Friday’s full slate resulted in seven wins, though one was accompanied by a blown save, and six losses by relievers, with seven saves converted. Here are the saves in condensed form:
As for the vulture options across today’s slate:
Vulture Save Options for 4.11.2026
- Jason Adam (SD): Miller has appeared in three straight days, and Estrada was placed on the injured list.
- George Soriano (STL): He’s earning a larger leverage share, and O’Brien has pitched in three of the previous four games.
- Cody Lawyerson (MIN): A long shot, but in this bullpen, anything is possible.
- Hogan Harris (ATH): Another fluid bullpen; he could get the call for the save chance today.
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Slamming the door on his second save, preserving a combined shutout, and moving into a tie for third all-time on the career saves list (478 with Lee Smith), Kenley Jansen retired the side and recorded a strikeout against the Marlins. He threw 12 pitches (7 strikes – 58.3 Strike%) without a whiff.
This was his first appearance in six days, and his next save places him third all-time in saves, and one step closer to becoming the third reliever with 500 in his career.
- Kyle Finnegan allowed a walk during a scoreless eighth, securing his second hold.
- Brant Hurter tossed a clean seventh, striking out one for his first hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Will Vest | Kyle Finnegan
Four Takeaways
Megill’s “soggy legs”: A night to forget for Trevor Megill. He entered a tied game at the top of the ninth and hit his first batter faced (CJ Abrams), allowed an infield hit on a bunt, followed by an RBI single by Luis García Jr. With runners on the corners, Megill errantly flipped a ball towards home, scoring another run, and a third bunt in the inning, plated a third run, prompting his removal. All told, Megill suffered his second loss, giving up two hits and four earned runs without recording an out. From Adam McAlvy’s game recap on MLB.com:
Megill can be susceptible to small ball as he lands toward first base. It’s amazing he was charged with four earned runs without recording an out on only nine pitches. There was no indication about any change in leverage roles, but an outing like this makes dropping Abner Uribe a challenging decision. I would hold for right now. He tossed a scoreless eighth, yielding a hit and striking out two. Ángel Zerpa gave up a hit, an earned run, and a walk during his 1.2 innings, resulting in his first blown save.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Ángel Zerpa
Sound the trumpets for a blown save? Is this bullpen cursed? It’s not likely, but Edwin Díaz had a rough outing against Texas. Presented a three-run lead, his outing began with Joc Pederson’s single, followed by Evan Carter’s two-run home run. After retiring the next two batters, Josh Jung singled, intentionally walking Brandon Nimmo, and Ezequiel Duran hit an RBI single. Díaz bore down, striking out Corey Seager, ending the inning, but he had already suffered his first blown save, allowing four hits, three earned runs, and one walk while striking out two on 23 pitches (19 strikes – 82.6 Strike%) with two whiffs.
His illustrator tells the story, he was not sharp:
He was awarded his first win courtesy of his teammate’s walk-off home run. His WHIP rose to 1.67 after this outing, but he’s recorded 10 strikeouts versus four walks (20.7 K-BB%) through six innings. Tanner Scott notched his second hold, retiring the side and striking out two in the eighth. Alex Vesia issued a walk and struck out three in the seventh for his third hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Edwin Díaz | Tanner Scott | Alex Vesia
Miller time, times three: Representing the first reliever working in three consecutive contests, Mason Miller fired a clean top of the ninth, striking out the side against the Rockies’ 5-6-7 lineup pocket. He collected his first win on a walk-off home run at the bottom of the inning. Miller threw 13 pitches (76.9 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%), without his velocity suffering:
It’s great he’s capable of this outing, but this should make him unavailable for the remainder of the weekend, and early overuse can manifest in fatigue as the season progresses, just ask Josh Hader. Miller extended his scoreless streak to 28.2 innings, and he’s recorded 19 of 22 outs this season via strikeout, resulting in a robust 75 K-BB percentage and a negative 0.69 SIERA.
Before this game, the leverage ladder took a hit:
Jason Adam made his season debut, stranding two runners by inducing an inning-ending groundout by Ezequiel Tovar. Adrian Morejon suffered his third blown save, allowing four hits and two earned runs over two-thirds of the eighth, working for the third time in four days. However, with Estrada sidelined and Morejon struggling, which reliever(s) step up as trusted leverage options in the interim?
Updated Hierarchy: Mason Miller | Jason Adam | Adrian Morejon
Kelly’s co-closers: Closing out his first save and completing a combined shutout, Dennis Santana retired the Cubs’ 9-1-2 hitters in order, two via strikeout. He threw 13 pitches (69.2 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (30.8 SwStr%) in this outing.
He’s posted a 0.429 WHIP with six strikeouts against two walks (18.2 K-BB%).
Gregory Soto took over against the 4-5-6 lineup pocket and worked around two walks in the eighth for his second hold, throwing 24 pitches (13 strikes – 54.2 Strike%) without a whiff. Isaac Mattson notched his third hold, walking one during a scoreless seventh. Mason Montgomery collected his first win, stranded two runners despite issuing a walk, and recorded two strikeouts over two-thirds of the sixth. He’s racked up 12 strikeouts through his first 5.1 innings this season and also issued five walks.
Updated Hierarchy: *Dennis Santana | *Gregory Soto | Isaac Mattson
*= closer-by-committee
Here are the remaining leverage results of interest from Friday’s full slate.
American League
Kansas City Royals
Closing out the slate’s third 2-0 score, Lucas Erceg retired the side against the top of the White Sox lineup on 10 pitches (70 Strike%) without a whiff. This lowered his WHIP to 1.235, and he’s recorded three strikeouts versus two walks across 5.2 innings.
- Matt Strahm worked a clean eighth and notched his fourth hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Lucas Erceg | Matt Strahm | Nick Mears
Seattle Mariners
Battling his command, Andrés Muñoz secured his first save despite issuing two walks and recorded one strikeout, closing out a three-run margin against the Astros. He threw 25 pitches (48 Strike%) and induced two whiffs in his first appearance since April 5.
To this point of the season, he has a 1.00 WHIP with eight strikeouts versus two walks (30 K-BB%) through five innings.
- Matt Brash stranded a runner with an inning-ending double play groundout by Christian Walker, securing his first hold.
- Cole Wilcox turned a lopsided score into a save situation, giving up three hits and three earned runs during one-third of the eighth.
- Eduard Bazardo notched his first hold with a clean seventh.
- Gabe Speier allowed a hit during a scoreless sixth for his first hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Matt Brash | Gabe Speier
Tampa Bay Rays
Working into and then out of trouble, Bryan Baker recorded his second save, finishing a two-run lead against the Yankees. His outing began with consecutive singles, followed by a fielder’s choice groundout by Jazz Chisolm Jr., a strikeout, and a game-ending pop-out against pinch-hitter Trent Grisham. Baker threw 16 pitches (75 Strike%) and racked up five whiffs (31.3 SwStr%).
In his last three appearances, he has posted a win and two saves with five strikeouts and no walks.
- Hunter Bigge allowed Ben Rice’s solo shot and struck out one for his second hold.
- Ian Seymour notched his third hold, firing a clean seventh and striking out one.
- Griffin Jax tossed a clean sixth, striking out two facing the Yankees’ 3-4-5 lineup pocket.
Hierarchy Remains: *Bryan Baker | *Griffin Jax | *Ian Seymour
*= closer-by-committee
Texas Rangers
The good news is that Jacob Latz earned a high-leverage outing with the score tied at the bottom of the ninth, facing the Dodgers’ 3-4-5 lineup pocket. After striking out Will Smith and Freddie Freeman, he served up a walk-off home run by Max Muncy, resulting in his first loss of the season. Baseball can be cruel, as this was the first hit against Latz in 2026.
He threw 16 pitches (11 strikes – 68.8 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (18.8 SwStr%). Through 9.2 innings, he owns a 0.31 WHIP with 10 strikeouts against two walks (24.2 SwStr%).
- Luis Curvelo allowed four hits, two earned runs, and a walk during the eighth.
- Jalen Beeks navigated around two hits for a scoreless seventh.
- Robert Garcia was tagged with his first blown save, giving up three hits, two earned runs, and a walk in the sixth; he’s no longer a “co-closer.”
Hierarchy Remains: *Jakob Junis | *Cole Winn | *Jacob Latz
*= closer-by-committee
The Athletics
Wrapping up a combined shutout, Elvis Alvarado worked around Luis Robert Jr.’s single with consecutive fly outs in a non-save capacity. He threw 20 pitches (80 Strike%) and induced two whiffs while recording a strikeout.
Watching the game from the A’s feed, it’s not clear if Alvarado was warming up for the save or if was called upon when the team tacked on two runs. Either way, he was in the ninth inning, which may bode well for future save opportunities.
- Scott Barlow stranded a runner and retired both batters, one via strikeout, for his second hold in the eighth.
- Jack Perkins collected his first win, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings, scattering three hits and striking out three on 30 pitches (22 strikes – 73.3 Strike%) with six whiffs (20 SwStr%) in his season debut.
- Mark Leiter Jr. gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless fifth.
Updated Hierarchy: *Hogan Harris | *Justin Sterner | *Elvis Alvarado
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Boston Red Sox: As the first reliever in, Zack Kelly was tagged with his first loss, giving up two hits, two earned runs, and a walk during two-thirds of the fifth.
- Houston Astros: Appearing in an eventual loss, Steven Okert kept his team within reach, logging 1.2 clean frames and recording two strikeouts. Ryan Weiss suffered his second loss, allowing four hits, two earned runs, and two walks while striking out four across 2.1 innings.
National League
Arizona Diamondbacks
Despite allowing Justin Crawford’s two-out triple, Paul Sewald converted his fourth save while preserving a one-run lead in Philadelphia. He threw nine pitches (88.9 Strike%) without a whiff. He owns a 0.75 WHIP with seven strikeouts and no walks (35 K-BB%) across 5.1 innings.
- Juan Morillo notched his National League-leading fifth hold, allowing a hit and striking out three over 1.1 scoreless frames.
- Jonathan Loáisiga recorded his third hold, striking out all three batters across his combined inning.
Hierarchy Remains: Paul Sewald | Juan Morillo | Jonathan Loáisiga
St. Louis Cardinals
Locking down his fourth save in his last six appearances, Riley O’Brien fired a clean top of the ninth while striking out one, preserving a one-run lead against Boston. He threw eight pitches (75 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (25 SwStr%).
Through eight games, he’s posted a 0.48 WHIP with eight strikeouts and no walks (27.6 K-BB%) across 8.1 scoreless frames.
- JoJo Romero navigated around a hit batter and a hit for a scoreless eighth while striking out one for his fourth hold.
- Ryne Stanek tossed a clean seventh, striking out one, securing his third hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Riley O’Brien | JoJo Romero | Ryne Stanek
Washington Nationals
Capping his team’s four-run rally at the top of the ninth, Clayton Beeter retired the side and recorded a strikeout at the bottom of the inning. He threw 12 pitches (75 Strike%) and induced one whiff. Across six appearances, he’s posted a 0.90 WHIP with four strikeouts and four walks across 6.2 innings.
- PJ Poulin collected his first win, tossing a clean eighth.
- Cionel Pérez allowed a hit in a scoreless seventh.
- Payton Schultz gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: *Clayton Beeter | *Cole Henry | *PJ Poulin
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Atlanta Braves: Tyler Kinley took over at the top of the sixth and retired the side. He was awarded his second win as a result. Dylan Lee worked a clean seventh and struck out one.
- Chicago Cubs: Suffering his first loss, Caleb Thielbar allowed Ryan O’Hearn’s lead-off single, followed by a two-run home run by Bryan Reynolds, and he only recorded two outs while giving up three hits. Ethan Roberts stranded an inherited runner and tossed 1.1 clean frames, striking out one.
- Colorado Rockies: With the score tied at the bottom of the ninth, Juan Mejia allowed a walk and two hits, including a walk-off three-run home run by Gavin Sheets, resulting in his second loss. He retired only one batter in this outing. Jaden Hill stranded a runner in the eighth, inducing an inning-ending groundout against Fernando Tatis Jr, his only batter faced. Antonio Senzatela logged 1.2 scoreless frames, issuing two walks and striking out three.
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