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Elvis Alvarado strikes out two for save vs. Astros
Elvis Alvarado struck out two batters in a scoreless ninth inning to earn his third save of the season, helping the Athletics to a win over the Astros. Hogan Harris remains the expected favorite for save chances in Sacramento, despite a heavy workload. The victory leaves the Athletics at 50-80 with 32 games remaining.
Elvis Alvarado struck out two batters in a scoreless ninth inning to convert a save against the Astros on Saturday, as reported by NBC Sports. The 27-year-old right-hander entered after the Athletics took a one-run lead in the top of the eighth, with Hogan Harris retiring the final batter of that frame before handing the game over to Alvarado. Alvarado's clean inning secured his third save of the season.
Despite the successful outing, NBC Sports notes that Harris is expected to be in line for most save chances in Sacramento. Harris has been the Athletics' most relied-upon save option, though his workload has been heavy. He threw 36 pitches in a four-out save Saturday but was sent back out for the ninth on Sunday, allowing a single and a walk before getting the save when Ceddanne Rafaela lined out to center to end the game. NBC Sports reports that Harris will almost certainly be down Monday, which could open another door for Alvarado.
Harris's High Workload and the Save Picture
Hogan Harris's workload has been notable. He was summoned in an eighth-inning jam with two outs and two runners on and a four-run lead, struck out the final batter, then returned for the ninth after the Athletics added an insurance run. He gave up a run on a double and a single, loaded the bases, and retired the final batter to preserve the win, earning his 10th save of the season.
But Harris has also shown vulnerability. In one appearance, he walked Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart to open the eighth, rallied for two outs, then threw two wild pitches, scoring two runs while issuing a third walk before being pulled. NBC Sports points out that Harris has walked 32 batters in 49 2/3 innings this season, though he carries a 3.62 ERA. He has earned the Athletics' only three saves over the last month, with his season total at nine at the time.
NBC Sports notes that the Athletics as a team had just one save in the last five weeks, picked up by Mason Barnett on June 25. Barnett is back in Triple-A now. With that scarcity, Harris and Alvarado are probably co-favorites for saves on the roster.
Alvarado's Recent Form and a Blown Save
Alvarado's path has had a mixed quality. In a game against the Red Sox, he entered with a 1-0 lead and gave up homers to Rafael Devers and Victor Bericoto in the ninth, his first blown save and third loss of the season. That same game featured a scoreless seventh from Harris, who NBC Sports said looked a little better at the time.
Even so, Alvarado has shown promise since coming back from Triple-A. NBC Sports reports that on the occasion when the Angels tied with a three-run home run in the eighth, Alvarado was called on with one on and two out and got a strikeout to end the inning. He then got a flyout to start the ninth but allowed a single and a two-run homer to Zach Neto, which put the Angels up for good. Those were the second and third earned runs Alvarado has allowed in 10 innings in June, but he remains the favorite for saves with the Athletics.
In another appearance, Alvarado retired Kyle Karros and Brett Sullivan and then got Sterlin Thompson to ground out to end the game, earning his two saves in the eight days since the A's recalled him from Triple-A. He struck out Christian Yelich, Jackson Chourio and Brice Turang to become the eighth A's reliever to earn a save this season. NBC Sports notes that Alvarado pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts after being recalled from Las Vegas five days ago, having made the team out of spring training only to be sent down with an 8.78 ERA after 10 appearances.
Baseball Notes and Outlook
A separate piece from Baseball Prospectus takes a broader look at Alvarado's potential, mentioning his slider development and fastball velocity, which nearly matches Mason Miller's (Miller has been clocked at 101.5 MPH, Alvarado at 98.6 MPH). Alvarado has given up only two runs in his last 13.0 innings, the piece says.
This context comes as the team sits at 50-80 with 32 more games left in the regular season, following a decent win over the Astros. The Baseball Prospectus article highlights players to watch, including Alika Williams, Alvarado, and Lawrence Butler, and suggests Alvarado could be a potential closer of the future.
For now, NBC Sports ends, when asked, they'd still pick Harris as the most dependable A's reliever in shallow leagues, but notes that none seems particularly trustworthy. The team's save situation remains fluid, with Alvarado likely to get a chance on Monday should Harris be unavailable.
How each outlet told it
Nbc Sports
Framing: The headline emphasizes Hogan Harris's perfect ninth inning against the Astros, but the body shows he did not pitch a perfect ninth in all games; the headline highlights a single successful outing while the article covers multiple appearances. — Descriptive and analytical, with a mix of positive and cautionary notes, such as 'Still, Harris is expected to be in line for most save chances in Sacramento.'
Facts Included:
Hogan Harris faced the heart of the Astros order in the eighth inning before handing it over to Alvarado in the ninth.
Harris struck out two in a clean inning to secure his third save of the season.
Harris threw 36 pitches in a four-out save Saturday, then was sent back out for the ninth the next day.
Harris allowed a single and a walk but got the save after Ceddanne Rafaela lined out to center.
Harris was summoned with two outs and two runners on in the eighth inning with a four-run lead and struck out the final batter.
Harris gave up a run on a double and a single, then loaded the bases before retiring the final batter for his 10th save.
Harris walked Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart, threw two wild pitches, and was pulled; he has walked 32 in 49 2/3 innings with a 3.62 ERA.
Harris entered with two outs and two runners on, allowed an inherited runner to score, and gave up a two-run homer to Connor Wong before closing for his ninth save.
Harris's first save since June 12; he had two blown saves since, but not in ninth-inning opportunities.
The A's had just one save in the last five weeks, by Mason Barnett on June 25; Barnett is now in Triple-A.
Alvarado gave up homers to Rafael Devers and Victor Bericoto in the ninth for his first blown save and third loss; Harris worked a scoreless seventh.
Harris retired Troy Johnston and struck out two in a scoreless ninth to lower ERA to 2.67.
Harris entered with a 10-8 lead and allowed two runs in the ninth for a blown save in a 15-14 loss; noted not to be taken seriously.
Harris is expected to be in line for most save chances in Sacramento.
Alvarado is a potential save candidate if Harris is down Monday.
Harris and Alvarado are co-favorites for saves on the roster.
Harris is the favorite for saves but may pitch earlier due to being the best left-handed reliever.
In the 15-14 loss, Harris still looks like the favorite for saves.
Framing: The headline emphasizes Elvis Alvarado's save against the Astros, but the body includes extensive details about Harris's performance and role, indicating a broader focus on the bullpen situation. — Analytical and advisory, with a slightly cautious tone about the bullpen's trustworthiness, as seen in the quote 'no A’s reliever seems particularly trustworthy in shallow leagues.'
Facts Included:
Elvis Alvarado struck out two batters in a scoreless ninth inning to convert a save against the Astros on Saturday.
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.
Despite throwing 36 pitches in a four-out save Saturday, Harris was sent back out for the ninth today. He allowed a single and a walk, but he got the save after Ceddanne Rafaela lined out to center to end the game.
Harris will almost certainly be down Monday, which could lead to a save chance for Elvis Alvarado.
Harris was summoned with two outs and two runners on in the eighth inning with a four-run lead. He struck out the final batter to preserve the lead, then returned for the ninth after the A’s added an insurance run.
Harris gave up a run on a double and a single, then loaded the bases before retiring the final batter to preserve the win with his 10th save of the season.
Brought in with a 4-3 lead, Harris walked Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart to open the eighth, rallied for two outs and then threw two wild pitches to score two runs while issuing a third walk (though, to be fair, the second wild pitch looked more like a passed ball). He was pulled at that point.
Harris has earned the Athletics’ only three saves over the last month, bringing his season total to nine, but this won’t help his cause. He’s now walked 32 in 49 2/3 innings this season, though he has a decent 3.62 ERA anyway.
Harris entered the game with two outs and two runners on in the top of the eighth inning. He allowed an inherited runner to score on a single before ending the frame on a strikeout. The A’s would give him a needed insurance run before returning for the ninth. Harris gave up a two-run homer to Connor Wong before closing it out for his ninth save.
Harris allowed a single and a walk in the frame, but he struck out the other three batters he faced. It’s his first save since June 12. He’d taken two blown saves since, though neither was a ninth-inning opportunity.
The A’s as a team had recorded just one save over the last five weeks, that being picked up by Mason Barnett on June 25. Barnett, though, is back in Triple-A now. Harris and Elvis Alvarado are probably the co-favorites for saves on the roster.
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.
Harris retired Troy Johnston to end the eighth and then struck out two batters in a scoreless ninth to lower his ERA to 2.67. Harris is the favorite for saves in the Athletics pen right now, but because he is the team’s best left-handed reliever, he will pitch earlier in games at times.
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.
Framing: The headline emphasizes three players to watch as the season winds down, focusing on future potential rather than immediate game results. — Analytical and forward-looking, with a tone of cautious optimism about the players' futures, as in 'Alvarado has what it takes to make an impact on this team's future.'
Facts Included:
The Athletics, following a decent win over the Astros, sit at 50-80, with 32 more games left in the regular season.
Alika Williams is highlighted as a player to watch: in 142 at-bats, he has batted .261 with a .685 OPS, 10 RBIs and two home runs.
Williams's numbers represent a sharp increase over his 2024 season, where he batted .207 with a .541 OPS in 87 at-bats.
Elvis Alvarado is highlighted as a potential long-term choice for closer.
Alvarado nearly matches Mason Miller's fastball velocity: Miller 101.5 MPH vs. Alvarado 98.6 MPH.
Alvarado has started to hone his slider, which could potentially match Miller's success.
Alvarado has given up only two runs in his last 13.0 innings.
Lawrence Butler is highlighted as an outfielder to watch.
Butler had a 21-home-run, 22-stolen-base season in 2025, but has been slower to match that impact in 2026, only since the break looking like himself.
The article mentions a healthy 2027 lineup featuring Nick Kurtz, Shea Langeliers, Tyler Soderstrom, Brent Rooker, and Joshua Kuroda-Grauer.
Butler is the only member of the 'New Age Athletics' left in the lineup.
The article discusses the possibility of Williams becoming a utility player or being traded.
It mentions the trade of Mason Miller last season left a hole in the bullpen.
It mentions other pitchers used to fill the void: Hogan Harris, Luis Medina, Mason Barnett, and Alvarado.
Each row is one claim, attributed to the outlet whose wording states it most clearly. Confidence rates how directly the source text states the claim — explicit and unhedged rates high; hedged, pieced-together, or internally inconsistent statements rate lower. It does not measure whether the claim is true. Status counts the distinct outlets we found asserting it — so a single-source claim can still show high confidence, and a multi-source claim can show medium. Every one of those outlets is named beside the status, so you can check the count against the list. For claims extracted before we began storing that list, the row says so: it names the outlet the claim is quoted from and states that we have not recorded which outlets backed it. Outlets wrote at different times, so a figure that evolves — a casualty count, for example — can legitimately differ between rows; check the "as of" time next to each claim's source.
Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimElvis Alvarado struck out two batters in a scoreless ninth inning to convert a save against the Astros on Saturday.
ClaimDespite throwing 36 pitches on Saturday, Hogan Harris was sent back out for the ninth on Sunday and allowed a single and a walk, but got the save after Ceddanne Rafaela lined out to center.
ClaimHogan Harris was summoned with two outs and two runners on in the eighth inning with a four-run lead and struck out the final batter to preserve the lead.
ClaimAfter striking out the final batter in the eighth, Hogan Harris returned for the ninth after the A's added an insurance run, then gave up a run on a double and a single, loaded the bases, and retired the final batter to preserve the win with his 10th save of the season.
ClaimBrought in with a 4-3 lead, Hogan Harris walked Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart to open the eighth, got two outs, then threw two wild pitches to score two runs while issuing a third walk, and was pulled.
ClaimHogan Harris entered the game with two outs and two runners on in the top of the eighth inning, allowed an inherited runner to score on a single, and ended the frame on a strikeout.
ClaimThe A's gave Hogan Harris an insurance run before he returned for the ninth, and he gave up a two-run homer to Connor Wong before closing out for his ninth save.
ClaimHogan Harris is the favorite for saves in the Athletics pen right now, but because he is the team's best left-handed reliever, he will pitch earlier in games at times.
ClaimHogan Harris entered with a 10-8 lead in the eighth and got a double play ball to escape a jam, then allowed two runs in the ninth to take a blown save.
ClaimAfter the Angels tied the game with a three-run home run in the eighth, Elvis Alvarado was called on with one on and two out in the eighth inning and got a strikeout to end the inning.
ClaimIn that game against the Angels, Elvis Alvarado got a fly out to start the ninth, then allowed a single and a two-run home run to Zach Neto, which put the Angels up for good.
ClaimAlvarado struck out Kyle Karros and Brett Sullivan before getting Sterlin Thompson to ground out to end the game, earning both of his saves in the eight days since the A's recalled him from Triple-A.
ClaimMason Miller fired a scoreless ninth to pick up a save against the Twins on Saturday; he didn't allow a hit, struck out a hitter, and didn't issue a walk.