ryan Helsley | Andrew Kittredge | Matthew Liberatore
Edwin Uceta (TB) navigated around a one-out Vaughn Grissom single with a flyout and a game-ending strikeout for his fifth save. He threw 17 pitches (76.5 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (17.6 SwStr%). Since August 20, he’s recorded a win and converted all five save chances with 22 strikeouts against four walks through 13 innings.
- Hierarchy remains: *Edwin Uceta | *Garrett Cleavinger | *Hunter Bigge
- *= closer-by-committee
Kirby Yates (TEX) allowed a two-out walk during a scoreless bottom of the ninth, finishing a three-run win over the Angels with his 32nd save. He threw 20 pitches (65 Strike%) and induced two whiffs. He’s converted his last 11 save chances since August 19 and has been scoreless in his last ten games. David Robertson notched his 34th hold, walking one and striking out two in a scoreless eighth. José Leclerc stranded a runner while retiring his only batter in the seventh, securing his 13th hold. Andrew Chafin issued a walk and recorded his 13th hold with two-thirds scoreless in the seventh. Daniel Robert collected his first major league win, tossing a scoreless sixth, giving up a hit, and striking out two.
- Hierarchy remains: Kirby Yates | David Robertson | José Leclerc
Vulture Save Options for Saturday, September 28
- Jackson Jobe (DET): Foley has appeared in two straight, and with the team clinching a postseason berth, it’s time to see how Jobe responds to a high-leverage situation. Beau Brieske will also be in play.
- Ryan Pressly (HOU): Hader had a rough outing last night, and the team will not push his workload ahead of the playoffs.
- Tanner Scott (SD): Suarez and Adam pitched in Friday’s win, leaving Scott in line for the save chance today.
Vulture Save Stashes for Sunday, September 29
- Beau Brieske (DET): If Jobe pitches today, look for a Beau multi-inning outing on Sunday.
- Andrew Kittredge (STL): If Helsley pitches again on Saturday, he will get Sunday off after appearing in two straight contests.
Three Takeaways
Foley’s resurgence: After undergoing some tumultuous outings in July, Jason Foley refined his command and adjusted with his sinker at 97 m.p.h. with a solid finish to his season. He’s not flashy, but over his last 26 games, he’s converted 13 of his 14 save chances while entering games whenever his team needed him. His rolling 15-game chart from Fangraphs aligns with his team’s rise in the standings and first playoff appearance in ten years:
Porter on tap: With his team’s modus operandi remaining not overspending on relievers, will Porter Hodge open 2025 as the closer for the Cubs? Since August 17, he’s collected two wins and converted seven of eight save opportunities with 17 strikeouts against seven walks. However, fantasy managers will note the walk rate in this sample and for the season. Can he reduce this next year? Will he generate more whiffs next year? Stay tuned. I love his demeanor, and perhaps adding a pitch in the offseason may unlock a new level of production, but it will depend on issuing fewer free passes.
Will Chapman’s strong second half yield a closer gig in 2025?: When Aroldis Chapman signed a one-year deal with the Pirates, it remained a bit off the radar because it was to set up for David Bednar. However, he ranks eighth among all qualified relievers in K-BB percentage (32.4) and has produced a 1.03 WHIP through 26.1 innings. He’s also generating a 15.6 swinging strike percentage and a contact rate allowed below 70 percent. After tweaking his arsenal and throwing more strikes, he’s thrived while wearing the black and yellow. Could he return for an encore next year? If so, will he displace Bednar from the ninth inning again?
Those seeking full game recaps should surf the team pages; they’ve all been updated with Friday’s results.
Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe and be well.
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