‘He’s been so key for us’: Is Jhoan Duran having the best season ever by a Phillies closer?

Jhoan Duran unleashed a sinking, 99-mph splitter for a game-ending groundout, clapped his glove three times, and shook hands.

Ho-hum.

But Duran’s 11-pitch ninth inning in Saturday night’s 4-2 victory over the Braves was notable in that it marked his 30th save. And a Phillies reliever hadn’t recorded 30 saves in a season since ... checks notes ... Jeanmar Gómez in 2016.

“He makes me feel good when I’m able to say, ‘OK, let’s go to Jo,” interim manager Don Mattingly said Sunday. “It’s nice to have that guy out there.”

» READ MORE: From last year: The Jhoan Duran Effect is real so far, and there’s precedent for what the Phillies hope he delivers

Indeed, Duran has been nearly automatic — 1.75 ERA, 97 strikeouts in 72 innings, 46-for-51 in save chances — since coming over at the trade deadline last season. But the Phillies don’t take him for granted — and not only because they sent top-100 prospects Eduardo Tait and Mick Abel to the Twins to get him.

“When you feel like you have that guy that you can just hand him the ball in the ninth, it feels like it sets up the way we’re able to go get the ball to our bullpen,” Kyle Schwarber said. “He’s been so key for us.”

Duran converted his first 16 saves this season before a hiccup June 9 in Toronto. His only other blown save came July 27 in Miami. In 51⅓ innings, he has allowed one homer, a solo shot to pinch-hitting Kyle Manzardo that decided a 1-0 loss to Cleveland on May 22.

In fact, Duran’s dominance prompts the question of whether he’s having the best season ever by a Phillies closer.

Pitching in a bygone era for relievers, Jim Konstanty logged 152 innings, won 16 games and saved 22, and was named NL MVP for the 1950 Whiz Kids. Steve Bedrosian notched 40 saves and won the Cy Young Award in 1987. Brad Lidge famously went 48-for-48 in save chances, including the postseason, and threw the clinching pitch of the 2008 World Series.

But based on ERA, walks/hits per inning pitched, and opponents’ batting average, there’s only one instance of a Phillies closer being as unhittable as Duran this season:

» READ MORE: Alex McFarlane relishes ‘amazing opportunity’ for greater responsibility in Phillies’ bullpen as Orion Kerkering struggles

The Phillies likely will ask Duran to get more than three outs in postseason games. If anything, though, his presence amplifies the Phillies’ need to bridge the gap between the starter and their star closer when they have a lead in the seventh and eighth innings.

Jonathan Bowlan has taken over as the primary setup man, although lefty José Alvarado could also be in the mix, especially against pockets of left-handed hitters. Rookie righty Alex McFarlane will get more looks, too, especially given Orion Kerkering’s inconsistency.

But there’s no question about the ninth inning.

“I was excited at the beginning of this year to be able to get [Duran] from the start and really feel like we can get him where he needs to be,” Schwarber said. “And he’s been that guy since we traded for him. We’re lucky to have that guy at the back end.”

Top prospect Aidan Miller doubled off the left-field wall in his first at-bat of the season Saturday night for low-A Clearwater.

More significantly, he stayed off the injury report after the game.

“I know he got a hit — he got a double — and I know he was swinging the bat pretty good in the live [batting practices],” Mattingly said. “I don’t think any of that’s what you’re really searching for. You’re searching for him being on the field, bouncing back, all that kind of stuff, and being able to progress. I think that’s what we’re looking at.”

» READ MORE: A fifth straight postseason is in sight. Here are the big things to watch from the Phillies over the final month.

Miller, a 22-year-old shortstop, was sidelined since spring training by a low back condition that required a spinal procedure in June. He played five innings at shortstop in his first game, also drawing a walk and committing an error.

The Phillies could keep Miller in Clearwater for the Florida State League playoffs, which begin next week, before moving him through the system. Double-A Reading is closing in on an Eastern League playoff spot; triple-A Lehigh Valley’s season runs through Sept. 21.

Barring a setback, Miller is tentatively slated to play in the Arizona Fall League, although rosters haven’t been announced yet.

“I didn’t hear anything bad coming out of [Saturday night],” Mattingly said. “So, we’ll see where it goes.”

Veteran lefty Nestor Cortes, who signed a minor-league contract last month, is scheduled to pitch next week for Clearwater in a Florida State League playoff game, according to Mattingly. The 31-year-old had surgery last November on a torn tendon in his throwing arm. The Phillies took a flier in hopes that he can help down the stretch and in the postseason. ... Jesús Luzardo (13-5, 3.02 ERA) is scheduled to start the series finale at 1:05 p.m. Monday against Braves righty Grant Holmes (9-5, 3.62).