Monday’s 10-game slate featured eight wins (one accompanied by a blown save), six saves, four losses, and five blown saves by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 922 saves this season by 229 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, and two more in last night’s slate.
Here are the vulture save options:
Vulture Save Options for 8.11.2026
- Bryan Abreu (HOU): Hader logged two innings for the first time this season in his outing last night.
- Edgardo Henriquez (LAD): Díaz and Scott have appeared in three of the previous four games.
- Braydon Fisher (TOR): Varland has pitched in four of the last six days; Rogers has worked in consecutive contests and in four of the last six also.
Vulture Save Stashes for 8.12.2026
- Jeremiah Estrada (SD): If Miller and Morejon pitch tonight, it will be back-to-back appearances and three in four days.
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Taking over at the bottom of the ninth against Atlanta’s 3-4-5 pocket, Kodai Senga recorded consecutive strikeouts of Matt Olson and Michael Harris II, walked Ozzie Albies, then induced a game-ending flyout by Mauricio Dubón for his first career save. He threw 18 pitches (10 strikes – 55.6% Strike Rate) and produced two whiffs (11.1 SwStr%).
He has been scoreless in three relief appearances this month, posting a 0.67 WHIP with four strikeouts and two walks.
- Daniel Duarte was awarded his first win, walking one during two scoreless innings.
- Nate Lavender worked a scoreless sixth, walking and striking out one, and was removed after allowing Harris II’s leadoff double in the seventh, credited with his third hold.
Although the Mets insist it will be a short stay on the injured list for Devin Williams, and intimated saves will be shared, this game led right to Senga, who should be viewed as the preferred option in the interim.
Updated Hierarchy: Kodai Senga | Daniel Duarte | Nate Lavender
Today’s Takeaways
Suzuki and stubbornness: In an eventual loss, Ben Joyce fired a clean eighth against the Rangers’ 3-4-5 hitters, striking out one on 14 pitches (71.4% Strike Rate) with four whiffs (28.6 SwStr%). He has not been used in a save situation since his activation. It’s time to take the training wheels off if he’s the closer of the future. Samy Natera Jr. gave up Justin Foscue’s leadoff single and moved him to second on a wild pitch, then bore down, striking out the next two batters and inducing an inning-ending flyout, keeping the game tied at the top of the ninth. With his two best relievers already deployed, Kurt Suzuki summoned Luke Murphy, who issued Wyatt Langford a leadoff walk, followed by Corey Seager’s single to load the bases, prompting his removal. However, all three runners scored, putting two earned runs on his ledger along with his first loss in one-third of the inning. Blake Weimen took over, allowing consecutive singles by Brandon Nimmo and Jake Burger, scoring all three inherited runners, then retired the next two batters.
Angels’ relievers have suffered 29 losses this season through the team’s first 119 games and only converted 16 of 36 save chances (44.4% success rate). Perhaps the matchups-based approach is not working?
Updated Hierarchy: *Samy Natera Jr. | *Ben Joyce | José Fermin
*= closer-by-committee
Another leverage loss for the Giants: Tasked with the top of the tenth, Jason Foley allowed two hits, three runs (two earned), and two walks en route to his first loss while facing the Astros. Dylan Smith was within one strike of finishing the game, but allowed a game-tying RBI single by Cam Smith after moving the runner to second on a wild pitch during the at-bat, resulting in his second blown save. Smith finished with a hit, an earned run, and a walk on 15 pitches (8 strikes – 53.3% Strike Rate) with two whiffs, appearing in back-to-back games and the third time in four days. Keaton Winn retired both batters in the eighth for his 14th hold. Sam Hentges faced three batters across the sixth and seventh innings, retiring all of them and striking out one. JT Brubaker suffered his first blown save, serving up a game-tying solo home run by Smith at the top of the seventh.
Command wanes when a reliever is fatigued, and Smith fired a clean ninth on Sunday, striking out the side, and almost held on for the save last night, but a wild pitch and a timely hit were his undoing. As a team, the Giants have 21 losses by relievers this season and 22 saves in 39 save opportunities. It’s been a tough learning curve for Tony Vitello.
Hierarchy Remains: Dylan Smith | Keaton Winn | Sam Hentges
Bowlan answered the bell: Locking down his first career save, Jonathan Bowlan fired a clean bottom of the ninth against the Cardinals’ top of the lineup, protecting a one-run margin. He threw 10 pitches (70% Strike Rate) and induced one whiff while recording one strikeout. This extends his scoreless streak to five games, during which he has a 0.40 WHIP with eight strikeouts and one walk (41.2 K-BB%) over five innings.
This was important because the bullpen has been used heavily in August:
Adjusted Hierarchy: Jhoan Duran | Jonathan Bowlan | Brooks Raley
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Monday.
American League
Houston Astros – After keeping the game tied with a clean bottom of the ninth, Josh Hader returned for the tenth with a three-run lead and preserved it by retiring the side at the bottom of the tenth for his fourth win. He threw 22 pitches (16 strikes – 72.7% Strike Rate) and produced four whiffs (18.2 SwStr%) across two scoreless frames while striking out two. This marked his first multiple-inning outing this season, made possible by his efficient pitch counts in each inning.
- Steven Okert worked a scoreless bottom of the eighth, yielding a hit and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Steven Okert
Texas Rangers – Capping his team’s three-run rally at the top of the tenth, Jacob Latz worked around Mike Trout’s one-out walk with a flyout and a game-ending strikeout, securing his 23rd save. He threw 24 pitches (15 strikes – 62.5% Strike Rate) and induced three whiffs (12.5 SwStr%). Through 43 games, he owns a 0.74 WHIP with 56 strikeouts and 14 walks (21 K-BB%) over 54 innings while converting 23 of 25 save opportunities.
- Peyton Gray collected his sixth win, retiring the side and striking out one at the bottom of the ninth.
- Robby Ahlstrom stranded two runners in the seventh and logged 1.1 scoreless innings, yielding a hit and striking out one.
- Chase Silseth gave up a hit and a walk during two-thirds of the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Jacob Latz | Chase Silseth | Tyler Alexander
Toronto Blue Jays – Bending but not breaking at the top of the ninth, Louis Varland navigated around Jarren Duran’s leadoff double and a sacrifice bunt with a strikeout, followed by a game-ending groundout to first, sealing a one-run lead and his 25th save. He threw 15 pitches (66.7% Strike Rate) and produced one whiff. He had allowed at least a run in three of his previous four outings this month, though only three of the seven were earned.
- Tyler Rogers notched his 24th hold, walking one and striking out one in the eighth.
- Simeon Woods Richardson earned his second win, allowing four hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out two across three innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Louis Varland | Tyler Rogers | Braydon Fisher
Quick Hits
- Baltimore Orioles: Rough outing alert for Rico Garcia. He took over at the bottom of the seventh, giving up three hits and a walk that resulted in four earned runs without recording an out. He departed with two runners on, but Grant Wolfram let them both score, serving up a three-run Josh Bell home run.
- Tampa Bay Rays: Wrapping up a come-from-behind victory, Kevin Kelly retired the side at the bottom of the ninth against the A’s, preserving a four-run lead. Tyler Wells worked a scoreless eighth, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out three. Despite Chris Roycroft giving up three earned runs on three hits in the seventh, he was awarded his first win following his team’s eight-run rally at the top of the eighth.
- The Athletics: With a four-run lead, Seth Johnson took over at the top of the eighth, allowing three hits, including Junior Caminero’s three-run home run, and a walk before being removed without recording an out. He finished with four earned runs when José Suarez let his only inherited runner score, along with four earned runs on his line, giving up three hits and a walk with one strikeout. He was charged with his fourth loss and a second blown save in one-third of the eighth.
National League
Los Angeles Dodgers – Shutting the door on his sixth save and preserving a one-run lead, Edwin Díaz retired the side and recorded a strikeout against Kansas City’s 7-8-9 pocket. He threw 12 pitches (66.7% Strike Rate) and induced one whiff. This was his second clean appearance since his return from the injured list in his six games, and he has converted two of four save opportunities.
- Tanner Scott issued a walk during a scoreless eighth, securing his tenth hold.
- Jack Dreyer allowed two hits, including a game-tying two-run home run by Kyle Isbel, and walked one with a strikeout in the seventh. He suffered his third blown save but was awarded his fifth win.
- Alex Vesia fired a clean sixth, striking out one in a tied contest.
Hierarchy Remains: Edwin Díaz | Tanner Scott | Alex Vesia
San Diego Padres – For the first time in his career, Mason Miller recorded his 30th save, striking out one and issuing a two-out walk to William Contreras, followed by a game-ending caught stealing of the pinch runner, Brandon Lockridge. He threw 19 pitches (10 strikes – 52.6% Strike Rate) and induced two whiffs (10.5 SwStr%) while preserving a one-run lead. He has been scoreless in three of his four outings in August, posting a win and converting two of three save chances.
- Adrian Morejon notched his 19th hold, allowing a hit and striking out one in a scoreless eighth.
- Yuki Matsui earned his third win, retiring the side and striking out one in the seventh, ahead of his team’s go-ahead rally at the bottom of the frame.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Adrian Morejon | Jeremiah Estrada
Quick Hits
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Completing a combined shutout, Zack Littell recorded his eighth win and first with his new team, logging 4.2 piggyback innings, scattering two hits and issuing two walks while striking out two against the Rockies.
- St. Louis Cardinals: In order of appearance, Luis Gastelum retired all four Phillies he faced, three via strikeout, marking his best outing of the season. Caleb Ferguson replaced him and did not record an out, allowing a hit and issuing three walks, resulting in an earned run in the seventh. Gordon Graceffo stranded three runners in the seventh, but gave up two hits, two earned runs, and a walk during his 1.2 innings.
Holds Tally
Here are the holds from Monday’s slate:
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Statistical Credits: