Saturday’s slate lost one game with a postponed contest in Boston. Relievers recorded only two wins and five saves. Two relievers recorded their first; Drew Rasmussen (TB) notched a two-inning save, becoming the 13th pitcher with one this year for his team, and Seth Halvorsen (COL) secured the first of his major league career. Our condensed recaps cover yesterday’s high-leverage events of interest, including multiple hierarchal changes ahead of the last scoring period this season.
Closer CliffsNotes
A.J. Puk (ARI) retired the side and recorded two strikeouts at the bottom of the ninth, completing a combined shutout in Milwaukee. He threw 11 pitches (81.8 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (27.3 SwStr%). Since August 4, he’s been scoreless in his last 23 appearances with 36 strikeouts versus three walks across 21.2 innings. Kevin Ginkel notched his 18th hold, firing a clean eighth and striking out one. Joe Mantiply secured his 15th hold, logging two clean frames and recording four strikeouts.
- Hierarchy remains: *A.J. Puk | *Justin Martinez | Ryan Thompson
- *= closer-by-committee
Raisel Iglesias (ATL) issued a walk during a scoreless bottom of the ninth, finishing a four-run win in Miami. He threw 15 pitches (66.7 Strike%) without a whiff. This was his first outing since the five-run meltdown against the Dodgers. Joe Jiménez worked a scoreless eighth, yielding a hit and striking out two. Pierce Johnson fired a clean seventh and recorded two strikeouts.
- Hierarchy remains: Raisel Iglesias | Joe Jiménez | Pierce Johnson
Yennier Cano (BAL) suffered his third loss after entering at the top of the tenth. He allowed Riley Greene’s RBI single, scoring the “place” runner leading off the inning, and a Jace Jung double before recording an out on a sacrifice fly. Cano finished with two hits, two runs (one earned), and two strikeouts on 17 pitches (13 strikes – 76.5 Strike%) with two whiffs.
- Updated Hierarchy: *Yennier Cano | *Seranthony Domínguez | Gregory Soto
- *= closer-by-committee
Seth Halvorsen (COL) worked around a hit and two walks while striking out one in a scoreless bottom of the ninth, sealing a three-run win over the Dodgers for his first career save. It was baptism by fire for the rookie, taking over against the top of the lineup. He allowed a Shohei Ohtani single, retired Mookie Betts, walked Freddie Freeman, retired Teoscar Hernández, and loaded the bases, walking Tommy Edman before a game-ending Max Muncy strikeout. He entered this outing with no walks in his first eight games but struggled with his command, throwing 23 pitches (12 strikes – 52.2 Strike%) with three whiffs (13 SwStr%). He’s allowed one unearned run since his debut. Angel Chivilli tossed a scoreless eighth, walking and striking out one for his sixth hold. Victor Vodnik logged 1.2 scoreless frames and struck out one while collecting his fifth win.
- Updated Hierarchy: *Seth Halvorsen | *Angel Chivilli| *Victor Vodnik
- *= closer-by-committee
Beau Brieske (DET) earned his third win, stranding two runners in the ninth and protecting a two-run lead in the tenth.. He entered a tied contest with runners on second and third with no outs at the bottom of the ninth. He induced a weak groundout by Cedric Mullins, followed by Trey Sweeney making a terrific catch on an Anthony Santander shallow fly in left field, and an inning-ending flyout by Colton Cowser, extending the game into extra innings. With a two-run lead in the tenth, Brieske issued a one-out walk and recorded a strikeout, completing his two scoreless innings. Jason Foley suffered his fourth blown save, giving up three hits, two earned runs, and a walk without retiring a batter at the top of the ninth.
- Updated Hierarchy: *Jason Foley | *Tyler Holton | *Beau Brieske
- *= closer-by-committee
Lake Bachar (MIA) took over a tied game at the top of the seventh. He allowed four hits, including two home runs and four earned runs, while striking out one over two-thirds of the inning. Xzavion Curry replaced him, recording the last out of the inning.
- Hierarchy remains: Jesús Tinoco | Declan Cronin | Anthony Bender
Edwin Díaz (NYM) was forced into action at the top of the eighth. He retired Kyle Schwarber via strikeout, then returned for a clean ninth, securing his 19th save. He threw 17 pitches (13 strikes – 76.5 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (23.5 SwStr%) while retiring the first four hitters in the Phillies’ lineup in order. Through his past 12 appearances since August 29, he’s been scoreless in 11 with 21 strikeouts against one walk while converting all five save chances.
- Updated Hierarchy: Edwin Díaz | Reed Garrett | Ryne Stanek
Orion Kerkering (PHI) entered a tied game at the bottom of the seventh and suffered his third loss, allowing two hits, three earned runs, and a walk while striking out two. His outing began with a walk, a strikeout, and a hit-batter before Brandon Nimmo’s go-ahead RBI single and Francisco Alvarez’s two-RBI double. José Alvarado replaced him with two outs, recording a strikeout of Harrison Bader.
- Hierarchy remains: Carlos Estévez | Jeff Hoffman | Matt Strahm
Tanner Scott (SD) was summoned with one out and two runners on base at the top of the eighth. He induced an inning-ending double play groundout. He returned for the ninth, navigating around a hit and a walk with three strikeouts while securing his 22nd save. He threw 24 pitches (75 Strike%) and generated six whiffs (25 SwStr%) during his five-out save, facing four hitters. He’s been scoreless in his last three appearances while recording two saves. Jason Adam created the traffic, allowing a hit, an earned run, a hit batter, and two walks over one-third of the eighth, getting credit for his 14th hold.
- Updated Hierarchy: *Robert Suarez | *Tanner Scott | Jason Adam
- *= closer-by-committee
Ryan Helsley (STL) fired a clean top of the ninth, striking out the side while preserving a one-run win over Cleveland for his 46th save. He threw 12 pitches (75 Strike%) and generated five whiffs (41.7 SwStr%). He’s allowed one unearned run over his 14 appearances since August 7 while posting 22 strikeouts against three walks. He’s tied for the major league lead in saves and can tie a franchise record with two more this season.
- Hierarchy remains: Ryan Helsley | Andrew Kittredge | JoJo Romero
Drew Rasmussen (TB) fired two clean frames while recording three strikeouts during a one-run win over Toronto, securing his first save of the season, second of his career. He threw 28 pitches (18 strikes – 64.3 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (17.9 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in four of his six outings in September with two losses, a save, and two holds while striking out 13 against two walks across 10.2 innings.
- Hierarchy remains: *Edwin Uceta | *Garrett Cleavinger | *Hunter Bigge
- *= closer-by-commmittee
Kyle Finnegan (WSH) gave up a hit during a scoreless bottom of the ninth against the Cubs while finishing a four-run win. He threw 14 pitches (11 strikes – 88.6 Strike%) and induced one whiff. This marked his first appearance since September 14, and he’s been scoreless in six of his seven outings this month, converting four of five save opportunities.
- Hierarchy remains: Kyle Finnegan | Derek Law | Jose A. Ferrer
Vulture Save Options for Sunday, September 22
- Griffin Jax (MIN): With a doubleheader on tap this afternoon in Boston, he could garner another ancillary save, though he’s notched the last two for the team. Fantasy managers must monitor the usage patterns for Jhoan Durán closely in the last scoring period.
- Chris Martin (BOS): In today’s doubleheader, he could receive a save chance, especially with Kenley Jansen pitching through shoulder soreness.
Vulture Save Stashes for Monday, September 23
- A.J. Puk (ARI): He secured his team’s last save and may be taking over the top spot in the hierarchy. Stay tuned.
Three Takeaways
Halvorsen gets first crack at closing: With Tyler Kinley being placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation ending his season, the Rockies called upon Seth Halvorsen for the save, facing the top of the Dodgers’ batting order. He held on for his first career save and has been scoreless through his first ten appearances since his debut on August 30. He’s recorded two wins, one save, and two holds with nine strikeouts against two walks and a 0.72 WHIP across 9.2 innings. Angel Chivilli and Victor Vodnik may also be in the mix, but in the first save chance without Kinley, our bullpen hierarchy reflects the order used during the one-run win over Los Angeles.
Is Cano back in the saddle for saves?: With the game tied at the top of the eighth, Seranthony Domínguez was summoned with two runners on and no outs. He allowed a sacrifice fly and induced a groundout, but after he issued Dillon Dingler a walk, he was removed with the top of the lineup coming for the Tigers. Danny Coulombe recorded the last out of the inning, and the Orioles used Yennier Cano at the top of the tenth. This may be a blip, but Domínguez has been the closer since August, though this usage pattern hinted he would not face the top of Detroit’s lineup. Because of this, the hierarchy has been adjusted into a committee, though it’s not set in stone.
T-Scott records a five-out save: As Robert Suarez works through a late-season rough patch, Tanner Scott took over a bases-loaded situation at the top of the eighth against the White Sox. He induced an inning-ending double play and secured the five-out save with a scoreless ninth. Manager Mike Shildt suggested a potential mix of relievers for save situations with Suarez, Scott, and Jason Adam. Suarez has logged 62 innings this year, versus only 27.2 last year, marking his most since 2021 when he threw 62.1 innings in Japan. Fatigue does not always manifest in velocity; it can affect location, which aligns with home runs in recent outings on four-seam fastballs in the middle of the strike zone. Track his results and location closely over the last week of the season.
Those seeking full game recaps should surf the team pages; they’ve all been updated with Saturday’s results.
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