Saturday’s slate featured eight wins (three of which were accompanied by blown saves), 11 saves, five losses, and five blown saves by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 728 saves this season by 194 different pitchers. On the precipice of the All-Star break and the conclusion of the first half, here are the save trends since 2021 through the end of last season:
Only four more pitchers need a save to match the entire 2021 season in the second half, and it’s clear that the 214 relievers with at least one save will be cleared. How many different pitchers will record one by the end of 2026 will be intriguing to track.
Here are the vulture save options:
Vulture Save Options for 7.12.2026
- Ryne Stanek (STL): O’Brien has pitched in back-to-back games and three of the previous four.
- Jordan Hicks (CHW): Taylor (1.2 IP – 22 pitches) and Newcomb (1.1 IP – 25 pitches) each worked multiple innings on Saturday. They could work one-inning outings today, but if they are not used, it opens the door for a Hicks vulture opportunity. It’s a coin flip.
- Angel Chivilli (NYY): Bednar has pitched in consecutive contests, logging three innings, and Cruz has worked in two straight. Doval has been the pivot here, but playing a hunch. One caveat: with the break looming, they may go all-in and use Bednar for a third straight game.
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Both trade deadline primers were updated with statistics entering play on July 10:
American League Trade Deadline Primer
National League Trade Deadline Primer
Three Takeaways
Instead of a lead, here are the three first saves of the season from Saturday’s slate.
In Mason we trust (hope): Preserving a one-run lead in Game 2 of Saturday’s sweep, Mason Montgomery worked around Christian Yelich’s leadoff walk and recorded two strikeouts for his first save of the season and second of his career. He threw 27 pitches (17 strikes – 63% Strike Rate) and produced two whiffs (7.4 SwStr%).
Riding a six-game scoreless streak, he has racked up 11 strikeouts and two walks (47.4 K-BB%) with a 0.563 WHIP over 5.1 innings. However, he’s entered games in the fifth inning once, the seventh inning twice, and the ninth inning three times. His role may not be assured, but he’s an intriguing upside play for the second half, though the Pirates may be buying ahead of the trade deadline. However, in the short term, his underlying data compares favorably with that of his current teammates. Montgomery has a 2.77 SIERA, a 3.21 xERA, a 1.30 WHIP, and a 24.1 K-BB percentage, with results trending in the right direction:
Updated Hierarchy: *Gregory Soto | *Mason Montgomery | *Yohan Ramírez
*= closer-by-committee
Colin fills in capably: Closing out a three-run lead in Miami, Colin Holderman recorded his first save of the season and first since September 4, 2025. He retired the side on 11 pitches (72.7% Strike Rate) without a whiff. He has been scoreless in his last three outings. He has moved ahead of Shawn Armstrong in the leverage hierarchy, and will be noted the next time the Guardians use Cade Smith and Hunter Gaddis in three straight games.
Hierarchy Remains: Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis | Erik Sabrowski
Brubaker’s career first: Sealing a two-run lead and his first career save, JT Brubaker logged two innings, allowing Kyle Karros’ solo home run and striking out two. He threw 25 pitches (64% Strike Rate) without a whiff. He has allowed at least one run in three of his last four appearances, but became the ninth Giants pitcher to record a save this season. Welcome to 2026.
Hierarchy Remains: Caleb Kilian | Dylan Smith | Erik Miller
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Saturday.
American League
Baltimore Orioles – Wrapping up a five-run lead against the Royals, Tyler Wells fired a clean top of the ninth, striking out one on 12 pitches (66.7% Strike Rate) with two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%).
- Yennier Cano retired his only batter via strikeout in the eighth.
- Grant Wolfram stranded two runners in the seventh and retired all three batters, striking out one, for his 11th hold.
There will be times Wells gets used against an opponent’s toughest lineup pocket, but he and Kittredge have a bit of a window for more save chances with the latest update regarding Ryan Helsley:
Hierarchy Remains: Tyler Wells | Andrew Kittredge | Yennier Cano
Chicago White Sox – Thrust into the fire with a runner on third and one out at the top of the eighth, protecting a 1-0 lead, Grant Taylor struck out Shea Langeliers and induced an inning-ending groundout by Jonah Heim. Returning for the ninth, he secured his fourth save, working around a one-out walk with his second strikeout and a game-ending lineout. Taylor threw 22 pitches (14 strikes – 63.6% Strike Rate) and produced three whiffs (13.6 SwStr%) across his 1.2 scoreless innings. He has a modest three-game scoreless streak and has posted a save in two of his last three appearances.
- Sean Newcomb notched his seventh hold, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out one.
- Erick Fedde earned his fifth win, logging four scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out three.
Updated Hierarchy: *Grant Taylor | *Sean Newcomb | Jordan Hicks
*= closer-by-committee
Minnesota Twins – Navigating around Mike Trout’s one-out single and a walk, Yoendrys Gómez induced Jorge Soler’s pop-out and a game-ending strikeout of Vaughn Grissom for his 11th save, his tenth as a Twin. He threw 18 pitches (11 strikes – 61.1% Strike Rate) and produced two whiffs (11.1 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in four of five games in July, recording a win and two saves with a 1.386 WHIP over 4.1 innings.
- Woo-Suk Go allowed a hit and a walk during a scoreless eighth for his first hold.
- Tommy Nance gave up two hits and an earned run while striking out two in the seventh, resulting in his second blown save and his second win.
Hierarchy Remains: Yoendrys Gómez | Andrew Morris | Taylor Rogers
New York Yankees – Capping his team’s comeback, David Bednar notched his 18th save, allowing a two-out single by James Wood and striking out one in a scoreless bottom of the ninth. He threw 11 pitches (81.8% Strike Rate) and induced one whiff (9.1 SwStr%). This extends his scoreless streak to 16 games, during which he’s posted a 0.526 WHIP with 20 strikeouts and three walks (25 K-BB5) through 19 innings.
- Fernando Cruz secured his 16th hold, retiring the side in the eighth.
- Brent Headrick gave up two hits and a walk while striking out one in one-third of the seventh, collecting his fifth win.
Hierarchy Remains: David Bednar | Fernando Cruz | Camilo Doval
Quick Hits
- Boston Red Sox: Completing a combined shutout, Danny Coulombe logged two scoreless innings despite issuing three walks. Justin Slaten stranded an inherited runner, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out two in his two-thirds of the seventh, securing his 12th hold. Jovani Morán earned his second win, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings, walking one and striking out one.
- Detroit Tigers: In an eventual loss, Kenley Jansen allowed a hit and struck out one during a scoreless top of the ninth, throwing 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9% Strike Rate) with two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%). Tyler Holton tossed a scoreless eighth, yielding a hit and striking out one. Drew Anderson retired all four batters, two via strikeout.
- Los Angeles Angels: After his team tied the game, Mitch Farris allowed two earned runs at the bottom of the seventh, resulting in his first loss. He finished with six hits allowed and two strikeouts across his two innings. José Fermin tossed a scoreless eighth, walking and striking out one.
- Toronto Blue Jays: While logging two innings in San Diego, Mason Fluharty allowed two hits, including Ty France’s go-ahead solo home run, and struck out one, resulting in his first loss.
National League
Chicago Cubs – Pressed into action with two runners on and two outs, Trent Thornton induced a game-ending groundout by Sal Stewart, securing his fourth save on three pitches, all strikes, with one whiff. He has been scoreless in nine of his last ten games, posting a 0.778 WHIP with four strikeouts and one walk over nine innings.
- Ryan Rolison allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one in two-thirds of the ninth for his third hold.
- Jacob Webb issued a one-out walk and struck out one in a scoreless eighth, notching his seventh hold.
- Caleb Thielbar recorded his seventh hold, yielding a hit and striking out two in a scoreless seventh.
- Drew Pomeranz allowed a game-tying solo home run by JJ Bleday among his two hits and a walk, resulting in his third blown save, but he earned his second win on his team’s rally at the top of the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: *Jacob Webb | *Trent Thornton | Caleb Thielbar
*= closer-by-committee
Philadelphia Phillies – Shutting the door on his 24th save, Jhoan Duran retired the side against Detroit’s 7-8-9 hitters, including two pinch-hitters, on eight pitches (87.5% Strike Rate) with two whiffs. He’s converted eight straight save chances amid an 11-game scoreless streak, posting a 0.818 WHIP with 17 strikeouts and one walk (38.1 K-BB%) across 11 innings.
- Jonathan Bowlan stranded one of two inherited runners, issuing a walk in a scoreless bottom of the eighth to secure his fifth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Duran | Brad Keller | Orion Kerkering
Pittsburgh Pirates – (Game 1) – Gregory Soto held on for his 12th save, working around Christian Yelich’s leadoff single, Brice Turang’s one-out walk, and a fielding error, then finished with a game-ending double-play groundout by Andrew Vaughn, preserving a one-run lead. He threw 20 pitches (50% Strike Rate) and induced one whiff. It’s his first save since June 16. However, in his last 9.1 innings, he’s posted a 1.551 WHIP with nine strikeouts and nine walks.
- Carmen Mlodzinski earned his sixth win, logging three innings, allowing three hits, an earned run, and two walks while striking out two. This snapped his five-game scoreless streak, but he’s notched a win in two of three appearances in July.
San Diego Padres – Locking down his 24th save, Mason Miller allowed Nathan Lukes’ leadoff single, then retired the next three batters, two on strikeouts, preserving a one-run lead. He threw 14 pitches (71.4% Strike Rate) and produced three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in his last three and has recorded multiple strikeouts in his last two.
- Adrian Morejon notched his 15th hold, giving up a hit and striking out one in a scoreless eighth.
- Bradgely Rodriguez suffered his third blown save, serving up a game-tying three-run home run by Vlad Guerrero Jr., letting both inherited runners score, but he earned his second win while logging 1.1 innings.
- Yuki Matsui hit a batter and issued a walk, resulting in two earned runs while being credited with his fourth hold during two-thirds of the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Adrian Morejon | Bradgely Rodriguez
St. Louis Cardinals – Despite issuing a leadoff walk to Drake Baldwin and hitting Dominic Smith with a pitch, Riley O’Brien recorded his 24th save, sealing a three-run lead against Atlanta. He induced two lineouts and a game-ending strikeout, throwing 18 pitches (50% Strike Rate) without a whiff. He’s been scoreless in his last seven appearances, converting all six save opportunities while posting a 0.571 WHIP with six strikeouts and two walks across seven innings.
- George Soriano notched his 13th hold, firing a clean eighth and striking out two.
- Luis Gastelum allowed two hits, including Mauricio Dúbon’s solo home run, and struck out two in the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Riley O’Brien | JoJo Romero | George Soriano
Washington Nationals – Another day and another blown save. In order of appearance, Tom Cosgrove logged 1.1 clean innings, striking out two for his second hold.
- Orlando Ribalta served up a solo home run to Ryan McMahon and was lifted after issuing a walk, resulting in two earned runs in one-third of the seventh, and was credited with his eighth hold.
- Clayton Beeter took over with a runner on and allowed Trent Grisham’s go-ahead two-run home run, followed by Paul Goldschmidt’s solo shot, and was removed after Cody Bellinger’s double. He finished with two earned runs on three hits, resulting in his second loss and fifth blown save.
- Matt Krook stranded his only inherited runner, retiring five of six batters, walking one and striking out one.
In this game, Blake Butera went with the right-handed relievers he had passed over on Friday, and the results were, unfortunately, the same. According to Baseball-Reference, two teams share the record for the most blown saves in a season at 37: the 2021 Nationals and the 2024 Chicago White Sox. Through 98 games, this iteration of the Nationals has already recorded 27, well ahead of pace to set a dubious record.
Hierarchy Remains: *Clayton Beeter | *PJ Poulin | *Orlando Ribalta
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Cincinnati Reds: With the score tied at the top of the seventh, Julian Garcia issued Seiya Suzuki a one-out walk, then served up Alex Bregman’s go-ahead two-run home run, resulting in his second loss.
- Milwaukee Brewers: Taking over with a runner on and no outs at the bottom of the seventh in Game 1, Aaron Ashby allowed three hits, including Esmerlyn Valdez’s go-ahead grand slam, putting three earned runs on his ledger, and struck out three, resulting in his second loss and fifth blown save.
Holds Tally
Here are the holds from Saturday’s slate:
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Statistical Credits: