Thursday’s 11-game slate featured four reliever wins, five saves, one blown save, and two losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
As for the vulture options during today’s slate:
Vulture Save Options for 5.15.2026
- Hogan Harris (ATH): Perkins has appeared in back-to-back games, and the Giants have three left-handed hitters in their first four spots in the lineup.
- Kyle Hurt (LAD): He’s been percolating to the late innings, and the Angels have five right-handed hitters atop their batting order.
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Remember when fantasy managers were frustrated about the usage patterns by Dave Roberts after Edwin Díaz was initially placed on the injured list? If not, I do. The team has recorded four saves in the interim, all by Tanner Scott. He fired a clean top of the ninth, preserving a three-run lead against the Giants’ 4-5-6 lineup pocket on Thursday night. He threw seven of nine pitches for strikes (77.8 Strike%) with three swinging strikes (33.3 SwStr%).
He extended his scoreless streak to seven games, and he has recorded a scoreless outing in 15 of his last 16 since April 4, recording a 0.574 WHIP with 14 strikeouts against two walks (21.8 K-BB%) across 15.2 innings. There has not been anything from MLB officials, but Edwin Díaz may face repercussions from his association with illegal cockfighting, from a post on USA Today:
This will be monitored, along with his rehab progressions, though it’s fair to assume Scott could be a factor for saves for the remainder of the season, even in an ancillary role when Díaz returns. He will not be overworked before the playoffs by a team known for managing workloads.
Also from this contest, Alex Vesia secured his fourth hold, navigating around a leadoff walk and striking out one in a scoreless eighth. Edgardo Henriquez fired a clean seventh and recorded a strikeout for his first hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Tanner Scott | Alex Vesia | Kyle Hurt
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Thursday’s 11-game slate.
American League
Boston Red Sox
In order of appearance, Justin Slaten stranded a runner while giving up a hit and striking out one over two-thirds of the sixth. Garrett Whitlock fired a clean seventh, recording two strikeouts on 11 pitches (81.8 Strike%) with four whiffs (36.4 SwStr%). Things took a turn at the top of the eighth. Tyler Samaniego allowed Trea Turner’s leadoff single, then served up Kyle Schwarber’s go-ahead two-run home run, resulting in his first loss. Zack Kelly allowed two hits and an unearned run during his two-thirds of the eighth. Ryan Watson tossed a clean ninth, striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Garrett Whitlock | Justin Slaten
Chicago White Sox
Taking over at the top of the eighth, Sean Newcomb allowed Salvador Perez’s leadoff single, then induced a fielder’s choice groundout, and consecutive flyouts. Though Jordan Hicks was warming for the save chance, when Chicago tacked on a run in the eighth, Newcomb remained in the contest. He retired the side in the ninth, finishing the four-run lead. He threw 26 pitches (69.2 Strike%) without a whiff. This marked the fifth save of his career and extended his scoreless streak to eight games, during which he has a 0.60 WHIP with 11 strikeouts versus two walks (24.3 K-BB%) across 10 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Seranthony Domínguez | Bryan Hudson | Grant Taylor
The Athletics
Pressed into action with two runners on and two outs, Joel Kuhnel hit a batter (Masyn Winn) and induced an inning-ending lineout by Nolan Gorman. Jack Perkins was within one strike of a save, but he hit JJ Wetherholt with a pitch, putting the game-tying run in scoring position. Yohel Pozo reached out for a leadoff single and was replaced by a pinch runner. With two outs, Perkins allowed Iván Herrera’s game-tying RBI single and Jordan Walker’s go-ahead RBI double, prompting his removal. He has the stuff to finish games, but the sequencing must improve. First, his pitches with descriptors:
He suffered his second loss and second blown save over his last four outings. It’s a limited sample, but he has a .500 BABIP through four games in May. Hope lies in his 42.3 percent 0-2 count rate, and he’s converted 18 strikeouts on them. However, Perkins must overcome the spike in contact since moving into the ninth inning. He can be an effective closer, with slight adjustments moving forward.
- Scott Barlow notched his eighth hold, giving up a hit during a scoreless eighth.
- Mark Leiter Jr. and Justin Sterner also worked scoreless innings of relief.
Hierarchy Remains: *Jack Perkins | *Hogan Harris | Luis Medina
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Kansas City Royals: Getting in work, Lucas Erceg gave up Sam Antonacci’s one-out double, induced a groundout, allowed Derek Hill’s RBI single, then picked him off, ending the inning, but this ended his modest five-game scoreless streak.
- Seattle Mariners: Providing teammates with much-needed rest, Domingo Gonzalez worked two scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out two, closing out a five-run margin in Houston. Nick Davila logged 1.1 innings, stranding a runner at the bottom of the sixth, and issued a walk.
National League
Chicago Cubs
Locking down his third save, Daniel Palencia worked around Austin Riley’s two-out single with a game-ending lineout, closing out a combined shutout in Atlanta. He threw 16 pitches (75 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (12.5 SwStr%) while recording two strikeouts.
This represents his fourth appearance back from the injured list, and he’s converted both save chances in them.
- Jacob Webb notched his second hold, tossing a scoreless eighth, yielding a hit and striking out one.
- Phil Maton worked a scoreless seventh, giving up a hit and striking out two for his third hold.
- Hoby Milner collected his second win, logging two scoreless frames, allowing a hit and striking out one across the fifth and sixth innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Daniel Palencia | Phil Maton | Jacob Webb
Colorado Rockies
Taking over at the bottom of the third, Victor Vodnik let both inherited runners score, issuing a walk and giving up a two-RBI single, and another single before recording an out, which scored an earned run on his ledger, then produced an inning-ending strikeout. He has allowed a run in his last two appearances and in five of his last eight.
Juan Mejia worked a clean bottom of the eighth, striking out one on nine pitches (88.9 Strike%) without a whiff. He’s been scoreless in six of his last seven games, posting a 0.923 WHIP with 15 strikeouts versus four walks (32.4 K-BB%) through 8.2 innings. A changing of the guard may have already happened.
Here is the team’s Win Probability Added for the season:
Updated Hierarchy: *Juan Mejia | *Victor Vodnik | Antonio Senzatela
Philadelphia Phillies
Preserving his team’s late-inning rally, Jhoan Duran nailed down his seventh save, issuing a one-out walk and recording three strikeouts during the bottom of the ninth in Boston. He threw 17 pitches (12 strikes – 70.6 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (23.5 SwStr%).
In his fifth game back from the injured list, this was his most crisp outing, signaling the “Durantula” may be back for the rest of the season.
- José Alvarado gave up two hits, including Wilyer Abreu’s RBI single, and recorded a strikeout for his seventh hold in the eighth.
- Brad Keller allowed a hit and struck out two in a scoreless seventh, collecting his second win.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Duran | Brad Keller | José Alvarado
Pittsburgh Pirates
Entering at the top of the third, following two openers, Carmen Mlodzinski collected his third win, logging five innings while giving up four hits, two earned runs, and three walks while striking out two as the “bulk follower.”
- Dennis Santana tossed a clean eighth on 12 pitches (66.7 Strike%) with one whiff against the Rockies’ top of the lineup, featuring three right-handed hitters.
- Yohan Ramírez finished the five-run lead with a scoreless ninth, walking and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: *Gregory Soto | *Dennis Santana | Mason Montgomery
*= closer-by-committee
St. Louis Cardinals
Capping his team’s comeback at the top of the ninth, Riley O’Brien shut the door on his 13th save, working around a hit batter (Nick Kurtz) leading off the inning with two strikeouts sandwiched around a flyout, facing the top of the A’s lineup. He threw 16 pitches (62.5 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (25 SwStr%).
Through six appearances in May, he’s converted five of six save chances with a 1.235 WHIP and eight strikeouts versus one walk (29.2 K-BB%) across 5.2 innings.
- Matt Svanson collected his first win, allowing a hit and striking out two during a scoreless bottom of the eighth.
- JoJo Romero suffered his first blown save, letting his only inherited runner score, giving up three hits, an earned run, and a walk during two-thirds of the seventh.
- Ryne Stanek was credited with his eighth hold despite yielding a solo home run, two earned runs, and a walk with one strikeout in one-third of the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Riley O’Brien | JoJo Romero | George Soriano
Quick Hits
- Cincinnati Reds: Wrapping up a lopsided win, Connor Phillips retired the side at the top of the ninth against the Nationals. Luis Mey allowed a hit, an earned run, and a walk while striking out two in the eighth. Sam Moll worked a clean seventh, striking out one.
- San Francisco Giants: During an eventual loss, JT Brubaker issued a walk and struck out one in a scoreless bottom of the eighth. Ryan Borucki retired all four batters faced and stranded two runners in the sixth. Matt Gage entered in the sixth with runners on second and third, striking out the first batter he faced, but he allowed back-to-back singles that scored three runs and walked the next batter before he was removed.
What to Watch For (Rivalry Weekend)
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Does Paul Sewald rebound from his most recent loss? He’s only allowed runs in four of 18 games, but multiple runs in three.
- Chicago White Sox: How does Seranthony Domínguez look? Is he used as the highest-leveraged reliever (HLR) or as a closer against the Cubs?
- Cincinnati Reds: Will Graham Ashcraft get a save this weekend, or will he be the HLR?
- Colorado Rockies: The next save goes to?
- Houston Astros: Has Bryan Abreu worked his way back into the save trust tree for Joe Espada? An update on the timeline for a return for Josh Hader?
- Los Angeles Angels: Ben Joyce has not made a rehab appearance since May 7. How bad was his setback?
- Miami Marlins: Pete Fairbanks was activated without a rehab outing. How does his command and velocity look in his first game back? Can we trust his Raynaud’s syndrome?
- San Francisco Giants: The team will activate Erik Miller on Saturday. Does he work in a co-closer tandem with Caleb Kilian? Will there ever be defined roles in this bullpen?
- The Athletics: Who gets the next save opportunity? Can Luis Medina carve out a larger leverage presence? Does Perkins rebound?
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Statistical Credits: