Hogan

Harris

The Yankees had stacked three lefties back-to-back-to-back after pinch-running for Giancarlo Stanton with Jazz Chisholm, so the Athletics turned to the lefty to get through the final three outs of a 1-0 win. Three different A’s have saves this year and guessing which pitcher will get one feels more like chance than anything.

If anyone in the A’s pen was worth taking a flier on, it seemed to be Leiter, and he made good for one day, at least. Hogan Harris, Justin Sterner and Scott Barlow all also pitched scoreless innings for holds. We wouldn’t bet big on Leiter getting consistent save chances with the A’s still trying to figure out their bullpen hierarchy, but the team lacks any clearly better options.

Kelly replaced Hogan Harris on the mound for the A’s with the bases loaded and two outs with a one-run lead in the eighth. He was able to escape the inning and returned for the ninth before blowing the save chance on a solo homer by Alejandro Kirk. Harris had given up two runs in the eighth, while Mark Leiter Jr. and Elvis Alvarado surrendered runs in the sixth and seventh. The takeaway here is to avoid the situation if hunting for saves.

Harris walked one and gave up a two-run homer to Alex Freeland. He’s now allowed three runs in 8 1/3 innings and posted an 11/4 K/BB this spring. He’s one of the favorites for saves in the Athletics’ bullpen, but since he’s the club’s top lefty, he’ll also probably be used earlier in games on occasion.

Harris looks like he wants to be very much a part of the closing mix in Sacramento. His fastball today topped out at 96.9 mph and averaged 95.8 mph, which is up 2.3 mph from last year. That he’s a lefty works against him becoming the Athletics’ sole closer, but he should be in line for some saves.

Harris gave up a homer to Trevor Story in the eighth, but he retired the other six batters he faced, striking out three of them. It’s his fourth save of the year and first in which he’s gone two innings. He’ll now get Friday off, which could lead to a save chance for Elvis Alvarado and Sean Newcomb.

Harris gave up a bloop single with one out in the ninth, causing the A’s to get Tyler Ferguson up in the pen. Romy Gonzalez, though, hit into a double play immediately afterwards, ending the game. It’s Harris’s first save since Aug. 23. The A’s figure to keep mixing and matching late in games.

Alvarado caught a break when David Hamilton was thrown out stealing after a leadoff single in the ninth. Hamilton was ruled out on the field, and though the replays suggested he got his hand in there, New York upheld the call. Alvarado then walked a batter and gave up an RBI double to Rob Refnsyder to blow the lead. Hogan Harris replaced him at that point and got the win after the A’s scored in the bottom of the ninth. The A’s don’t currently have a reliever worth rostering in mixed leagues.

Harris retired two of the three batters he faced in protecting a 2-1 lead. The save comes in his 72nd career appearance since debuting with the A’s in 2023. He has a 3.65 ERA and a 52/28 /BB in 50 1/3 innings this season.

Harris was summoned in the ninth inning to close out the game against the Twins with a three-run lead. He induced a groundout and two fly outs in a clean inning on 11 pitches to convert his first save. Sean Newcomb had recorded the team’s previous save, but had pitched in two of the last three days with a high pitch count. Still, the A’s haven’t generated many save chances, with Harris tying Newcomb with one save.