Calvin

Faucher

Faucher was called on to close out the game against the Rangers on Saturday with a two-run lead in the ninth inning. He gave up a solo homer to Kyle Higashioka and stranded two more runners before holding on to preserve the win and record his 15th save.

Faucher wasn’t messing around in this one, going right through the heart of the Mets’ lineup. He retired Starling Marte on a fly ball to center, Francisco Lindor on a swinging third strike and Juan Soto on a ground ball to second base to end it, needing just seven pitches (six strikes) to get the job done. He now boasts a 3.35 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and a 49/21 K/BB ratio over 51 innings on the season while converting 13 of his first 18 save chances.

Fortunately, the Marlins upped their lead from one to two runs in the bottom of the eighth, giving Faucher some margin for error. It’s his first save since Aug. 2, but he’s the pitcher in the Marlins pen worth rostering in 12- or 15-team leagues.

Phillips’ other save came on July 26 against the Brewers. The Marlins have used a number of different relievers in the ninth inning this year, led by Calvin Faucher with 11 saves. It’s easier for fantasy managers to avoid this situation entirely rather than guess how the Marlins might handle the late innings on a given day.

Instead of being held back for a save chance that might not have developed, Faucher was brought into a 1-1 tie tonight. The homer he allowed to Ramírez was hit just 346 feet and would have left only seven ballparks, according to Statcasr. Faucher still seems like the clear favorite for saves in Miami, but Lake Bachar got the team’s lone save last week.

Bender will be away from the club for the next couple days on paternity leave. The 30-year-old righty has locked down three saves this season to go along with a sparkling 2.30 ERA across 47 innings (48 appearances). It’ll continue to be Ronny Hendriquez and Calvin Faucher splitting the closing duties for Miami.

Just when it looked like Calvin Faucher was working his way up to being the Marlins’ preferred closer, he pitched the eighth inning of this game while Bachar took the ninth and nabbed the save. He became the fifth different member of this bullpen to be credited with a save since the All-Star break and was entrusted with the top of the Astros’ order in the ninth inning, dispelling any ideas that Faucher was used earlier for matchup purposes.

Faucher is again the Marlins’ top choice in the ninth; he’s earned three of the team’s last four saves, with Tyler Phillips recording the other. Ronny Henriquez, who seemed to have the job one a month ago, has earned just one save since July 3. Henriquez and Phillips both pitched perfect innings to set Faucher up today.

Faucher made quick work of the bottom of the Cardinals’ lineup here after Ronny Henriquez came in with a runner on base in the eighth inning and walked Alec Burleson before striking out Willson Contreras and Nolan Arenado to end the threat. Henriquez may be considered the more high leverage reliever in this pen, and Faucher is the Marlins’ only reliever to save multiple games since the All-Star break. Henriquez, Anthony Bender, and Tyler Phillips each have one save. This is clearly a closer by committee situation.

Foucher got the final five outs for his ninth save of the season, but it’s worth noting that this was his first for the Marlins since June 28. The 29-year-old isn’t likely to see many more chances over the 2025 season, and also could be traded to a team that is looking for middle-relief help before the July 31 deadline.