Monday’s slate featured six wins, seven saves, three losses, and four blown saves by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 975 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 8.18.2026
- Tanner Scott (LAD): Another rough outing by Díaz, this time in a low-leverage situation, puts Scott in line for the save tonight.
- Chase Shugart (PHI): Duran, Bowlan, and Kerkering have all pitched in consecutive games.
Vulture Save Stash for 8.19.2026
- Trent Thornton (CHC): If Webb pitches today, it will be back-to-back appearances.
- Julian Garcia (CIN): If Pagán is used today, it’s back-to-back games.
- Daniel Duarte (NYM): If Senga pitches tonight, he has not worked in consecutive games as a reliever.
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Closing out a three-run lead in Pittsburgh, Kenley Jansen retired the side and recorded two strikeouts while securing his 16th save. He threw eight pitches (87.5% Strike Rate) and produced one whiff. Since June 19, he has converted all nine save chances in spite of his 1.245 WHIP with 18 strikeouts and 11 walks over 17.2 innings.
- Drew Sommers stranded two runners in the seventh and retired all five batters, three via strikeout, for his ninth hold.
- Kyle Finnegan let his only inherited runner score in the sixth and gave up a hit and a walk while striking out one during two-thirds of an inning.
If we dive into his underlying data since his last blown save, it starts on May 27. He has made 20 appearances, spanning 19.1 innings, with 20 strikeouts and 12 walks (9.9 K-BB%) while recording a 1.189 WHIP. His 2.79 ERA is accompanied by a 4.58 SIERA in this sample, but his 3.01 xERA provides hope he can continue accruing saves during Detroit’s push for the postseason. There will be some bumpy rides; however, the veteran remains in pursuit of his 500th save, needing only eight more this season.
Updated Hierarchy: Kenley Jansen | Drew Sommers | Kyle Finnegan
Today’s Takeaways
Edwin has the same results in a non-save outing at Coors: Getting in work with his team ahead by nine, Edwin Díaz allowed four hits and three earned runs in Colorado. He threw 23 pitches (15 strikes – 65.2% Strike Rate) and induced two whiffs (8.7 SwStr%). He has allowed at least a run in six of nine games and multiple runs in three since his activation from the injured list. All four hits were against his four-seam fastball, and he may need another IL stint to hone his mechanics. Right now, his WHIP represents more risk than it’s worth from a fantasy perspective.
Los Angeles feels his release point is the issue, according to Jack Harris of the California Sports Post:
Courtesy of Statcast, his release points through the years:
Harris also shared this note on X about how the release point affects the outcomes for Díaz:
In last night’s outing, here is his pitch illustrator:
The hits were split with two on fastballs when he was ahead in the count, and two when behind, but the locations were not ideal:
This may not be an easy fix on the fly and remains a situation fantasy managers must monitor closely.
Adjusted Hierarchy: *Tanner Scott | *Edwin Díaz | Alex Vesia
*= closer-by-committee
The White Sox wheel of leverage lands on a loss: Entering a tied game at the bottom of the tenth, Hagen Smith served up Pete Crow-Armstrong’s walk-off two-run home run, resulting in his first loss. Jordan Hicks battled his command and suffered his second blown save. After stranding a runner in the eighth, he gave up two one-out walks and Nico Hoerner’s game-tying RBI single. He finished with a hit, an earned run, and three walks (one intentional) with two strikeouts over his 1.1 innings.
After the game, a beat writer shared this note on Grant Taylor:
Here are the team’s usage patterns since August 11:
Providing him two days off after two innings of work makes sense, as does after logging consecutive appearances. It’s more about the randomness of his two-inning outings before the ninth or as the fireman, making him unavailable at a moment like this if he’s the preferred save share. But when matchups are the process, sometimes games like this are the result.
Hierarchy Remains: *Grant Taylor | *Bryan Hudson | *Sean Newcomb
*= closer-by-committee
Can Cam carve out more leverage work? Another strong outing by Cam Sanders resulted in two clean frames while striking out three across the fifth and sixth innings against the Rays. He threw 24 pitches (17 strikes – 70.8% Strike Rate) and produced five whiffs (20.8 SwStr%). Small sample sizes can be misleading, but he has thrived with the Orioles after struggling during his time with Pittsburgh this year:
- Sanders (PIT): 9 games, 9.1 IP, 13:10 K:BB (6.3 K-BB%), 5.10 SIERA, 2.04 WHIP, 16.1 SwStr%, 34.7 O-Swing%
- Sanders (BAL): 7 games, 8.1 IP, 9:2 K:BB (21.9 K-BB%), 2.86 SIERA, 0.84 WHIP, 19.2 SwStr%, 45.6 O-Swing%
In Baltimore, he has changed his pitch mix, throwing more sliders and incorporating more change-ups in recent appearances:
Despite his poor results with the Pirates, he had a strong swinging strike percentage. However, using the slider more has improved his results with the Orioles. If the change-up can become a third option, he’s an intriguing reliever to track over the remainder of the season. Here are his splits by pitch this season with Baltimore:
For now:
Hierarchy Remains: * Andrew Kittredge | *Yennier Cano | Rico Garcia
*= closer-by-committee
He’s on the cusp of a larger leverage role. Your move, Craig Albernaz.
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Monday.
American League
Kansas City Royals – Forced into action with the bases loaded and no outs at the top of the ninth, Steven Cruz let one inherited runner score while inducing a double-play groundout, followed by a game-ending groundout, resulting in his fifth save. He threw eight pitches (62.5% Strike Rate) without a whiff, but retired both batters in an eventual four-run win. He has been scoreless in four of his last five, converting three saves and a hold.
- Lucas Erceg allowed a hit, an earned run, and two walks before being removed at the top of the ninth without recording an out.
- Nate Pearson issued a walk and hit a batter but escaped with a scoreless eighth for his second hold.
- John Schreiber fired a clean seventh, securing his 12th hold.
- Connor Thomas notched his first hold, allowing a hit and striking out one in the sixth.
Updated Hierarchy: Steven Cruz | Nate Pearson | John Schreiber
Minnesota Twins – Despite issuing Mike Yastrzemski a leadoff walk, Yoendrys Gómez notched his 18th save, retiring the next three batters and protecting a two-run margin against Atlanta. He threw 19 pitches (12 strikes – 63.2% Strike Rate) and induced one whiff. He had allowed at least a run in his two previous appearances.
- Jeff Hoffman gave up a hit and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless eighth, securing his 15th hold.
- Travis Adams was awarded his third win, logging two clean innings and striking out three.
Hierarchy Remains: Yoendrys Gómez | Andrew Morris | Jeff Hoffman
Tampa Bay Rays – In dire need of a win, Bryan Baker was called on with two runners on and one out at the top of the eighth, and retired five of six batters, yielding a two-out single in the ninth and striking out two, sealing a two-run lead for his MLB-leading 35th save. He threw 21 pitches (16 strikes – 76.2% Strike Rate) and generated five whiffs (23.8 SwStr%). This marked his first multi-inning outing this season and was his 24th consecutive save converted since May 17.
- Cam Booser collected his first win, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out three across 1.1 innings.
- Kevin Kelly worked a scoreless sixth, scattering two hits and striking out one.
- Tyler Wells suffered his first blown save, giving up three hits and three earned runs in the fifth.
Hierarchy Remains: Bryan Baker | Kevin Kelly | Garrett Cleavinger
Quick Hits
- Baltimore Orioles: Yennier Cano took over with a two-run lead in the seventh and gave up three hits that turned into three earned runs, without recording an out en route to his third loss. Josh Walker replaced Cano but let two of three inherited runners score, allowing a hit and a walk during the seventh for his first blown save.
- Boston Red Sox: As the bulk follower, Brayan Bello earned his fifth win, logging 4.2 innings, giving up three hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out three against Arizona. Across his last five relief outings, he owns a 3-0 record with a save while posting a 0.849 WHIP with 13 strikeouts and three walks (14.7 K-BB%) through 17.2 innings.
National League
Chicago Cubs – Quite literally walking the line at the top of the tenth, Jacob Webb navigated around two walks and recorded two strikeouts, stranding the “courtesy runner.” He collected his fifth win courtesy of a walk-off home run at the bottom of the inning. Webb threw 22 pitches (13 strikes – 59.1% Strike Rate) and generated six whiffs (27.3 SwStr%) while extending his scoreless streak to 22 games. Since June 24, he has recorded four wins, seven saves, and three holds while posting a 0.926 WHIP with 24 strikeouts and nine walks (17 K-BB%) across 22.2 innings.
- David Peterson stranded a runner in the eighth and logged 1.1 scoreless innings, walking and striking out one.
- Ryan Zeferjahn suffered his third blown save, allowing Andrew Benintendi’s game-tying two-run home run in the eighth.
- Ryan Rolison recorded two outs and walked one in the seventh, getting credit for his sixth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Jacob Webb | Ryan Zeferjahn | Ryan Rolison
Cincinnati Reds – (Game 1) – Luis Mey extended his scoreless streak to five games, navigating around a hit and a walk with three strikeouts over two innings. He’s recorded a 0.692 WHIP with 13 strikeouts and one walk (38.7 K-BB%) across his last 8.2 innings.
(Game 2) – Tasked with the top of the tenth, Emilio Pagán worked around a one-out walk and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless outing. He collected his fifth win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the frame. He threw 17 pitches (9 strikes – 52.9% Strike Rate) and racked up six whiffs (35.3 SwStr%). This extended his scoreless streak to 11 games, during which he’s recorded three wins and eight saves while posting a 0.455 WHIP with 13 strikeouts and one walk (30.7 K-BB%) through 11 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Brock Burke | Tejay Antone
New York Mets – Sealing a one-run lead for his second save, Daniel Duarte retired the Padres’ bottom third of the lineup in order while recording two strikeouts. He threw 14 pitches (12 strikes – 85.7% Strike Rate) and induced two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in his last seven appearances, posting a 0.522 WHIP with five strikeouts and three walks, recording two saves and three holds over 7.2 innings.
- Nate Lavender retired both batters in the eighth for his fifth hold.
- Jonathan Pintaro logged 1.1 scoreless innings despite allowing a hit and a walk.
Kodai Senga has been terrific but has not appeared in back-to-back games in his MLB career. This will be a hurdle he needs to clear as he transitions into the closer role.
Hierarchy Remains: Kodai Senga | Daniel Duarte | Nate Lavender
Philadelphia Phillies – It was a white-knuckle ride with Jhoan Duran, but he held for his 27th save. Taking over with a two-run lead, he allowed a leadoff single by Xavier Hernandez, who advanced on defensive indifference, and scored on Otto Lopez’s one-out RBI single. Duran bore down, retiring the next two batters, preserving the one-run margin. He threw 10 pitches (80% Strike Rate) without a whiff, giving up two hits and an earned run. The good news is that he converted saves in consecutive outings, but this snapped his eight-game scoreless streak.
- Orion Kerkering struck out his only batter in the eighth, securing his 14th hold.
- Brooks Raley allowed a solo home run and recorded two outs for his 15th hold in the eighth.
- Jonathan Bowlan gave up three hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out two in the seventh, getting credit for his tenth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Duran | Jonathan Bowlan | Orion Kerkering
St. Louis Cardinals (Game 1) – Riley O’Brien secured his National League-leading 31st save, striking out the side while preserving a one-run margin against the Reds. He threw 14 pitches (11 strikes – 78.6% Strike Rate) and induced one whiff. He has been scoreless in his last 10 appearances and recorded a save in five of his last six.
- Ryne Stanek allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless eighth, notching his 23rd hold.
- George Soriano turned in a clean seventh, striking out one for his 18th hold.
- Gordon Graceffo retired the side and recorded a strikeout in the sixth for his fifth hold.
- Luis Gastelum collected his third win, tossing a clean fifth and striking out two.
(Game 2) – With the score tied at the bottom of the tenth, Justin Bruihl suffered his first loss, giving up Elly De La Cruz’s walk-off RBI leadoff double.
Peter Strzelecki was one out away from preserving a sweep, but served up Dane Myers’ game-tying solo home run. He finished with two hits and an earned run while striking out four across three innings.
Updated Hierarchy: Riley O’Brien | Ryne Stanek | George Soriano
Quick Hits
- Pittsburgh Pirates: During an eventual loss, Camilo Doval worked around a walk and a hit batter for a scoreless top of the ninth. Gregory Soto gave up two hits and struck out three in a scoreless eighth. Kirby Yates fired a clean seventh, striking out one.
- San Diego Padres: In an eventual one-run loss, Kyle Hart worked two scoreless innings, giving up three hits and striking out three.
Holds Tally
Here are the holds from Monday’s slate:
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Statistical Credits: