Saturday’s slate featured eight reliever wins, nine saves, and six losses, with three blown saves. Here are the saves in condensed form:

There have been 533 saves this season by 166 different pitchers.
Here are the vulture options:
Vulture Save Options for 6.14.2026
- Shawn Armstrong (CLE): Smith and Gaddis have pitched in back-to-back games.
- Andrew Kittredge (BAL): He has been the preferred option this week and is widely available.
- Jeff Hoffman (TOR): Varland and Rogers have worked in consecutive contests.
- Sam Bachman (LAA): Is there a change happening in the ninth for the Angels?
Vulture Save Stashes for 6.15.2026
- Will Vest (DET): If Kenley pitches today, it will be two straight games.
- Bryan Abreu (HOU): If Hader is used in today’s game, he may be unavailable on Monday. He has not appeared in consecutive games since being activated.
- Carmen Mlodzinski (PIT): If Soto is deployed today, it’s consecutive contests for the closer.
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Handed a three-run lead at the top of the ninth, Aroldis Chapman secured his 14th save, giving up Wyatt Langford’s leadoff single, then recorded two strikeouts sandwiched around a Josh Jung flyout. Chapman threw 15 pitches (80 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%). This marked only his second appearance in June, but he has converted a scoreless save in each. Through 21 games, he has a 0.919 WHIP. However, his 11.1 percent walk rate is what contenders will be monitoring as the trade deadline draws nearer. Here is his rolling game chart from Fangraphs:

- Danny Coulombe notched his fifth hold, stranding two runners and retiring both batters at the top of the eighth.
- Tyron Guerrero allowed two hits, including a solo home run by Jake Burger, and struck out one during one-third of the eighth, credited with his third hold.
- Garrett Whitlock collected his fourth win, retiring the side and striking out one in the seventh.
Updated Hierarchy: Aroldis Chapman | Garrett Whitlock | Justin Slaten
Three Takeaways
The less amorphous A’s? Another late-inning encore for Elvis Alvarado in Las Vegas resulted in his second save, closing out a two-run lead against Colorado. He fired a clean top of the ninth while recording two strikeouts on 19 pitches (15 strikes – 78.9 Strike%) with five whiffs (26.3 SwStr%).

He has recorded a save in his last two appearances and has been scoreless over his four since being recalled, allowing one hit (0.188 WHIP) with 11 strikeouts and zero walks while facing 18 batters (61.1 K-BB%) through 5.1 innings. In June, Hogan Harris has two saves, Alvarado has two, and two other relievers have one, but it feels like they are taking over as co-closers, which works in this year’s high-leverage ecosystem from a fantasy perspective.
Hierarchy Remains: *Hogan Harris | *Elvis Alvarado | Justin Sterner
*= closer-by-committee
Santillan the stabilizer? Preserving a one-run lead and securing his third save, Tony Santillan retired the side against Arizona’s 2-3-4 lineup pocket. He threw 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and induced one whiff. It’s his first save since May 19 and extends his scoreless streak to five games. He’s far from perfect, but Terry Francona continues to call on him for situations like this with the bullpen struggling. Chase Petty collected his first win, tossing 1.2 scoreless frames, giving up a hit and striking out one. He also stranded two runners at the top of the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: *Tony Santillan | *Zach Maxwell | *Tejay Antone
Regression or a return to normalcy for O’Brien? Making his first appearance in six days, Riley O’Brien displayed signs of rust, closing out a win over the Twins. His outing began with three consecutive walks, followed by a strikeout, an RBI fielder’s choice groundout, and a game-ending flyout by Victor Caratini. He threw 31 pitches (12 strikes – 38.7 Strike%) and induced two whiffs, allowing an earned run. Over his last ten games, he has a 1.742 WHIP with nine strikeouts against eight walks across 10.1 innings, suffering two losses, and converting five of six save chances.
When looking at his rolling game chart, the rise in his walk percentage stands out:

And it’s also reflected in his updated splits:

It’s why he could be on the trade block if the Cardinals are not contending next month.
Hierarchy Remains: Riley O’Brien | JoJo Romero | George Soriano
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Saturday’s slate.
American League
Cleveland Guardians – Working an extended outing, Cade Smith stranded a runner and retired Spencer Torkelson via strikeout at the top of the eighth. Returning for the ninth, he navigated around James Outman’s leadoff walk with a strikeout, followed by a single, then bore down, inducing consecutive groundouts, preserving the two-run lead. He threw 31 pitches (18 strikes – 58.1 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (12.9 SwStr%). He has converted 20 consecutive save chances since April 16 and should get a well-deserved day off on Sunday after appearing in back-to-back games.
- Tim Herrin gave up a hit and struck out two during two-thirds of the eighth for his 11th hold.
- Hunter Gaddis notched his 11th hold, walking one during a scoreless seventh.
- Colin Holderman tossed a scoreless sixth, yielding a hit and striking out two, securing his fifth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis | Tim Herrin
Houston Astros – Despite giving up Bobby Witt Jr.’s one-out double, Bryan Abreu recorded his fifth save on a game-ending double play on a catch by Jeremy Peña on a lineout by Isaac Collins, then doubling off Witt Jr. at second base. Abreu threw eight pitches (75 Strike%) without a whiff.

He has allowed one unearned run over his last five appearances and has a save in two of his last three.
- Bryan King collected his first win, tossing a clean bottom of the eighth and striking out one.
- Alimber Santa logged 1.2 scoreless frames while giving up a hit.
- Enyel De Los Santos suffered his first blown save, letting his only inherited runner score, and two earned on his own ledger, yielding two hits and a walk, recording one out at the bottom of the sixth.
Updated Hierarchy: Josh Hader | Bryan King | Bryan Abreu
Kansas City Royals – Coming out of a rain delay with the score tied, Alex Lange retired both batters at the top of the eighth. Returning for the ninth, he issued Joey Loperfido a leadoff walk, a leverage mortal sin, followed by Yordan Alvarez’s one-out single, and a fielder’s choice groundball by Christian Walker scored the go-ahead run on an errant throw, resulting in Lange’s fourth loss. He threw 31 pitches (20 strikes – 64.5 Strike%) and induced one whiff, giving up a hit, an unearned run, and a walk while striking out one across 1.2 innings.
- Matt Strahm hit a batter and allowed a game-tying two-run home run by Jose Altuve during one-third of the eighth, ahead of the rain delay, getting tagged with his third blown save.
- Daniel Lynch IV worked a clean seventh for his ninth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Alex Lange | Daniel Lynch IV | Lucas Erceg
New York Yankees – Capping his team’s rally at the top of the ninth, David Bednar nailed down his 14th save, striking out the side at the bottom of the ninth against Toronto’s 9-1-2 batters. He threw 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%). Note the velocities in this outing:

He has been scoreless over his last seven appearances, posting a 0.652 WHIP with 11 strikeouts versus three walks (28.6 K-BB%) across his last 7.2 innings.
- Fernando Cruz navigated around three walks and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless eighth, then collected his fourth win courtesy of Paul Goldschmidt’s go-ahead two-run home run.
Hierarchy Remains: David Bednar | Fernando Cruz | Camilo Doval
Toronto Blue Jays – Tasked with a tied game at the top of the ninth, Louis Varland suffered his second loss. He allowed Cody Bellinger’s leadoff single, followed by Paul Goldschmidt’s two-run home run, and then retired the next three batters. This marks the second time in three appearances that he has allowed at least a run. Through 34 games, he owns a 0.957 WHIP with 49 strikeouts against 10 walks (26.9 K-BB%) across 37.2 innings.
- Tyler Rogers allowed two hits and struck out one during a scoreless eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Louis Varland | Tyler Rogers | Jeff Hoffman
Quick Hits
- Detroit Tigers: Making his first appearance back from the injured list, Kenley Jansen tossed a clean bottom of the eighth and recorded two strikeouts, throwing nine pitches (88.9 Strike%) with three whiffs (33.3 SwStr%).
- Los Angeles Angels: Completing a combined shutout, Kirby Yates tossed a clean top of the ninth, in a non-save capacity, and recorded a strikeout on nine pitches (77.8 Strike%) with two whiffs (22.2 SwStr%).
- Minnesota Twins: Entering a tied game at the top of the seventh, Justin Lawrence allowed four hits, including two home runs, four earned runs, and recorded two strikeouts during two-thirds of the inning. Travis Adams replaced him, letting two inherited runners score on a three-run blast by Blaze Jordan. He settled in after, logging 2.1 innings, yielding two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one.
- Seattle Mariners: Summoned at the bottom of the sixth, Gabe Speier stranded two runners while retiring his only batter. Jose A. Ferrer took over in the seventh, giving up two hits, three earned runs, and a walk during one-third of the frame. Eduard Bazardo let both inherited runners score, allowing a hit and striking out one in two-thirds of the seventh.
National League
Atlanta Braves – An eventful bottom of the ninth resulted in save number 14 for Raisel Iglesias, extending his consecutive save streak to 32 since July 28, 2025. His outing began with Juan Soto’s leadoff double following review, not being a home run. After flipping a 3-1 count to 2-2 after an ABS challenge, Iglesias recorded a strikeout, issued Marcus Semien a walk, then induced a game-ending double-play groundout against Francisco Alvarez.
- Robert Suarez notched his 11th hold, firing a clean eighth and striking out one.
- Didier Fuentes struck out the side in the seventh, securing his fifth hold.
- Dylan Lee let his only inherited runner score, giving up a hit and striking out one during two-thirds of the sixth for his 14th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Robert Suarez | Dylan Lee
Philadelphia Phillies – Locking down his 18th save, Jhoan Duran fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded one strikeout, sealing a one-run lead in Milwaukee. He threw 11 pitches (63.6 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (27.3 SwStr%) while facing the 5-6-7 batters in the lineup.

He has been scoreless in ten of his last 11 outings, posting a 0.80 WHIP with 13 strikeouts and no walks (35.1 K-BB%) across ten innings.
- Brad Keller had a traffic-infused bottom of the eighth, giving up three hits, three earned runs, and two walks while striking out one.
- José Alvarado allowed two hits, including a two-run home run by Jackson Chourio, and recorded a strikeout in the seventh.
- Orion Kerkering retired the side in the sixth.
- Tim Mayza collected his second win, stranding a runner while yielding a hit and recording one out in the fifth.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Duran | Brad Keller | Orion Kerkering
Pittsburgh Pirates – Sealing a one-run lead, Gregory Soto worked around a leadoff hit and a stolen base with a fielder’s choice groundout, a strikeout, and a game-ending comebacker, securing his tenth save. He threw 13 pitches (69.2 Strike%) and generated three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%). He had allowed at least a run in his two previous outings, but has converted 10 of 13 save opportunities this season while posting a 0.923 WHIP with 35 strikeouts versus 12 walks (19.2 K-BB%) through 30.1 innings.
- Yohan Ramírez collected his fourth win, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out three in a scoreless eighth.
- Mason Montgomery suffered his first blown save, letting one of two inherited runners score, yielding two hits during 1.1 scoreless innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Gregory Soto | Mason Montgomery | Carmen Mlodzinski
Quick Hits
- Miami Marlins: Not only did Anthony Bender have his five-game scoreless streak snapped, but he also suffered his first loss, allowing two hits, an earned run on a bases-loaded hit-batter, a walk, and recording two strikeouts at the bottom of the eighth in Pittsburgh. Michael Petersen stranded two runners in the seventh and retired all six batters, two via strikeout.
- Milwaukee Brewers: Appearing in an eventual one-run loss, Trevor Megill allowed a one-out single by J.T. Realmuto, intentionally walked Kyle Schwarber with two outs, and produced an inning-ending strikeout of Trea Turner for a scoreless top of the ninth. He threw 16 pitches (13 strikes – 81.3 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (25 SwStr%).
- San Francisco Giants: Getting in work, Caleb Kilian allowed a two-out double by Miguel Amaya and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless top of the ninth during his team’s loss against the Cubs. He threw 15 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (20 SwStr%). Dylan Smith gave up a hit and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless eighth. Ryan Walker worked a clean seventh, throwing 11 pitches (81.8 Strike%) without a whiff.
- Washington Nationals: Finishing off a five-run margin, Brad Lord logged two scoreless frames while stranding two runners, walking one, and striking out two. He has been scoreless in his last six appearances, posting a 0.917 WHIP across 13 innings with two wins, a save, and a hold.
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Statistical Credits:
