Elvis Alvarado is absolutely blowing up, officially taking the reins as the Oakland Athletics’ go-to guy in the ninth inning. He’s recorded three of their last four saves, locking down consecutive games on August 25 and 26. This dude is legit, and after all the back-and-forth, it seems like the A’s have finally settled on their closer.
The A’s Find a Flame-Throwing Finisher
Honestly, we’ve been down this road with Alvarado before, and I was hesitant to jump back in. Remember when Hogan Harris, who still leads the team with 13 saves, notched one just a day after Alvarado had his first? It felt like another merry-go-round. But Alvarado’s recent usage, with each of his last four appearances coming in the ninth inning to close out a game, screams “top choice.” The guy is pure talent, capable of hitting a ridiculous 102 mph with his fastball. He’s also been on a seriously good run lately, putting up a wicked 1.06 ERA, a 1.12 WHIP, and 10.1 K/9 over his past 19 outings. That’s a closer’s stat line if I’ve ever seen one. Luis Medina is in the mix, but right now, Alvarado is the name you need to know in Oakland.
Morillo Steps Up for the D-Backs
Over in Arizona, the Diamondbacks finally seem to have found their guy to replace Paul Sewald, who bolted to the Blue Jays. Juan Morillo, the “portly right-hander,” has notched back-to-back saves, with the latest coming on Wednesday. He even closed out a four-run win in between those saves! Sure, an eighth-inning appearance on Monday, where Kevin Ginkel worked the ninth (in a one-run loss, mind you, and Ginkel had a save on August 23), might give you pause. But look at Morillo’s numbers: a 2.15 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 10.3 K/9. Those are closer-caliber stats. Brandyn Garcia still leads the D-Backs in saves (three) since Sewald left, but he’s their high-leverage lefty. For pure ninth-inning dominance, Morillo is making a very strong case. Justin Martinez is also floating around, but Morillo is the one grabbing those saves.
With the regular season winding down, securing those saves is critical, whether you’re trying to make a real-life playoff push or climb your fantasy standings. These bullpen shifts are huge for teams trying to find stability when it matters most. Keeping an eye on these ninth-inning kings is gonna be key for the rest of the season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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