Friday’s slate featured seven wins, six saves, five losses, and six blown saves by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 742 saves this season by 196 different pitchers.
Here are the vulture save options:
Vulture Save Options for 7.18.2026
- Andrew Kittredge (BAL): Wells logged 29 pitches during his save last night.
- Sam Bachman (LAA): Kurt Suzuki may try a different reliever than Yates if a save chance arises.
Doubleheader Options
- Cleveland Guardians: Preferred Option – Colin Holderman; YOLO – Franco Aleman
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Preferred Option – Mason Montgomery; YOLO – Carmen Mlodzinski
Vulture Save Stashes for 7.19.2026
- Adrian Morejon (SD): If Miller pitches today, it’s back-to-back appearances.
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Both trade deadline primers were updated with statistics through the first half:
American League Trade Deadline Primer
National League Trade Deadline Primer
(Game 1) – Closing out a combined shutout, Alec Gamboa logged three innings, allowing two hits and striking out one for his first career save. He threw 43 pitches (33 strikes – 75% Strike Rate) and induced three whiffs (6.8 SwStr%).
(Game 2) – Securing his 20th save and a sweep, Aroldis Chapman fired a clean top of the ninth while striking out two against the Rays. He threw 13 pitches (84.6% Strike Rate) and generated three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%).
He has been scoreless in four of five appearances this month, converting all four save chances with six strikeouts and no walks (33.3 K-BB%).
- Justin Slaten notched his 13th hold, retiring the side and striking out one in the eighth.
- Garrett Whitlock allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless seventh for his 17th hold.
- Tyron Guerrero (10) and Jovani Morán (2) also recorded holds while Greg Weissert was awarded his second win, despite allowing two hits and retiring two batters across the third and fourth innings.
This marks the first time Boston has been at five hundred since the second game of the season. If they are not selling, it removes options in an already weak reliever market. Things can change over the next two-plus weeks, but Chapman may not be going anywhere.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Garrett Whitlock | Justin Slaten
It was not a stellar slate for the American League West. Every team in the division lost on Friday, two are highlighted in our next segment.
Three Takeaways
An eighth loss when leading after the eighth inning this season: Summoned with a runner on and two outs at the top of the ninth, Samy Natera Jr. retired his only batter (Jake Rogers) on an inning-ending flyout. Kirby Yates suffered his fifth loss and third blown save. His outing began with a hit batter (Dillon Dingler), replaced by pinch-runner James Outman, who stole second with one out. Riley Greene drew a one-out walk, and after Kerry Carpenter flied out, Hao-Yu Lee laced a go-ahead two-RBI double, prompting Yates’ removal. He has allowed at least a run in two of his last three outings. From Jeff Fletcher’s recap for The Orange County Register:
Sam Bachman notched his 14th hold, yielding a hit and striking out three in a scoreless eighth. Ryan Zeferjahn secured his seventh hold, retiring the side and striking out two in the seventh.
This should put Yates on the hot seat, but for now, although Bachman may get the next save opportunity:
Hierarchy Remains: Kirby Yates | Sam Bachman | Ryan Zeferjahn
Keider on cruise control: Earning his sixth win, second as a reliever, Keider Montero tossed 3.1 scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a hit batter while striking out five. He took over with his team trailing 1-0, then returned for the ninth after a two-run rally at the top of the frame. Montero threw 43 pitches (29 strikes – 67.4% Strike Rate) and produced seven whiffs (16.3 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in four of five appearances in July, recording a 0.846 WHIP with 14 strikeouts and four walks (19.6 K-BB%) across 13 innings. After the game, A.J. Hinch spoke about leaving Montero in this recap by Jeff Seidel for The Detroit Free Press:
Updated Hierarchy: Kenley Jansen | Kyle Finnegan | Keider Montero
Houston’s right-handed reliever void: Entering at the top of the eighth with a one-run margin, Bryan King suffered his third loss and fourth blown save, allowing two hits, including Taylor Ward’s go-ahead two-run home run. He has allowed a home run in each of his last three appearances, four total, all by right-handed batters, resulting in seven earned runs. Steven Okert recorded his 12th hold, retiring the side and striking out two in the seventh. The Astros desperately need a right-handed reliever trusted with the eighth inning in a game like this; they cannot rely solely on Josh Hader, King, and Okert in the last three innings of close contests.
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan King | Enyel De Los Santos
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Friday.
American League
Baltimore Orioles – Capping his team’s come-from-behind win, Tyler Wells worked around Jeremy Peña’s infield single and a two-out walk to Isaac Paredes with a game-ending strikeout of Christian Walker, notching his third save. He threw 29 pitches (65.5% Strike Rate) and produced four whiffs (13.8 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in six of seven outings this month, recording a win while converting all three save chances with a 0.75 WHIP and seven strikeouts against two walks (16.7 K-BB%) through eight innings.
- Andrew Kittredge posted his fifth hold, walking and striking out one in a scoreless bottom of the eighth.
- Cam Sanders stranded all three inherited runners, retiring both batters in the seventh, striking out one for his first win.
Hierarchy Remains: Tyler Wells | Andrew Kittredge | Yennier Cano
Kansas City Royals – Although he allowed two hits and three runs (one earned) at the top of the tenth, Lucas Erceg earned his fourth win courtesy of a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning.
Alex Lange suffered his first blown save, allowing a game-tying solo home run by Ty France in the ninth. He has allowed at least a run in three of his last six games, recording a 2.20 WHIP with two strikeouts and three walks over his last five innings. He has converted three of his last four save chances with bloated ratios.
- John Schreiber worked a clean top of the eighth, preserving a tied score.
- Steven Cruz gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Alex Lange | Daniel Lynch IV | John Schreiber
Minnesota Twins – Sealing a three-run lead and his 12th save, Yoendrys Gómez navigated around Ian Happ’s leadoff walk with a fielder’s choice groundout, a strikeout, and a game-ending flyout versus the Cubs. He threw 22 pitches (14 strikes – 63.6% Strike Rate) and induced one whiff. He has been scoreless in five of six games in July, converting all three save chances while posting a 1.313 WHIP with four strikeouts and three walks across 5.1 innings.
- Andrew Morris nailed down his 14th hold, retiring the side in the eighth, extending his scoreless streak to 16 games spanning 18 innings.
- Taylor Rogers retired his only batter in the seventh for his ninth hold.
- Tommy Nance let his only inherited runner score, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out one across 1.1 innings, securing his second hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Yoendrys Gómez | Andrew Morris | Taylor Rogers
Quick Hits
- Chicago White Sox: Taking over at the bottom of the seventh, Tyler Schweitzer earned his first career win, logging three scoreless frames, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out three against Toronto. He threw 54 pitches (40 strikes – 74.1% Strike Rate) and produced six whiffs (11.1 SwStr%). Seranthony Domínguez stranded a runner and retired his only batter in the sixth.
- Texas Rangers: Before today’s game, the team will activate Jakob Junis, adding a much-needed reliever to its high-leverage triumvirate.
National League
Arizona Diamondbacks – Called upon with two runners on and one out at the top of the ninth, Brandyn Garcia retired both Cardinals faced, one via strikeout, keeping his team within one.
Paul Sewald suffered his fifth loss, allowing José Fermin’s infield single on a deflected comebacker, a walk to Jimmy Crooks, and JJ Wetherholt’s single to load the bases, letting the go-ahead run score on Iván Herrera’s sacrifice fly. Sewald was removed after giving up two hits, an earned run, and a walk during one-third of the ninth, throwing 17 pitches (10 strikes – 58.8% Strike Rate) with two whiffs.
- Juan Morillo gave up a hit, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one in the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Paul Sewald | Juan Morillo | Brandyn Garcia
Los Angeles Dodgers – Shutting the door on his 14th save and preserving a one-run lead, Tanner Scott fired a clean bottom of the ninth while striking out one against the Yankees. He threw 11 pitches (72.7% Strike Rate) and induced one whiff. He’s been scoreless in 11 of his last 12 appearances, converting eight of nine save opportunities while posting a 0.67 WHIP with 19 strikeouts and two walks (39.5 K-BB%) over 12 innings.
- Alex Vesia navigated around a one-out walk and a double with a runner thrown out at home, and another walk for a scoreless eighth, resulting in his 16th hold.
- Jack Dreyer stranded two runners at the bottom of the sixth and retired all four batters, two via strikeout, earning his fourth win.
More good news in the form of another clean appearance by Edwin Díaz at Single-A with two strikeouts. His timeline for a return was shared in this tweet by Katie Woo:
Hierarchy Remains: Tanner Scott | Alex Vesia | Edgardo Henriquez
Milwaukee Brewers – Benefiting from a walkoff at the bottom of the tenth, Craig Yoho earned his first career win. He retired the side at the top of the tenth, throwing 12 pitches (66.7% Strike Rate) with one whiff.
- Trevor Megill allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth, extending his scoreless streak to 14 games.
- Abner Uribe worked a scoreless eighth, yielding a hit and striking out one.
- Aaron Ashby tossed a scoreless seventh, giving up a hit and striking out two.
- Chad Patrick worked a scoreless sixth, allowing a hit and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Aaron Ashby
San Diego Padres – Handed a three-run lead at the bottom of the tenth, Kyle Hart allowed four hits and four runs (three earned) while recording one out, resulting in his second loss and first blown save. Just a gut punch of an outcome.
Mason Miller worked into and then out of trouble at the bottom of the ninth, giving up a leadoff single, followed by a double, then an intentional walk (Bobby Witt Jr.), loading the bases before striking out the next three batters. He threw 16 pitches (13 strikes – 81.3% Strike Rate) and produced four whiffs (25 SwStr%).
- Adrian Morejon logged two innings, allowing two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one.
- Bradgely Rodriguez gave up a hit, an unearned run, and a walk with one strikeout in the seventh, charged with his fourth blown save.
This was not an optimal start to the second half for a team trying to convince the front office it can contend. The one positive note for the team, Jeremiah Estrada began his return protocols last night:
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Adrian Morejon | Bradgely Rodriguez
St. Louis Cardinals – It was save number 25 for Riley O’Brien. He protected a one-run lead despite issuing Nolan Arenado a leadoff walk, erasing the runner when he picked off pinch-runner Jorge Barrosa. With one out, he retired Ildemaro Vargas on a flyout, allowed Tim Tawa’s double, then recorded a game-ending strikeout against Ketel Marte. O’Brien threw 16 pitches (9 strikes – 56.3% Strike Rate) without a whiff. This extended his scoreless streak to eight games, during which he’s converted all seven save opportunities while posting a 0.75 WHIP with seven strikeouts and three walks over eight innings.
- Luis Gastelum issued a walk and served up a game-tying two-run home run by Corbin Carroll during the eighth, resulting in his first win and first blown save.
- George Soriano notched his 14th hold, stranding a runner and striking out one during two-thirds of the seventh.
Updated Hierarchy: Riley O’Brien | George Soriano | Ryne Stanek
Quick Hits
- Cincinnati Reds: Closing out a five-run victory in Colorado, Tejay Antone gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless bottom of the ninth. Brock Burke allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout in the eighth.
- Miami Marlins: Tasked with a tied score at the bottom of the tenth, Lake Bachar allowed a one-out walk to William Contreras and a walk-off RBI single by Garrett Mitchell, resulting in his first loss. Pete Fairbanks navigated around a hit and a walk with two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth.
- San Francisco Giants: Completing a combined shutout in Seattle, Caleb Kilian retired the side and recorded a strikeout at the bottom of the ninth. Jason Foley made his season debut with a clean eighth, striking out one.
- Washington Nationals: Amid a lopsided win over the A’s, Riley Cornelio worked two scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out five on 47 pitches (32 strikes – 68.1% Strike Rate) with 13 whiffs (27.7 SwStr%).
Holds Tally
Here are the holds from Friday’s slate:
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