Elvis

Alvarado

Alvarado kept the deficit at one run before Lawrence Butler hit a walkoff homer in the bottom of the ninth. Hogan Harris gave up a homer in the eighth today and was in line for the loss before the comeback. That’s definitely advantage Alvarado in the battle for saves going forward, but the A’s will continue to play matchups when appropriate.

Alvarado struck out two while allowing one hit in the scoreless inning. Co-closer Hogan Harris worked the eighth. The two relievers have combined for every A’s save since June 26. While Harris has earned more during that span, Alvarado has four of the past seven.

Harris was back in the closer’s role tonight after Elvis Alvarado earned the Athletics’ previous two saves. Curiously, Alvarado went entirely unused, even though he hasn’t pitched since Saturday. It’s hard to recommend either A’s reliever right now, based on how they’re being used.

Alvarado was mostly taking a backseat to Hogan Harris in recent weeks, but this makes three saves in five days for him. The A’s will probably continue to alternate both guys based on matchups, but Alvarado has upped his stock with eight straight scoreless appearances.

Alvarado got the call to close out the game on Tuesday with a two-run lead over the Twins. He worked a clean inning, striking out one batter to secure the win and his fourth save of the season. The A’s have leaned on Alvarado more of late as he’s shared save chances with Hogan Harris, though Alvarado has two of the last three.

After the A’s took a one-run lead in the top of the eighth, Hogan Harris faced the heart of the Astros order before handing it over to Alvarado in the ninth. The 27-year-old right-hander struck out two in a clean inning of work to secure his third save of the season. Still, Harris is expected to be in line for most save chances in Sacramento.

After coming into a 1-0 game, Alvarado gave up homers to Rafael Devers and Victor Bericoto in the ninth. It’s his first blown save and third loss. The other biggest threat for saves in the A’s pen, Hogan Harris, worked a scoreless seventh tonight, so he’s looking a little better at the moment. Still, no A’s reliever seems particularly trustworthy in shallow leagues.

After the Angels tied the game with a three-run home run in the eighth, Alvarado was called on with one on and two out in the eighth inning and got a strikeout to end the inning. He got a fly out to start the ninth inning, but then a single and a two-run home run by Zach Neto put the Angels up for good. These are just the second and third earned runs Alvarado has allowed in 10 innings in June. He remains the favorite for saves with the Athletics.

Alvarado struck out Kyle Karros and Brett Sullivan before getting Sterlin Thompson to ground out to end the game. He’s earned both of his saves in the eight days since the A’s recalled him from Triple-A. He should remain in the mix going forward, but Hogan Harris, who notched a save Friday, still seems like the best bet in the A’s pen for now.

Alvarado retired Christian Yelich, Jackson Chourio and Brice Turang to become the eighth A’s reliever to earn a save this season. He’s pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts since being recalled from Las Vegas five days ago. Alvarado made the A’s out of spring training, only to be sent down with an 8.78 ERA after 10 appearances. Consider him part of the saves mix now, but if we were going to roster an A’s reliever, Hogan Harris is still the one we’d choose.