Closer Monkey

Saturday yielded a bevy of high-leverage events across the full 15-game slate. Relievers recorded six wins, one accompanied by a blown save (Trevor Megill), and 11 saves while suffering six losses. Four saves required five or more outs, and there were two one-out saves. Here are the saves in condensed form:

For our save streamers:

Vulture Save Options for August 17

• Shelby Miller (MIL): His team’s bullpen hierarchy has all pitched in consecutive contests. 
• Ryan Helsley (NYM): Edwin Díaz logged a two-inning save and 31 pitches yesterday. Returning to the ninth may help get the former closer back on track. 
• Jimmy Herget (COL): Victor Vodnik has pitched in back-to-back games. 
• Cole Henry (WSH): Jose A. Ferrer recorded a two-inning save on Saturday and has appeared in three of the last four. 

News, Notes, and Observations

Those wondering if they should keep Josh Hader in redraft leagues had their questions answered before Houston’s game on Saturday:

Before becoming a free agent, the closer worked under usage rules after losing an arbitration ruling while with Milwaukee despite being the team’s most valuable relief asset. Focusing on one-inning saves, he abandoned the rules after signing with the Astros. However, although his multi-inning workload did not reach the same levels, the days of rest between them were egregious at times for manager Joe Espada.

Here were his multi-inning results in 2018 and 2019 with Milwaukee compared with the last two seasons in Houston:

The disparity has not been in the number of outings requiring more than three outs but in the percentage of them with reduced rest. He has thrown 30 or more pitches three times this year and received less than two days’ rest after two of them.

Through 48 games in 2025, Hader matched his appearances requiring more than three outs; at this point last year, he had only recorded four multi-inning contests:

If he gets a clean bill of health next spring, anticipate a return to one-inning appearances in 2026.

Good news for the overworked Dodgers bullpen:

If Tanner Scott had been dropped in your league, the window to stash him may close soon.

Fantasy managers do not appreciate seeing their closer get passed over for a save opportunity. After the Cubs’ win over Pittsburgh, it was reported that Daniel Palencia was not used because he was “under the weather.”

Here are the leverage events of interest from Saturday.

Leverage Ledger

Boston Red Sox –Forced into action at the top of the ninth, Aroldis Chapman retired Javier Sanoja on a game-ending groundout, stranding a runner while preserving the two-run margin and recording his 22nd save on three pitches (66.7% strike rate). He has been scoreless since July 26 across his last nine appearances, posting a win and converting all five save opportunities with a 0.448 WHIP over his last 6.2 innings.

• Isaiah Campbell created the chaos, giving up four hits and three earned runs during two-thirds of the ninth.
• Steven Matz retired the side in the eighth.
• Justin Wilson stranded two runners and retired both batters, one via strikeout in the seventh.

Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Garrett Whitlock | Jordan Hicks

Chicago Cubs – After his team took the lead at the bottom of the eighth, Brad Keller took over with a two-run lead in the ninth. He allowed Nick Gonzales’ lead-off single, then retired the next three hitters via strikeout for his first save of the season. He threw 20 pitches (60% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (15 SwStr%).

This extended his scoreless streak to 11 games, during which he has a 0.325 WHIP with 15 strikeouts against two walks (31.7 K-BB%) across 12.1 innings.

• Andrew Kittredge collected his third win, giving up a hit and striking out two in a scoreless eighth, ahead of his team’s rally.

Hierarchy Remains: Daniel Palencia | Brad Keller | Andrew Kittredge

Cincinnati Reds – Taking over a tied game at the top of the 11th, Joe La Sorsa suffered his first loss, allowing a pinch-hit, three-run home run by Andrew Monasterio. La Sorsa finished with three hits and three runs (two earned) in his outing.

• Scott Barlow gave up an RBI single by William Contreras and issued an intentional walk (Christian Yelich) at the top of the tenth.
• Emilio Pagán was charged with his fourth blown save when the game-tying run scored on an errant throw to first on a failed double play attempt. However, Pagán made this difficult, issuing consecutive walks upon entry, and the result was his first blown save since June 21.
• Tony Santillan worked around two walks and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless eighth for his 26th hold.
• Graham Ashcraft notched his 16th hold, walking one and striking out two in a scoreless seventh. 

Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Tony Santillan | Graham Ashcraft

Colorado Rockies – Capping his team’s come-from-behind rally, Victor Vodnik nailed down his sixth save, retiring the side against Arizona’s top of the batting order and recording a strikeout. He threw 12 pitches (58.3% strike rate) without a whiff.

• Ryan Rolison collected his first win, retiring the side and striking out two at the top of the eighth.
• Nick Anderson allowed two hits and two earned runs while striking out one in the seventh.
• Jaden Hill logged 1.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out two.

Hierarchy Remains: Victor Vodnik | Jimmy Herget | Juan Mejia

Detroit Tigers – Securing his 24th save, Kyle Finnegan worked around Austin Martin’s two-out single with a game-ending strikeout of Byron Buxton, closing out the three-run lead. He threw 15 pitches (66.7% strike rate) and induced two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%).

He has converted all four save chances with the Tigers and has been scoreless in all seven appearances, posting a 0.39 WHIP with 10 strikeouts against one walk (34.7 K-BB%) across 7.2 innings.

• Will Vest stranded both runners at the bottom of the seventh, and logged 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out two for his second hold.
• Tyler Holton let his only inherited runner score, giving up a hit, an unearned run, and a walk during one-third of the seventh, getting credit for his 13th hold. 

Hierarchy Remains: *Kyle Finnegan | *Will Vest | Tyler Holton

*= closer-by-committee

Houston Astros – Tossing two clean frames in the 11th and 12th innings, Enyel De Los Santos earned his fourth win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the 12th. He threw 13 pitches (76.9% strike rate) and induced three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%) while retiring all five batters faced.

• Steven Okert worked a scoreless tenth, walking one and striking out two.
• Bryan Abreu navigated around a hit with three strikeouts in a scoreless ninth, throwing 19 pitches (57.9% strike rate) with five whiffs (26.3 SwStr%).
• Kaleb Ort retired his only batter in the eighth.
• Bennett Sousa suffered his second blown save, giving up two hits, including Jackson Holliday’s game-tying two-run home run during two-thirds of the eighth.

Hierarchy Remains: *Bryan Abreu | *Bennett Sousa | Bryan King

*= closer-by-committee

Milwaukee Brewers – Despite allowing two runs at the bottom of the tenth, Nick Mears recorded his first career save in his 158th MLB appearance. He retired the first two batters, including a sacrifice fly scoring the “place” runner, then gave up Noelvi Marte’s solo home run before inducing a game-ending flyout during the bottom of the 11th.

Trevor Megill suffered his first blown save since June 29, giving up Ke’Bryan Hayes’ RBI double, scoring the “place” runner at the bottom of the tenth. He also issued a walk and recorded two strikeouts, throwing 18 pitches (61.1% strike rate) and inducing one whiff.

• Abner Uribe allowed a hit and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth.
• Jared Koenig walked one during a scoreless eighth. 

Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Jared Koenig

New York Mets – Recording his second two-inning save of the season, and his 24th overall, Edwin Díaz allowed two hits, including Eugenio Suárez’s solo home run at the top of the ninth, closing out a two-run win over the Mariners. Díaz threw 31 pitches (71% strike rate) and induced four whiffs (12.9 SwStr%) in this outing.

This represents his first save in August and first two-inning one since July 12, along with his season high in pitches.

• Gregory Soto notched his 22nd hold, stranding a runner at the top of the sixth and retiring all five batters faced, two via strikeout. He extended his scoreless streak to six games, spanning 6.2 innings with six strikeouts versus one walk.

Hierarchy Remains: Edwin Díaz | Ryan Helsley | Tyler Rogers

New York Yankees – Pressed into action with two runners on and two outs at the bottom of the ninth, David Bednar produced a game-ending pop-out by Iván Herrera, preserving the four-run margin and recording his 20th save, throwing three pitches. He has been scoreless in his last six appearances and converted three of four save chances with 12 strikeouts versus three walks through 6.2 innings.

• Mark Leiter Jr. allowed three hits, including Pedro Páges’ solo home run, and recorded a strikeout during two-thirds of the ninth.
• Yerry De Los Santos tossed two scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out two.
• Devin Williams retired all three batters faced in the sixth via strikeout, throwing 19 pitches (68.4% strike rate) with two whiffs (10.5 SwStr%).

Hierarchy Remains: David Bednar | Luke Weaver | Camilo Doval

Tampa Bay Rays – Shutting the door on his 22nd save, Pete Fairbanks navigated around Jung Hoo Lee’s lead-off single by striking out the next three batters, preserving a one-run win. He threw 17 pitches (82.4% strike rate) and generated four whiffs (23.5 SwStr%).

He has converted a save in each of his last four appearances and been scoreless in all six this month, posting a 0.50 WHIP with ten strikeouts through six innings.

• Bryan Baker notched his 14th hold, retiring the side and striking out two in the eighth.
• Edwin Uceta collected his ninth win, stranding one of two inherited runners while tossing 1.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out two.

Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks | Edwin Uceta | Griffin Jax

The Athletics – With a four-run lead, two runners on and one out, Sean Newcomb replaced Tyler Ferguson, retiring Christian Moore and Jo Adell via strikeout, quelling the threat. Although his teammates scored two runs at the bottom of the inning, Newcomb returned for the ninth, hitting a batter, then giving up two hits, and an unearned run on a throwing error, before a game-ending groundout, recording his first save of the season, and third of his career. He threw 32 pitches (65.6% strike rate) and induced three whiffs, recording three strikeouts during his 1.2 innings.

It’s his team’s first save since the trade deadline and only the third in the second half.

• Ferguson logged 1.1 scoreless frames, walking two and striking out two.
• Justin Sterner worked a scoreless sixth, issuing a walk and striking out one.

Hierarchy Remains: *Sean Newcomb | *Elvis Alvarado | Justin Sterner

*= closer-by-committee

Washington Nationals – Completing a combined shutout, Jose A. Ferrer allowed one hit during his two innings and recorded two strikeouts for his second save. He threw 24 pitches (62.5% strike rate) and produced four whiffs (16.7 SwStr%) against the heart of the Phillies lineup.

He has been scoreless in his last five appearances, posting two wins, two saves, and a hold with a 1.00 WHIP and four strikeouts over seven innings.

Hierarchy: Jose A. Ferrer | Cole Henry | Konnor Pilkington

*= closer-by-committee featuring Ferrer as the highest-leveraged reliever (HLR)

Quick Hits

• Arizona Diamondbacks: Another meltdown by the baby ‘Backs bullpen. Andrew Saalfrank was charged with his first blown save, letting both inherited runners score on a pinch-hit two-RBI single by Kyle Farmer, and a two-run home run by Tyler Freeman, putting two earned runs on his line during two-thirds of the eighth. Andrew Hoffmann suffered his first loss, allowing two hits, four earned runs, and two walks while striking out one in one-third of the eighth. 
• Atlanta Braves: An “old school” save for Hunter Stratton, his first of the season and second of his career. He logged three scoreless frames, scattering three hits and striking out three, closing out a nine-run win in Cleveland. He threw 43 pitches (74.4% strike rate) and induced four whiffs (9.3 SwStr%).
• Baltimore Orioles: Entering a tied contest at the bottom of the 12th, Keegan Akin issued two intentional walks, induced a groundout, but suffered his third loss on a walk-off fielder’s choice groundout.
• Kansas City Royals: Daniel Lynch IV took over at the top of the fifth, logging two scoreless innings while giving up a hit. He collected his fifth win as a result.
• Los Angeles Dodgers: Finishing a combined shutout, Jack Dreyer retired the side at the top of the ninth in a non-save capacity.
• Minnesota Twins: Called upon with the bases loaded at the top of the fifth, Brooks Kriske stranded two, but finished with two hits, three earned runs, and a walk during his combined inning of relief, across the fifth and sixth innings, resulting in his first loss and a first blown save.
• Pittsburgh Pirates: Called upon with a runner on and one out, Yohan Ramírez gave up Nico Hoerner’s two-out RBI single and a walk while striking out one during two-thirds of the eighth. Evan Sisk suffered his first loss, allowing two hits and two earned runs over one-third of the eighth.
• San Francisco Giants: Summoned at the top of the eighth with a one-run lead, José Buttó allowed two hits and two earned runs, resulting in his third loss and a third blown save while recording two outs. Matt Gage let one of two inherited runners score on an opposite-field RBI single by Brandon Lowe and walked one while striking out one in one-third of the eighth.
• Texas Rangers: Not only did Luis Curvelo strand all three inherited runners at the bottom of the fifth, but he also turned in the only scoreless outing for his team during its 12-run loss. He retired four of five batters, throwing 15 pitches (80% strike rate) and inducing two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%). 

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Statistical Credits:

Fangraphs.com

Baseball-Reference.com

BaseballSavant.com

BrooksBaseball.net