Closer Monkey

Tuesday’s full slate yielded eight wins by relievers, though a blown save accompanied one (Josh Simpson) and eight saves while suffering six losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:

For the save streamers:

Vulture Save Options for September 24

• Ryan Helsley (NYM): Edwin Díaz worked two innings, throwing 27 pitches, and has appeared in three of the last four days. 
• Ryan Fernandez (STL): Riley O’Brien has pitched in three of the last four, and JoJo Romero has worked in back-to-back games, three of the previous four. 

Here are the leverage events of interest from Tuesday.

Leverage Ledger

Atlanta Braves – Securing his 28th save, Raisel Iglesias worked around Josh Bell’s one-out walk with a flyout and a game-ending strikeout, preserving a one-run lead. He threw 10 pitches (60% strike rate) and induced one whiff.

He has been scoreless in his last 11 appearances, recording a 0.654 WHIP with 12 strikeouts against five walks across 10.2 innings.

• Dylan Lee allowed a solo home run (James Wood) and recorded two strikeouts for his 19th hold at the top of the eighth.
• Joel Payamps made his team debut, firing a clean seventh, striking out two, and notching his fourth hold.

Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Tyler Kinley | Dylan Lee

Boston Red Sox – Closing out his 32nd save, Arolidis Chapman retired the side and preserved a three-run lead against Toronto, throwing 15 pitches (66.7% strike rate) with two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%).

He has been scoreless in his last four outings, recording three saves, but he produces fewer strikeouts while working with reduced velocity.

• Justin Slaten worked a clean eighth, securing his seventh hold.
• Garrett Whitlock fired a clean seventh, striking out two while notching his 24th hold.
• Justin Wilson collected his fourth win, stranding a runner at the bottom of the fifth and logging 1.1 scoreless innings, walking and striking out one.

Updated Hierarchy: Aroldis Chapman | Garrett Whitlock | Justin Slaten

Chicago White Sox – Summoned with two runners on and two outs, Steven Wilson allowed an RBI single by José Caballero. Brandon Eisert gave up Anthony Volpe’s lead-off single, followed by an Austin Wells single, induced a double play groundout, intentionally walked Aaron Judge, and walked Cody Bellinger, throwing a wild pitch to score a runner. He finished with two hits, two earned runs, and two walks across two-thirds of the ninth, resulting in his seventh loss and third blown save.

• Grant Taylor worked around two hits for a scoreless eighth, striking out one for his ninth hold.
• Jordan Leasure worked a scoreless seventh, walking and striking out one for his 14th hold.

Hierarchy Remains: *Jordan Leasure | *Grant Taylor | *Mike Vasil

*= closer-by-committee

Cleveland Guardians – Shutting the door on his 16th save and securing his team’s move into a tie for first place in the American League Central, Cade Smith fired a clean top of the ninth, striking out two. He threw nine pitches, all strikes, and generated six whiffs (66.7 SwStr%).

He has converted seven of eight save opportunities in September and has been scoreless in nine of his 11 appearances, recording 21 strikeouts versus zero walks (50 K-BB%) through 11 innings.

• Hunter Gaddis allowed Kerry Carpenter’s two-out single and recorded three strikeouts in the eighth, notching his 34th hold.
• Erik Sabrowski retired the side, striking out two for his 12th hold in the seventh.

Hierarchy Remains: Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis | Erik Sabrowski

Los Angeles Dodgers – Presented a one-run lead, Tanner Scott suffered his fourth loss and MLB-leading tenth blown save. His outing began by hitting Ildemaro Vargas with a pitch, followed by a walk and a sacrifice bunt. Arizona tied the game on a sacrifice fly, and with two outs, Geraldo Perdomo produced a walk-off, RBI single. Scott finished with a hit, two earned runs, a hit batter, and a walk while recording two outs on 21 pitches (52.4% strike rate) with two whiffs, snapping his four-game scoreless streak.

• Alex Vesia navigated around two walks and recorded a strikeout during a scoreless eighth, securing his 25th hold.
• Edgardo Hernriquez let his only inherited runner score, allowing a two-run home run by Adrian Del Castillo during his one-third of the seventh.
• Jack Dreyer gave up two hits and two earned runs while striking out one in two-thirds of the seventh.

Hierarchy Remains: *Tanner Scott | *Alex Vesia | *Jack Dreyer

*= closer-by-committee

Minnesota Twins – Handed a three-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, Cole Sands retired the side and recorded his third save against Texas. He threw nine pitches (66.7% strike rate) without a whiff. It’s his first save since May 16, and his second consecutive scoreless appearance.

• Kody Funderburk fired a clean eighth, striking out two for his sixth hold.

Updated Hierarchy: *Cole Sands | *Kody Funderburk | Pierson Ohl

*= closer-by-committee

New York Mets – While recording a career-high tenth multiple-inning outing in a season, Edwin Díaz fired two clean frames while striking out five, preserving a two-run lead for his 27th save. He threw 27 pitches (66.7% strike rate) and generated six whiffs (22.2 SwStr%).

This represents his first save since September 5, and extended his scoreless streak to five games.

• Brooks Raley stranded two runners, retiring his only batter via strikeout at the bottom of the seventh, collecting his third win.
• Tyler Rogers gave up two hits and two walks during a scoreless combined inning, getting tagged with his second blown save, letting his only inherited runner score.
• Gregory Soto allowed a hit and an earned run while striking out one during two-thirds of the sixth.

Hierarchy Remains: Edwin Díaz | Tyler Rogers | Brooks Raley

Philadelphia Phillies – Tasked with the top of the 11th, Lou Trivino let the “place” runner score on a sacrifice fly and recorded two strikeouts en route to his second loss.

• Orion Kerkering gave up a hit, two runs (one earned), and a walk during the tenth.
• Jhoan Duran suffered his fifth blown save, allowing Heriberto Hernández’s game-tying solo home run among his two hits, and recorded a strikeout in the ninth.
• Tanner Banks notched his tenth hold, stranding a runner, striking out his only batter in the eighth.
• David Robertson was awarded his tenth hold, yielding three hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out one during two-thirds of the eighth.

Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Duran | Matt Strahm | David Robertson

Pittsburgh Pirates – Locking down his 15th save, Dennis Santana navigated around a one-out walk with a game-ending double play groundout against Matt McLain, sealing a two-run lead. He threw 12 pitches (58.3% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%) while recording one strikeout.

This extended his scoreless streak to eight games, during which he has posted a 0.375 WHIP with nine strikeouts versus two walks.

• Isaac Mattson allowed a hit during a scoreless eighth, securing his tenth hold.
• Justin Lawrence notched his fourth hold, striking out two in a clean seventh. Making his MLB debut,
• Hunter Barco collected his first win, working around two hits for a scoreless sixth. 

Updated Hierarchy: Dennis Santana | Isaac Mattson | Justin Lawrence

Seattle Mariners – Capping his team’s come-from-behind rally, Andrés Muñoz nailed down his 38th save, firing a clean top of the ninth and recording two strikeouts against Colorado. He threw 11 pitches (72.7% strike rate) and produced four whiffs (36.4 SwStr%).

This extended his scoreless streak to nine games, during which he has converted all seven save chances with a 0.556 WHIP while recording 17 strikeouts versus two walks (45.4 K-BB%) over nine innings.

• Gabe Speier allowed a hit and recorded three strikeouts in a scoreless eighth, collecting his fourth win. 

Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Matt Brash | Gabe Speier

St. Louis Cardinals – Preserving a one-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, Riley O’Brien secured his sixth save, stranding a runner and recording a game-ending strikeout of Wilmer Flores, throwing five pitches (60% strike rate) with one whiff. He has a five-game scoreless streak during which he has converted all three save chances.

• JoJo Romero allowed a double by Willy Adames and retired two batters, one via strikeout, at the bottom of the ninth before being removed, getting credit for his 24th hold.
• Matt Svanson collected his fourth win, tossing a clean bottom of the eighth and striking out one ahead of his team’s rally at the top of the ninth.

Hierarchy Remains: *Riley O’Brien | *JoJo Romero | Matt Svanson

*= closer-by-committee

Quick Hits

• Arizona Diamondbacks: Benefiting from a walk-off rally, Ryan Thompson earned his third win after tossing a clean top of the ninth against the Dodgers’ 5-6-7 lineup pocket on five pitches (80% strike rate) without a whiff. Brandyn Garcia tossed a clean eighth, facing the 2-3-4 hitters, throwing 10 pitches (70% strike rate) with one whiff.
• Chicago Cubs: Taking over at the top of the fifth, Taylor Rogers allowed both inherited runners to score on Brandon Nimmo’s three-run home run, resulting in his second blown save. Drew Pomeranz gave up a hit and a walk while striking out one during one-third of the sixth. Andrew Kittredge retired the side and recorded a strikeout in the seventh. Caleb Thielbar suffered his fourth loss, giving up two hits, including Francisco Alvarez’s go-ahead two-run home run during the eighth.
• Colorado Rockies: Summoned with the bases loaded and two outs at the bottom of the eighth, Victor Vodnik gave up Josh Naylor’s go-ahead bases-clearing double, issued a walk, and recorded a strikeout, resulting in his fifth blown save. Juan Mejia was tagged with his second loss, while getting credited with his 12th hold, giving up a walk, two hit batters, and three earned runs during his two-thirds of the eighth.
• Detroit Tigers: During the bottom of the seventh, Tommy Kahnle issued a walk and recorded two strikeouts before being removed. Kyle Finnegan replaced him, allowing Steven Kwan’s RBI double, scoring the inherited runner on Kahnle’s ledger, followed by Daniel Schneeman’s RBI single, before inducing an inning-ending lineout by José Ramírez. Finnegan has given up an earned run in both outings since returning from the injured list.
• Miami Marlins: Despite letting an inherited runner score on Nick Castellanos’ RBI single at the bottom of the tenth, resulting in his second blown save, Josh Simpson collected his fourth win, preserving a one-run margin at the bottom of the 11th. He logged 1.1 innings, yielding a hit and striking out one.
• New York Yankees: Not only did Luke Weaver strand a runner at the top of the eighth, he logged 1.1 scoreless innings, yielding a hit and striking out one. He collected his fourth win courtesy of a walk-off rally at the bottom of the ninth. He threw 24 pitches (79.2% strike rate) and produced five whiffs (20.8 SwStr%).
• San Francisco Giants: Called upon with a one-run lead at the top of the ninth, Ryan Walker allowed four hits and two earned runs, while striking out one, resulting in his seventh loss and seventh blown save. The lead only lasted two batters, with Brendan Donovan producing a game-tying RBI double, then his pinch runner scored the go-ahead run on Alec Burleson’s one-out RBI single. Walker has allowed at least a run in three of his last seven appearances. Joel Peguero retired the side and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless eighth, securing his second hold.
• The Athletics: Closing out a four-run lead, Michael Kelly retired the side and recorded a strikeout against Houston. Justin Sterner notched his 16th hold, walking one during a scoreless eighth. Tyler Ferguson logged two clean frames and recorded two strikeouts for his 12th hold.

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Statistical Credits:

Fangraphs.com

Baseball-Reference.com

BaseballSavant.com

BrooksBaseball.net