Monday’s 13-game slate featured six reliever wins, five saves, and four losses, with two blown saves. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 412 saves this season, by 139 different pitchers.
As for the vulture options during today’s slate:
Vulture Save Options for 5.26.2026
- Mason Montgomery (PIT): Soto has pitched in back-to-back games.
- Bryan Hudson (CHW): Domínguez and Taylor have appeared in consecutive contests.
- Brad Keller (PHI): Duran has worked in three of the previous four days.
- Yennier Cano (BAL): Garcia threw 32 pitches across two innings yesterday, and Nunez suffered a blown save in the eighth.
- John Schreiber (KC): Erceg and Lynch IV have worked in back-to-back contests.
- Antonio Senzatela (COL): It’s risk versus reward, but he’s rested for a multi-inning outing, but against the Dodgers.
Vulture Save Stashes for 5.27.2026
- Camilo Doval (NYY): If Bednar pitches tonight, it’s back-to-back games.
- Anthony Nunez (BAL): If Cano pitches tonight, and Garcia needs an extra day, it will be Nunez for the save chance.
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Completing a combined shutout in San Diego, Jhoan Duran worked around Ty France’s two-out single with a game-ending strikeout of Ramón Laureano, securing his 10th save of the season and the 100th of his career. It was also a milestone for Duran; he’s now recorded a save against every MLB team. He threw 17 pitches (9 strikes – 52.9 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (17.6 SwStr%).
Through nine appearances in May, he has been scoreless in seven while converting all five save chances with a 1.333 WHIP and 16 strikeouts against five walks (29 K-BB%) across nine innings. For some historical context regarding the milestones cited above, he is tied for the fifth-fastest reliever to record his 100th save, using save opportunities as a guide, doing so in his 112th. The fastest all-time mark is held by Eric Gagne, who converted 100 saves in his first 104 chances. As for securing a save against all 30 MLB teams, Duran has achieved the feat in the fewest number of appearances (262). Josh Hader had held the record, recording a save against all 30 franchises in his first 367 games.
Since his acquisition, Duran has posted a 0.991 WHIP, converting 26 of 28 save opportunities with 51 strikeouts against six walks (31.5 K-BB%) across 39 games, spanning 36.1 innings.
Also from last night’s game, Brad Keller notched his sixth hold, walking and striking out one. Orion Kerkering fired a clean seventh, striking out two for his third hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Jhoan Duran | Brad Keller | Orion Kerkering
Monday’s 13-game slate only yielded four more saves, so takeaways will be included in the game recaps in today’s post.
American League
Baltimore Orioles
In 2026’s second 13-inning game, Dietrich Enns collected his third win despite allowing two hits and two runs (one earned) at the top of the inning courtesy of a walk-off home run at the bottom of the frame. Tyler Wells logged two innings, allowing a hit (2-run home run by Victor Mesa Jr.) and three runs (one earned) while striking out three.
Rico Garcia worked two scoreless frames and pulled a “Houdini,” getting out of a bases-loaded situation at the top of the tenth, throwing a season high 32 pitches (53.1 Strike%). He gave up a hit and two walks (one intentional) while striking out one.
- Anthony Nunez suffered his third blown save, giving up two hits, including a game-tying RBI single by Richie Palacios at the top of the eighth.
- Yennier Cano stranded a runner and retired his only batter via strikeout in the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: *Rico Garcia | *Anthony Nunez | Yennier Cano
*= closer-by-committee
Chicago White Sox
Protecting a three-run lead, Seranthony Domínguez notched his 11th save, working around Luke Keaschall’s one-out single with a strikeout, followed by a game-ending pop-out. He threw 19 pitches (63.2 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (15.8 SwStr%) while recording two strikeouts.
It’s been a tumultuous May for the closer. He has been scoreless in six of eight games, but allowed multiple runs in the other two, resulting in a 1.173 WHIP with 10 strikeouts against two walks (24.2 K-BB%) through 7.2 innings.
- Bryan Hudson fired a clean eighth, securing his third hold.
- Grant Taylor worked a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and striking out one for his third hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Seranthony Domínguez | Grant Taylor | Bryan Hudson
Houston Astros
Making his MLB debut, Alimber Santa finished off a combined no-hitter, firing two clean frames and striking out one against the Rangers. He threw 24 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (8.3 SwStr%).
As for the historical context for the rookie, courtesy of Matt Kawahara of The Houston Chronicle:
Steven Okert allowed a walk and recorded a strikeout in the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: *Bryan King | *Bryan Abreu | Enyel De Los Santos
*= closer-by-committee
Kansas City Royals
Things are going off the rails for Lucas Erceg. He suffered his second loss and a fourth blown save, giving up four hits, including a go-ahead two-RBI single by Anthony Volpe while ahead in the count.
Erceg has allowed multiple runs in back-to-back games and at least a run in four of his last five. His only saving grace is throwing 32 pitches on Sunday during a non-save appearance, which had to have contributed to his outcome in this contest.
Through 22 games, he owns a 1.688 WHIP with 18 strikeouts against 13 walks (5.4 K-BB%) across 21.1 innings. A changing of the guard may be needed, though the leverage ladder is not rife with replacements. His 81.5 percent contact rate with an 8.9 swinging strike percentage has resulted in a -0.74 Win Probability Added, ranking him 186th of 197 qualified relievers. Last, his rolling game trends:
Can he overcome his recent struggles with traffic? Time will tell. However, his four-seam fastball results must improve:
- Erceg 4-seam in 2026: 58.1 Strike%, 4:3 K:BB (4.2 K-BB%), 7.3 SwStr%, 85.4 percent contact rate allowed, .398 wOBA
- Erceg 4-seam in 2025: 66.6 Strike%, 17:2 K:BB (23.1 K-BB%), 11.3 SwStr%, 77.2 percent contact rate allowed, .269 wOBA
Daniel Lynch IV fired a clean eighth and recorded a strikeout. He should be considered for a larger leverage role, even if he’s sharing saves. He is on a modest six-game scoreless streak and has posted a 0.882 WHIP with 27 strikeouts versus seven walks (22 K-BB%) across 22.2 innings. He’s worth stashing if roster space allows. For now, though Erceg’s on the proverbial hot seat:
Hierarchy Remains: Lucas Erceg | Daniel Lynch IV | John Schreiber
New York Yankees
Capping his team’s comeback rally, David Bednar worked around Lane Thomas’ two-out walk with a game-ending groundout by Maikel Garcia for his 12th save. He threw 14 pitches (9 strikes – 64.3 Strike%) and induced one whiff. May has been rough on the reliever, but he’s been scoreless in his last two appearances, and has recorded a 1.452 WHIP with 14 strikeouts versus five walks (20 K-BB%) across 10.1 innings.
- Tim Hill collected his second win, stranding a runner and retiring both batters in the eighth, one via strikeout.
- Jake Bird gave up a solo home run by Bobby Witt Jr. and a walk while striking out one, recording an out in the seventh and eighth innings.
- Brent Headrick allowed a hit during two-thirds scoreless in the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: David Bednar | Camilo Doval | Fernando Cruz
Tampa Bay Rays
Tasked with the bottom of the 12th and 13th innings, Jesse Scholtens suffered his third loss and his first blown save. He allowed a game-tying run in the 12th, then served up a walk-off, two-run home run in the 13th by Colton Cowser. Ian Seymour worked two innings, letting both “courtesy runners” score on two hits and issuing two walks (both intentional) while striking out two.
Bryan Baker fired a clean ninth, striking out one on 12 pitches (58.3 Strike%) with one whiff.
- Casey Legumina logged two scoreless frames, scattering two hits and striking out two.
- Hunter Bigge was tagged with his first blown save, giving up a hit, two runs (one earned), and two walks, pitching between the sixth and seventh innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Bryan Baker | Ian Seymour | Kevin Kelly
Quick Hits
- Minnesota Twins: Working as a reliever, Simeon Woods Richardson tossed two scoreless frames, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out one.
- Seattle Mariners: Reversing their roles from last week, Luis Castillo was the starter and logged four scoreless frames. Bryce Miller entered at the bottom of the fifth and earned his first win, tossing five innings, giving up five hits, two earned runs, and recording four strikeouts as the “bulk follower.” He threw 83 pitches (55 strikes – 66.3 Strike%) and generated 12 whiffs (14.5 SwStr%).
- The Athletics: Summoned at the top of the ninth, Joel Kuhnel retired his only batter, Luke Raley, via strikeout. Jack Perkins worked 4.2 innings, allowing three hits and two earned runs on a home run by Randy Arozarena, while striking out seven. He threw 63 pitches (43 strikes – 68.3 Strike%) and produced seven whiffs (11.1 SwStr%).
- Toronto Blue Jays: Called on during an eventual loss, Tyler Rogers allowed two hits, three earned runs, and a walk during two-thirds of the eighth inning, snapping his seven-game scoreless streak.
National League
Colorado Rockies
Entering with his team trailing by two, Welinton Herrera worked a clean bottom of the eighth while making his MLB debut. Jaden Hill let his only inherited runner score on a single by Andy Pages and induced an inning-ending lineout by Kyle Tucker.
Brennan Bernardino took over with two runners on and no outs at the bottom of the seventh. He hit Miguel Rojas with a pitch, loading the bases, followed by an RBI fielder’s choice grounder against Shohei Ohtani, a game-tying sacrifice fly by Mookie Betts, and an RBI double by Freddie Freeman, resulting in his third loss and a second blown save.
Juan Mejia retired the side in the sixth versus the Dodgers’ 4-5-6 batters, but issued consecutive walks to Will Smith and Hyeseong Kim in the seventh, prompting his removal. Mejia gets credit for his fourth hold despite two earned runs on his ledger, facing five hitters across the sixth and seventh innings. He was used like the preferred save option last week, but this usage pattern raises more questions than it answers about his role.
It appears he’s being used against right-handed hitting pockets, since he faced Andy Pages, Kyle Tucker, and Teoscar Hernández in the sixth, and was removed after issuing two walks in the seventh with a left-handed pinch hitter announced. Here are Mejia’s splits by hitter-handedness this season:
- Versus LHH: 45 batters faced, 13:7 K:BB (13.3 K-BB%), 2.19 WHIP, .388 wOBA
- Versus RHH: 69 batters faced, 16:8 K:BB (11.6 K-BB%), 1.26 WHIP, .271 wOBA
It’s tough trusting any Rockies reliever not named Antonio Senzatela right now, and his underlying metrics point toward migration toward the mean as well.
Adjusted Hierarchy: *Juan Mejia | *Jaden Hill | *Antonio Senzatela
*= closer-by-committee
Los Angeles Dodgers
Even though the bullpen had its 38-inning scoreless streak snapped, it finished off a come-from-behind rally. Blake Treinen notched his first save, stranding a runner and striking out Braxton Fulford, his only batter at the top of the ninth. Alex Vesia allowed a one-out single by Willi Castro and retired two batters before being removed, resulting in his sixth hold.
- Will Klein fired a clean eighth and recorded two strikeouts, securing his fifth hold.
- Kyle Hurt allowed Ezequiel Tovar’s leadoff home run at the top of the seventh, then retired the next three batters, collecting his first win.
Hierarchy Remains: Tanner Scott | Alex Vesia | Will Klein
Pittsburgh Pirates
Nailing down his sixth save, Gregory Soto retired the side and recorded a strikeout against the Cubs’ 6-7-8 lineup pocket, though all three were pinch-hitters (Nico Hoerner, Seiya Suzuki, Carson Kelly). He threw 14 pitches (8 strikes – 57.1 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%) while preserving a one-run margin.
He has been scoreless in eight of 10 outings in May, during which he’s posted a 0.75 WHIP with 11 strikeouts against four walks (17.1 K-BB%) through 10.2 innings.
- Wilber Dotel earned his first career win, logging three scoreless frames while giving up a hit and striking out four on 41 pitches (28 strikes – 68.3 Strike%) with six whiffs (14.6 SwStr%).
Hierarchy Remains: Gregory Soto | Mason Montgomery | Yohan Ramírez
Quick Hits
- Chicago Cubs: Taking over a tied game at the bottom of the seventh, Trent Thornton suffered his first loss, allowing two hits, including a go-ahead solo home run by Henry Davis.
- Cincinnati Reds: Finishing off a five-run lead, Graham Ashcraft retired the side and recorded two strikeouts against the Mets’ 5-6-7 lineup pocket, throwing 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9 Strike%) with two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%). Sam Moll fired a clean eighth, striking out the side. Tejay Antone allowed two hits during one-third scoreless in the seventh. Brock Burke gave up a hit and an earned run during his two-thirds of the seventh.
- San Francisco Giants: A less-than-optimal outing for Joel Peguero. He took over at the top of the sixth, allowing two hits, two earned runs, and a walk while recording one out.
- Washington Nationals: Operating as the “bulk follower,” Zack Littell collected his fourth win, logging seven innings while giving up five hits, an earned run, and two walks with seven strikeouts.
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Statistical Credits: