First and foremost, a happy 250th to the United States of America. Enjoy the time with family and friends.
Friday’s 13-game slate featured five wins, eight saves, four losses, and two blown saves by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 670 saves this season by 188 different pitchers.
Here are the vulture options:
Vulture Save Options for 7.4.2026
- Alex Vesia (LAD): Scott has pitched in consecutive contests.
- Kevin Kelly (TB): Baker has appeared in back-to-back games.
- Keider Montero (DET): Have the Tigers opened up auditions for the ninth inning?
Vulture Save Stashes for 7.5.2026
- Tyron Guerrero (BOS): If Chapman and Whitlock pitch in today’s game, it will be back-to-back games.
- Andrew Kittredge (BAL): If Wells is used for the save today, this will only be the fourth time all year he’s pitched on zero days’ rest.
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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History with a side of walking the tightrope for Aroldis Chapman in Anaheim. His strikeout of Denzer Guzman leading off the ninth set the all-time record for most strikeouts by a reliever in MLB history (1,364). Following this feat, he allowed consecutive singles by Jorge Soler and Vaughn Grissom before inducing a game-ending double play groundout by Jo Adell, securing his 17th save. He threw 13 pitches (69.2 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%).
Over his last eight appearances, he has converted five of seven save opportunities and has allowed multiple hits in four contests, resulting in a 2.429 WHIP in these seven innings. It’s a small sample, but one scouts will be noting ahead of the deadline.
- Garrett Whitlock stranded a runner while retiring his only batter in the eighth, securing his 13th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Garrett Whitlock | Justin Slaten
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Friday.
American League
Baltimore Orioles – Locking down his first save of the season and first since September 28, 2023, Tyler Wells fired a clean bottom of the ninth in Cincinnati and recorded a strikeout. He threw 10 pitches (70 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (20 SwStr%).
He’s been scoreless in nine of 10 games since June 4, posting a 0.60 WHIP with 17 strikeouts against two walks (31.9 K-BB%) across 13.1 innings.
- Yennier Cano navigated around a one-out single for a scoreless eighth, securing his eighth hold.
- Rico Garcia logged two scoreless frames, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out two for his 12th hold.
It’s encouraging to see new manager Craig Albernaz go with the best pitcher rather than a veteran with closer experience. There are no guarantees this will continue, so for now:
Updated Hierarchy: *Tyler Wells | *Andrew Kittredge | Yennier Cano
*= closer-by-committee
Chicago White Sox – Tasked with a tied score at the bottom of the tenth, Sean Newcomb allowed consecutive singles by Travis Bazzanna and Kahlil Watson, scoring the “courtesy runner,” resulting in his second loss.
- Trevor Richards logged two scoreless frames, walking one and striking out three.
- Bryan Hudson was charged with his second blown save, letting both inherited runners score at the bottom of the seventh on back-to-back singles by Austin Hedges and Steven Kwan, and recorded both outs via strikeout.
- Seranthony Domínguez was credited with his third hold despite issuing two walks, resulting in two earned runs and striking out one during his one-third of the seventh.
- Chris Murphy notched his first hold, retiring the side and recording two strikeouts in the sixth.
Updated Hierarchy: *Grant Taylor | *Bryan Hudson | Trevor Richards
*= closer-by-committee
Cleveland Guardians – A rain delay forced a bullpen game when it resumed at the top of the fifth. Franco Aleman retired all four batters, one via strikeout.
- Hunter Gaddis tossed a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and striking out one.
- Colin Holderman worked a clean eighth, striking out one.
- Cade Smith retired the side in the ninth, facing 5-6-7 pocket, on 14 pitches (8 strikes – 57.1 Strike%) with one whiff.
- Erik Sabrowski collected his third win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the tenth. He stranded the “courtesy runner” while firing a clean top of the frame, striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis | Erik Sabrowski
New York Yankees – Slamming the door for his 17th save and exhibiting Dad-strength, David Bednar fired a clean top of the ninth while striking out the side against the Twins. He threw 17 pitches (64.7 Strike%) and generated five whiffs (29.4 SwStr%) in his first game back from paternity leave.
He’s amid a 13-game scoreless streak, during which he owns a 0.60 WHIP with 18 strikeouts against three walks (28.3 K-BB%) through 15 innings.
- Fernando Cruz provided a white-knuckle ride in the eighth, featuring an infield hit and two walks, ending a scoreless outing for his 14th hold.
- Paul Blackburn notched his first hold, retiring the side and striking out two in the seventh.
- Brent Headrick secured his ninth hold with a clean sixth, striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: David Bednar | Fernando Cruz | Camilo Doval
Tampa Bay Rays – Sealing a two-run lead and extending his team’s win streak to nine, Bryan Baker fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded one strikeout for his 23rd save. He threw 12 pitches (75 Strike%) and induced one whiff. Since May 17, he has converted 12 consecutive save opportunities while posting a 0.50 WHIP with 14 strikeouts against three walks (19.3 K-BB%) across 16 innings.
- Casey Legumina tossed a clean eighth for his fifth hold.
- Kevin Kelly collected his fifth win, stranding a runner in the sixth and retiring all five batters on seven pitches.
Hierarchy Remains: Bryan Baker | Kevin Kelly | Garrett Cleavinger
Toronto Blue Jays – Completing a combined shutout and his 18th save, Louis Varland worked around Dominic Canzone’s one-out single with a strikeout against Cal Raleigh, followed by a game-ending fielder’s choice groundout versus Josh Naylor. Varland threw 16 pitches (62.5 Strike%) and recorded three whiffs (18.8 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in seven of his last eight games, posting a 0.857 WHIP with 16 strikeouts versus three walks (36.1 K-BB%) while converting six saves across 9.1 innings.
- Jeff Hoffman notched his ninth hold, walking one and striking out two at the bottom of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Louis Varland | Tyler Rogers | Jeff Hoffman
Quick Hits
- Houston Astros: Taking over at the top of the seventh, Steven Okert allowed Junior Caminero’s go-ahead solo home run and recorded two strikeouts, resulting in his first loss. Enyel De Los Santos gave up two hits and an earned run with two strikeouts during his two innings.
- Los Angeles Angels: In a non-save situation during an eventual loss, Kirby Yates worked a scoreless top of the ninth, giving up a double by Willson Contreras, though he was cut down trying for a triple, ending the inning. Yates threw 13 pitches (11 strikes – 84.6 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (23.1) while recording a strikeout in his outing.
National League
Atlanta Braves – The good news is that Raisel Iglesias converted his 35th straight save dating back to last year. However, he allowed three hits, including an RBI single by Bo Bichette, before inducing a game-ending groundout by Francisco Lindor for his 17th save. He threw 22 pitches (17 strikes – 77.3 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (9.1 SwStr%). This snapped his three-game scoreless streak. On the season, he owns a 1.057 WHIP with 32 strikeouts versus six walks (22.8 K-BB%) through 29.1 innings. However, one should note his recent trends:
- Didier Fuentes notched his eighth hold, stranding a runner in the seventh and logging 1.1 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and striking out one.
- Danny Young worked two-thirds scoreless while walking one for his first hold.
- Dylan Dodd gave up a hit and struck out one during a scoreless sixth, securing his third hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Didier Fuentes | Dylan Lee
Los Angeles Dodgers – Capping his team’s comeback and shutting the door on his 12th save, Tanner Scott fired a clean top of the ninth, striking out the side against San Diego’s 8-9-1 pocket, though two right-handed pinch hitters were deployed (Samad Taylor and Miguel Andujar). He threw 18 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (11.1 SwStr%). This extended his scoreless streak to eight games, during which he’s allowed three hits (0.375 WHIP) while racking up 13 strikeouts and no walks (48.1 K-BB%) while converting all six save opportunities across eight innings.
- Edgardo Henriquez notched his sixth hold, striking out one during a clean top of the eighth.
- Kyle Hurt collected his third win, navigating around a hit and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless seventh, ahead of his team’s rally.
Hierarchy Remains: Tanner Scott | Alex Vesia | Will Klein
Miami Marlins – Summoned at the bottom of the fourth, Michael Petersen stranded a runner while issuing two walks and recording an inning-ending strikeout against Colby Thomas during his two-thirds of an inning.
- Tyler Zuber notched his third hold, giving up two hits and striking out one in a scoreless fifth.
- Calvin Faucher worked a clean sixth, striking out two.
- Lake Bachar logged two clean frames and recorded a strikeout. He was awarded his first win by the home scorer.
- Will Kempner closed out the seven-run lead with a clean bottom of the ninth, striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks | Michael Petersen | Anthony Bender
Milwaukee Brewers – Called on at the bottom of the third, Chad Patrick stranded two runners and logged 3.1 scoreless frames, allowing a hit and striking out two.
- Aaron Ashby gave up a walk during a scoreless seventh.
- Abner Uribe worked around a hit and recorded a strikeout for a scoreless eighth.
- Trevor Megill retired two batters on loud contact, allowed a single by Ketel Marte, and induced an inning-ending groundout by Geraldo Perdomo for a scoreless ninth.
- Grant Anderson collected his second win, stranding one of two “courtesy runners” while pitching the tenth and 11th innings, giving up a hit, an unearned run in the 11th, and a walk while striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Aaron Ashby
Washington Nationals – In order of appearance, Orlando Ribalta tossed a scoreless sixth, giving up a hit and striking out two.
- Justin Lawrence took over in the seventh, allowing a hit and two walks while striking out one, but was removed with two outs.
- Clayton Beeter stranded all three inherited runners, striking out Bryan Reynolds on five pitches (60 Strike%) with one whiff, notching his fourth hold. Once the team tacked on two runs at the bottom of the inning,
- Zak Kent took over in the eighth, closing out a win despite allowing seven hits and four earned runs while striking out one across two innings.
Hierarchy Remains: *Clayton Beeter | *Justin Lawrence | *PJ Poulin
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Entering at the top of the 11th, Ryan Thompson suffered his second loss, allowing two hits, four runs (two earned), and a walk while striking out two.
- Colorado Rockies: Closing out a lopsided win, Gabriel Hughes made his major league debut, throwing three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out one, resulting in his first save. He threw 53 pitches (35 strikes – 66 Strike%) and produced six whiffs (11.3 SwStr%).
- San Diego Padres: Forced into action with two runners on and no outs at the bottom of the seventh, Adrian Morejon induced a ground ball by Kyle Tucker, but he reached on a fielder’s choice error by Jake Cronenworth, followed by a go-ahead grand slam by Teoscar Hernández. Morejon finished with two hits, two runs (one earned), and two walks, resulting in his second loss and a fifth blown save.
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Statistical Credits: