Wednesday’s slate featured three reliever wins, five saves, and one loss, with only one blown save. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 559 saves this season by 169 different pitchers.
Here are the limited vulture options:
Vulture Save Options for 6.18.2026
- Tyler Rogers (TOR): King Louis has appeared in back-to-back games.
Vulture Save Stashes for 6.19.2026
- Andrew Kittredge (BAL): If Helsley pitches today, it will be consecutive appearances.
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Making his first appearance on consecutive days this season, Josh Hader allowed Kevin McGonigle’s solo home run and recorded three strikeouts while securing his fourth save. He threw 15 pitches (80 Strike%) and generated seven whiffs (46.7 SwStr%). His velocity held:
As for the home run, he left his sinker up in the zone:
With an off day on Thursday, the outing fit within his managed workload.
This marked his seventh game of the season and his first earned run allowed, but he’s posted a 0.429 WHIP with 11 strikeouts against one walk (41.7 K-BB%) through seven innings. Fantasy managers should plan on his workload management to continue through the All-Star break.
- Enyel De Los Santos notched his sixth hold, retiring the side and striking out one in the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan King | Bryan Abreu
Three Takeaways
Webb weaves a save against the Rockies: Despite allowing a one-out solo home run by Kyle Karros, Jacob Webb secured his second save of the season while recording a strikeout at the top of the ninth against the Rockies. He threw 16 pitches (75 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (31.3 SwStr%), all by his changeup:
If he’s going to continue as the preferred save option, his fist pitch four-seam location must improve:
The good news is that he received the first save chance with his teammate, Daniel Palencia, sidelined. However, Webb has allowed at least a run in consecutive contests and in three of his last four. There is nothing flashy about the veteran reliever. His 3.13 ERA is accompanied by a 3.06 SIERA and a 3.89 xERA. He has been producing more whiffs this year because of his changeup, which keeps him relevant while his team’s closer is sidelined. Fantasy managers may not appreciate the irony that once Palencia gets placed on the injured list, suddenly save chances appear, but it’s the game we play. Caleb Thielbar retired two of three batters, issuing a walk and striking out one across two-thirds of the eighth for his fourth hold. For now:
Updated Hierarchy: *Jacob Webb | *Caleb Thielbar | *Phil Maton
*= closer-by-committee
A San Francisco Sweep? Completing the suspended game from Tuesday, Robbie Ray collected his fifth win, tossing 6.1 scoreless frames, scattering two hits and issuing two walks while striking out eight as the “bulk follower.” Dylan Smith navigated around two hits and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless combined frame. Caleb Kilian closed out the win, stranding two runners and striking out both batters. He threw eight pitches (87.5 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (37.5 SwStr%).
During the regularly scheduled contest, with a five-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, Matt Gage made his return from the injured list but only recorded one out while allowing four hits, including a two-run home run by Mauricio Dubón, and three earned runs, forcing him from the game. Tristan Beck took over and stranded one of two inherited runners, striking out one during two-thirds of the ninth, securing his first save of the season. Ryan Walker worked a scoreless eighth, yielding a hit and striking out two for his third hold. Sam Hentges tossed a clean seventh and returned for one batter in the eighth, giving up a single by Matt Olson, getting credit for his second hold. JT Brubaker retired the side in the sixth, notching his second hold.
Timing matters, since Kilian was named the closer but was used in a non-save capacity, securing at least a win. It’s frustrating, but we remain at the mercy of the manager’s machinations. Based on these games, a slight tweak in the hierarchy:
Updated Hierarchy: Caleb Kilian | Ryan Walker | Sam Hentges
A rusty return: Ryan Helsley was activated for this series from his rehab assignment. However, in his first game back, he allowed back-to-back home runs at the bottom of the ninth by Dominic Canzone and Cole Young before retiring the next three batters. Young hit an elevated fastball, but Canzone’s was apt, a meatball:
He threw nine pitches, all strikes, and produced two whiffs (22.2 SwStr%) with no velocity concerns:
Hopefully, this was his way of shaking off some rust. Yennier Cano stranded an inherited runner and issued a walk while retiring one batter in the eighth for his fifth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Helsley | Andrew Kittredge | Yennier Cano
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Wednesday.
American League
Kansas City Royals – In a non-save outing, Alex Lange closed out a four-run win against the Nationals, with a scoreless bottom of the ninth on 19 pitches (68.4 Strike%) without a whiff while facing the 3-4-5-6 hitters, despite hitting Curtis Mead with a pitch. This snapped a two-game streak during which he allowed at least a run.
- John Schreiber allowed a hit during a scoreless eighth.
- Lucas Erceg fired a clean seventh, striking out one. He threw 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) and induced one whiff against the 6-7-8 lineup pocket.
Hierarchy Remains: Alex Lange | Daniel Lynch IV | Lucas Erceg
Toronto Blue Jays – Preserving a combined shutout, Louis Varland recorded his 14th save while striking out the side in Boston. He threw 10 pitches (90 Strike%) and generated five whiffs against the 2-3-4 batters. Through eight appearances this month, he owns a 1-1 record and has converted all six save chances while posting a 0.778 WHIP with 13 strikeouts versus two walks (32.4 K-BB%) across nine innings.
- Tyler Rogers notched his 16th hold, allowing a hit during a scoreless eighth inning.
- Jeff Hoffman worked a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and recording his eighth hold.
- Spencer Miles (2) and Mason Fluharty (10) also secured holds in their appearances. Simeon Woods Richardson logged three scoreless frames, giving up three hits and three walks while striking out one, collecting his first win.
Hierarchy Remains: Louis Varland | Tyler Rogers | Jeff Hoffman
Quick Hits
- Cleveland Guardians: Making his MLB debut, Daniel Espino fired a clean bottom of the sixth while recording two strikeouts. He threw 12 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and induced four whiffs (33.3 SwStr%), facing the Brewers’ 7-8-9 lineup pocket.
- Detroit Tigers: Entering at the bottom of the fifth, Kyle Finnegan let his only inherited runner score and gave up three hits, an earned run, and two walks during his combined inning of work. His WHIP has climbed to 1.586 through 33.2 innings.
- Tampa Bay Rays: Forced into action at the bottom of the fifth, Garrett Cleavinger stranded two of three inherited runners, walking in a run and recording a strikeout in a scoreless inning. Kevin Kelly took over in the sixth and suffered his third loss and second blown save, allowing three hits, including a go-ahead two-run home run by Freddie Freeman, and a walk while striking out one over 1.2 innings.
National League
Los Angeles Dodgers – It was a white-knuckle ride for the save vultures, but Alex Vesia navigated around three walks and recorded a game-ending strikeout of Cedric Mullins, securing his third save while preserving a one-run margin against the Rays. He threw 28 pitches (13 strikes – 46.4 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (14.3 SwStr%).
- Jack Dreyer retired both batters, one via strikeout at the top of the eighth for his fourth hold.
- Edgardo Henriquez turned in 1.1 scoreless frames while allowing a hit, securing his fifth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Tanner Scott | Alex Vesia | Will Klein
Milwaukee Brewers – Pressed into action at the top of the fourth, Chad Patrick collected his fourth win, tossing 3.1 scoreless frames while allowing a hit and a walk with seven strikeouts. He threw 50 pitches (66 Strike%) and produced nine whiffs (18 SwStr%). He has made 14 appearances as a reliever and owns a 2-2 record with three saves, posting a 1.116 WHIP with 27 strikeouts versus seven walks (17.7 K-BB%), through 28.2 innings. He retains value as a stream play or in leagues, he can be deployed as a SPARP.
- Aaron Ashby retired the side in the eighth for his third hold, but remains the major league leader in wins (10).
- Grant Anderson closed out the five-run lead with a clean top of the ninth.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Aaron Ashby
Quick Hits
- Philadelphia Phillies: Getting in work, Orion Kerkering struggled, allowing a hit, an earned run, and two walks while recording two strikeouts at the top of the eighth. He had been scoreless in his previous five outings in June.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Amid an eight-run win over the A’s, Dennis Santana tossed a clean bottom of the eighth and recorded two strikeouts. While working in lower-leverage outings, he has been scoreless in his last five with six strikeouts against two walks and a 0.529 WHIP across 5.1 innings.
- San Diego Padres: Closing out a five-run lead against the Cardinals, Adrian Morejon worked around a hit during a scoreless ninth. Jason Adam was scoreless in the eighth despite hitting a batter for his fifth hold. Kyle Hart notched his fifth hold, tossing 1.2 scoreless frames while striking out one. Griffin Canning was the “bulk follower” and recorded his first win, allowing four hits, an earned run, and three walks while striking out two across 4.1 innings.
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