Friday’s slate featured 11 reliever wins, seven saves, nine losses, and five blown saves. Here are the saves in condensed form:

There have been 435 saves this season by 144 different pitchers.
As for the vulture options during today’s slate:
Vulture Save Options for 5.30.2026
- Abner Uribe (MIL): Megill has pitched in three of the previous four days, as long as Uribe’s suspension is not served during this game.
- Jeremiah Estrada (SD): Miller threw 30 pitches during his 1.1-inning save last night.
- Enyel De Los Santos (HOU): King logged 1.2 innings during Friday’s game.
- Ian Seymour (TB): Baker secured the save on Friday, but it took 30 pitches.
- Erik Miller (SF): Kilian’s meltdown and Winn allowed a home run as well during a rough loss on Friday at Coors Field.
Vulture Save Stashes for 5.31.2026
- Grant Taylor (CHW): If Seranthony pitches today, it’s back-to-back games.
- Drew Anderson (DET): He will be down today, and if Finnegan and Vest are used, it will be consecutive contests for them.
- Alex Vesia (LAD): If Scott pitches today, it will be two straight and three of the last four.
- Mason Montgomery (PIT): If Soto is used today, it will be back-to-back appearances.
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Forced into action at the bottom of the eighth, Mason Miller issued James Wood a walk, then induced an inning-ending lineout against Luis Garcia Jr. Returning for the ninth, he navigated around another walk and recorded two strikeouts, sealing the two-run lead for his 17th save. He threw 30 pitches (17 strikes – 56.7 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (13.3 SwStr%).

There were some signs of rust in his first outing since May 23, but he extended his scoreless streak to 10 games. However, he’s allowed multiple walks in three of these contests. Through his first 15 appearances, he only issued three walks while recording 29 strikeouts (48.1 K-BB%) with a 70.7 strike percentage. In May, he’s issued eight walks versus 20 strikeouts (28.6 K-BB%), still very good, but his 61.1 strike percentage has decreased, along with his swinging strike percentage by over six points.
- Jason Adam was credited with his 12th hold, giving up two hits and recording one out in the eighth.
- Adrian Morejon notched his 11th hold, retiring all four batters, two via strikeout.
- Jeremiah Estrada collected his second win, working 1.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Jason Adam | Jeremiah Estrada
Three Takeaways
Desperation is a stinky cologne: Desperation comes in many forms, and it forced Drew Anderson into a save situation after one day of rest following a three-inning relief outing on Thursday. He started strong, recording a strikeout, followed by a groundout during the bottom of the tenth, but allowed a walk-off two-run home run by Miguel Vargas, resulting in his second loss and a second blown save. He threw 10 pitches (80 Strike%) and produced three whiffs, but his four-game scoreless streak was snapped.

Anderson logged three innings, throwing 35 pitches on Thursday, and probably needed another day off. But this usage pattern may signal he will be an option for future high-leverage events, not shifting into the rotation.
Kyle Finnegan could not close out a one-run lead in the ninth, giving up consecutive one-out singles, putting runners at the corners, and the game-tying run scored on a safety squeeze, handing him his fourth blown save. He has allowed a run in two of his last three, and his 2.03 ERA is accompanied by a 1.575 WHIP with a negative K-BB percentage (15:19 K:BB) through 26.2 innings this season. Will Vest allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout during a scoreless eighth, securing his sixth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Kyle Finnegan | *Will Vest | *Drew Anderson
*= closer-by-committee
Not scoreless in Seattle: Following a clean top of the tenth while stranding the “courtesy runner,” Cooper Criswell collected his second win courtesy of a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. Andrés Muñoz suffered his fourth blown save, allowing consecutive singles at the top of the ninth by Geraldo Perdomo and Gabriel Moreno, then loading the bases when he hit Nolan Arenado with a pitch. Following a strikeout, Ildemaro Vargas reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring the game-tying run. Muñoz finished with two hits, an earned run, and a strikeout while throwing 25 pitches (64 Strike%) with three whiffs (12 SwStr%).

He’s allowed a run in back-to-back outings and in four of ten this month. His slider is still a dominant offering, but his four-seam fastball (.477 wOBA) and sinker (.538 wOBA) have manifested in his inflated BABIP (.360) and his 1.338 WHIP through 21.1 innings.
Gabe Speier stranded two runners, striking out his only batter in the eighth for his sixth hold. Eduard Bazardo gave up two hits and a walk during a scoreless combined inning. Jose A. Ferrer worked two-thirds scoreless, yielding a hit, securing his seventh hold. Matt Brash was tagged with his second blown save, giving up two hits, an earned run, and two walks during two-thirds of the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Jose A. Ferrer | Matt Brash
Meltdown in Colorado: The downward spiral for this team continued with an epic Coors Field meltdown. Caleb Kilian suffered his third loss and his first blown save, allowing five hits, including a game-tying three-run home run by Hunter Goodman and a walk-off two-run blast by Ezequiel Tovar. He finished with five hits, five earned runs, and a strikeout during two-thirds of an inning. Although he was emerging as the preferred save share, that will be tenuous moving forward following this outing.
Keaton Winn stranded a runner in the seventh, then gave up two hits, including a two-run home run by Tovar in the eighth, getting credited with his 11th hold. Erik Miller secured his seventh hold, giving up a hit and striking out one during a scoreless combined inning. Joel Peguero notched his first hold, yielding a hit and striking out one during two-thirds of an inning.
Updated Hierarchy: *Caleb Kilian | *Erik Miller | *Keaton Winn
*= closer-by-committee
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Friday’s slate.
American League
Chicago White Sox
Although he let the “courtesy runner” score after a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly, Bryan Hudson collected his third win on a walk-off home run at the bottom of the tenth. He threw seven pitches (71.4 Strike%) without a whiff while striking out one.
Seranthony Domínguez retired the side and recorded a strikeout at the top of the ninth, throwing 10 pitches (70 Strike%) with one whiff. He’s been scoreless over his last three outings.
- Sean Newcomb tossed 2.2 scoreless frames, walking one and striking out three.
Hierarchy Remains: Seranthony Domínguez | Grant Taylor | Bryan Hudson
Cleveland Guardians
Working around Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s leadoff single, Cade Smith retired the next three Red Sox batters via strikeout, becoming the first reliever with 20 saves this season, and he’s converted his last 18 save opportunities. He threw 13 pitches (11 strikes – 84.6 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%). Only one franchise has more saves than Smith’s 20 this season, and he has recorded 13 saves in May, more than eight MLB teams have this year.
- Hunter Gaddis navigated around two hits for a scoreless eighth, securing his seventh hold.
- Shawn Armstrong stranded a runner and retired both batters in the seventh, one via strikeout, for his fifth hold.
- Tim Herrin notched his seventh hold, yielding a hit during two-thirds scoreless.
- Colin Holderman collected his third win, logging 1.1 clean frames and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis | Tim Herrin
Houston Astros
Rookie Alimber Santa let the “courtesy runner” score on consecutive flyouts at the top of the tenth but induced an inning-ending strikeout against William Contreras and was charged with his first loss.
- Bryan King took over with two runners on and one out at the top of the eighth, letting the game-tying run score on a fielder’s choice groundout. He logged 1.2 scoreless frames, yielding a hit, but was charged with his third blown save.
- Bryan Abreu struggled in a big spot, issuing two walks, resulting in an earned run, and was removed with one out in the eighth, credited with his fifth hold.
- Steven Okert notched his seventh hold, tossing two clean frames and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: *Bryan King | *Enyel De Los Santos | Bryan Abreu
*= closer-by-committee
Minnesota Twins
Operating within a fluid bullpen can be difficult, and on Friday night, Taylor Rogers could not close out a one-run lead, allowing a Spencer Horwitz leadoff single and a strikeout against Brandon Lowe, followed by Bryan Reynolds launching a walk-off, two-run home run, handing Rogers his second loss and a first blown save this season.
- Cody Lawyerson tossed a clean eighth and struck out one for his second hold.
- Anthony Banda allowed two walks and struck out one, getting credit for his sixth hold.
- Yoendrys Gómez stranded a runner, issuing a walk and striking out one, securing his fifth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Yoendrys Gómez | *Andrew Morris | *Anthony Banda
*= closer-by-committee
Tampa Bay Rays
Presented a three-run lead, Bryan Baker dealt with traffic, but held on for his 15th save. He issued Logan O’Hoppe a one-out walk, followed by Jose Siri’s single, a strikeout, and another walk before inducing a game-ending pop-out by Vaughn Grissom. Baker threw 31 pitches (19 strikes – 61.3 Strike%) and produced six whiffs (19.4 SwStr%).

The good news is that he’s converted eight of nine save chances this month despite issuing eight walks while recording 15 strikeouts 14.3 K-BB%) through 12 innings.
- Kevin Kelly let both inherited runners score and recorded a strikeout at the top of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Bryan Baker | Ian Seymour | Kevin Kelly
Toronto Blue Jays
Recording his first career save, Braydon Fisher navigated around Gunnar Henderson, reaching on an error with two outs, with a game-ending groundout by Adley Rutschman, preserving a one-run win in Baltimore. Fisher threw 15 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He’s been scoreless in his last seven appearances, spanning eight innings.
- Mason Fluharty earned his third win, tossing 1.1 scoreless frames and striking out one.
- Connor Seabold tossed 1.2 clean innings and recorded a strikeout.
Hierarchy Remains: Louis Varland | Tyler Rogers | Jeff Hoffman
Quick Hits
- Baltimore Orioles: Entering at the top of the seventh, Tyler Wells notched his eighth hold, retiring the side and striking out one. Yennier Cano struggled during the eighth, giving up three hits and two earned runs while recording one out, resulting in his second loss and a first blown save.
- Boston Red Sox: As the “bulk follower,” Bryan Bello scattered four hits and recorded five strikeouts across seven scoreless innings.
- Los Angeles Angels: With a one-run at the bottom of the seventh, Ryan Zeferjahn suffered his third loss and a second blown save, allowing three hits, including two home runs, four earned runs, and a walk while recording one out.
National League
Atlanta Braves
Wrapping up a five-run lead in Cincinnati, Tyler Kinley allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless bottom of the ninth.
- Robert Suarez gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless eighth.
- Dylan Lee fired a clean seventh, striking out the side.
- Didier Fuentes collected his fourth win, stranding one of two runners at the bottom of the fifth, giving up an RBI single by Sal Stewart, then retiring the next four batters faced, one via strikeout. He threw 28 pitches (64.3 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in his last eight appearances, recording three wins while posting a 0.89 WHIP with nine strikeouts against four walks across nine innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Robert Suarez | Dylan Lee
Colorado Rockies
Benefiting from a walk-off rally, Juan Mejia was awarded his first win. However, he allowed three hits and two earned runs during the top of the ninth, throwing 21 pitches (76.2 Strike%) with only one whiff. He’s given up at least a run in three consecutive appearances and multiple runs across his last two.
- Keegan Thompson gave up a hit and an earned run in the eighth, striking out one.
- Seth Halvorsen logged 1.2 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out two, stranding both inherited runners in the sixth.
- Welinton Herrera only recorded one out while giving up a hit and a walk in the sixth.
- Jaden Hill stranded two runners in the fourth and logged 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing a hit and striking out two.
Hill or Halvorsen could be in line for a save opportunity soon, though this bullpen remains volatile for fantasy managers.
Updated Hierarchy: *Juan Mejia | *Jaden Hill | *Antonio Senzatela
*= closer-by-committee
Los Angeles Dodgers
Locking down his fifth save, and first since May 14, Tanner Scott fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded a strikeout while facing the Phillies’ 2-3-4 lineup lane on 15 pitches (11 strikes – 73.3 Strike%) with two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%). This extended his scoreless streak to 12 games, during which he’s posted a minuscule 0.487 WHIP with 19 strikeouts against two walks (39.5 K-BB%) across 12.1 innings.
- Alex Vesia stranded a runner in the eighth, striking out Kyle Schwarber at the top of the eighth, securing his seventh hold.
- Edgardo Henriquez was credited with his third hold, allowing two hits and an earned run across two-thirds of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Tanner Scott | Alex Vesia | Will Klein
Miami Marlins
Tasked with the bottom of the tenth during a tied contest, Pete Fairbanks retired Juan Soto on a flyout, then served up a walk-off two-run home run by MJ Melendez, resulting in his third loss.

This snapped his three-game scoreless streak and represents the second time in five outings he’s allowed a home run. Through 16 games, he owns a 1.396 WHIP with 21 strikeouts against seven walks (22.2 K-BB%). His SIERA and xERA signal better days ahead, but it’s tough when he’s allowed at least a run in three of his six outings this month.
- Michael Petersen fired a clean ninth, striking out one.
- Anthony Bender worked a clean eighth, recording a strikeout.
- Calvin Faucher stranded one of two inherited runners, retiring both batters in the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks | Michael Petersen | Anthony Bender
Milwaukee Brewers
Shutting the door on his seventh save, Trevor Megill fired a clean bottom of the tenth and recorded two strikeouts, sealing a one-run win in Houston. He threw 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%). He’s notched a save in consecutive outings and has been scoreless in his last five appearances, posting a 0.40 WHIP with six strikeouts and no walks (35.3 K-BB%).
- Abner Uribe navigated around a hit and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless ninth, collecting his third win as a result. He has appealed a one-game suspension handed by MLB regarding his reaction after a strikeout while facing St. Louis.
- Aaron Ashby gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Aaron Ashby
New York Mets
After stranding the “courtesy runner” at the top of the 10th, Austin Warren collected his first win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. He retired the side and recorded a strikeout on seven pitches (85.7 Strike%) and recorded two whiffs (28.6 Swstr%).
- Luke Weaver navigated around two hits for a scoreless ninth, preserving the tie.
- Tobias Myers suffered his second blown save, allowing a game-tying two-run home run by Owen Caissie in the eighth.
- Brooks Raley stranded a runner with an inning-ending strikeout for his tenth hold.
- Huascar Brazobán gave up a hit, an earned run, and a walk across a combined inning of work, getting credit for his third hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Devin Williams | Luke Weaver | Brooks Raley
Pittsburgh Pirates
Keeping his team within one, Gregory Soto fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded a strikeout on eight pitches (75 Strike%) without a whiff, facing the 7-8-9 lineup pocket. He collected his fourth win courtesy of a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. He’s been scoreless in eight of ten games this month, posting two wins and converting five of six saves.
- Wilber Dotel tossed three scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out four.
Hierarchy Remains: Gregory Soto | Mason Montgomery | Carmen Mlodzinski
St. Louis Cardinals
Despite allowing a leadoff double by Pete Crow-Armstrong and an earned run on an RBI groundout, Riley O’Brien secured his 14th save, finishing off a one-run margin against the Cubs. He threw 14 pitches (57.1 Strike%) and produced one whiff. He has converted six of eight save chances in May, but has allowed at least a run during his ten appearances, resulting in a 1.30 WHIP over ten innings.
- Ryne Stanek allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout during a scoreless eighth for his tenth hold.
- JoJo Romero notched his 15th hold, firing a clean seventh while striking out two.
- George Soriano worked a clean sixth, striking out one for his ninth hold.
- Gordon Graceffo collected his fourth win, retiring the side in the fourth.
Hierarchy Remains: Riley O’Brien | JoJo Romero | George Soriano
Quick Hits
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Called upon at the bottom of the tenth with the score tied, Juan Morillo suffered his second loss. He recorded a strikeout against Julio Rodríguez, intentionally walked Josh Naylor, and allowed a walk-off RBI double by Randy Arozarena.
- Washington Nationals: A combination of poor defense and two home runs resulted in Mitchell Parker getting tagged with his second loss and a third blown save during his two-inning outing versus San Diego.
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Statistical Credits:
