Sunday’s slate featured eight wins (though one was accompanied by a blown save), six saves, five losses, and two blown saves by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 1,020 saves this season by 236 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 8.24.2026
- Tyler Wells (TB): Baker and Kelly have worked in consecutive contests.
- Jakob Junis (TEX): Latz has been used in three of the previous four days.
- Bryan Hudson (CHW): Taylor logged 29 pitches yesterday and has worked in two of the last three.
Vulture Save Stashes for 8.25.2026
- Erik Miller (BOS): If Chapman and Guerrero pitch tonight, it’s two straight appearances.
- Bradgley Rodriguez (SD): If Miller pitches tonight, it will be three games in the last four days.
- Calvin Faucher (MIA): If Fairbanks is used tonight, it will be back-to-back games and three in four days.
- Ryan Watson (LAA): If Joyce pitches tonight, he has not worked in consecutive games this season at any level.
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Called on at the bottom of the eighth with a runner on third and two outs, Raisel Iglesias induced an inning-ending popout by Gary Sánchez. Returning for the ninth, he allowed Jackson Chourio’s leadoff single and walked Brice Turang before retiring William Contreras on a flyout, followed by a game-ending double-play groundout by Jake Bauers, securing his 27th save. He threw 18 pitches (55.6% Strike Rate) without a whiff. It’s been a tumultuous stretch in August for the veteran closer. He has a win and converted four of five save chances despite allowing at least a run in four of his nine appearances while recording a 1.778 WHIP with six walks and eight strikeouts over nine innings.
- Dylan Lee gave up two hits, including Luis Lara’s RBI triple, and struck out one during two-thirds of the eighth for his 30th hold.
- Didier Fuentes tossed two scoreless innings, scattering two hits and striking out one, notching his 15th hold.
It has been a tale of two halves, but the divide in his results began in June, as illustrated below:
As for his potential replacement at closer next season, the latest update regarding Robert Suarez is he began throwing from flat ground, but radio silence since:
More traffic-infused rides in high-leverage are in the offing for Iglesias with his team battling for the division.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Didier Fuentes | Dylan Lee
Today’s Takeaways
O’Brien’s meltdown: An improbable end to a combined shutout bid and a 12-game scoreless streak resulted in a fifth loss for Riley O’Brien. He took over a 4-0 game at the bottom of the ninth in Philadelphia, allowing Bryce Harper’s leadoff double, then retired the next two batters. However, J.T. Realmuto singled, Justin Crawford walked, Edmundo Sosa produced a three-RBI double, Bryan De La Cruz knocked in the game-tying run with a single, followed by Kyle Schwarber’s walk-off, two-run home run. O’Brien finished with five hits, six earned runs, and a walk, matching his season-high with 39 pitches (26 strikes – 66.7% Strike Rate) with three whiffs (7.7 SwStr%).
Summarizing, with two outs, he allowed a double, single, walk, double, single, and walk-off home run. Leaving him in as his pitch count rose was a choice, and a poor one by Oli Marmol. Not trading him at the trade deadline at his peak value was also a decision by the front office. Here are his splits this season, including yesterday’s results:
Hierarchy Remains: Riley O’Brien | Ryne Stanek | George Soriano
Senga struggles in his first back-to-back: Perhaps baptism by fire for Kodai Senga, making his first appearance on consecutive days. It did not work out; he retired Chase Meidroth on a groundout, then served up a walk-off home run by Tristan Peters, resulting in his ninth loss. Here is his pitch illustrator:
And his results:
It was not a bad location on a fastball against a left-handed hitter. The bigger concern is count leverage; he has to be more aggressive earlier in counts to get strikes. In his last three appearances, he has thrown 26 strikes of his 53 pitches (41.1% Strike Rate). Despite this result, it’s encouraging to see the team continue his transition into a reliever.
Hierarchy Remains: Kodai Senga | Daniel Duarte | Nate Lavender
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Sunday.
American League
Boston Red Sox – Preserving a one-run lead, Aroldis Chapman fired a clean top of the ninth while striking out one, securing his 29th save. He threw 15 pitches (66.7% Strike Rate) and generated four whiffs (26.7 SwStr%) against the Giants’ 6-7-8 hitters. He’s been scoreless in his last four appearances and posted a save in his last two, recording seven strikeouts against two walks (35.7 K-BB%) in his last four innings.
- Tyron Guerrero allowed a hit during a scoreless top of the eighth for his 17th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Tyron Guerrero | Erik Miller
Chicago White Sox – Handed a one-run lead, Grant Taylor allowed Carson Benge’s one-out single, followed by Luis Robert Jr. and Jared Young’s game-tying RBI single, resulting in his sixth blown save. He finished the inning with two strikeouts sandwiched around a walk. Taylor collected his sixth win on a walk-off home run at the bottom of the inning, finishing with two hits, an earned run, and two walks while striking out two. He threw 29 pitches (12 strikes – 41.4% Strike Rate) with three whiffs, working for the fourth time in six days.
- Hagen Smith fired two clean frames, striking out three.
- Erick Fedde logged four scoreless innings as the bulk follower, giving up three hits and a walk while striking out two.
Updated Hierarchy: *Grant Taylor | *Bryan Hudson | Jordan Hicks
*= closer-by-committee
New York Yankees – Taking over at the top of the fifth, Paul Blackburn retired all six Toronto batters faced and collected his fifth win for his efforts. He threw 25 pitches (56% Strike Rate) and induced one whiff.
- Ryan Yarbrough allowed two hits and an earned run while striking out one for his first hold.
- Brent Headrick stranded a runner in the eighth and gave up a hit while striking out two across 1.1 scoreless innings, finishing off a five-run lead.
Hierarchy Remains: David Bednar | Paul Blackburn | Brent Headrick
Tampa Bay Rays – The good news is that Bryan Baker notched his 37th save, closing out an eventual two-run win over the Orioles. However, he could not complete the combined shutout, giving up Colton Cowser’s leadoff solo home run, then retired the next three batters, throwing 12 pitches (75% Strike Rate) with one whiff. He has allowed at least a run in four of his last seven appearances, though only two were earned, both on solo home runs.
- Kevin Kelly fired a clean bottom of the eighth, striking out one for his 26th hold.
- Cam Booser retired the side in the sixth, securing his ninth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Bryan Baker | Kevin Kelly | Garrett Cleavinger
Texas Rangers – Sealing a two-run lead and his 26th save, Jacob Latz navigated around Christian Moore’s leadoff double and an intentional walk to Mike Trout with two outs with a game-ending strikeout. He threw 21 pitches (66.7% Strike Rate) and racked up six whiffs (28.6 SwStr%) while recording two strikeouts in his outing. He has been scoreless in his last six games, converting all five saves while posting a 1.125 WHIP with six walks and 13 strikeouts (22.6 K-BB%) across eight innings.
- Chase Silseth stranded a runner, retiring his only batter in the eighth for his 13th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Jacob Latz | Jakob Junis | Chase Silseth
The Athletics – Protecting a one-run lead at the bottom of the ninth in Houston against the 4-5-6 pocket, Hogan Harris retired the side and recorded two strikeouts en route to his 13th save. He threw 14 pitches (71.4% Strike Rate) and induced two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in five of his last six games, but has given up at least a run in four of 14 in the second half while recording seven saves.
- Luis Medina worked around a hit and a walk with two strikeouts for a scoreless eighth and his eighth hold.
- Scott Blewett retired the side in the seventh, securing his second hold.
- Jack Perkins earned his third win, appearing as the bulk follower, tossing five innings while giving up three hits, three runs (one earned), and five walks with six strikeouts.
Hierarchy Remains: Hogan Harris | Luis Medina | Elvis Alvarado
Quick Hits
- Detroit Tigers: Bulk follower Andrew Sears suffered his first loss in his major league debut, allowing six hits, five earned runs, and a walk while striking out three across four innings versus the Royals. Kyle Finnegan gave up two hits, an earned run, and a walk with one strikeout at the bottom of the eighth.
- Houston Astros: Taking over a tied game at the top of the fifth, Kei-Wei Teng stranded a runner and logged 1.2 scoreless innings, yielding a hit and striking out four. Steven Okert replaced him in the seventh and allowed Max Muncy’s go-ahead solo home run, ending his eight-game scoreless streak while suffering his second loss.
- Minnesota Twins: Entering a tied game at the bottom of the seventh, Kody Funderburk issued two walks that translated into two earned runs during one-third of the inning, resulting in his second loss. Jeff Hoffman replaced him and let both inherited runners score, allowing two hits, two earned runs on his ledger, and a walk during two-thirds of the seventh.
National League
Arizona Diamondbacks – Capping his team’s comeback rally, Kevin Ginkel stranded a runner despite having a batter reach on an error by producing a game-ending strikeout against Tyler Stephenson for his second save. He threw 12 pitches (66.7% Strike Rate) and induced one whiff. It’s his first save since August 9 and extends his modest scoreless streak to three games.
- Brandyn Garcia allowed Sal Stewart’s two-out single, prompting his removal. He notched his 14th hold and recorded a strikeout in his two-thirds of the ninth.
- Juan Morillo fired a clean eighth, striking out one for his 17th hold.
- Jonathan Loáisiga worked a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and striking out one, then collected his fifth win following his team’s four-run rally at the bottom of the inning.
Hierarchy Remains: *Brandyn Garcia | *Kevin Ginkel | Juan Morillo
*= closer-by-committee
Miami Marlins – Making things interesting during a non-save appearance, Pete Fairbanks issued a leadoff walk, let the runner advance to second on a fielding error, putting two runners on with no outs. He bore down, recording a strikeout, then retiring the next two Nationals’ hitters, preserving the four-run lead. He threw 20 pitches (55% Strike Rate) and induced one whiff.
- Jack Ralston made his MLB debut, logging two scoreless innings, giving up two hits and striking out two for his first hold.
- Calvin Faucher allowed a hit, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one in the sixth, credited with his 14th hold.
- Michael Petersen stranded two runners, walking and striking out one during one-third of the fifth, and was awarded his third win.
Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks | Calvin Faucher | Michael Petersen
Quick Hits
- Chicago Cubs: As the first reliever in, Aaron Civale took over with two runners on and no outs at the bottom of the third. He stranded both runners and logged four scoreless innings, yielding a hit and striking out two, earning his sixth win.
- Colorado Rockies: Appearing with his team trailing by five, Jordan Romano retired the side at the top of the ninth versus the Guardians’ 3-4-5 pocket, throwing 16 pitches (11 strikes – 68.8% Strike Rate) without a whiff.
- Los Angeles Dodgers: Completing a combined shutout, Alex Vesia issued a walk and recorded a strikeout at the top of the ninth against the Pirates. Brock Stewart retired the side, striking out one in the eighth. Edgardo Henriquez fired a clean seventh, striking out two.
- Milwaukee Brewers: Summoned with his team down by one at the top of the ninth against Atlanta’s top of the lineup, Aaron Ashby allowed a solo home run by Michael Harris II, then retired the next three batters, snapping his nine-game scoreless streak this month.
- Philadelphia Phillies: Benefiting from a walk-off rally, Alex McFarlane recorded his third win after retiring the Cardinals in order at the top of the ninth while striking out one with his team down by four runs.
Holds Tally
Here are the holds from Sunday’s slate:
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Statistical Credits: