Thursday’s 9-game slate featured two wins, four saves, two losses, and two blown saves by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 945 saves this season by 232 different pitchers. For perspective, this season has already set an MLB record for the number of pitchers with at least one save.
Here are the vulture save options:
Vulture Save Options for 8.14.2026
- Abner Uribe (MIL): Megill has pitched in back-to-back games.
Vulture Save Stash for 8.15.2026
- None recommended, but Brock Burke (CIN) if Pagán lands on the injured list.
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Called on with two runners on and two outs of a tied game at the top of the ninth, Alex Vesia allowed a go-ahead RBI single by Jake Bauers, walked Andrew Vaughn, then induced an inning-ending groundout by Christian Yelich.
Edwin Díaz was tagged with his second loss and fourth blown save, ceding a two-run lead at the top of the ninth. His outing began with a strikeout against William Contreras, followed by four consecutive singles, resulting in two runs. After striking out Gary Sánchez, the closer was removed with two runners on, finishing with 24 pitches (66.7% Strike Rate) and four whiffs (16.7 SwStr%). Through five outings in August, he has converted one of four save chances, allowing at least a run in four, totaling seven earned runs across 3.2 innings with an inflated WHIP (3.27 WHIP).
- Tanner Scott stranded a runner, retiring Yelich on a long flyout to left-center field for his 11th hold.
- Edgardo Henriquez walked and struck out one in two-thirds of the eighth for his eighth hold.
- Jack Dreyer worked a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and striking out two, securing his eighth hold.
After the game, Dave Roberts remained steadfast in his support for Díaz as the closer. However, it’s been a challenging return from the injured list for him. He has been scoreless in two of seven appearances, resulting in a 1-2 record with two saves and three blown saves. He’s allowed 12 hits with an unsustainable .526 BABIP. As the closer noted, his four-seam command has fueled his struggles, from Maddie Lee’s post for the Los Angeles Times:
Here is his illustrator from last night’s outing:
And his results:
So the hits on his four-seam fastball were centered pitches, and he was not behind in the count. The slider placements were not terrible, but low-and-in on left-handed hitters is a sweet spot for them. Health may be a factor or trusting his stuff to his spots. He is missing arm-side with his fastball and not getting them up and in against right-handed batters. It’s not a quick fix, though his manager will leave him in the closer role. This could shift as the season progresses and Tyler Glasnow returns. He could take Roki Sasaki’s spot in the rotation, putting Sasaki into the bullpen like last postseason. For now:
Hierarchy Remains: Edwin Díaz | Tanner Scott | Alex Vesia
Today’s Takeaways
Pagán’s hand: Cincinnati did not use Emilio Pagán with a two-run lead against the White Sox to the dismay of fantasy managers. After the game, Terry Francona explained his closer had hand soreness and will be seen by the team doctors today. This puts his status into question for the weekend. He has only pitched once since August 5, recording his 14th save on Tuesday.
Is J-Mart on the cusp of a return? Making his second appearance at Triple-A, Justin Martinez retired the side and recorded a strikeout on eight pitches (87.5% Strike Rate) with three whiffs (37.5 SwStr%).
For video of the outing, use this link. Arizona may ease him into leverage situations and not force back-to-back outings, but he could be activated as soon as this weekend and will be in the mix for saves soon. The stash window is evaporating.
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Thursday.
American League
Detroit Tigers – Completing a combined shutout and his 491st career save, Kenley Jansen retired the side against the Guardians’ 3-4-5 hitters on 10 pitches (90% Strike Rate) without a whiff. This marked his 15th save of the season. He owns a 1.224 WHIP with 37 strikeouts and 20 walks through 32.2 innings this season.
- Tyler Holton notched his 12th hold, allowing a hit while logging 1.2 scoreless innings. He’s been scoreless in six appearances in August, posting a 0.391 WHIP across 7.2 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Tyler Holton | Kyle Finnegan
Seattle Mariners – Shutting the door on his 21st save, Andrés Muñoz preserved a 1-0 lead with a clean bottom of the ninth while striking out two Yankees. He threw 11 pitches (72.7% Strike Rate) and generated three whiffs (27.3 SwStr%). This represents his third consecutive clean appearance with two strikeouts, and he has been scoreless in four of five games in August, posting a 0.75 WHIP with 10 strikeouts and one walk (47.4 K-BB%) across 5.1 innings.
- Jose A. Ferrer notched his 12th hold, retiring the side in the eighth.
- Eduard Bazardo navigated around two walks and recorded a strikeout in the seventh, securing his 23rd hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Eduard Bazardo | Gabe Speier
Quick Hits
- Chicago White Sox: Pressed into duty at the top of the third following an ejection, Erick Fedde suffered his eighth loss, allowing five hits, four earned runs, and two walks while striking out one across three innings.
- Los Angeles Angels: Finishing off a combined shutout, Sammy Peralta retired the Rangers’ 6-7-8 hitters in order, striking out two. Tayler Saucedo worked around two hits in the eighth. José Fermin allowed a hit and struck out one in the seventh.
National League
Cincinnati Reds – With a two-run lead, it was Julian Garcia called on at the bottom of the ninth. His outing began with Braden Montgomery drawing a leadoff walk, followed by a strikeout and a flyout. Advancing on defensive indifference, the runner scored on Edgar Quero’s RBI single, then Garcia induced a game-ending groundout to Elly De La Cruz, securing his second save. He threw 23 pitches (11 strikes – 47.8% Strike Rate) and produced four whiffs (17.4 SwStr%), giving up a hit, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one.
- Pierce Johnson stranded two runners, retiring his only batter in the eighth via strikeout for his seventh hold.
- Sam Moll gave up three hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out one in two-thirds of the eighth.
- Luis Mey fired a clean seventh, striking out two.
- Tejay Antone collected his second win, striking out the side in the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Brock Burke | Tejay Antone
Milwaukee Brewers – Capping his team’s come-from-behind rally, Trevor Megill nailed down his 22nd save, firing a clean bottom of the ninth and striking out two while facing the Dodgers’ 5-6-7 hitters. He threw 13 pitches (7 strikes – 53.8% Strike Rate) and produced three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless across his last nine games, converting six saves while recording a 0.22 WHIP with six strikeouts and one walk (17.3 K-BB%).
- DL Hall logged two clean frames, striking out three, and collected his second win as a result of his team’s rally.
- Antonio Senzatela let both inherited runners score, and an earned run on his ledger, giving up Max Muncy’s go-ahead three-run home run at the bottom of the sixth en route to his seventh blown save.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Aaron Ashby
Quick Hits
- Philadelphia Phillies: Sealing a six-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, Jhoan Duran worked around Kaelen Culpepper’s one-out single with a fortunate game-ending comebacker line drive by Trevor Larnach. He threw nine pitches (77.8% Strike Rate) and induced one whiff. He remains scoreless through seven appearances in August, posting a 0.857 WHIP with six strikeouts and one walk.
- Washington Nationals: Sealing a combined shutout, Clayton Beeter fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded a strikeout while facing the Cubs’ 9-1-2 hitters. He threw 11 pitches (72.7% Strike Rate) and produced three whiffs (27.3 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in his last three appearances and converted five of six save chances in the second half.
Holds Tally
Here are the holds from Thursday’s slate:
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Statistical Credits: