Liam Hendriks has read more books this season than he has saved games, though in fairness, he got a late start on the saves. Hendriks became the Oakland Athletics’ closer in late June. He has been an avid reader for much longer, and has read 23 books since he started keeping count this spring, to go with his 17 saves.

“He’s always read a lot of books,” said A’s catcher Chris Herrmann, who roomed with Hendriks in spring training seven years ago when they played for the Minnesota Twins. “I give him a hard time: ‘What are you reading over there, “Lord of the Rings?”’ He loves all the fictional, fairy-tale stuff.”

Hendriks has written his own fairy tale this season, helping Oakland’s push for another improbable wild-card berth. Last June, he was taken off the team’s 40-man roster after compiling a 7.36 earned run average. He excelled upon returning in September, started and lost the wild-card game at Yankee Stadium, and took over as closer this June. He made the All-Star team and through Saturday had the lowest E.R.A. in the American League, 1.31, among pitchers with at least 50 innings.

“The job that Liam’s filled in the back in the bullpen has been nothing short of miraculous,” the Oakland starter Brett Anderson said. “Ever since he came back last year, his stuff’s been phenomenal.”