Sunday’s slate featured eight wins by relievers, seven saves, and seven losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
As for the vulture option during today’s slate:
Vulture Save Option for 5.11.2026
- Bryan Abreu (HOU): He’s been rising in recent usage patterns and could be in line for the save against Seattle in tonight’s tilt.
- Camilo Doval (NYY): Bednar and Cruz have pitched in back-to-back games.
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While fantasy owners wrestled with the severity of his groin injury, the venerable veteran posted a vintage outing on Sunday night baseball. Locking down his seventh save, Kenley Jansen retired the side and recorded two strikeouts against the Royals’ 7-8-9 lineup pocket, preserving a three-run margin. He threw 12 pitches (75 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
This represents his first save since April 22. He owns a 1.393 WHIP with 12 strikeouts versus five walks (17.5 K-BB%) through 9.1 innings.
- Kyle Finnegan logged 1.2 scoreless frames while producing double play groundouts in the seventh and eighth innings, enabling him to work around a hit and two walks for his fifth hold.
- Emmanuel De Jesus collected his second win, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings and recording one strikeout.
- Drew Anderson suffered his first blown save, allowing five hits and three earned runs while striking out four.
Will Vest received a cortisone injection this weekend, and there has been no update on his return timeline.
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Kyle Finnegan | Brant Hurter
Three Takeaways
Ekness gets his first, but Fairbanks’ return is looming: With a runner on and two outs, it was Josh Ekness called on for his first major league save when Washington inserted Curtis Mead as a pinch-hitter. Ekness retired him on a lineout, throwing three pitches, all strikes, and getting one whiff. It’s been baptism by fire for the rookie, but he’s held his own. Andrew Nardi allowed a one-out single by Daylen Lile and recorded two strikeouts, but was lifted during the top of the ninth. He secured his sixth hold despite opening the inning with a save opportunity. Calvin Faucher logged two scoreless frames and issued one walk while collecting his fourth win.
After the game, it was announced that Pete Fairbanks will be activated when first available on May 13:
Roles will return to a sense of normalcy while fantasy managers monitor how the closer fares once he’s activated.
Projected Hierarchy: Pete Fairbanks | Calvin Faucher | Tyler Phillips
Vitello’s struggling bullpen: Outlasting the Pirates benefited Ryan Borucki. He collected his first win, logging two scoreless frames while stranding both “courtesy runners,” issuing two walks (one intentional) and striking out one across the 11th and 12th innings. Dylan Smith worked two-thirds scoreless, stranding a runner in the tenth, but issued a walk before being removed in the 11th. Joel Peguero tossed a scoreless ninth, but hit Marcell Ozuna with a pitch, followed by a Spencer Horwitz two-RBI double, putting an earned run on his ledger. He finished 1.1 innings with a hit, two runs, and a walk while throwing 30 pitches (56.7 Strike%) with one whiff. Caleb Kilian worked a scoreless eighth, navigating around two walks. He’s allowed multiple walks in consecutive appearances. In his last two games, he’s thrown 29 of 54 pitches for strikes (53.7 Strike%) with only four whiffs (7.4 SwStr%), walking four of 11 batters faced. Sam Hentges made his season debut, stranding a runner and walking one while retiring one batter in the seventh. Keaton Winn gave up a hit during a scoreless combined inning.
Before this game, the team optioned its save leader to Triple-A:
Over the last 14 days, both Keaton Winn and Caleb Kilian have negative K-BB percentages with SIERAs over six. Joel Peguero throws hard, but his command can be fleeting. It’s possible none of these relievers emerges as an option for the preferred save share, and a four-game set against the Dodgers will put this leverage ladder to the test. With three left-handed relievers currently active, Erik Miller could be the stash play for saves moving forward. He can be activated on May 16 (Saturday). Chasing saves in this bullpen remains challenging, and recent performances only reinforce this assertion.
Updated Hierarchy: *Joel Peguero | *Caleb Kilian | *Keaton Winn
*= closer-by-committee
Red alert?: It may be premature, but given his injury-riddled past, missing a rehab outing causes some concern for Ben Joyce:
This will be tracked closely since it impacts rest-of-season projections for this bullpen. In Sunday’s game, closing out a five-run lead in Toronto, Ryan Zeferjahn fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts while facing the 4-5-6 lineup pocket. He threw 15 pitches (60 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (20 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in five of his last six games, posting 13 strikeouts against four walks (26.5 K-BB%) and a 0556 WHIP across nine innings. Sam Bachman notched his seventh hold, stranding the bases loaded by inducing an inning-ending groundout by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Zeferjahn | Sam Bachman | Kirby Yates
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Sunday’s slate.
American League
Baltimore Orioles
Sealing a one-run lead against the A’s, Rico Garcia worked around a two-out walk to Lawrence Butler with a game-ending pop-out by Zack Gelof for his third save. He threw 17 pitches (9 strikes – 52.9 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (11.8 SwStr%) while recording one strikeout. He’s allowed one hit, a home run, resulting in one earned run through his first 19 games, posting a 0.444 WHIP with 20 strikeouts versus seven walks (21.3 K-BB%) across 18 innings.
- Anthony Nunez issued two walks and struck out one during a scoreless eighth, securing his sixth hold.
- Chris Bassitt collected his third win working as the “bulk follower.” He logged six innings, giving up four hits, an earned run, and a walk with six strikeouts.
Hierarchy Remains: Rico Garcia | Anthony Nunez | Grant Wolfram
Chicago White Sox
It was another white-knuckle ride, but Seranthony Domínguez preserved a one-run margin despite giving up consecutive one-out singles at the top of the ninth, and a walk, loading the bases. He bore down, inducing a pop-out by Cole Young and a game-ending groundout by Brendan Donovan, securing his ninth save. Domínguez threw 23 pitches (12 strikes – 52.2 Strike%) while getting two whiffs (8.7 SwStr%).
He has recorded a 1.276 WHIP with 20 strikeouts versus 10 walks (14.5 K-BB%) across 15.2 innings.
- Bryan Hudson collected his first win, allowing a hit and striking out one during a scoreless top of the eighth.
- Sean Newcomb tossed a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Seranthony Domínguez | Grant Taylor | Bryan Hudson
Minnesota Twins
Shelton’s amorphous leverage ladder landed on Yoendrys Gómez for the bottom of the ninth with a one-run lead. He responded by retiring the side, securing his second save of the season, his first for the Twins. He’s the team’s seventh different pitcher with a save, tying the Cubs for the major league lead for most pitchers with at least one save in 2026. However, trusting any of them remains risky:
- Luis García allowed two hits, an earned run, and a walk during the eighth for his first hold.
- Anthony Banda stranded a runner in the sixth and logged 1.1 clean frames with two strikeouts for his third hold.
- As the “bulk follower,” Kendry Rojas collected his first career win, tossing 3.1 innings while giving up five hits, an earned run, and three walks with five strikeouts.
Updated Hierarchy: *Yoendrys Gómez | *Luis García | *Anthony Banda
*= closer-by-committee
New York Yankees
Taking over a tied game at the bottom of the ninth, David Bednar suffered his third loss, serving up Brice Turang’s walk-off home run:
Before this at-bat, Bednar had retired Joey Ortiz and Jackson Chourio via strikeout. It’s the first home he’s allowed all season, but the Yankees’ closer has allowed at least a run in four of his last six outings. Through 17 games, he’s posted a 1.412 WHIP with 21 strikeouts against five walks (20.8 K-BB%) across 17 innings. His underlying data suggests he’s had unfortunate luck in some circumstances. The bigger question remains: Can his bullpen protect leads until the ninth inning on a consistent basis?
- Tim Hill worked a scoreless eighth despite giving up a hit.
- Fernando Cruz logged 1.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out three.
Hierarchy Remains: David Bednar | Camilo Doval | Fernando Cruz
Tampa Bay Rays
Working into and then out of trouble, Bryan Baker held on for his tenth save during a scoreless bottom of the ninth. His outing began with Mickey Gasper’s leadoff double and a walk, then he bore down, striking out Ceddanne Rafaela, inducing a fielder’s choice groundout, followed by a game-ending flyout. Baker threw 15 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%). Through his first 16 games, he owns a 0.893 WHIP with 17 strikeouts versus four walks (21.3 K-BB%) over 15.2 innings.
- Garrett Cleavinger fired a clean eighth, striking out the side for his sixth hold.
- Kevin Kelly notched his eighth hold, logging 1.1 scoreless frames and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Bryan Baker | Cole Sulser | Ian Seymour
Texas Rangers
Nailing down his fourth save, Jacob Latz closed out a combined shutout of the Cubs with two clean frames while recording one strikeout. He threw an efficient 20 pitches (70 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He extended his scoreless streak to nine games, during which he has converted four of five save chances with a minuscule 0.29 WHIP and seven strikeouts versus one walk (19.4 K-BB%) across 10.1 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Jacob Latz | Jakob Junis | Cole Winn
Quick Hits
- Kansas City Royals: With the score tied at the top of the sixth, Nick Mears gave up two hits, including Gage Workman’s go-ahead two-run home run, resulting in his second loss. Daniel Lynch IV also allowed two hits and an earned run while walking and striking out one across two-thirds combined innings.
- Seattle Mariners: Protecting a one-run lead upon entry at the bottom of the eighth, Eduard Bazardo suffered his second loss and his second blown save, allowing a game-tying solo home run (Randal Grichuk), followed by Drew Romo’s double, a sacrifice bunt, an intentional walk, and a go-ahead sacrifice fly. Jose A. Ferrer navigated around two hits for a scoreless seventh.
- Toronto Blue Jays: As the “bulk follower,” Eric Lauer suffered his fifth loss and his first blown save, allowing five hits, three of which were home runs, six earned runs, and two walks while striking out four.
National League
Atlanta Braves
In order of appearance, Robert Suarez was credited with his fifth hold. He stranded the bases loaded in the sixth and issued a walk through 1.1 scoreless frames against the Dodgers. Tyler Kinley allowed a walk and a two-run home run by Max Muncy in the eighth. Raisel Iglesias finished the five-run lead with a clean bottom of the ninth while striking out one. He threw six pitches, all strikes, and registered one whiff (16.7 SwStr%).
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Robert Suarez | Dylan Lee
Milwaukee Brewers
Tasked with a tied score at the top of the ninth, Abner Uribe worked around José Caballero’s one-out walk by retiring the next two batters. He collected his second win courtesy of a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. He threw 14 pitches (9 strikes – 64.3 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%) while striking out one.
- Aaron Ashby gave up a hit and recorded three strikeouts during a scoreless eighth.
- Trevor Megill tossed a scoreless seventh, walking and striking out one.
- DL Hall suffered his first blown save, giving up a hit, an earned run, and two walks during the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Abner Uribe | Trevor Megill | Aaron Ashby
Pittsburgh Pirates
Called upon at the bottom of the 12th with the score tied, Justin Lawrence suffered his second loss, allowing a one-out double, issuing an intentional walk (Drew Gilbert), and giving up a Jesus Rodriguez walk-off single. Yohan Ramírez worked two innings, getting tagged with his second blown save, allowing a hit, two runs (one earned), and three walks (two intentional), while striking out two.
Gregory Soto stranded two runners in the eighth and retired all four batters faced, one via strikeout, keeping the game tied. He threw 15 pitches (66.7 Strike%) without a whiff.
- Dennis Santana gave up two hits during two-thirds of the eighth before being removed.
- Mason Montgomery stranded a runner in the sixth and logged 1.2 clean frames while striking out one.
Updated Hierarchy: *Gregory Soto | *Dennis Santana | Mason Montgomery
*= closer-by-committee
San Diego Padres
Summoned with two runners on and two outs, Adrian Morejon induced an inning-ending popout by José Fermín and collected his third win courtesy of a walk-off rally at the bottom of the tenth.
Jeremiah Estrada allowed a walk and recorded two strikeouts during his two-thirds of the tenth.
- Bradgely Rodriguez retired the side at the top of the ninth.
- Ron Marinaccio tossed two clean frames and recorded three strikeouts.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Jason Adam | Jeremiah Estrada
St. Louis Cardinals
Entering at the bottom of the tenth with the score tied, Gordon Graceffo suffered his first loss, intentionally walking Jackson Merrill, then he issued Fernando Tatis Jr. a walk, followed by Manny Machado’s walk-off sacrifice fly.
Riley O’Brien not only lost his 59.2 inning streak without allowing a home run, but he was tagged with his third blown save. His outing began with an Xander Bogaerts’ leadoff single, two strikeouts, and a game-tying two-run home run by Nick Castellanos ahead of an inning-ending strikeout. O’Brien threw 31 pitches (20 strikes – 64.5 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (16.1 SwStr%). But this fateful one with two strikes sealed his fate in this outing:
- George Soriano notched his seventh hold, walking and striking out one during two-thirds of the eighth.
- JoJo Romero fired 1.1 clean frames and recorded two strikeouts for his 12th hold.
- Ryne Stanek tossed a clean sixth, striking out two, securing his sixth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Riley O’Brien | JoJo Romero | George Soriano
Washington Nationals
Entering a tied game at the bottom of the eighth, Gus Varland walked Kyle Stowers with one out, followed by another walk (Jakob Marsee), the pinch runner, and Marsee executed a double steal with Esteury Ruiz scoring on an RBI single by Christopher Morel. After another double steal, Heriberto Hernández drove in both runners with a single, knocking Varland from the game and handing him his first loss of the season.
- Paxton Schultz retired both batters, one via strikeout and stranded his only runner.
Hierarchy Remains: *Gus Varland | *Richard Lovelady | *PJ Poulin
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Cincinnati Reds: Finishing off a combined shutout, Graham Ashcraft fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts on 12 pitches (75 Strike%) with three whiffs (25 SwStr%).
- Chicago Cubs: Fantasy managers despise non-save appearances while a reliever gets in work, and another example happened in Texas. Daniel Palencia allowed two hits, including Evan Carter’s two-run home run, and recorded a strikeout during two-thirds of the bottom of the eighth. Phil Maton logged 1.1 scoreless frames and recorded two strikeouts.
- Philadelphia Phillies: Rounding into form, Jhoan Duran completed a combined shutout of the Rockies with a clean top of the ninth while striking out two. He threw 15 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and generated five whiffs (33.3 SwStr%). This should assuage anyone with worries after seeing his first appearance back from the injured list.
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