Tuesday featured four wins and five losses by relievers, with six saves converted. Here are the saves in condensed form:
Today’s three takeaways include: Detroit, the Athletics, and Texas. As for the potential vultures across today’s slate:
Vulture Save Options for 4.1.2026
- Tyler Alexander (TEX): It’s tough suggesting him here, but he’s widely available in leagues despite having two saves. However, Robert Garcia, Chris Martin, Cole Winn, and Jakob Junis have all pitched in three of the previous four days, with all roads leading to the veteran southpaw.
- Bryan Baker (TB): Performance, not workload concerns, may yield a save chance for Baker on getaway day in Milwaukee.
- Tanner Scott (LAD): During a non-save outing, Díaz threw 33 pitches, making him unlikely for tonight’s game against Cleveland.
- Kevin Ginkel (ARI): Sewald has appeared in consecutive contests.
- Scott Barlow (ATH): Leiter Jr. and Sterner have worked in back-to-back games.
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It seemed like any other signing for depth this winter when Paul Sewald agreed to a one-year deal with Arizona. Following a strong spring, he’s emerged as the team’s preferred option for saves until the team’s co-closers return from injury later this season. After his team catapulted into the lead with a six-run bottom of the eighth, he locked down his second save, striking out the side against the Tigers’ 5-6-7 lineup pocket on 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9 Strike%) with one whiff.
He’s appeared in back-to-back games, securing a save in each in this series, accounting for the slight dip in velocity. Through three games, he’s retired all seven batters, four via strikeout (57.1 K-BB%) with a 10 percent swinging strike rate and a 76.7 strike percentage. It’s encouraging, but one must heed his 3.25 expected ERA based on an 82.4 percent contact rate allowed in this small sample. Fantasy players will squeeze out every possible save while understanding there will be a migration to the mean for the veteran closer.
- Andrew Hoffmann collected his first win, logging two scoreless frames, walking one, and striking out three.
Hierarchy Remains: Paul Sewald | Kevin Ginkel | Ryan Thompson
Three Takeaways
That escalated quickly: Things went off the rails at the bottom of the eighth, which began with the Tigers leading by four. Drew Anderson returned for a second inning of work, but gave up consecutive hits to the eighth and ninth batters. Will Vest replaced him and put gasoline on the fire, walking Ketel Marte and giving up Corbin Carroll’s two-RBI double, followed by another walk, reloading the bases. After inducing an RBI groundout against Gabriel Moreno and recording a second out by Alek Thomas, he was removed with two runners on and two outs. Kenley Jansen entered and served up a go-ahead, three-run home run by Jose Fernandez and struck out Carlos Santana, ending the inning.
Vest was charged with his first loss while getting credit for a save, allowing a hit, three earned runs, and two walks over two-thirds of an inning. Jansen let both inherited runners score during his first blown save, allowing a hit and an earned run in one-third of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Will Vest | Kyle Finnegan
The A’s are off the snide: Securing his first save during his team’s first win of the season, Mark Leiter Jr. worked into and out of trouble at the bottom of the ninth in Atlanta. He allowed a lead-off single by Michael Harris II and a one-out single by Mauricio Dubón before bearing down, striking out Ronald Acuña Jr., then inducing a game-ending pop-out against Drake Baldwin. Leiter Jr. threw 13 pitches (9 strikes – 69.2 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%).
Scott Barlow retired the side against the 4-5-6 lineup pocket in the eighth for his first hold. Justin Sterner worked a scoreless seventh against the 9-1-2-3 hitters, walking one and striking out two while throwing 28 pitches. Hogan Harris issued two walks in a scoreless sixth, notching his second hold. While this game worked out, roles remain in flux and may not be fully defined this season. Tread lightly, mining saves in this bullpen unless a reliever emerges with confirmed preferred save status by Mark Kotsay. For now:
Adjusted Hierarchy: *Mark Leiter Jr. | *Scott Barlow | *Justin Sterner
*= closer-by-committee
Strange usage patterns continue for the Rangers: Despite appearing in both games this weekend and warming up during Monday’s contest, Chris Martin finished the win, giving up two hits, a hit batter, and two earned runs while striking out one at the bottom of the ninth. Overworking an oft-injured reliever during his Age-40 season is definitely an intriguing choice. Robert Garcia retired the side and recorded a strikeout against the Orioles’ 3-4-5 lineup pocket on 15 pitches (11 strikes – 73.3 Strike%) with two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%). Jakob Junis allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless seventh. Cole Winn collected his first win, tossing 1.1 scoreless frames, walking and striking out one. Here are the usage patterns since Saturday in this bullpen:
Whether it’s luck or outcomes, Tyler Alexander will be in line for a save chance, if provided in today’s game. He entered this season with one career save, and has already set a personal high in them with two during his first three outings this year.
Adjusted Hierarchy: *Tyler Alexander | *Robert Garcia | *Chris Martin
*= closer-by-committee
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Tuesday’s slate.
American League
Los Angeles Angels
Summoned with one out at the bottom of the ninth, Jordan Romano completed the combined shutout, working around Dansby Swanson’s walk with a game-ending strikeout against Michael Conforto for his second save. Romano threw 12 pitches (50 Strike%) and induced one whiff during his two-thirds of an inning.
He owns a 0.43 WHIP with three strikeouts against two walks through 2.1 innings.
- Drew Pomeranz logged 1.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out one for his second hold.
- Chase Silseth allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless seventh, securing his second hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Jordan Romano | Drew Pomeranz | Ryan Zeferjahn
Quick Hits
- Baltimore Orioles: Suffering his first loss, Yennier Cano gave up two hits, including Brandon Nimmo’s go-ahead RBI single, resulting in an earned run.
- Houston Astros: Wrapping up a lopsided win over the Red Sox, Cody Bolton recorded his first career save, logging three innings, scattering three hits, allowing an earned run and a walk while striking out five.
- Toronto Blue Jays: In a non-save capacity, Jeff Hoffman tossed a scoreless top of the ninth, preserving a four-run lead against the Rockies. He threw 15 pitches (80 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (20 SwStr%) while giving up a hit and striking out one.
National League
Los Angeles Dodgers
In a non-save outing, Edwin Díaz was not sharp. His outing began with Kyle Manzardo being hit by a pitch, followed by a walk. With one out, Brayan Rocchio produced an RBI single, then the veteran closer bore down, recording consecutive strikeouts, finishing a three-run win over Cleveland. He threw 33 pitches (21 strikes – 63.6 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (9.1 SwStr%).
And, his illustrator:
Through three games, he’s posted a 1.00 WHIP with four strikeouts versus two walks. It’s early, but he’s throwing a much larger portion of four-seam fastballs than previous seasons in his limited sample with the Dodgers, which also happened with Tanner Scott last year. Monitor this closely:
- Jack Dreyer notched his first hold, working a scoreless eighth while walking and striking out one.
- Alex Vesia fired a clean seventh, striking out one for his first hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Edwin Díaz | Tanner Scott | Alex Vesia
Miami Marlins
In order of appearance, Andrew Nardi took over at the top of the fifth with one out and retired all three batters, two via strikeout. Anthony Bender was awarded his first win after he worked 1.2 scoreless frames, walking and striking out one. Calvin Faucher tossed a clean eighth, striking out two.
Pete Fairbanks finished the seven-run win over the White Sox by striking out the side on 15 pitches (66.7 Strike%) with four whiffs (26.7 SwStr%).
He’s posted a minuscule 0.33 WHIP with five strikeouts and a 16.7 percent swinging strike rate across three innings this season.
Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks | Calvin Faucher | Anthony Bender
Milwaukee Brewers
Closing out a four-run lead against Tampa Bay, Ángel Zerpa issued a walk during a scoreless top of the ninth. Abner Uribe worked around a hit and a walk while securing his first hold during a scoreless eighth. He threw 22 pitches (12 strikes – 54.5 Strike%) without a whiff. Despite Trevor Megill being unavailable, Uribe was used like the highest-leveraged reliever taking over against the top of the Rays’ lineup, not in a potential save situation.
- Grant Anderson gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless seventh for his first hold.
- Jared Koenig allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless sixth, notching his first hold.
Adjusted Hierarchy: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Ángel Zerpa
Philadelphia Phillies
Shutting the door on his second save, Jhoan Duran worked around a two-out infield single by Nasim Nuñez with a game-ending lineout to left field against James Wood. He threw 20 pitches (60 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (20 SwStr%) while recording two strikeouts.
Through three appearances, he’s posted five strikeouts and zero walks across 2.1 innings.
- Brad Keller issued a walk during a scoreless eighth for his first hold.
- Tanner Banks gave up three hits and an earned run while striking out two across 1.2 innings, getting credited with his first hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Duran | Brad Keller | José Alvarado
Pittsburgh Pirates
Reserved for the top of the Reds’ lineup that features two left-handed hitters, Gregory Soto warmed for a save chance, but it was taken away when his teammates tacked on two runs at the top of the ninth. Soto’s outing began with a single by Ke’Bryan Hayes, followed by TJ Friedl’s groundout, a hit batter (Matt McLain), an Elly De La Cruz groundout, a wild pitch, and a walk while facing Sal Stewart, then a game-ending strikeout of Eugenio Suárez. He threw 17 pitches (10 strikes – 58.8 Strike%) with one whiff.
Dennis Santana notched his first hold, stranding a runner and working around a hit during a scoreless bottom of the eighth, throwing 17 pitches (12 strikes – 70.6 Strike%) with one whiff.
- Hunter Barco allowed four hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out three over two innings.
- Yohan Ramírez was awarded his first win. He stranded the bases loaded, striking out both batters at the bottom of the fifth.
Adjusted Hierarchy: *Dennis Santana | *Gregory Soto | Justin Lawrence
*= closer-by-committee
St. Louis Cardinals
Locking down his first save of the season, Riley O’Brien retired the side against the Mets’ 4-5-6 hitters on 11 pitches (63.6 Strike%) without a whiff.
Through three games, he has a 0.90 WHIP with two strikeouts versus zero walks over 3.1 innings.
- JoJo Romero notched his second hold, working a clean top of the eighth versus the top of the lineup. He threw 13 pitches (61.5 Strike%) and induced one whiff while recording one strikeout.
- Ryne Stanek worked a scoreless seventh, walking and striking out one for his first hold.
- Gordon Graceffo retired the side in the sixth for his first hold.
It’s tough enough to forecast saves, but when teams adjust usage patterns on the fly or by series, the difficulty increases exponentially. Labeling a reliever the closer in this bullpen may be a mistake by fantasy players.
Adjusted Hierarchy: *Ryne Stanek | *Riley O’Brien | *JoJo Romero
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Chicago Cubs: Taking over at the top of the sixth, Phil Maton suffered his first loss, giving up two hits, two earned runs, and two walks while striking out one over two-thirds of the sixth. Ben Brown stranded two runners and logged 3.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out five. He threw 50 pitches (78 Strike%) and racked up nine whiffs (18 SwStr%).
- San Diego Padres: Amid a loss, Jeremiah Estrada turned in a scoreless top of the eighth, yielding a hit and striking out two on 18 pitches (66.7 Strike%) with four whiffs (22.2 SwStr%).
- San Francisco Giants: Wrapping up a six-run win in San Diego, José Buttó tossed a scoreless bottom of the ninth, allowing a hit and striking out two. JT Brubaker worked two scoreless frames, giving up two hits and striking out one.
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