Monday’s 11-game slate featured six wins, six saves, five losses, and five blown saves by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 816 saves this season by 211 different pitchers. In the previous five MLB seasons, the league average for pitchers with a save was just over 214:
This season may surpass the last five years’ 214.4 average by the trade deadline, if not the end of July.
Here are the vulture save options:
Vulture Save Option for 7.28.2026
- Tyler Wells (BAL): If he’s a free agent in your league, he projects as the ninth-inning option, though it’s not assured.
- Gregory Soto (PIT): Montgomery has worked in two straight and three of the previous four.
- Bryan Abreu (HOU): Hader has pitched in three of the previous four days.
- Samy Natera Jr. (LAA): Zeferjahn, Bachman, and Silseth have all pitched in consecutive contests.
Doubleheader Recommendations
- Cincinnati Reds: Preferred option – Julian Garcia
- Cleveland Guardians: Preferred option – Colin Holderman
Vulture Save Stashes for 7.29.2026
- Tyron Guerrero (BOS): If Chapman, Whitlock, and Slaten all pitch today, it will be back-to-back outings for the Red Sox high-leverage triumvirate.
- Fernando Cruz (NYY): If Bednar pitches today, it will be two straight and four in the last five days.
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Our Trade Deadline Market Trends for relievers entering gameplay on July 24.
Another calamity resulting in the team’s ninth loss when leading after eight innings this season. Sam Bachman took over with two runners on and one out at the top of the ninth, and induced a fielder’s choice out at home. After issuing Yordan Alvarez an intentional walk, loading the bases, he hit Isaac Paredes with a pitch, forcing in a run, walked in the go-ahead run, and had an unearned run score on his own error, before an inning-ending strikeout. Bachman suffered his third blown save, recording two outs, two walks, a hit batter, and a strikeout.
- José Fermin gets charged with his second loss and credited with his fifth hold, allowing a hit and three runs (one earned) during one-third of the ninth. A critical error by Vaughn Grissom cost him a chance at his first career save.
- Ryan Zeferjahn gave up two hits, including an RBI single by Alvarez, and struck out two in the eighth for his ninth hold.
- Chase Silseth secured his ninth hold with a scoreless seventh, walking and striking out one.
Only two teams do not have at least one reliever with five saves, and they are connected by Jordan Romano, who is tied for or leads each in them with four. As for the Angels, here is how their reliever results compare with the league average according to Baseball Reference:
Help may be on the way soon in the form of Ben Joyce. However, the team will manage his workload closely, putting him into a projected timeshare, which has been a source of frustration for fantasy managers mining saves in this bullpen.
Updated Hierarchy: *Ryan Zeferjahn | *Sam Bachman | *Samy Natera Jr.
*= closer-by-committee
Three Takeaways
A walk-off win and a trade deadline stance: Benefiting from a three-run walk-off rally at the bottom of the ninth, Calvin Faucher collected his fifth win. He worked a scoreless top of the ninth, issuing a walk and striking out two while throwing 18 pitches (50% Strike Rate) with four whiffs (22.2 SwStr%). Before the game, Craig Mish revealed the team’s modus operandi ahead of the trade deadline:
For now:
Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks | Michael Petersen | Calvin Faucher
All hands on deck for the Orioles bullpen: Protecting a three-run lead, Rico Garcia recorded his fifth save, first since June 2, retiring the side and striking out two in Detroit. Before this outing, he had suffered consecutive blown saves and allowed a home run in three straight contests. In this save, he threw 17 pitches (10 strikes – 58.8% Strike Rate) and induced two whiffs (11.8 SwStr%). Andrew Kittredge notched his sixth hold, giving up a hit and striking out one in a scoreless eighth. Grant Wolfram collected his third win, retiring all four batters, two via strikeout. Yennier Cano stranded a runner in the fifth and retired two more batters in the sixth before being removed. This was the second time all year he’s been deployed in the fifth inning; his last was on May 7. Ryan Helsley cannot return until August 29, signaling more confounding usage patterns during the high-leverage innings for Craig Albernaz.
Hierarchy Remains: *Tyler Wells | *Andrew Kittredge | Yennier Cano
*= closer-by-committee
With a five-run lead, it’s Latz? Closing out a win over Seattle in a non-save capacity, Jacob Latz took over at the top of the ninth. He allowed Josh Naylor’s leadoff double, recorded a strikeout, followed by Mitch Garver’s single and a sacrifice fly, before a game-ending strikeout. He finished with two hits, an earned run, and two strikeouts on 22 pitches (14 strikes – 63.6% Strike Rate) with three whiffs (13.6 SwStr%). He’s allowed a run in consecutive appearances, and with no days off this week for his team, this rates as a strange use of a closer.
Hierarchy Remains: Jacob Latz | Jakob Junis | Tyler Alexander
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Monday.
American League
Boston Red Sox – Securing his 25th save, Aroldis Chapman worked around Colby Thomas’ leadoff single and Nick Kurtz reaching on a one-out fielder’s choice error with three strikeouts, preserving a two-run lead against the A’s. He threw 24 pitches (75% Strike Rate) and produced three whiffs (12.5 SwStr%). Through ten appearances in July, he’s recorded a win and converted nine saves, recording a 1.10 WHIP with 13 strikeouts against five walks across ten innings.
- Garrett Whitlock notched his 20th hold, retiring the side and striking out one in the eighth.
- Jovani Morán fired a clean seventh, striking out two for his third hold.
- Justin Slaten retired both batters in the sixth, earning his 16th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Garrett Whitlock | Justin Slaten
Houston Astros – Despite issuing Zach Neto a leadoff walk and Jorge Soler a two-out walk, Josh Hader capped his team’s come-from-behind rally with a scoreless ninth, recording his 13th save. He only threw 12 of his 24 pitches for strikes and induced two whiffs (8.3 SwStr%). Through ten games this month, he owns a 1-1 record with five saves. However, he has posted a 1.625 WHIP with 12 strikeouts and five walks (18.9 K-BB%) across eight innings.
- Cristian Javier earned his first win, logging five scoreless innings, scattering three hits and striking out seven.
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Steven Okert
New York Yankees – A fantasy favorite one-out save for David Bednar, preserving a four-run win against the White Sox, stranding both inherited runners with a game-ending strikeout of Chase Meidroth. It’s his 21st save of the season and only took five pitches (60% Strike Rate) with one whiff. He’s converted all 11 save chances during his 21-game scoreless streak, during which he’s posted a 0.542 WHIP with 25 strikeouts and five walks (23.5 K-BB%) over 24 innings.
- Camilo Doval allowed an unearned run and a walk while striking out one during two-thirds of the ninth.
- Paul Blackburn fired a clean eighth, striking out one.
- Brent Headrick was awarded his sixth win, logging 1.1 scoreless innings, giving up two hits and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: David Bednar | Fernando Cruz | Brent Headrick
Toronto Blue Jays – Sealing a one-run lead and his 22nd save, Louis Varland navigated around Nasim Nuñez’s two-out single and James Wood’s walk with a game-ending strikeout. He threw 15 pitches (66.7% Strike Rate) and produced three whiffs (20 SwStr%) while recording two strikeouts. He has been scoreless in seven of his last eight appearances, posting a 1.00 WHIP with 10 strikeouts and two walks (25 K-BB%) across eight innings, converting six save chances.
- Jeff Hoffman gave up a hit and struck out three in a scoreless eighth, securing his 12th hold.
- Tyler Rogers fired a clean seventh, striking out one for his 22nd hold.
- Spencer Miles worked 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing a hit and striking out one for his third hold.
- Adam Macko served up a solo home run and recorded a strikeout, credited with his fourth hold during two-thirds of the fifth.
- Mason Fluharty was awarded his fifth win, logging 1.1 clean innings, striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Louis Varland | Tyler Rogers | Jeff Hoffman
Quick Hits
- Chicago White Sox: Trailing by five, Seranthony Domínguez allowed a hit during a scoreless top of the ninth. Sean Newcomb gave up four hits, including Ali Sánchez’s three-run home run, and four earned runs in the eighth. Bryan Hudson suffered his fourth loss, giving up two hits and an earned run while striking out one in the seventh. Trevor Richards logged two clean innings, striking out four.
- The Athletics: During a two-run loss, Hogan Harris turned in a clean top of the ninth, striking out one. Hayden Juenger retired the side in the eighth. Elvis Alvarado gave up two hits and struck out one in a scoreless seventh. José Suarez let both inherited runners score, allowing two hits, including Cedanne Rafaela’s go-ahead grand slam, two earned runs, and a walk during one third of the sixth, resulting in his first blown save.
National League
Arizona Diamondbacks – After working a scoreless bottom of the ninth, Taylor Clarke returned for the tenth, allowing a leadoff single by Endy Rodríguez, a fielder’s choice grounder by Jake Mangum, and a walk-off RBI single by Brandon Lowe, resulting in his second loss. He finished with three hits and an unearned run over his 1.1 innings.
- Jonathan Loáisiga suffered his fourth blown save, giving up two hits, including a game-tying RBI double by Bryan Reynolds, and struck out one in the eighth.
- Juan Morillo stranded two runners in the sixth and retired all four batters, two via strikeout, for his 13th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Paul Sewald | Juan Morillo | Brandyn Garcia
Philadelphia Phillies – Soft contact and a hit batter loaded the bases with no outs at the bottom of the ninth. Jhoan Duran could not navigate around these circumstances, allowing a game-tying two-RBI single by Heriberto Hernández, a bunt single by Xavier Edwards, and a walk-off RBI hit by Griffin Conine, resulting in his fourth loss and second blown save. He finished with five hits against and three earned runs in one-third of the ninth.
- Orion Kerkering notched his 11th hold, yielding a hit during a scoreless eighth.
- Jonathan Bowlan fired a clean seventh, striking out one for his sixth hold.
- José Alvarado secured his tenth hold with a clean sixth, striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Duran | Orion Kerkering | Jonathan Bowlan
Pittsburgh Pirates – Tasked with the top of the tenth against Arizona’s top of the lineup, Mason Montgomery retired Corbin Caroll (lineout), had Geraldo Perdomo reach on a throwing error, putting runners at second and third. After striking out Gabriel Moreno, Montgomery intentionally walked Ketel Marte and induced an inning-ending lineout by Max Kepler. Courtesy of a walk-off rally, he earned his fourth win, allowing a walk and striking out one in a scoreless tenth on 20 pitches (70% Strike Rate) without a whiff.
- Gregory Soto tossed a scoreless ninth, yielding a hit and striking out two.
- Ron Marinaccio retired the side in the eighth.
- Yohan Ramírez stranded two runners in the sixth and logged 1.2 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: *Gregory Soto | *Mason Montgomery | Carmen Mlodzinski
*= closer-by-committee
San Francisco Giants – Completing the combined shutout and recording his third save, Erik Miller fired a clean top of the ninth, striking out two while facing the Brewers’ 9-1-2 hitters. He threw 14 pitches (9 strikes – 64.3% Strike Rate) and induced one whiff. This outing extended his scoreless streak to 12 games, during which he owns a 0.857 WHIP with 17 strikeouts and five walks (27.3 K-BB%) over 11.2 innings. It also marked his first save since April 26.
- Dylan Smith notched his fifth hold, tossing a clean eighth and striking out one.
- Sam Hentges stranded a runner, retiring all three batters, one via strikeout, for his sixth hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Erik Miller | Dylan Smith | Sam Hentges
Quick Hits
- Atlanta Braves: Wearing one for his team, Connor Thomas allowed ten hits, 11 earned runs, and five walks while striking out two across 2.2 innings, resulting in his first loss.
- Chicago Cubs: Wrapping up a four-run lead, Jacob Webb worked around Lars Nootbar’s two-out double and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless bottom of the ninth. Trent Thornton stranded a runner in the seventh and retired four batters while yielding a hit for his second hold. Ryan Rolison issued a walk and struck out two during two-thirds of the seventh for his fourth hold. Gavin Hollowell let his only inherited runner score, giving up two hits and an earned run during one-third of the sixth.
Holds Tally
Here are the holds from Monday’s slate:
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Statistical Credits: