Saturday’s slate featured three wins, eight saves, three losses, and one blown save by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 678 saves this season by 190 different pitchers.
Here are the vulture options:
Vulture Save Options for 7.5.2026
- Andrew Kittredge (BAL): Wells and Cano have pitched in back-to-back games.
- Kevin Ginkel (ARI): Sewald has worked in consecutive contests.
Vulture Save Stashes for 7.6.2026
- Adrian Morejon (SD): If Miller pitches today, it will be two straight appearances.
- Bryan Abreu (HOU): If Hader and King pitch today, it’s back-to-back games.
- Erik Miller (SF): If Kilian pitches in Coors today, it will be consecutive contests.
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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Appearing in back-to-back games for only the fourth time this season, Tyler Wells navigated around Elly De La Cruz’s leadoff single and a walk to Sal Stewart by bearing down, retiring the 3-4-5 Reds’ hitters, preserving a three-run lead for his second save. He threw 16 pitches (62.5 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
- Andrew Kittredge secured his fourth hold, firing a clean eighth and striking out one.
If one is a mistake but twice is a trend, then Wells should be considered the preferred save option with Ryan Helsley on the injured list, having recorded saves in consecutive games.
However, after the game, Craig Albernaz would not name a closer in Helsley’s interim, though teams prefer not to do so to placate their sidelined closer. He suggested that the late innings will be situational dependent in this column by Rich Dubroff for the Baltimore Banner:
It also included an update on Félix Bautista:
Updated Hierarchy: Tyler Wells | Andrew Kittredge | Yennier Cano
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Saturday.
American League
Chicago White Sox – Sealing a two-run lead and his third save, Grant Taylor issued Gabriel Arias a two-out walk but induced a game-ending groundout by David Fry. He threw 17 pitches (9 strikes – 52.9 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (11.8 SwStr%), while recording one strikeout. Bouncing back from his loss on Thursday, Taylor’s command was not pristine, but challenging hitters with his fastball will benefit him.
He’s been scoreless in three of his last four games, recording two wins and this save.
- Brandon Eisert fired two clean frames with two strikeouts and collected his second win.
Hierarchy Remains: *Grant Taylor | *Bryan Hudson | Trevor Richards
*= closer-by-committee
Detroit Tigers – Preserving a combined shutout and recording his first regular-season save, Keider Montero logged three scoreless frames while allowing a walk in Texas. He threw 36 pitches (63.9 Strike%) without a whiff, retiring nine of ten batters. He owns a three-game scoreless streak, spanning 12 innings, five as a reliever, recording two wins and this save while posting a 0.75 WHIP with six strikeouts versus three walks.
- Tyler Holton notched his ninth hold, stranding a runner and retiring his only batter (Brandon Nimmo) on a groundout at the bottom of the sixth.
It’s clear A.J. Hinch trusts Montero, but who will record the next traditional save for the Tigers?
Hierarchy Remains: *Keider Montero | *Kenley Jansen | Kyle Finnegan
*= closer-by-committee
Houston Astros – Keeping the game tied while working around a two-out walk with an inning-ending strikeout, Josh Hader collected his third win on Yordan Alvarez’s walk-off home run at the bottom of the frame. He threw 17 pitches (12 strikes – 70.6 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (23.5 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in his last seven games and in 13 of his first 14 this season, posting a 0.571 WHIP with 22 strikeouts against six walks (32 K-BB%) through 14 innings.
- Bryan King allowed a hit and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless eighth.
- Cristian Javier made his season debut, tossing two innings, giving up two hits, including a solo home run, and one walk while striking out four.
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan King | Bryan Abreu
Minnesota Twins – Summoned with the bases loaded and two outs, Taylor Rogers induced a flyout by pinch hitter Paul Goldschmidt. He returned for the seventh, hitting Ben Rice with a pitch, then retired Cody Bellinger before being removed. The home scorer awarded Rogers his fourth win for his efforts.
- Andrew Morris stranded his only inherited runner, retiring both batters in the seventh, one via strikeout, for his 12th hold.
- Marco Raya logged two scoreless frames, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out two, finishing off his team’s seven-run margin.
Hierarchy Remains: Yoendrys Gómez | Andrew Morris | Taylor Rogers
Tampa Bay Rays – It was not a stellar night for the bullpen. Cole Sulser was credited with his seventh hold despite allowing two hits, three earned runs, and a walk, facing batters in the sixth and seventh innings.
- Garrett Cleavinger let two of three inherited runners score on a sacrifice fly and a single, lifted after two outs, and credited with his 14th hold.
- Craig Kimbrel allowed one of his two inherited runners to score, yielding a single and striking out one across his 1.1 innings, tagged with his first blown save.
- Casey Legumina suffered his second loss, walking Jose Altuve, then serving up a walk-off home run by Yordan Alvarez.
Hierarchy Remains: Bryan Baker | Kevin Kelly | Garrett Cleavinger
Quick Hits
- Cleveland Guardians: With the score tied at the top of the eighth, Tim Herrin allowed Colson Montgomery’s go-ahead solo home run, resulting in his fourth loss.
- New York Yankees: Although the runs were unearned, the results cannot be ignored by fantasy managers. Camilo Doval allowed three hits, and his defense did not help, but a one-out single, followed by a sacrifice fly, another single, then a three-run home run by Josh Bell, finished in four runs on three hits while striking out two. It’s tough trusting him in any high-leverage situation right now.
- The Athletics: Entering at the top of the fifth, Elvis Alvarado stranded a runner, issuing a walk and recording a strikeout versus the Marlins. He has been scoreless in his last four games, but has pitched in the fifth or sixth inning in his last three.
National League
Arizona Diamondbacks – Despite giving up Jackson Chourio’s solo home run, Paul Sewald posted his 20th save in an eventual one-run win over the Brewers while recording two strikeouts. He threw 13 pitches (11 strikes – 84.6 Strike%) and generated five whiffs (38.5 SwStr%). He’s had a rough patch, allowing at least a run in four of his past six appearances, including 10 hits with three home runs, resulting in a 1.94 WHIP with six strikeouts versus one walk across 5.2 innings. It’s a limited sample, but one fantasy players hope he rebounds from.
- Juan Morillo notched his ninth hold, yielding a hit and striking out one in a scoreless eighth.
- Brandyn Garcia secured his ninth hold, allowing a hit in a scoreless eighth.
- Jonathan Loáisiga gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless seventh for his sixth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Paul Sewald | Kevin Ginkel | Brandyn Garcia
Atlanta Braves – Pressed into action with two runners on and no outs at the top of the fifth, Dylan Lee stranded both, striking out all three Mets’ batters on 11 pitches (81.8 Strike%) with five whiffs (45.5 SwStr%) for his 17th hold.
J.R. Ritchie finished off the lopsided win for his first career save. He scattered three hits and issued a walk while striking out four on 46 pitches (24 strikes – 52.2 Strike%) with three whiffs.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Didier Fuentes | Dylan Lee
Los Angeles Dodgers – Capping a combined shutout, Will Klein secured his second save with a clean top of the ninth and two strikeouts against the Padres’ 3-4-5 pocket. He threw 16 pitches (11 strikes – 68.8 Strike%) and produced one whiff.
- Alex Vesia stranded a runner and retired Jake Cronenworth via strikeout for his 14th hold during one-third of the eighth.
- Brock Stewart notched his second hold, allowing a hit during two-thirds of the eighth.
This leverage continues to get healthy, and one of the first reinforcements will be activated today:
Hierarchy Remains: Tanner Scott | Alex Vesia | Will Klein
Pittsburgh Pirates – Taking over with a four-run lead, Yohan Ramírez stranded a runner for Braxton Ashcraft, recording the last out of the sixth, striking out Dylan Crews. Returning for the seventh, he issued consecutive walks, induced a double play groundout, then was removed after walking James Wood.
- Mason Montgomery notched his ninth hold, stranding all three runners with an inning-ending strikeout of pinch-hitter Andrés Chaparro.
- After the Pirates scored two more runs, Dennis Santana tossed a clean bottom of the eighth, striking out one.
- Cam Sanders closed out the six-run lead, retiring the side and striking out one in the ninth.
Seeing Montgomery at the highest-leverage moment makes it tough to say he will be the primary save share this month. This could be a full-blown committee based on in-game matchups.
Updated Hierarchy: *Mason Montgomery | *Gregory Soto | *Dennis Santana
*= closer-by-committee
San Diego Padres – Making his first appearance in July, Mason Miller showed signs of rust, hitting Tommy Edman leading off the bottom of the eighth, and with him at second, Freddie Freeman produced an RBI single before an inning-ending double-play against Mookie Betts. Miller finished with a hit and an earned run while throwing 13 pitches (7 strikes – 53.8 Strike%) with one whiff. He has not had a save opportunity since June 22 and has only appeared in three games since.
- Kyle Hart worked two innings, allowing Freeman’s solo home run and striking out three.
- Griffin Canning suffered his sixth loss while being the “bulk follower.” He gave up two hits, an earned run, and two walks while recording four strikeouts.
In his column for The San Diego Union-Tribune, Bill Krasovic ponders whether the team should float Miller’s name in trade talks if the team’s struggles continue:
Stay tuned, things could get bumpy for the Padres.
Updated Hierarchy: Mason Miller | Adrian Morejon | Bradgely Rodriguez
San Francisco Giants – Bending but not breaking at Coors Field, Caleb Kilian recorded his eighth save, allowing an infield single and a two-out RBI hit by TJ Rumfield before a game-ending strikeout. He threw 15 pitches (11 strikes – 73.3 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (26.7 SwStr%) while striking out two. His results chart shows the fastballs were well located:
He’s converted four of his last five save chances since June 23 but has been scoreless in only two contests.
- Dylan Smith notched his third hold, walking one during a scoreless bottom of the eighth.
- Sam Hentges tossed a clean seventh, striking out one for his third hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Caleb Kilian | Dylan Smith | Erik Miller
St. Louis Cardinals – Through multiple delays, Riley O’Brien preserved his team’s combined shutout of the Cubs, working around a one-out walk to Michael Conforto with a game-ending double-play groundout, securing his 22nd save. He threw 13 pitches (7 strikes – 53.8 Strike%) and induced one whiff while recording one strikeout. Over his last ten games, he’s converted all eight save opportunities while posting a 1.30 WHIP with more walks (7) than strikeouts (6) and a 7.5 percent swinging strike rate.
- JoJo Romero navigated around a hit and a walk with two strikeouts in the eighth for his 20th hold.
- Ryne Stanek gave up a hit and recorded a strikeout in the seventh, notching his 15th hold.
- George Soriano fired a clean sixth, striking out two for his 12th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Riley O’Brien | JoJo Romero | George Soriano
Quick Hits
- Colorado Rockies: Making his team debut, Jordan Romano gave up a hit and struck out two at the top of the ninth during an eventual loss to the Giants. Antonio Senzatela allowed a hit in a scoreless top of the eighth. Juan Mejia stranded two runners in the sixth and logged 1.1 scoreless frames, walking one and striking out two.
- Milwaukee Brewers: During an eventual loss, Craig Yoho retired all eight batters faced, one via strikeout, while throwing 27 pitches (19 strikes – 70.4 Strike%) with three whiffs (11.1 SwStr%).
- Washington Nationals: As the “bulk follower,” Zach Littell let all three inherited runners score at the top of the second. However, he logged six innings, giving up four hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out three.
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