Sunday’s slate featured eight wins (though two were accompanied by a blown save), seven saves, seven losses, and five blown saves by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 968 saves this season by 234 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 8.17.2026
- Tanner Scott (LAD): If Díaz has been working on his mechanics, the team may prefer one more day, and the Rockies have a left-handed leaning lineup.
Doubleheader Recommendations
- Cincinnati Reds: Preferred option – Luis Mey
- St. Louis Cardinals: Preferred option – Peter Strzelecki
Vulture Save Stashes for 8.18.2026
- Luke Weaver (PIT): If Montgomery is used tonight, it will be consecutive contests.
- Tyler Kinley (ATL): If Iglesias, Lee, and Fuentes pitch today, it’s back-to-back games for the team’s leverage triumvirate.
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Firing a clean top of the ninth and striking out two, Kodai Senga secured his third save while preserving a one-run lead against the Nationals. He threw 11 pitches (72.7% Strike Rate) and generated three whiffs (27.3 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in five appearances in August, converting a save in his last three, and posting a 0.60 WHIP with seven strikeouts and two walks (26.3 K-BB%) across five innings.
- Daniel Duarte tossed a clean eighth and struck out one for his third hold.
- Nate Lavender stranded two runners and retired both batters, one via strikeout, in the seventh for his second hold.
As a reliever, Senga has benefited from a velocity spike, as one expects. He’s also narrowed his pitch mix, relying on his four-seam fastball (61.3 percent usage) and forkball (26.7 percent usage) this month:
His forkball has carried his swinging strike percentage, yielding eight of nine whiffs. If you’re nitpicking, his strike percentage could use some improvement and may improve as his immersion into a high-leverage reliever role continues. It has been reported that Devin Williams hopes to return in September, but there is no clear indication regarding his timeline, meaning Senga’s runway as the closer is assured moving forward.
Hierarchy Remains: Kodai Senga | Daniel Duarte | Nate Lavender
Today’s Takeaways
Open and shut series for Newcomb: Will Venable’s wheel of high-leverage landed on Sean Newcomb in Detroit. He recorded his fourth save, logging 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing a walk and striking out two, throwing 33 pitches (18 strikes – 54.5% Strike Rate) with four whiffs (12.1 SwStr%). It was his first save since July 5. Huascar Brazobán gave up two hits and an earned run while being credited with his tenth hold during two-thirds of the seventh inning. Hagen Smith collected his second win, logging 1.2 scoreless innings, walking and striking out one.
Newcomb was the opener on Friday and finished the sweep on Sunday, throwing a combined 3.2 scoreless innings. Bryan Hudson recorded both saves. If Newcomb records one more save, the White Sox will join Houston as the only two franchises with four relievers with at least five saves this season; the Angels still do not have one.
Updated Hierarchy: *Grant Taylor | *Bryan Hudson | *Sean Newcomb
*= closer-by-committee
Ashby was the answer in LA: After the lead grew to four, DL Hall was summoned for the bottom of the ninth. He allowed a solo home run by Andy Pages and recorded a strikeout, finishing off a win over the Dodgers. Aaron Ashby stranded two runners at the bottom of the eighth, inducing an inning-ending double-play groundout by Shohei Ohtani, securing his 11th hold. Chad Patrick allowed two hits during his one-third of the eighth and was credited with his eighth hold.
Trevor Megill was warming up for the save, but received an extra day of rest when the opportunity passed after his teammates tacked on a run at the top of the ninth. Ashby recorded a two-inning save on Saturday and retired Ohtani in consecutive games, representing a potential key matchup in the postseason. However, regular-season wins help determine seeding; the real focus remains on the postseason and taking down the defending champions in a series.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Aaron Ashby
Is there a plan in Pittsburgh? Closing out a five-run lead against the Red Sox, Mason Montgomery fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts. He threw 11 pitches (81.8% Strike Rate) and racked up four whiffs (36.4 SwStr%). He owns a seven-game scoreless streak, during which he’s posted a 0.50 WHIP with 13 strikeouts and two walks (both intentional), with a win and two saves across six innings. Camilo Doval worked a scoreless eighth, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out one. Kirby Yates was awarded his first win, retiring the side and striking out two at the top of the seventh.
Montgomery secured his fourth save on Friday, but also warmed up in case he was needed in the seventh inning. But recent struggles by Luke Weaver have pushed the left-handed fireman ahead in the adjusted hierarchy, though it may remain fluid this week.
Updated Hierarchy: *Mason Montgomery | *Luke Weaver | Gregory Soto
*= closer-by-committee
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Sunday.
American League
New York Yankees – Taking over at the bottom of the eighth with a runner on and one out, David Bednar retired both batters, one via strikeout. In the ninth, he could not hold the one-run lead, though an error by Ben Rice let Josh Smith reach leading off the inning, followed by Alejandro Kirk’s walk. With one out, Bednar uncorked a wild pitch moving up both runners, then gave up Ernie Clement’s game-tying sacrifice fly, handing him his third blown save. He finished with 1.2 innings, giving up an unearned run with a walk and strikeout, but collected his sixth win courtesy of a rally at the top of the tenth.
Bednar matched his career high of ten appearances requiring more than three outs in this appearance, set in 2022, with 38 games remaining for the Yankees this season. Overuse resulted in back injuries in previous years, meaning it will be difficult for Aaron Boone to manage the late innings and his closer’s workload.
- Tim Hill closed out his second save, letting the “courtesy runner” score on a one-out Andrés Giménez RBI single, then retired the next two batters, sealing a one-run lead.
Hierarchy Remains: David Bednar | Paul Blackburn | Brent Headrick
Seattle Mariners – Sealing a one-run lead and his 22nd save, Andrés Muñoz navigated around a one-out walk with consecutive strikeouts in Houston. He threw 18 pitches (10 strikes – 55.6% Strike Rate) and produced two whiffs (11.1 SwStr%). Bouncing back from a walk-off loss and making his third appearance in this four-game set, Muñoz has recorded two wins and converted three of five save chances through seven games in August.
- Seranthony Domínguez allowed an awkward infield single by Jose Altuve, then recorded an inning-ending strikeout of Daulton Varsho, securing his fifth hold and stranding both inherited runners.
- Gabe Speier gave up two hits during his two-thirds of the eighth, credited with his 15th hold.
- Eduard Bazardo notched his 24th hold, yielding a hit and striking out one in the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Eduard Bazardo | Gabe Speier
The Athletics – Locking down his 12th save, Hogan Harris retired the side and recorded two strikeouts at the top of the ninth while facing the Rangers’ 6-7-8 pocket. He threw 14 pitches (9 strikes – 64.3% Strike Rate) and induced two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). Saves remain sporadic in this bullpen, but he has converted six of seven save chances in the second half.
- Drew Rom stranded a runner, striking out his only batter for his second hold.
- Elvis Alvarado gave up a hit and struck out one during two-thirds of the eighth for his seventh hold.
- Luis Medina worked a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and striking out two, collecting his fourth win.
Hierarchy Remains: Hogan Harris | Luis Medina | Elvis Alvarado
Quick Hits
- Detroit Tigers: Entering with a one-run lead at the top of the sixth, Tyler Holton allowed Randal Grichuk’s leadoff double and a game-tying Colson Montgomery RBI single, resulting in his second blown save. Returning for the seventh, he walked Sam Antoniacci and served up a go-ahead Munetaki Murakami two-run home run, prompting his removal while handing him his fifth loss. Holton finished with three hits, three earned runs, and two walks while striking out one during his inning-plus pitched.
- Houston Astros: Extending his scoreless streak to 12 games in an eventual one-run loss, Josh Hader worked around Randy Arozarena’s leadoff double at the top of the ninth, retiring the next three batters. He threw 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9% Strike Rate) and induced one whiff. He’s posted a 0.474 WHIP over his last 12.2 innings while converting seven saves.
- Minnesota Twins: In order of appearance, Kody Funderburk recorded his eighth hold, retiring both batters at the top of the sixth. A.J. Minter fired a clean seventh, striking out one for his fourth hold. Andrew Morris gave up four hits, three earned runs, and a walk in the eighth, resulting in his fourth loss and a third blown save.
- Texas Rangers: With the score tied at the bottom of the seventh, Jakob Junis allowed two hits, including Zach Gelof’s go-ahead two-run home run, resulting in his second loss.
- Toronto Blue Jays: Tasked with the top of the tenth, Braydon Fisher allowed Ben Rice’s go-ahead two-run home run, putting an earned run on his ledger and resulting in his fourth loss. Paul Sewald made his team debut, logging 1.2 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and striking out one.
National League
Atlanta Braves – Another sullied outing for Raisel Iglesias, but he held on for his 25th save. He took over with a three-run lead, walking Ketel Marte, a leverage mortal sin, followed by Max Kepler’s single, then a flyout, but both runners advanced during the next at-bat on a balk. With one out, Tim Tawa drove in a run with a groundout and the game ended on James McCann’s flyout. Iglesias threw 21 pitches (12 strikes – 57.1% Strike Rate) and induced two whiffs (9.5 SwStr%). He has allowed a run in his last two appearances and in four of seven in August, resulting in a 2.099 WHIP with six strikeouts and five walks across 6.2 innings.
- Dylan Lee notched his MLB-leading 28th hold, firing a clean eighth and striking out two.
- Didier Fuentes allowed Ildemaro Vargas’ game-tying solo home run and struck out two, collecting his fifth win while suffering his fifth blown save.
Things keep trending poorly for Iglesias. Beginning with his in-season splits:
In the second half, he has allowed eight barrels of his 40 batted ball events (20 percent barrel rate) and 11 hard hits (47.5 hard-hit percentage), resulting in a 4.99 xERA, which correlates with his 4.43 SIERA since the All-Star break. With Robert Suarez still in the initial phases of his return-to-play throwing protocols, Atlanta will stick with its closer, but fantasy managers should buckle in; the ride may get bumpier:
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Didier Fuentes | Dylan Lee
Philadelphia Phillies – Capping his team’s comeback, Jhoan Duran flirted with trouble, issuing Victor Caratini a one-out walk, followed by Kaelen Culpepper’s single, but battled back from a 3-0 count to strike out Ryan Jeffers, then produced a game-ending strikeout of Byron Buxton, sealing the two-run lead for his 26th save. He threw 33 pitches (19 strikes – 57.6% Strike Rate) and recorded five whiffs (15.2 SwStr%) while striking out three in his outing. He has been scoreless through nine appearances in August, converting two saves while posting a 1.00 WHIP with seven strikeouts and two walks over nine innings.
- Jonathan Bowlan notched his ninth hold, walking one and striking out two in a scoreless bottom of the eighth.
- Orion Kerkering was awarded his seventh win, tossing a clean seventh before his team’s rally at the top of the eighth.
Adjusted Hierarchy: Jhoan Duran | Jonathan Bowlan | Orion Kerkering
Quick Hits
- Cincinnati Reds: With the score tied at the top of the eighth, Tejay Antone allowed two hits, including a solo home run, two runs (one earned), and two walks, resulting in his second loss. Julian Garcia logged two scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out four across the sixth and seventh innings.
- Colorado Rockies: As the first reliever in, Nick Frasso earned his first win, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out two in a scoreless bottom of the fifth. Parker Mushinski walked one during a scoreless sixth for his second hold.
- Miami Marlins: Closing out a six-run lead, Tyler Zuber allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless bottom of the ninth against the Reds. Michael Petersen served up a solo shot by Tyler Stephenson and recorded a strikeout in the eighth, securing his 21st hold. Josh Eckness was awarded his first win, retiring the side and striking out one in the seventh, ahead of his team’s two-run rally at the top of the eighth.
- San Francisco Giants: Not only did Sam Hentges let both inherited runners score in the top of the fifth on a double and a sacrifice fly, but he had two earned runs on his line during the sixth, issuing two walks and recording two outs before being removed. JT Brubaker replaced him, letting both inherited runners score, issuing two walks, and hitting a batter without recording an out before being removed. Hentges suffered his fifth loss, and Brubaker was tagged with his second blown save.
Holds Tally
Here are the holds from Sunday’s slate:
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