With the suspended game at Bristol Speedway added in, relievers recorded five wins and seven saves on Sunday, while suffering five losses. There were two first saves of the season, and the major league leader quelled a rally at the top of the ninth for his 32nd. Here are the saves in condensed form:
For the save streamers:
Vulture Save Options for August 4
- Yariel Rodríguez (TOR): Hoffman and Domínguez have appeared in back-to-back games.
- Lucas Erceg (KC): Estévez threw 29 pitches on Sunday.
Vulture Save Stashes for August 5
- Reid Detmers (LAA): If Jansen pitches tonight, it’s consecutive contests and three in the last four.
Two Takeaways
(1) The “Sands” Man enters in the 8th, again: After his team traded its entire bullpen hierarchy, it made sense to believe Cole Sands would be the preferred save option based on his results from last year. However, for a second time in the team’s first series after the trade deadline, he matched up against José Ramírez’s lineup pocket on Sunday during the eighth inning. He allowed a walk and recorded two strikeouts for a scoreless appearance and his third hold. Rocco Baldelli called upon Michael Tonkin with a three-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, and things did not go well. He allowed two hits, two earned runs, and a walk during his one-third of an inning. Erasmo Ramírez took over and induced consecutive flyouts against Daniel Schneeman and José Ramírez, preserving a one-run lead and stranding a runner at the bottom of the ninth for his first save of the season, and first since May 16 of last year. Fantasy players can add Sands, but with the understanding he will not be deployed as a closer in the reconstructed Twins bullpen.
Updated Hierarchy: *Cole Sands | *Justin Topa | *Kody Funderburk
*= closer-by-committee
(2) Estévez and contact trends: Closing out a win at the bottom of the tenth, Carlos Estévez allowed two hits, two runs (one earned), and a walk while striking out one in a non-save appearance. He threw 29 pitches (58.6% strike rate) and only induced one whiff. First, his illustrator:
And his results:
This snapped his five-game scoreless streak. Under the hood, he has some trends worth watching in his batted ball data from Statcast:
- Groundball rate: 32.2 percent in 2024, 25.2 percent in 2025
- Air percentage: 67.8 percent in 2024, 74.8 percent in 2025
- Pull Air percentage: 18.8 percent in 2024, 23.1 percent in 2025
How he handles these for the remainder of the season may set expectations for 2026, but it’s a risky profile. This season, his current 2.64 ERA is accompanied by a 4.08 xERA, which suggests that more regression toward the mean may be in store.
Hierarchy Remains: Carlos Estévez | Lucas Erceg | Hunter Harvey
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Sunday.
Leverage Ledger
Arizona Diamondbacks – Making his second appearance of the season, Kyle Nelson recorded his first major league save, allowing JJ Bleday’s solo home run and striking out one against the A’s. He threw 12 pitches (83.3% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (25 SwStr%).
- Kendall Graveman tossed a scoreless eighth, walking one and striking out two for his first hold. Andrew Saalfrank gave up a hit and an earned run while securing his first hold in the seventh.
- John Curtiss retired the side in the sixth, notching his first hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Kevin Ginkel | *Kendall Graveman | *Kyle Backhus
*= closer-by-committee
Atlanta Braves – Despite allowing consecutive hits leading off the bottom of the ninth, Raisel Iglesias gathered himself and recorded a strikeout against Elly De La Cruz, induced a pop-out by Austin Hays, followed by a game-ending pop-out against Jake Fraley, securing his 14th save. He threw 14 pitches (78.6% strike rate) and produced four whiffs (28.6 SwStr%).
He has converted his last three save chances and been scoreless in his last four.
- Tyler Kinley stranded a runner while giving up two walks and retiring one at the bottom of the eighth for his ninth hold.
- Dylan Lee notched his tenth hold, stranding a runner in the seventh while tossing a scoreless combined inning and striking out one.
- Pierce Johnson allowed a hit during two-thirds scoreless for his tenth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Dylan Lee | Pierce Johnson
Chicago Cubs – Handed a one-run lead at the top of the ninth, Daniel Palencia allowed Colton Cowser’s lead-off double, retired the next two batters, but gave up Ryan Noda’s game-tying RBI single, resulting in his first blown save since May 19 in Miami, and only his second of the season. His illustrator:
And his results, featuring too many pitches in the heart of the zone:
However, he benefited from his team’s walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning, collecting his first win of the season. He finished with two hits and an earned run while striking out one on 18 pitches (61.1% strike rate) without a whiff.
- Brad Keller worked a scoreless eighth, walking one and striking out two for his 17th hold.
- Andrew Kittredge secured his ninth hold with a clean seventh, striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Daniel Palencia | Brad Keller | Andrew Kittredge
Los Angeles Angels – Navigating around traffic at the top of the ninth, Kenley Jansen gave up a one-out single by Brooks Baldwin and a two-out walk to Mike Tauchman but induced an inning-ending flyout to short by Lenyn Sosa for a scoreless appearance.
He collected his fourth win on a walk-off, three-run tank by Taylor Ward. Jansen has been scoreless in his last 13 games since July 1, recording three wins and converting all five saves while posting a 0.488 WHIP with 13 strikeouts against one walk across 12.1 innings.
- Reid Detmers fired a clean top of the eighth, striking out one.
- Andrew Chafin worked a scoreless seventh, walking and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Reid Detmers | Ryan Zeferjahn
Los Angeles Dodgers – Preserving his team’s fifth shutout win of the season, Ben Casparius stranded all three inherited runners by inducing a game-ending fielder’s choice groundout against Yandy Díaz for his second save, throwing only four pitches.
- Blake Treinen allowed a hit and two walks while recording two strikeouts, but was lifted after throwing 26 pitches (61.5% strike rate) with one whiff, getting credit for his fourth hold.
- Brock Stewart gave up a hit during a scoreless eighth, securing his 15th hold.
- Alex Vesia retired all four batters faced, striking out one while recording his 20th hold.
Updated Hierarchy: *Blake Treinen | *Alex Vesia | Brock Stewart
*= closer-by-committee
Philadelphia Phillies – Shutting the door on his 18th save, and second with the Phillies, while preserving a combined shutout, Jhoan Durán retired the side and recorded two strikeouts against the Tigers’ 3-4-5 lineup pocket. He threw 12 pitches (66.7% strike rate) and generated three whiffs (25 SwStr%).
He has converted his last eight save chances since June 25 while posting a 1.125 WHIP through 16 innings. He has been perfect in two games for his new team.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Durán | Matt Strahm | Orion Kerkering
San Diego Padres – Summoned with the bases loaded and no outs at the top of the ninth, Robert Suarez struck out Yohel Pozo, let one baserunner score on a sacrifice fly by Lars Nootbar, allowed Victor Scott II’s single, then caught Masyn Winn’s line drive comebacker, stranding two runners and securing his MLB-leading 32nd save during an eventual four-run win. He threw 16 pitches (68.8% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (18.8 SwStr%).
- Adrian Morejon made the mess, giving up four hits, three earned runs, and a walk without recording an out.
- David Morgan tossed a scoreless eighth, walking one and striking out three.
- Jeremiah Estrada fired a clean seventh, striking out the side for his 23rd hold.
- Jason Adam retired the side in the sixth, collecting his 27th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Robert Suarez | Mason Miller | Jason Adam
Seattle Mariners – Securing his 25th save, Andrés Muñoz worked around Adolis García’s lead-off walk by inducing a fielder’s choice groundout, then benefited from a caught stealing of pinch-runner Sam Haggerty, and recorded a game-ending strikeout of Wyatt Langford, protecting a one-run lead. He threw 16 pitches (50% strike rate) and produced one whiff.
He has converted his last five save chances and has been scoreless through eight games since July 13.
- Caleb Ferguson notched his 11th hold, retiring the side at the top of the eighth.
- Carlos Vargas gave up García’s solo home run and struck out three across his two innings while recording his 13th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Matt Brash | Gabe Speier
Toronto Blue Jays – Tasked with the top of the tenth, Seranthony Domínguez struggled, allowing two hits, five runs (three earned), a hit batter, and a walk without recording an out, resulting in his fourth loss. Tommy Nance replaced him, but let both inherited runners score while retiring three batters.
- Jeff Hoffman tossed a scoreless ninth, yielding a hit and keeping the game tied.
- Louis Varland suffered his second blown save, giving up two hits and an earned run at the top of the eighth.
- Brendon Little notched his 22nd hold, firing a clean seventh and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Jeff Hoffman | Seranthony Domínguez | Louis Varland
Quick Hits
- Baltimore Orioles: After his teammates tied the game at the top of the ninth, Keegan Akin had Dansby Swanson reach on Jordan Westburg’s throwing error, then served up a walk-off, pinch-hit two-run home run by Justin Turner, resulting in his first loss.
- Chicago White Sox: With the score tied at the bottom of the ninth, Tyler Alexander allowed a one-out double by Nolan Schanuel, intentionally walked Mike Trout, and served up Taylor Ward’s walk-off three-run home run, resulting in his tenth loss.
- Cincinnati Reds: Taking over the suspended game against Atlanta, Brent Suter suffered his second loss, allowing four hits and three earned runs while striking out two during his 2.2 innings.
- Milwaukee Brewers: Called upon with a runner on and one out at the bottom of the fifth, Aaron Ashby earned his second win, tossing 1.2 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out three on 23 pitches (73.9% strike rate) with three whiffs.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Bouncing back from his meltdown on Friday, Dennis Santana closed out a four-run win at Colorado, working around a hit batter for a scoreless ninth on 16 pitches (56.3% strike rate) and producing one whiff. Isaac Mattson tossed a scoreless eighth, walking and striking out one.
- Washington Nationals: Appearing during a lopsided contest did not bode well for Jose A. Ferrer. He allowed three hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out two at the top of the eighth against Milwaukee. He threw 23 pitches (69.6% strike rate) and produced two whiffs in his first outing since July 28.
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