Sunday’s slate featured 10 wins (one accompanied by a blown save), seven saves, seven losses, and six blown saves by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 916 saves this season by 227 different pitchers. For perspective, this season has already set an MLB record for the number of pitchers with at least one save on Sunday, with six weeks remaining.
Here are the vulture save options:
Vulture Save Options for 8.10.2026
- Chad Patrick (MIL): Megill, Uribe, and Ashby have worked in back-to-back games.
- Jeff Hoffman (MIN): Gómez and Morris have pitched in consecutive contests.
- Luis Medina (ATH): Harris has pitched in two straight games, throwing 56 pitches in them.
Vulture Save Stashes for 8.11.2026
- Didier Fuentes (ATL): If Iglesias pitches tonight, it will be consecutive appearances and three in four days.
- Ryne Stanek (STL): If O’Brien is deployed in tonight’s game, it will be back-to-back outings and three in four days.
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Today’s Takeaways
Out with the old and in with the Ginkel? Closing out a two-run lead against the Dodgers’ 5-6-7 pocket, Kevin Ginkel retired the side and recorded two strikeouts for his first save. He threw 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9% Strike Rate) and produced four whiffs (30.8 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in his last two outings, posting a win and this save.
Torey Lovullo intimated his first choice for the right-handed save share after demoting Paul Sewald from the role was going to be Jonathan Loáisiga, but his recent struggles have prevented this. Ginkel has leapfrogged Juan Morillo, the projected fireman, in this outing, but the rise may be a limited run. Justin Martinez will take his rehab outings to Triple-A starting on Tuesday:
Appearing in Triple-A games provides access to Statcast data, but he’s been reaching triple digits in his velocity in his two previous rehab outings at Single-A. He may be eased into high-leverage events once he’s activated, but there’s a pathway toward saves once he’s ready. For now:
Updated Hierarchy: *Brandyn Garcia | *Kevin Ginkel | Juan Morillo
*= closer-by-committee
In Smith, San Francisco trusts: In an eventual loss, Dylan Smith kept the game tied, firing a clean top of the ninth, striking out the side versus the Tigers’ 2-3-4 batters. He threw 17 pitches (9 strikes – 52.9% Strike Rate) and produced three whiffs (17.6 SwStr%).
Emerging as the preferred save option for the Giants has limitations. Only two teams have fewer save opportunities and saves than San Francisco this season: Los Angeles Angels (36 save opps and 16 saves), New York Mets (34 save opps and 20 saves). The Giants have produced 37 save opportunities with 22 saves, two by Smith, and the only one following the trade deadline. His outing on Sunday provides hope, but fantasy managers would prefer his WHIP being reduced moving forward.
Hierarchy Remains: Dylan Smith | Keaton Winn | Sam Hentges
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Sunday.
American League
Boston Red Sox – With the score tied at the top of the ninth, Aroldis Chapman allowed Alika Williams’ two-out single, followed by pinch-runner Donovan Walton’s stolen base, and Max Muncy’s go-ahead RBI double, resulting in his fourth loss. He finished with two hits, an earned run, and a walk in this outing. He’s allowed at least a run in consecutive appearances.
- Garrett Whitlock suffered his third blown save, giving up two hits, including Jonah Heim’s game-tying RBI double, and recorded three strikeouts in the eighth.
- Jovani Morán tossed a clean seventh, striking out one for his fourth hold.
- Tyron Guerrero notched his 15th hold, retiring the side and striking out one in the seventh.
- Brayan Bello logged four innings as the bulk follower, yielding three hits and an earned run while striking out four.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Garrett Whitlock | Justin Slaten
Chicago White Sox – Forced into a bullpen game by a weather delay, Trevor Richards survived the top of the ninth, allowing two walks and throwing two wild pitches, resulting in one earned run on a sacrifice fly, followed by a game-ending flyout, notching his first save of the season and first since 2024.
- Jordan Hicks gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless eighth for his eighth hold.
- Bryan Hudson tossed a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and striking out one, securing his eighth hold.
- Huascar Brazobán retired all five batters, striking out one, locking down his ninth hold.
- Sean Newcomb navigated around a hit and a walk with two strikeouts across 1.1 scoreless innings.
- Hagen Smith collected his first win, turning in two scoreless frames while issuing four walks with three strikeouts.
Hierarchy Remains: *Grant Taylor | *Huascar Brazobán | Bryan Hudson
*= closer-by-committee
Cleveland Guardians – Ahead of an off day, Cade Smith fired a clean bottom of the eighth, striking out one on 12 pitches (66.7% Strike Rate) with two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%).
- Hunter Gaddis worked 1.2 scoreless innings, walking one and striking out two, stranding two runners in the sixth.
- Erik Sabrowski recorded two outs and issued three walks.
- Colin Holderman logged 1.2 innings, walking one and striking out two.
- Craig Yoho suffered his first loss and first blown save, allowing two hits, four earned runs, and four walks while retiring one batter.
Hierarchy Remains: Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis | Colin Holderman
Detroit Tigers – Despite tossing two innings yesterday, Tyler Holton closed out a two-run lead at the bottom of the tenth and struck out the side, securing his second save. He threw 12 pitches (83.3% Strike Rate) and generated four whiffs (33.3 SwStr%).
Kenley Jansen fired a clean bottom of the ninth, striking out the side against the Giants’ 5-6-7 hitters on 15 pitches (11 strikes – 73.3% Strike Rate) and racking up six whiffs (40 SwStr%).
- Drew Sommers stranded a runner in the seventh and logged 1.1 scoreless innings, scattering two hits and walking one with two strikeouts.
- Kyle Finnegan let his only inherited runner score, yielding Drew Gilbert’s game-tying RBI single, and recorded a strikeout over two-thirds of the seventh.
Updated Hierarchy: Kenley Jansen | Tyler Holton | Kyle Finnegan
Tampa Bay Rays – Presented a three-run lead at the bottom of the ninth in Seattle, Steven Matz hit leadoff hitter Josh Naylor with a pitch, and with two outs, Colt Emerson reached on a fielder’s choice error, but he recorded his first save of the season, third of his career, inducing a game-ending flyout by Taylor Ward. He threw 14 pitches (71.4% Strike Rate) and produced one whiff. He has been scoreless in his last five relief appearances.
- Casey Legumina secured his seventh hold, retiring the side in the eighth.
- Cam Booser gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless seventh, notching his seventh hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Bryan Baker | Kevin Kelly | Garrett Cleavinger
The Athletics – Gutting out a scoreless bottom of the ninth, Hogan Harris worked around a hit and a walk while striking out one, preserving a one-run lead for his 11th save. He threw 20 pitches (70% Strike Rate) and produced one whiff. Despite throwing 36 pitches in a save on Saturday, he converted them on back-to-back days and has recorded five in the second half.
- Elvis Alvarado collected his fourth win, firing a clean bottom of the eighth and striking out one, keeping the game tied.
- Brady Basso worked a clean seventh.
Updated Hierarchy: Hogan Harris | Luis Medina | Elvis Alvarado
Quick Hits
- Baltimore Orioles: As the first reliever in, Yaramil Hiraldo tossed two scoreless innings, across the fourth and fifth innings, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out three, collecting his first win.
- Minnesota Twins: Tasked with a tied game at the bottom of the tenth, Yoendrys Gómez intentionally walked Garrett Mitchell, struck out William Contreras, then gave up a walk-off RBI single by Jake Bauers, resulting in his second loss.
- New York Yankees: After working a scoreless top of the ninth, Paul Blackburn returned for the tenth, letting the “courtesy runner” score on Michael A. Harris II’s leadoff single, resulting in his second loss. He only gave up a hit and an unearned run while striking out two across his two innings. Kervin Castro tossed a clean bottom of the eighth, striking out one.
- Toronto Blue Jays: Appearing in a third straight game, Lazaro Estrada allowed three hits, two runs (one earned), and a walk (intentional – Alec Bohm) at the bottom of the 12th, resulting in his first loss and first blown save.
National League
Atlanta Braves – Handed a one-run lead at the bottom of the tenth, Tyler Kinley retired the Yankees’ 6-7-8 hitters in order and struck out one, securing his first save of the season. He threw 10 pitches (70% Strike Rate) and induced one whiff.
- Raisel Iglesias collected his first win, firing a clean bottom of the ninth, striking out two on 10 pitches (70% Strike Rate) with three whiffs. This snapped his streak of multiple runs allowed at two.
- Didier Fuentes stranded a runner in the seventh, but allowed a game-tying solo home run by Trent Grisham with two outs in the eighth, resulting in his fourth blown save. He logged 1.1 innings and recorded three strikeouts.
- Dylan Dodd was credited with his tenth hold, walking and striking out one during two-thirds of the seventh inning.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Didier Fuentes | Dylan Lee
Milwaukee Brewers – Tasked with the top of the tenth, DL Hall retired the Twins’ 3-4-5 hitters in order, with a hat tip to a catch in right field by Luis Lara, and struck out one. He collected his first win on a walk-off at the bottom of the inning.
- Trevor Megill worked a clean ninth, striking out two on 13 pitches (9 strikes – 69.2% Strike Rate) with two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%), extending his scoreless streak to seven games.
- Abner Uribe navigated around two walks for a scoreless eighth. He owns a 21-game scoreless streak, dating back to June 20, spanning 21.2 innings.
- Aaron Ashby navigated around a hit and a walk for a scoreless seventh, striking out three.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Aaron Ashby
Philadelphia Phillies – Despite letting the “courtesy runner” score at the top of the 12th, Caleb Kilian collected his fourth win on a walk-off at the bottom of the inning.
- Brooks Raley fired a clean 11th.
- Tim Mayza walked one and struck out two in a scoreless top of the tenth.
- Jhoan Duran navigated around a leadoff walk and a bunt single with a strikeout, followed by an inning-ending double-play groundout by Vlad Guerrero Jr. He threw 11 pitches (45.5% Strike Rate) and induced one whiff.
- Orion Kerkering gave up four hits and three earned runs, resulting in his third blown save during the seventh.
After the game, it was reported that Kilian will undergo imaging. He suffered an injury on the last pitch of the game. This bullpen is running on fumes, and losing Kilian while Kerkering and José Alvarado’s struggles continue makes the team’s Wild Card pursuit more difficult and may cause more frustration for fantasy teams with Duran as their closer if leads dissipate before he can enter.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Duran | Orion Kerkering | Brooks Raley
St. Louis Cardinals – Shutting the door on his 29th save, Riley O’Brien retired the Rockies’ top of the lineup on eight pitches (5 strikes – 62.5% Strike Rate) without a whiff. He has been scoreless in his last seven appearances, posting a 0.857 WHIP with seven strikeouts and five walks across seven innings, converting all four save chances.
- George Soriano gave up two hits, including a game-tying Hunter Goodman solo home run, and a walk, resulting in his seventh blown save. However, his team rallied for three at the bottom of the inning, providing him with his fifth win.
- Justin Bruihl logged 1.1 clean innings, striking out one for his ninth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Riley O’Brien | George Soriano | Ryne Stanek
Quick Hits
- Colorado Rockies: After entering at the bottom of the fifth, Tanner Gordon allowed four hits, resulting in two earned runs, and struck out two over 3.1 innings. Parker Mushinski replaced him with two runners on and two outs at the bottom of the eighth, but let both score, and an earned run on his ledger, yielding two hits, tagging Gordon with his third loss.
- Miami Marlins: Taking over at the top of the fifth, Michael Petersen issued a walk and recorded two strikeouts en route to his second win.
- San Francisco Giants: Summoned with one out and a runner on at the top of the tenth, Jason Foley issued a walk and retired two batters. Sam Hentges opened the tenth, giving up two hits and two runs (one earned) during one-third of the inning, resulting in his fourth loss.
- Washington Nationals: Wrapping up a six-run lead, Jake Bird made his team debut with a clean top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts. Trevor Williams secured his first hold, logging 2.1 scoreless innings, yielding a hit and striking out two. Will Dion collected his first win, working three scoreless innings, giving up a hit and striking out one.
Holds Tally
Here are the holds from Sunday’s slate:
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