Thursday’s 9-game slate featured five wins, two saves, five losses, and two blown saves by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 662 saves this season by 186 different pitchers.
Here are the vulture options:
Vulture Save Options for 7.3.2026
- Mason Montgomery (PIT): He worked the ninth in yesterday’s game with Soto appearing in the eighth.
- Andrew Kittredge (BAL): If Helsley lands on the IL, he’s the preferred target.
Vulture Save Stashes for 7.4.2026
- Kevin Kelly (TB): If Baker pitches tonight, it’s back-to-back games.
- Jose A. Ferrer (SEA): If Muñoz is used in tonight’s game, it will be consecutive contests and three in four days.
- Keider Montero (DET): Worked a two-inning win in extras against the Yankees, and Jansen pitched in the seventh with his team trailing by six on Thursday.
Trade Deadline Primers
Our first trade deadline primers were posted on Wednesday. If you missed them, or would like to reread one:
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There was a Kenley Jansen sighting during an eventual loss in Texas. He took over with two runners on and two outs at the bottom of the seventh, issuing Josh Jung a walk, then inducing an inning-ending flyout by Ezequiel Duran. He threw nine pitches (four strikes – 44.4 Strike%) and produced one whiff. However, it’s not the type of outing fantasy managers are hoping for from the reliever who is third all-time in saves.
- Kyle Finnegan allowed three hits, including Evan Carter’s solo home run, and recorded a strikeout in the eighth, but he’s given up a home run in consecutive appearances.
In this column by Jeff Seidel for The Detroit Free Press, he cites the team’s record in games decided by two runs or fewer:
A.J. Hinch does have his back against the wall, and he has lost trust in Jansen, at least based on using him while being down by six runs in Texas. Over the last 30 days, here are the team’s Win Probability Added results, noting Keider Montero has only logged two relief outings:
In this span, Jansen has posted a 1.41 WHIP with four strikeouts against three walks (4 K-BB%), a 5.15 SIERA, and an 80 percent contact rate allowed. He’s not fooling many batters, and traffic affects him because he does not prevent stolen bases. Finnegan has a 1.46 WHIP with 15 strikeouts versus six walks (16.7 K-BB%), a 3.55 SIERA, and a 68.1 percent contact rate allowed. He’s been better, but the struggles by these two leverage relievers, combined with Will Vest landing on the injured list, open the door for Montero and anyone who shows he can get batters out during the late innings. It’s with a bit of apprehension, but:
Updated Hierarchy: *Keider Montero | *Kenley Jansen | Kyle Finnegan
*= closer-by-committee
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Thursday.
American League
Chicago White Sox – Another extended outing for Grant Taylor ended in his second loss and third blown save. He navigated around a one-out walk for a scoreless bottom of the eighth. Returning for the ninth, he issued Rhys Hoskins a leadoff walk, a leverage mortal sin, induced a flyout, then served up a walk-off, two-run home run by Brayan Rocchio. Taylor threw 29 pitches (16 strikes – 55.2 Strike%) and produced two whiffs, giving up a hit, two earned runs, and two walks while striking out two across 1.1 innings.
- Brandon Eisert was credited with his first hold despite allowing a solo home run by David Fry in the seventh.
- Sean Newcomb gave up a hit, an earned run, and two walks while striking out one for his sixth hold in the sixth.
This result was due to the lack of command. Here is Taylor’s illustrator:
And, his results:
Contact remains an issue for him, but two walks should not be happening. He’s at his best when he attacks hitters and works while ahead in the count.
Hierarchy Remains: *Grant Taylor | *Bryan Hudson | *Seranthony Domínguez
*= closer-by-committee
Seattle Mariners – Working into and then out of trouble, Andrés Muñoz preserved a combined shutout while recording his 16th save. It started with a walk to Zach Neto, who was picked off and caught stealing, which loomed large with Nolan Schanuel singled after, and a one-out single by Jorge Soler put two runners. But the closer bore down, inducing a game-ending double play groundout by Wade Meckler. Muñoz threw 15 pitches (60 Strike%) without a whiff, extending his scoreless streak to seven games, during which he has converted six saves with a 1.00 WHIP and 10 strikeouts against three walks (30.6 K-BB%).
- Eduard Bazardo fired a clean eighth, striking out two and nailing down his 18th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Eduard Bazardo | Gabe Speier
Tampa Bay Rays – Shutting the door on his 22nd save, Bryan Baker fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded a strikeout while preserving a three-run lead in Kansas City. He threw eight pitches (75 Strike%) and induced one whiff (12.5 SwStr%). Since May 17, he’s converted his last 11 save chances, posting a 0.533 WHIP with 13 strikeouts against three walks (18.5 K-BB%) through 15 innings.
- Garrett Cleavinger allowed a hit during a scoreless eighth, securing his 13th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Bryan Baker | Kevin Kelly | Garrett Cleavinger
Quick Hits
- Cleveland Guardians: Benefiting from his team’s walkoff rally, Tim Herrin collected his first win. He kept his team within one run, working a clean top of the ninth against the top of the White Sox lineup.
- Texas Rangers: As the first reliever in with a runner on and no outs, Tyler Alexander allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one during two-thirds of the sixth, securing his seventh hold. Peyton Gray stranded all three inherited runners in the sixth and recorded an out in the seventh, giving up a hit and a walk with one strikeout during his two-thirds of an inning for his fifth hold.
National League
Atlanta Braves – With a runner on and one out, Tyler Kinley retired both batters at the top of the sixth. However, when he returned for the seventh, things went off the rails. He allowed a leadoff single by Masyn Winn, followed by a go-ahead two-run home run by Marc Church, and issued a walk before being removed. He suffered his third loss and third blown save, giving up two hits, three earned runs, and a walk during two-thirds of an inning.
- Dylan Lee replaced him, letting his only inherited runner score, allowing three hits and three earned runs during one-third of the seventh, ending his 13-game scoreless streak.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Didier Fuentes | Dylan Lee
Colorado Rockies – Forced into action at the top of the fifth with two runners on and one out, Brennan Bernardino quelled the rally, retiring Heriberto Hernández (flyout) and Jakob Marsee (lineout). Returning for the sixth, he allowed a hit and departed after tossing 1.1 scoreless innings, then collected his third win courtesy of his team’s seven-run rally at the bottom of the sixth.
- Victor Vodnik stranded a runner in the sixth despite giving up a hit and worked 1.1 scoreless frames, notching his fourth hold.
- Zach Agnos closed out the lopsided contest with two scoreless innings, yielding a hit and striking out two.
Updated Hierarchy: *Jimmy Herget | *Brennan Bernardino | Victor Vodnik
*= closer-by-committee
Los Angeles Dodgers – Pressed into action with two runners on and two outs with a six-run lead, Tanner Scott took over and allowed an RBI single by pinch-hitter Miguel Andujar, then induced a game-ending groundout by Ty France, finishing a comeback win over the Padres, throwing five pitches (60 Strike%) without a whiff.
- Paul Gervase issued two walks, resulting in an earned run, and recorded a strikeout during two-thirds of the ninth.
- Edgardo Henriquez (IP, K), Alex Vesia (IP, BB, K), and Brock Stewart (IP, H) all worked scoreless appearances between the sixth and eighth innings.
- Will Klein collected his third win, logging two scoreless frames across the fourth and fifth innings, yielding a hit and striking out three.
Noting the outing turned in by Gervase was not effective, the good news is that it potentially provides a path for the team to activate Evan Phillips:
This will give the team another strong right-handed relief option for the late innings. Also, more positive news for the Dodgers:
After the All-Star break, the leverage ladder could have Edwin Díaz, Scott, Phillips, and Vesia available from the sixth inning on.
Hierarchy Remains: Tanner Scott | Alex Vesia | Will Klein
Pittsburgh Pirates – Operating as the “bulk reliever” behind Jared Jones, Carmen Mlodzinski took over a tied game at the bottom of the fifth and logged three scoreless frames while giving up two hits against the Phillies. He collected his fifth win as a result, throwing 35 pitches (26 strikes – 74.3 Strike%) and recording five whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in his last four multi-inning outings.
- Gregory Soto worked a clean bottom of the eighth while striking out one against the Phillies’ top of the lineup.
- Mason Montgomery closed out the five-run margin by striking out the side in the ninth on 14 pitches (11 strikes – 78.6 Strike%) with five whiffs (35.7 SwStr%).
There is a saying that once is a mistake, but twice is a trend. This marked the second time this week Soto worked ahead of Montgomery.
Hierarchy Remains: *Mason Montgomery | *Yohan Ramírez | *Gregory Soto
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Miami Marlins: During his two innings at Coors, John King allowed a walk and a two-run home run by Jake McCarthy, resulting in his second loss, snapping his eight-game scoreless streak. Calvin Faucher struggled, giving up three hits, four earned runs, and a walk while striking out one in one-third of the sixth.
- Philadelphia Phillies: Entering a tied game at the top of the seventh, José Alvarado gave up three hits, two earned runs, and recorded a strikeout, resulting in his third loss.
- San Diego Padres: Suffering his first loss, Wandy Peralta entered with a two-run lead at the bottom of the fourth and proceeded to allow six hits and four earned runs while striking out two in the inning.
- St. Louis Cardinals: Taking over at the bottom of the sixth, Gordon Graceffo retired the side, and his teammates scored seven runs at the top of the seventh, resulting in his sixth win.
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Statistical Credits: