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Working with a three-run lead, he gave up a single and an RBI double with two outs. All four of Topa’s saves have come since the Twins’ Great Bullpen Purge of July 31. He’ll continue to be the top option in the ninth unless he begins to struggle

Jiménez was in the lineup at designated hitter on Tuesday, batting fifth against the Angels. After drawing a walk in the fourth inning, he brought the team’s first run home on a sacrifice fly in the sixth. Jiménez later drove in an insurance run with a single in the eighth. The 29-year-old has filled in nicely at DH while George Springer (toe) has been out, hitting .381/.440/.381 over seven games. His days in the lineup may be numbered, with Springer due back later this week.

Peraza got the start at third base with the opposing left-handed pitcher on the mound. He knocked a base hit in the fifth inning and scored the Angels’ first run on a sacrifice fly. He added another hit in the seventh before he was pinch-hit for in the ninth against a right-hander. With Jorge Soler back from suspension, Peraza seems ticketed for a short-side platoon role despite hitting .292/.361/.538 with four homers and three steals across 65 at-bats.

Jeff Hoffman started the bottom of the ninth with a three-run lead for the save chance. He struck out the leadoff man, then allowed a base hit and hit two batters to load the bases. A base hit brought a run in for the Angels before Hoffman was replaced by Varland, who needed one pitch to induce a ground ball double play to end the game with his first save of the season. This comes one day after Hoffman struck out the side for a save. Still, Hoffman has struggled to get the job done in the ninth inning. Varland has been effective, with no runs allowed yet, and would be next in line if Hoffman’s struggles continue.

Corbin was solid again for the Blue Jays on Tuesday. He had allowed just one baserunner through four scoreless innings before the Angels brought a run in on two hits and a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Corbin’s day would be done after five at 65 pitches. He struck out three. The 36-year-old left-hander has been solid for Toronto, posting a 3.68 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and a 12/4 K/BB ratio across 14 2/3 innings. Corbin could get one more start before Trey Yesavage is activated to take his spot in the rotation. Another start would come on Monday in Toronto against the Red Sox.

Kochanowicz did a good job holding the Blue Jays to one run into the sixth inning. He scattered five hits and two walks. While he struck out just one batter, he generated eight groundouts to help stop the threats on the bases. Still, it’s not the kind of game that’s going to work every time out. The 25-year-old right-hander ends the day with a 3.10 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and a dangerous 19/17 K/BB ratio across 29 innings. That strikeout-to-walk rate makes him a risky streamer when he takes on the White Sox in Chicago on Monday.

In a game that got hectic late, Imanaga made easy work of the Phillies lineup while he was out there. After walking Trea Turner to start the game, he retired 21 of the final 25 batters he faced. Of the four who reached base, one came via an error and another from an infield hit. He wasn’t even missing many bats, just forcing a combination of lazy fly balls and ground outs. Yet, it felt like this was more a function of the Phillies’ failed approach than Imanaga’s prowess. He constantly fell behind in the count, only throwing a first pitch strike to 11 of the 26 batters he faced. They just couldn’t wait to swing at a bad pitch. Alas, another strong start gives Imanaga a stellar 2.17 ERA on the season so far in what’s been a strong bounceback campaign. He’s lined up to face the Dodgers this Sunday.

Thielbar entered the game to chaos after Jacob Webb let the tying run reach the plate in the ninth inning. An error by Scott Kingery didn’t help, but Thielbar had to face lefty-masher Edmundo Sosa and then Trea Turner with the same in the balance and did so with ease. Since Daniel Palencia was surprisingly placed on the injured list late last week, Thielbar has two saves and a win in his only three appearances as the undisputed closer in Chicago.

Who is this power hitter? Hoerner now has four home runs in 23 games this season after hitting just seven across 156 games last season. He’s also over a third of the way to last year’s RBI total with 22 in nearly four weeks of play. There’s nothing super discernible in his profile that says this power surge will continue, so enjoy it while it lasts for one of the game’s best second basemen.

What is there to even say at this point? Bohm’s .128 batting average through 22 games is the lowest among all qualified players. Similarly, his .384 OPS is the lowest among all qualified players. In fact, per Todd Zolecki, that .384 OPS across 22 games is the lowest by a Phillie in the live ball era, which began in 1920. Bohm has some off the field stuff that could be affecting his play at the moment, but he is currently the worst hitter in the league and seems closer to the bench than he is to digging himself out of this hole.

This was another poor showing by Luzardo who really needs to find his way back to form. Only allowing the one run is a massive step in the right direction, but his command is not where it should be. Too often he missed glove-side with his fastball and continued to fall behind the Cubs’ hitters. Then, when he managed to get ahead, his changeup floated away and his sweeper missed by too much. His 6.91 ERA is higher than every qualified pitcher besides Garrett Crochet and Luzardo has a tall task ahead of him with the Braves up next.