Thursday’s nine-game slate featured six reliever wins, five saves, four losses, and four blown saves. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 474 saves this season by 156 different pitchers.
As for the vulture options during today’s slate:
Vulture Save Options for 6.5.2026
- Keaton Winn (SF): With Kilian pitching yesterday, Winn should be back in line for the save chance if provided in tonight’s game.
- Matt Strahm (KC): Lange and Lynch IV have worked in consecutive contests, though Erceg could be in the realm of possibilities for a save chance if provided tonight.
Vulture Save Stashes for 6.6.2026
- Bryan King (HOU): If Hader pitches tonight, King would be in line if he’s not appearing in back-to-back games yet.
- Juan Morillo (ARI): If Sewald is used tonight, it’s consecutive contests.
- Fernando Cruz (NYY): He will be down tonight after working in two straight, and if Bednar pitches tonight, it’s back-to-back games for him.
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Kansas City Royals
Handed a two-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, Alex Lange navigated around Victor Caratini’s leadoff single with a flyout, a fielder’s choice groundout, and a walk to Byron Buxton, then induced a game-ending groundout by Brooks Lee, securing his second save in as many days. He threw 20 pitches (60 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (20 SwStr%).
He has been scoreless over his last seven appearances, recording a 1.106 WHIP with six strikeouts against two walks (16 K-BB%) across 6.1 innings. It’s tough to trust the former Tigers’ closer, but he has tweaked his pitch mix since the start of the season, throwing more sliders and changeups:
Since May 20, he has a 63.6 strike percentage while recording a 3.20 SIERA and a 2.81 xERA. He has reduced his hard-hit percentage to 35.3 over his last 17 batted ball events, recording a 1.6-degree launch angle in them and only one barrel. Sustaining this success and limiting traffic have been the hurdles he has not cleared in the past, but as a short-term streamer for saves, he could be worth the ratio risk for save-starved fantasy managers. Treat him like a rodeo bronco, hang on until he knocks you off.
Also, from this contest
- Matt Strahm was awarded his second win, retiring the side in the eighth.
- Daniel Lynch IV allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless seventh.
- John Schreiber served up a game-tying solo home run by Caratini, resulting in his first blown save during the sixth.
Updated Hierarchy: *Alex Lange | *Matt Strahm | *Daniel Lynch IV
*= closer-by-committee
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Thursday.
American League
Minnesota Twins – With two runners on and one out, Justin Lawrence took over at the top of the ninth. He walked Maikel Garcia to load the bases, then gave up a two-RBI single by Josh Rojas, issued another walk, then recorded consecutive strikeouts against Carter Jensen and Bobby Witt Jr. His line finished with a hit, two walks, and two strikeouts while letting both inherited runners score.
- Taylor Rogers retired Vinnie Pasquantino at the top of the eighth, stranding a runner, but allowed consecutive hits in the ninth and recorded an out on a sacrifice bunt. However, he suffered his third loss when both runners scored, putting two earned runs on his ledger.
- Yoendrys Gómez issued a walk and recorded two strikeouts in the eighth.
- Eric Orze gave up a hit and a walk in a scoreless seventh.
- Anthony Banda was tagged with his first blown save, giving up a hit that scored both inherited runners and had an unearned run on his line during one-third of the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: *Yoendrys Gómez | *Andrew Morris | *Anthony Banda
*= closer-by-committee
New York Yankees – Preserving a one-run lead at the top of the ninth, David Bednar retired the side against the Guardians’ top of the lineup, nailing down his 13th save. He threw 12 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%).
After allowing at least a run in three consecutive outings between May 15 and 18, he has strung together four scoreless appearances, posting a 1.00 WHIP with four strikeouts versus two walks while converting both save chances since.
- Fernando Cruz notched his 11th hold, working a clean top of the eighth.
- Brent Headrick collected his fourth win, allowing a walk and a hit during a scoreless seventh, ahead of his team’s go-ahead rally at the bottom of the frame.
Updated Hierarchy: David Bednar | Fernando Cruz | Camilo Doval
The Athletics – Turning a non-save appearance into a loss, Joel Kuhnel allowed five hits that resulted in four earned runs while recording two outs at the bottom of the ninth against the Cubs. He was charged with his second loss while being credited with his fourth hold.
- Luis Medina replaced him with two runners on and two outs, allowing a game-tying RBI single by Dansby Swanson, followed by a walk-off RBI single by Pete Crow-Armstrong. Before the ninth,
- Mark Leiter Jr. notched his third hold, retiring the side and striking out two in the eighth.
- Scott Barlow gave up two hits, including a two-run home run by Ian Happ in the seventh.
Updated Hierarchy: *Hogan Harris | *Justin Sterner | *Mark Leiter Jr.
*= closer-by-committee
Toronto Blue Jays – Summoned at the bottom of the eighth with two outs, Louis Varland retired Ozzie Albies, preserving a one-run lead. He returned for the ninth after his teammates scored four runs and tossed a clean frame against Atlanta’s 5-6-7 batters, striking out one while closing out his ninth save. He threw 17 pitches (11 strikes – 64.7 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (11.8 SwStr%). He owns a modest five-game scoreless streak, during which he has converted three saves and two holds while posting a 0.45 WHIP with six strikeouts versus zero walks (28.6 K-BB%) across 6.2 innings.
- Braydon Fisher gave up a solo home run against Mauricio Dubón and recorded a strikeout during two-thirds of the eighth for his seventh hold.
- Jeff Hoffman fired a clean seventh, striking out one, securing his seventh hold.
- Tyler Rogers notched his 12th hold with a clean sixth.
- Chad Dallas collected his first career win during his MLB debut, logging 3.2 innings as the “bulk follower,” allowing two hits, an earned run, and two walks while striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Louis Varland | Tyler Rogers | Jeff Hoffman
Quick Hits
- Boston Red Sox: Making his season debut, Tommy Kahnle logged two scoreless frames, giving up two hits and two walks while striking out one. Jovani Móran tossed two scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk with three strikeouts.
- Cleveland Guardians: Tasked with a tied score at the bottom of the seventh, Codi Heuer issued Jazz Chisolm Jr. a one-out walk, allowed a stolen base, and uncorked a wild pitch, putting him on third with one out. Ryan McMahon singled in the go-ahead run, handing Heuer his first loss. Matt Festa tossed a clean bottom of the eighth, striking out two.
- Houston Astros: Appearing during an eventual loss, Bryan Abreu issued a walk and recorded three strikeouts at the top of the ninth. Enyel De Los Santos gave up a hit and struck out one in the eighth. Steven Okert logged two scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out two.
National League
Arizona Diamondbacks – Called on with a tied game at the top of the ninth, Paul Sewald worked around Will Smith’s two-out double with an inning-ending strikeout of Santiago Espinal, then collected his second win on a walk-off home run at the bottom of the inning. He threw 14 pitches (9 strikes – 64.3 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (28.6 SwStr%).
Through 26 games, spanning 23.1 innings, he’s posted a 0.729 WHIP with 26 strikeouts versus six walks (22.7 K-BB%) while converting 15 of 16 save opportunities.
- Brandyn Garcia continued his strong recent run with a clean top of the eighth, facing the Dodgers’ 9-1-2 batters. He’s been scoreless over his last nine appearances.
Hierarchy Remains: Paul Sewald | Kevin Ginkel | Juan Morillo
Los Angeles Dodgers – Taking over a tied game at the bottom of the ninth, Tanner Scott recorded a strikeout against Tommy Troy but served up a walk-off solo home run by Ketel Marte, resulting in his third loss. It was on a four-seam fastball, low and in against the switch-hitter:
He has allowed a home run in two of his last three appearances.
- Alex Vesia let one of two inherited runners score on an RBI single by Geraldo Perdomo, handing him his first blown save during two-thirds of the eighth.
- Will Klein struggled, allowing two hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out one, getting credit for his eighth hold during one-third of the eighth.
- Kyle Hurt worked a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Tanner Scott | Alex Vesia | Will Klein
Pittsburgh Pirates – Making his first relief outing since being removed from the rotation, Carmen Mlodzinski recorded his first save, tossing four innings while giving up four hits and striking out three. His only blemish was a solo home run by Isaac Paredes. Mlodzinski threw 55 pitches (36 strikes – 65.4 Strike%) and produced six whiffs (10.9 SwStr%). This may be his role going forward, which works in deeper formats if he’s picking up ancillary saves or vulture wins during multiple-inning outings.
Hierarchy Remains: Gregory Soto | Mason Montgomery | Carmen Mlodzinski
San Francisco Giants – After Wilkin Ramos turned a six-run lead into a save situation, Caleb Kilian was summoned with the bases loaded and no outs at the bottom of the ninth in Milwaukee. He recorded a strikeout against Andrew Vaughn, let an inherited runner score on a fielder’s choice groundout, and a second on an RBI-single by Luis Rengifo. With two outs, he retired David Hamilton on a long flyout to center, securing his fourth save. Kilian threw 13 pitches (9 strikes – 69.2 Strike%) and induced one whiff. Ramos finished with two hits, three earned runs, and two walks on his ledger.
- Tristan Beck allowed a solo shot (Hamilton) during the eighth.
- JT Brubaker gave up two hits, two earned runs, and two walks while striking out one across two innings. He was awarded his first hold.
- Sam Hentges collected his first win, stranding a runner while walking and striking out one during two-thirds of the fifth.
Updated Hierarchy: *Keaton Winn | *Erik Miller | *Caleb Kilian
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Chicago Cubs: Benefiting from a walk-off rally, Ryan Rolison collected his fourth win, logging 1.2 scoreless frames and recording three strikeouts.
- Philadelphia Phillies: Sealing a sweep of the season series against San Diego, José Alvarado issued Ty France a leadoff walk at the top of the ninth and served up Jackson Merrill’s two-run home run, then retired the next three batters, including a game-ending strikeout in a non-save outing. Orion Kerkering navigated around a hit and a walk while striking out one during a scoreless top of the eighth.
- San Diego Padres: In a rare misstep in recent contests, Adrian Morejon allowed three hits, three earned runs, and a walk during one-third of the seventh. Wandy Peralta prevented further damage, stranding two runners and tossing 1.2 clean frames while striking out one.
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