First and foremost, a happy Father’s Day to all the great ones out there!
Saturday’s 14-game slate featured four reliever wins, seven saves, and four losses, with three blown saves. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 577 saves this season by 171 different pitchers.
Here are the vulture options:
Vulture Save Options for 6.21.2026
- Calvin Faucher (MIA): Fairbanks has worked in back-to-back games, as has Bender.
- Will Vest (DET): Jansen has appeared in consecutive contests.
- Tyler Rogers (TOR): Varland tossed two innings and threw 28 pitches yesterday.
- Phil Maton (CHC): Webb and Thielbar struggled during an eventual loss on Saturday, opening the door for a different approach with a lead, if provided, today.
Vulture Save Stashes for 6.22.2026
- Orion Kerkering (PHI): If Duran pitches today, it will be back-to-back outings.
- Adrian Morejon (SD): If Miller pitches today, it will be consecutive appearances.
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Called upon with one out, a runner on base, and a one-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, Yennier Cano allowed an infield single by Mookie Betts, retired Alex Freeland via flyout, and Tommy Edman reached on an error by Leody Taveras, letting Freddie Freeman score. With two outs, Cano recorded a game-ending strikeout against Kyle Tucker, sealing the one-run lead and his first save of the season. He threw 15 pitches (8 strikes – 53.3 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (20 SwStr%). It was his first save since September 3, 2025, and he’s been scoreless in eight of nine games in June, posting a 0.632 WHIP with nine strikeouts against one walk (30.8 K-BB%) across 6.1 innings.
- Andrew Kittredge opened the ninth with a three-run lead and allowed Shohei Ohtani’s leadoff home run, retired Andy Pages on a flyout, and was removed after issuing Freeman a walk. He was credited with his third hold during one-third of the inning.
- Grant Wolfram notched his eighth hold, stranding a runner and retiring one batter in the eighth.
- Rico Garcia gave up a hit and recorded two strikeouts in two-thirds of the seventh, securing his tenth hold.
It appears this was workload management, not a changing of the guard, for Ryan Helsley, according to the game recap by Jake Rill for MLB.com:
Updated Hierarchy: Ryan Helsley | Yennier Cano | Andrew Kittredge
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Saturday.
American League
Detroit Tigers – Although the White Sox brought the tying run to the plate at the top of the ninth, Kenley Jansen navigated around a one-out bunt single and a two-out walk with a game-ending lineout by Drew Romo, sealing a three-run win while recording his ninth save. He threw 10 pitches (50 Strike%) without a whiff, securing the 485th save of his career. He has notched saves in consecutive days and been scoreless in 10 of 11 appearances since May 4, converting three of four save chances with a 0.75 WHIP despite six walks versus 13 strikeouts (18 K-BB%) through 10.2 innings.
- Tyler Holton secured his seventh hold, scattering two hits and striking out two across two scoreless frames.
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Will Vest | Kyle Finnegan
Los Angeles Angels – Finishing off a combined shutout, Kirby Yates fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts against the A’s’ 6-7-8 hitters, all right-handed, throwing 15 pitches (60 Strike%) with one whiff.
- Ryan Zeferjahn stranded two runners at the bottom of the seventh and logged 1.2 innings, issuing a walk and striking out three. He threw 24 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and generated six whiffs (25 SwStr%).
- Samy Natera Jr. worked 1.1 innings, allowing a hit and a walk while recording two strikeouts.
Updated Hierarchy: *Ryan Zeferjahn | *Kirby Yates | Chase Silseth
*= closer-by-committee
Texas Rangers – Tasked with the top of the tenth, Joe Ross suffered his first loss, giving up two hits, including a three-run home run by Manny Machado, three runs (two earned), and a walk.
Jacob Latz fired a clean ninth, striking out one on 13 pitches (11 strikes – 84.6 Strike%) with three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%). He has been scoreless over his last eight outings, posting a 0.563 WHIP with 13 strikeouts against two walks (29.7 K-BB%) through 10.2 innings while converting all seven save chances. Trusting a reliever not named Latz in this hierarchy gets more difficult by the day.
- Tyler Alexander was tagged with his first blown save, letting his only inherited runner score on Jackson Merrill’s RBI single, and issued a walk during one-third of the eighth inning.
- Cole Winn gets credit for his seventh hold, giving up a hit and two runs (one earned) during two-thirds of the eighth.
Updated Hierarchy: Jacob Latz | Jakob Junis | Peyton Gray
Toronto Blue Jays – Closing out his team’s come-from-behind victory over the Cubs, Louis Varland had to work overtime, taking over with the bases loaded and no outs during the bottom of the eighth. He stranded two of three inherited runners, allowing one to score on a fielder’s choice grounder by Nico Hoerner and retiring the next two batters. Returning for the ninth, he worked around Ian Happ, reaching on his own error with a strikeout and a game-ending groundout, securing his 15th save. Varland threw 28 pitches (17 strikes – 60.7 Strike%) and induced two whiffs while recording two strikeouts. This marked his third two-inning outing of the season and his second save in them. He’s also recorded six saves requiring at least four outs.
- Mason Fluharty took over the eighth and allowed two hits and a walk before being removed, getting an earned run on his ledger.
- Jeff Hoffman collected his fifth win, walking and striking out one during a scoreless bottom of the seventh, ahead of his team’s five-run outburst in the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Louis Varland | Tyler Rogers | Jeff Hoffman
Quick Hits
- Chicago White Sox: Deploying Joe Rock as a “bulk follower” did not go well. He suffered his first loss and blown save, giving up five hits, three runs (two earned), and two walks while striking out one during his 2.1 innings.
- Minnesota Twins: In a non-save outing, Yoendrys Gómez wrapped up an eight-run margin against Arizona, retiring the side and striking out one at the bottom of the ninth. He threw seven pitches (85.7 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He’s been scoreless across his last three outings and has converted all four save chances in June.
National League
Chicago Cubs – Taking over at the top of the eighth, Ethan Roberts retired all four Blue Jays he faced, but the damage had been done. Jacob Webb entered with two runners on and no outs in the eighth, allowing an RBI single by Alejandro Kirk, followed by Vlad Guerrero Jr.’s game-tying RBI single, scoring both inherited runners. After striking out Brandon Valenzuela, Webb served up a go-ahead three-run home run by Kazuma Okamato and recorded a strikeout of Daulton Varsho before being removed. He threw 27 pitches (15 strikes – 55.6 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (11.1 SwStr%) while suffering his second loss and fourth blown save. He’s allowed at least a run in his last three appearances and multiple runs in two of his last five.
- Caleb Thielbar gets credit for his fifth hold despite allowing a hit, two earned runs, and a walk, retiring one of four batters across the seventh and eighth innings.
Changing the hierarchy slightly, and will adjust if Craig Counsell announces any changes in their roles. However, Webb’s reverse-split issues against right-handed hitters were prevalent in this appearance, and his weighted on-base average against them rose to .396 after this contest, and his 1.75 WHIP represents a warning signal for future outings versus right-handed-heavy lineup lanes. Thielbar has allowed at least a run in four of eight games in June, multiple runs twice, and has allowed seven earned runs across his last 7.1 innings.
Updated Hierarchy: *Jacob Webb | *Ryan Rolison | *Phil Maton
*= closer-by-committee
Colorado Rockies – Another night with the random Rockies usage patterns landed on Jaden Hill taking over with a one-run lead while inheriting two runners with one out at the top of the ninth. His outing began by hitting Nick Gonzalez with a pitch, then bearing down with a strikeout against Tyler Calihan and a game-ending fielder’s choice groundout against Jake Mangum for his second save. He threw 13 pitches (9 strikes – 69.2 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in three of his last four appearances, converting two of three save chances with a 1.00 WHIP, but he has hit two batters while recording three strikeouts versus one walk.
- Brennan Bernardino gets credit for his fifth hold, retiring two batters in the eighth, then giving up consecutive hits at the top of the ninth and recording a strikeout of Ryan O’Hearn.
- Jimmy Herget worked 1.1 scoreless innings, walking one and striking out two for his fourth hold.
Updated Hierarchy: *Jaden Hill | *Antonio Senzatela | *Juan Mejia
*= closer-by-committee
Miami Marlins – Shutting the door on his 11th save, Pete Fairbanks fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts, closing out a three-run lead against the Giants. He threw 15 pitches (11 strikes – 73.3 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (26.7 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in four of his last five games, recording a win and converting four saves while posting a 0.60 WHIP with eight strikeouts and no walks (44.4 K-BB%) across five innings.
- Anthony Bender let his only inherited runner score, allowing two hits during two-thirds of the eighth inning.
Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks | Michael Petersen | Anthony Bender
Milwaukee Brewers – Playing the matchups game burned Pat Murphy in Atlanta. Aaron Ashby received the save opportunity, lined up against the 2-3-4 hitters, and he retired Drake Baldwin via strikeout, but gave up a single by Matt Olson, followed by a walk-off, two-run home run by Ozzie Albies, resulting in his first loss and third blown save.
- Trevor Megill fired a clean eighth, striking out one versus the 8-9-1 hitters, securing his seventh hold.
- Abner Uribe stranded one of two inherited runners while retiring both batters in the seventh for his ninth hold.
After the game, Murphy had no regrets, not even one letter:
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Aaron Ashby
San Diego Padres – Recording his 20th save, Mason Miller let the “courtesy runner” score on a two-out RBI single by Wyatt Langford, followed by a game-ending strikeout of Brandon Nimmo, preserving a two-run margin at the bottom of the tenth in Texas. He threw 21 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (14.3 SwStr%) while recording two strikeouts. This marked his first save since June 14, and he’s registered multiple strikeouts in his last four appearances.
- Adrian Morejon earned his sixth win, tossing two scoreless innings, allowing a hit, and striking out five.
- Jason Adam gave up two hits, including a go-ahead two-run home run by Jake Burger. He has given up at least a run in consecutive games and in three of his last four.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Jason Adam | Adrian Morejon
Washington Nationals – Handed a two-run lead, Clayton Beeter held on for his fifth save despite a white-knuckle ride. His outing began with a lead-off walk, a high-leverage no-no, followed by two stolen bases and an RBI single by Yandy Díaz. Beeter bounced back, retiring Jonathan Aranda (flyout) and Cedric Mullins (strikeout), followed by an intentional walk to Junior Caminero and a game-ending strikeout of Ben Williamson. He threw 21 pitches (11 strikes – 52.4 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (14.3 SwStr%), finishing with a hit, an earned run, and two walks while striking out two. It’s his first save since May 31 but snapped his modest three-game scoreless streak.
- Brad Lord logged three scoreless frames, yielding two hits and striking out five for his sixth hold.
- Mitchell Parker collected his third win, stranding two runners at the bottom of the third, and tossing 2.1 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: *Clayton Beeter | *Gus Varland | *Brad Lord
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Atlanta Braves: Benefiting from a walk-off rally, Dylan Lee collected his third win. He worked a scoreless top of the ninth, allowing a two-out single by Cooper Pratt and recording a strikeout on 11 pitches (72.7 Strike%) with two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%).
- Philadelphia Phillies: Getting in work amid a lopsided win over the Mets, Jhoan Duran allowed a two-out single by Luis Torrens and recorded two strikeouts during a scoreless top of the ninth. He threw 17 pitches (11 strikes – 64.7 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (23.5 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in 11 of his last 12 appearances, posting a 0.818 WHIP with 15 strikeouts and no walks (36.6 K-BB%) across 11 innings while converting 10 of 11 save opportunities.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Logging two scoreless frames in an eventual one-run loss, Carmen Mlodzinski allowed a hit and a walk while striking out two on 32 pitches (19 strikes – 59.4 Strike%) with three whiffs.
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Statistical Credits: