Alvarado struck out two in a clean ninth inning to earn the save Saturday against the Astros.
It's worth noting that Hogan Harris, who has been the Athletics' favorite for saves this season, worked a scoreless eighth inning for a hold Saturday. The A's have had a hard time settling on a steady ninth-inning arm in their beleaguered bullpen, and it wouldn't be surprising if they continued to mix and match their high-leverage options. Alvarado has a 4.29 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 51:19 K:BB over 42 innings, tallying eight holds and three saves in four opportunities.