Monday’s 13-game slate resulted in five wins and six losses by relievers, with 10 saves converted. Here are the saves in condensed form:
Today’s three takeaways cover Tampa Bay, Texas, and Colorado. As for the vulture options across today’s slate:
Vulture Save Options for 4.7.2026
- John Schreiber (KC): Erceg and Strahm have appeared in back-to-back games.
- Bryan King (HOU): If there is a save chance, the team may avoid using Bryan Abreu in Coors based on his recent struggles with command and home runs.
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Working into and then out of trouble, Ryan Helsley held on for his third save while spoiling the combined shutout versus the White Sox. His outing began with a lead-off walk (Munetaka Murakami), a leverage mortal sin, followed by another walk to Miguel Vargas. A groundout moved the runners up a base, and a Lenyn Sosa fielder’s choice groundout scored a run. After an infield single, Helsley produced a game-ending strikeout of Edgar Quero, sealing the one-run lead. His final line was a hit, an earned run, and two walks while striking out one on 24 pitches (13 strikes – 54.2 Strike%) with two whiffs (8.3 SwStr%).
And, his illustrator:
His WHIP rose to 2.40 after this contest, and he has a 5:3 K:BB through his first 3.1 innings. Count leverage was a contributor to his struggles last year:
Link: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/oQvgb/1/
It has not been as extreme yet, but there’s concern about his early results, particularly whiffs and the quality of contact allowed. His 11.8 percent swinging strike rate is down compared with 2025 (14.9 percent) and 2024 (17.3 percent). He’s allowing more hard hits in this year’s limited sample, illustrated by his 72.7 percent hard hit percentage through his first 11 batted ball events. If his slider and split-finger fastball results do not improve, his hold on the closer role will be tenuous for Baltimore and fantasy players.
Updated Hierarchy: Ryan Helsley | Rico García | Grant Wolfram
Three Takeaways
Baker rises to the occasion: Finally, Bryan Baker received a save chance and converted it, although he allowed Matt Shaw’s solo home run. Baker recorded two strikeouts while throwing 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and producing three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%).
This represents his first earned run allowed this year, but he’s posted a 0.25 WHIP with six strikeouts (46.2 K-BB%) across four innings. Sometimes, you tip your hat to the competition. Shaw hit a slider, low-and-in, for the home run:
With a three-run lead, Baker attacked hitters and should be in line for more save opportunities going forward, but the Rays may not rely on a primary save source.
Hierarchy Remains: *Bryan Baker | *Griffin Jax | *Ian Seymour
Junis shoots his shot: Recording his first save of the season and first since July 3, 2024, Jakob Junis erased a hit batter with a game-ending double play groundout, preserving a one-run lead against the Mariners. He threw four pitches (50 Strike%) without a whiff in his outing. Junis remains scoreless through his first six appearances, posting a minuscule 0.167 WHIP with four strikeouts (21.1 K-BB%). He does not have traditional closer stuff and may be best suited for a matchups-based approach. However, after this outing, he leads the team in Win Probability Added:
Robert Garcia notched his second hold, retiring the side against a left-handed hitting pocket, featuring two left-handed batters in the eighth. This serves his skill set best.
- Cole Winn stranded a runner and retired his only batter in the seventh for his second hold.
- Tyler Alexander allowed a hit and struck out one during his two-thirds of the seventh, getting his first hold.
- Jalen Beeks collected his first win, issuing a walk during a scoreless sixth.
Adjusted Hierarchy: *Jakob Junis | *Robert Garcia | *Chris Martin
*= closer-by-committee
Mejia magic: Called upon with one out and two runners on at the top of the eighth, Juan Mejia produced a shallow fly-out, intentionally walked Yordan Alvarez, and induced an inning-ending groundout by Jose Altuve. Mejia returned for the ninth and retired the side, closing out his first save of the season, second of his career. He logged 1.2 scoreless frames, throwing 21 pitches (66.7 Strike%) with three whiffs (14.3 SwStr%), walking and striking out one.
Trusting him, or any other reliever in this leverage ladder, remains a risky venture. However, if he can post more outings like this as the year progresses, he could become a factor in the team’s save matrix.
Hierarchy Remains: Victor Vodnik | Jimmy Herget | Brennan Bernardino
Here are the remaining results of interest from Monday’s slate.
American League
Kansas City Royals
A much-needed, efficient outing by Lucas Erceg resulted in his third save. He retired the Guardians’ 5-6-7 lineup pocket in order and recorded one strikeout on 14 pitches (8 strikes – 57.1 Strike%) without a whiff.
He’s posted a 1.499 WHIP with five strikeouts versus two walks through his first 4.2 innings.
- Matt Strahm was credited with his third hold but gave up Brayan Rocchio’s solo home run and a walk while striking out one in the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Lucas Erceg | Matt Strahm | John Schreiber
Los Angeles Angels
It was a fantasy favorite one-out save for Jordan Romano. He retired Mike Yastrzemski on a game-ending flyout and stranded two runners for his fourth save, needing only three pitches, all strikes, while inducing one whiff. He owns a 0.40 WHIP with seven strikeouts versus two walks (29.4 K-BB%) over six outings, spanning five innings.
- Chase Silseth allowed two hits, including Mauricio Dubón’s solo home run, and a walk while striking out one during two-thirds of the ninth.
Hierarchy Remains: Jordan Romano | Drew Pomeranz | Chase Silseth
Minnesota Twins
Pressed into action at the top of the eighth, Cody Lawyerson stranded both runners on a strikeout and an inning-ending popout, then returned for the ninth once his teammates extended the lead to four. He retired the side and recorded another strikeout en route to his first career MLB save. He logged 1.2 clean frames, striking out two on 14 pitches (12 strikes – 85.7 Strike%) with two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%).
- Kody Funderburk created the mess, issuing three walks, and one of his two outs was recorded on a rundown following a wild pitch. Yet, he was credited with his third hold.
- Eric Orze issued a walk and struck out one during two-thirds scoreless for his second hold.
- Anthony Banda allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless sixth, securing his first hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Cole Sands | *Taylor Rogers | *Justin Topa
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Boston Red Sox: Garrett Whitlock took over a tied game in the eighth, yielding a hit, two runs (one earned), and two walks while striking out two, back from the paternity list, suffering his first loss.
- Chicago White Sox: For a third consecutive appearance, Grant Taylor was deployed as the “opener.” He allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout against the Orioles, throwing 16 pitches (62.5 Strike%) with one whiff. Fantasy players will accept this role if he’s going to be stretched out for longer outings. If he keeps working one-inning openers, it removes any potential strikeout upside, rendering him useless in most leagues.
- Seattle Mariners: In an eventual one-run loss, Jose A. Ferrer fired a clean bottom of the seventh, striking out two. Cooper Criswall navigated around a hit and two walks for a scoreless eighth.
National League
Cincinnati Reds
Completing a combined shutout, Emilio Pagán secured his fourth save, retiring the side against Miami’s 3-4-5 hitters, throwing 13 pitches (8 strikes – 61.5 Strike%) with one whiff.
This marked his sixth appearance this season, during which he owns a 1.422 WHIP with six strikeouts versus three walks (10.7 K-BB%) across 6.1 innings.
- Tony Santillan notched his fourth hold, walking and striking out one in a scoreless eighth.
- Brock Burke stranded a runner while retiring his only batter via strikeout in the seventh for his first hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Tony Santillan | Graham Ashcraft
Milwaukee Brewers
Seeking his first career MLB save, Ángel Zerpa recorded two quick outs, then gave up a solo shot by Willson Contreras, followed by Wilyer Abreu’s single, and a game-ending groundout by Trevor Story. Zerpa finished with two hits, an earned run, and his first save, throwing 16 pitches (11 strikes – 68.8 Strike%) without a whiff.
- Grant Anderson notched his third hold, retiring the side in the eighth.
- Aaron Ashby collected his third win, allowing a hit and a walk during 1.1 scoreless frames. He’s tied with José Soriano for the most wins this season.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Ángel Zerpa
Philadelphia Phillies
Despite giving up a two-out double by Willy Adames, Jhoan Duran closed out his fourth save with a game-ending groundout by Luis Arraez. He threw 16 pitches (56.3 Strike%) and induced one whiff, facing the Giants’ 8-9-1-2 hitters.
This marked his sixth appearance, during which he’s posted a 0.88 WHIP with seven strikeouts and no walks (33.3 K-BB%) across 5.2 innings.
- Brad Keller notched his third hold, yielding a hit and striking out two in the eighth.
- José Alvarado fired a clean seventh, striking out one for his second hold.
- Jonathan Bowlan collected his first win, working a clean sixth and recording two strikeouts.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Duran | Brad Keller | José Alvarado
St. Louis Cardinals
Things went sideways at the bottom of the eighth. Matt Svanson could not stem the tide, allowing three hits, including two home runs, resulting in three earned runs over two-thirds of the inning, resulting in his first loss.
- Ryne Stanek recorded two outs between the seventh and eighth innings, but gave up three hits, including a three-run home run by James Wood.
- JoJo Romero navigated around two hits and a walk for a scoreless combined inning.
Updated Hierarchy: *Riley O’Brien | *JoJo Romero | Ryne Stanek
*= closer-by-committee
Washington Nationals
Although he took over with a three-run lead at the top of the ninth, Cionel Pérez was awarded his first win, working around Jordan Walker’s one-out single in a scoreless outing. Enacting the brief and ineffective rule, the official scorer decides on which reliever gets the win after a comeback of this magnitude. As a reminder:
Since the two prior to Pérez each allowed at least two earned runs, they were not factored into the decision.
Hierarchy Remains: *Clayton Beeter | *Cole Henry | PJ Poulin
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Chicago Cubs: Another tough outing for Phil Maton. He gave up a walk and a two-run home run by Jonathan Aranda while striking out one at the bottom of the seventh. He has a 2.10 WHIP through four games, spanning 3.1 innings.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Appearing in a loss, Gregory Soto tossed a scoreless top of the ninth, walking and striking out one. He threw 18 pitches (8 strikes – 44.4 Strike%) and only induced one whiff. This lowered his strike percentage to 64.1 through his first six innings, during which he’s recorded 12 strikeouts against three walks (36 K-BB%).
- San Francisco Giants: With the score tied at the top of the seventh, Ryan Borucki gave up two hits, two earned runs, and a walk while retiring one batter, resulting in his first loss and a first blown save. Caleb Kilian let one of two inherited runners score, hitting a batter, allowing a sacrifice fly, issuing a walk, and producing an inning-ending strikeout.
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