Thursday’s 8-game slate featured four reliever wins, five saves, and three losses, with four blown saves. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 616 saves this season by 175 different pitchers. It took until August 15 last year for 175 pitchers to record a save.
Here are the vulture options, though the stash options may be preferred:
Vulture Save Options for 6.26.2026
- Jakob Junis (TEX): Latz threw 25 pitches during his save last night, and the team must manage his workload.
- Ryan Rolison (CHC): Webb, Thielbar, and Thornton have all pitched in back-to-back days, and if Craig Counsell plays matchups, Rolison will line up against Christian Yelich and Brice Turang.
- A.J. Minter (NYM): Another long shot, but if the Mets are ahead with Schwarber and/or Harper hitting in the ninth, the southpaw will be in line. Williams, Weaver, and Raley have all worked in consecutive days.
Vulture Save Stash for 6.27.2026
- Will Vest (DET): If Jansen is used tonight, it will be back-to-back outings.
- Justin Slaten (BOS): If Chapman and Whitlock pitch tonight, it will be consecutive appearances for them.
- Bryan Abreu (HOU): Hader had pitched in three of the previous four before getting last night off, but if he pitches in this evening’s game, he should be unavailable on Saturday.
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It’s a day that ends in “y,” so the bullpen blew a lead against the Phillies.
Taking over a tied game at the bottom of the eighth, Gus Varland allowed a single, recorded an out on a bunt, and an inning-ending strikeout with a caught stealing. However, things turned when he returned for the ninth. Kyle Schwarber greeted him with a leadoff single, followed by Bryce Harper’s go-ahead two-run home run, then a Brandon Marsh single, a stolen base, an RBI double by J.T. Realmuto, and a two-run home run by Derek Hill, resulting in five earned runs and Varland’s second loss. He finished with six hits, five earned runs, and two strikeouts across his two innings.
- Clayton Beeter suffered his fourth blown save, letting two of three inherited runners score while issuing two walks and recording two outs, throwing seven of his 18 pitches for strikes (38.9 Strike%).
- Mitchell Parker was credited with his sixth hold but gave up two hits, three earned runs, and two walks while striking out one in one-third of the seventh.
It’s not all Varland’s fault, but with the bullpen running on fumes, he was demoted after the loss:
Through 82 games, the Nationals have produced the most save opportunities in the majors, 48, and also rank first in blown saves with 24. A fifty percent conversion rate does not bode well for a team with postseason aspirations. Per Baseball Reference, the most blown saves in a season are shared by the 2024 White Sox and Washington’s 2021 bullpen with 37. In Jessica Camerato’s post at MLB.com, she speculated that one of these three relievers may replace Varland on the roster:
Unless someone emerges as a trusted option, avoid this leverage ladder for saves.
Hierarchy Remains: *Clayton Beeter | *Richard Lovelady | *Brad Lord
*= closer-by-committee
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Thursday.
American League
Boston Red Sox – Working around traffic at the top of the ninth, Aroldis Chapman recorded his 15th save. His outing began with a leadoff walk to Anthony Volpe, followed by a fielder’s choice groundout by Jazz Chisolm Jr., who moved to second on a single by José Caballero. After a flyout, Paul Goldschmidt singled to load the bases, but Chapman induced a game-ending comebacker by Ben Rice, preserving the three-run lead. He threw 23 pitches (14 strikes – 60.9 Strike%) and produced two whiffs.
In his last three appearances, Chapman has allowed multiple hits and runs in the previous two. Boston hopes this will be a blip in his performance and that they can move him ahead of the trade deadline.
- Garrett Whitlock fired a clean eighth, striking out one for his 11th hold.
- Danny Coulombe stranded a runner and retired his only batter in the seventh, notching his sixth hold.
- Greg Weissert allowed a hit, an earned run, and a walk during two-thirds of the seventh, credited with his fifth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Garrett Whitlock | Justin Slaten
Houston Astros – Spoiling the combined shutout, Enyel De Los Santos allowed a one-out solo home run by Dillon Dingler, followed by a single by Riley Greene, but he bore down, inducing an inning-ending double play groundout by Colt Keith, securing his fifth save. He threw 10 pitches (80 Strike%) without a whiff. He has allowed at least an earned run in his last three appearances and in four of his last six.
- A.J. Blubaugh logged two scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out three for his fifth hold.
- Bryan Abreu was warming up before the game-ending double play.
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan King | Bryan Abreu
Texas Rangers – Despite allowing two hits, including a two-run home run by Kazuma Okamoto, Jacob Latz closed out his 15th save, finishing off a one-run win over the Blue Jays. He threw 25 pitches (72 Strike%) and generated six whiffs (24 SwStr%) while striking out two. This snapped his nine-game scoreless streak. However, he’s converted 15 of 17 save opportunities this season, posting a 0.658 WHIP with 40 strikeouts against eight walks (23 K-BB%) through 38 innings.
- Jakob Junis secured his tenth hold, retiring the side and striking out one at the bottom of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Jacob Latz | Jakob Junis | Peyton Gray
The Athletics – Capping his team’s four-run rally at the top of the ninth, Mason Barnett secured his second save, retiring the side and striking out one against the Giants’ 7-8-9 pocket. He threw 13 pitches (69.2 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
He recorded his first save on June 6, but had allowed a run in two of his three previous appearances. The Amorphous A’s roll on under Mark Kotsay. As for Barnett, he has a 1.23 ERA in his first 14.2 innings this season with a 3.23 SIERA, a 0.95 WHIP, and 19 strikeouts against seven walks (21.1 K-BB%). His usage patterns this weekend will be monitored.
- Geoff Hartlieb collected his first win, logging two scoreless frames, walking and striking out one.
- Justin Sterner let his only inherited runner score and an earned run on his ledger, serving up a home run by Victor Bericoto during one-third of the sixth.
- Matt Krook was charged with his first blown save, allowing both inherited runners to score while giving up a hit, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out one during his one-third of the sixth.
Updated Hierarchy: *Hogan Harris | *Elvis Alvarado | *Mason Barnett
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Detroit Tigers: Getting in work, Kenley Jansen allowed two hits and an earned run on a sacrifice fly. It seemed innocuous while pitching with his team trailing, but this run proved to be the deciding factor during a one-run loss. This snapped his four-game scoreless streak.
- Tampa Bay Rays: Operating as the “bulk follower,” Ian Seymour fired 6.2 hitless innings, issuing a walk and recording seven strikeouts while earning his fourth win. He threw 90 pitches (67 strikes – 74.4 Strike%) and produced ten whiffs (11.1 SwStr%).
National League
Chicago Cubs – Wrapping up a season series sweep of the Mets, Trent Thornton stranded the “courtesy runner” while retiring the side against the Mets’ 8-9-1 hitters at the bottom of the tenth, closing out his first save of the season, second of his career. He threw 10 pitches (80 Strike%) and one whiff.
- Jacob Webb worked around a walk and a throwing error for a scoreless ninth. He collected his second win courtesy of his team’s run at the top of the tenth while throwing 20 pitches (55 Strike%) with three whiffs (15 SwStr%).
- Caleb Thielbar fired a clean eighth, striking out two.
- Phil Maton suffered his second blown save, allowing a game-tying home run by Jared Young during his 1.1 innings.
Updated Hierarchy: *Jacob Webb | *Caleb Thielbar | *Trent Thornton
*= closer-by-committee
New York Mets – Tasked with the top of the tenth, Brooks Raley let the “courtesy runner” score on Pete Crow-Armstrong’s RBI double, resulting in his third loss.
- Devin Williams tossed a clean top of the ninth, striking out one while throwing 12 pitches (66.7 Strike%) with three whiffs (25 SwStr%).
- Luke Weaver fired a clean eighth, striking out the side on 11 pitches (90.9 Strike%) and producing five whiffs (45.5 SwStr%).
- Austin Warren stranded two runners at the top of the sixth and worked 1.1 scoreless frames, issuing a walk and striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Devin Williams | Luke Weaver | Brooks Raley
Pittsburgh Pirates – Although he warmed up for a potential save chance, Gregory Soto settled for closing out a four-run lead by retiring Seattle’s top of the lineup in order, including a strikeout of Cal Raleigh. He threw 17 pitches (12 strikes – 70.6 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (23.5 SwStr%) after his teammates tacked on two runs during the bottom of the eighth.
He last posted a save on June 16 and has been scoreless in three of his last four games.
- Mason Montgomery notched his eighth hold, stranding all three inherited runners at the top of the seventh and retiring all four batters faced, two via strikeout.
- Yohan Ramírez was credited with his fourth hold despite issuing two walks during one-third of the seventh.
- Evan Sisk stranded a runner in the sixth but allowed a hit and a walk in the seventh, but was awarded his fourth hold during a scoreless combined inning.
Hierarchy Remains: Gregory Soto | Mason Montgomery | Carmen Mlodzinski
San Francisco Giants – When things go badly for Caleb Kilian, it torches a fantasy team’s ratios, or at least it seems. He entered this save chance riding a nine-game scoreless streak, spanning 8.1 innings, during which he owned a 1.09 WHIP with 12 strikeouts against four walks. It had an unceremonious ending against the A’s. He allowed a leadoff single by Henry Bolte, struck out Nick Kurtz, and retired Shea Langeliers before the wheels came off the bus. A two-out walk to Tyler Soderstrom, followed by a Jonah Heim game-tying RBI single, a go-ahead RBI single by Lawrence Butler, and a two-run RBI hit by Max Muncy, resulting in his fourth loss and second blown save. Kilian allowed four hits, four earned runs, and a walk with one strikeout during two-thirds of the ninth. Here are his results from this outing:
It’s the third time in his last 14 appearances since May 19 that he’s allowed multiple runs, while being scoreless in the other 11.
- Before he entered, Dylan Smith was credited with his first hold, giving up two hits, an earned run, and striking out two in the eighth.
- Erik Miller let both inherited runners score, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out one during one-third of the seventh for his ninth hold.
- Ryan Walker gave up two hits and two earned runs during two-thirds of the seventh.
For now:
Updated Hierarchy: Caleb Kilian | Dylan Smith | Erik Miller
Quick Hit
- Philadelphia Phillies: Closing out a five-run lead, Tim Mayza retired the Nationals’ 9-1-2 hitters on 12 pitches. Orion Kerkering collected his fifth win, working around a leadoff double by Daylen Lile at the top of the eighth by retiring the next three batters, two via strikeout, ahead of his team’s five-run outburst at the top of the ninth. José Alvarado fired a clean seventh, striking out two, keeping the game tied.
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