Friday’s slate resulted in seven wins (one accompanied by a blown save), eight saves, six losses, and eight blown saves by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 1,150 saves this season by 246 different pitchers. For perspective, this season has already set an MLB record for the number of pitchers with at least one save. Is 250 within reach?
Here are the upcoming vulture save options:
Vulture Save Options for 9.12.2026
- Victor Mederos (ATL): It’s not for the faint of heart, but Iglesias and Fuentes have worked in consecutive contests.
- Jeff Hoffman (MIN): If the team decides Gómez needs a day off after his rough outing, Hoffman’s been hot in recent appearances.
Vulture Save Stashes for 9.13.2026
- John Schreiber (NYY): If Bednar pitches today, it will be back-to-back appearances.
In case you missed them, sneak previews of potential closer options for both leagues have been posted:
2027 Potential Closers | American League
2027 Potential Closers | National League
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Today’s Takeaways
J-Mart’s immaculate inning: In an eventual eight-run win, Justin Martinez fired an immaculate inning, striking out the side on nine pitches while generating five whiffs (55.6 SwStr%).
It may be time to take the training wheels off after returning from his surgery. Continue managing his workload, but appear in more leverage situations. He did record his first hold in this outing. Through his four games in September, he has recorded seven strikeouts and two walks (33.3 K-BB%) while posting a 19.7 percent swinging strike rate.
Yoen-no-drys: With the score tied at the top of the ninth, Yoendrys Gómez had an untimely meltdown. It started with a leadoff walk, a leverage no-no, followed by a failed bunt attempt for an out, but Angel Martinez doubled, putting runners on second and third, followed by another walk, and a wild pitch scored the go-ahead run. Making things worse, Brayan Rocchio laced a two-RBI double, necessitating Gómez’s removal. He finished his third loss with two hits, three earned runs, and two walks in one-third of an inning.
He remains perfect in save chances, converting all 22 this season; however, he has allowed three or more earned runs three times, two in his last six games, sandwiched around four scoreless outings. Through 59 games, he owns a 3.92 ERA with a 4.73 SIERA and a 5.34 xERA while recording a 1.39 WHIP over 62 innings. He may not cede the role this season, but trusting him for saves next season is not advised.
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Friday.
American League
Baltimore Orioles – Pressed into action with two runners on and two outs, Rico Garcia preserved the three-run lead by inducing a game-ending groundout by Alejandro Kirk for his eighth save. He threw six pitches (83.3% strike rate) without a whiff. He has been scoreless in his last seven appearances and recorded a save in his last two.
- Alex Hoppe allowed four hits and two earned runs while striking out one during two-thirds of the ninth inning.
- Andrew Kittredge tossed a clean eighth, striking out one.
- Yennier Cano retired both batters in the seventh, one via strikeout.
- Josh Walker logged 1.1 clean innings, striking out one, and stranded one of two inherited runners in the sixth inning.
Updated Hierarchy: *Andrew Kittredge | *Rico Garcia | Josh Walker
*= closer-by-committee
Cleveland Guardians – Capping his team’s three-run rally at the top of the ninth, Cade Smith allowed a one-out single by Trevor Larnach, followed by a game-ending double-play grounder against Walker Jenkins, notching his 36th save. He threw nine pitches (55.6% strike rate) and did not induce a whiff.
- Hunter Gaddis let his only inherited runner score on Kaelen Culpepper’s game-tying RBI single at the bottom of the seventh, then retired his next four batters, resulting in his third blown save, but also collected his fourth win.
- Erik Sabrowski hit a batter who eventually scored, putting an earned run on his ledger during two-thirds of the seventh inning while being credited with his 24th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis | Erik Sabrowski
Detroit Tigers – Save number 19 this year and the 495th of his career required only four pitches, all strikes, resulting in a game-ending strikeout against his only batter faced, preserving a four-run lead while stranding both inherited runners against the Rockies for Kenley Jansen. One-out saves remain a fantasy favorite.
- Brant Hurter created the save opportunity, allowing three hits and an earned run during two-thirds of the ninth inning.
- Jacob Waguespack logged two scoreless innings, yielding a hit and striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Jacob Waguespack | Drew Sommers
Kansas City Royals – Sealing a one-run lead and his seventh save, Steven Cruz retired the side, including a game-ending strikeout of Roman Anthony in Boston. He threw 10 pitches (60% strike rate) and produced three whiffs. He has allowed an unearned run in his last five appearances while posting a 1.20 WHIP with two saves.
- Nate Pearson allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless eighth, securing his sixth hold.
- Connor Thomas retired the side in the seventh for his third hold.
- Nolan Hoffman worked a clean sixth, striking out one, and notching his first hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Steven Cruz | Nate Pearson | Craig Kimbrel
New York Yankees – Called into a bases-loaded situation with one out at the top of the eighth, David Bednar let one score on a sacrifice fly and ended the inning with a flyout by Jared Young. Returning for the ninth, he allowed A.J. Ewing’s leadoff home run and a one-out single by Francisco Lindor before a game-ending double-play grounder by Juan Soto, securing his 33rd save. Bednar threw 15 pitches (13 strikes; 86.7% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%).
- Brent Headrick stranded all three inherited runners in the seventh, but struggled in the eighth, giving up a hit, an earned run, and two walks while being credited with his 28th hold, recording an out in each inning.
- Paul Blackburn gave up a hit and two walks during one-third of the seventh before being removed.
Hierarchy Remains: David Bednar | Paul Blackburn | Brent Headrick
Tampa Bay Rays – After keeping the game tied with a scoreless top of the ninth, Bryan Baker collected his second win courtesy of a walk-off home run at the bottom of the inning. He issued a one-out walk, then retired Christian Walker on a lineout, followed by an inning-ending strikeout of Cam Smith. He threw 15 pitches (60% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%).
- Tyler Wells allowed a hit and struck out one in the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Bryan Baker | Tyler Wells | Kevin Kelly
Quick Hits
- Houston Astros: Tasked with a tied game at the bottom of the ninth, Bryan Abreu allowed two hits, including Junior Caminero’s walk-off, two-run home run, resulting in his fourth loss and snapping his eight-game scoreless streak.
- Los Angeles Angels: A rough bottom of the eighth turned into a second loss and a first blown save for Samy Natera Jr. He allowed three hits, three earned runs, and a walk while striking out one in Washington. Ryan Watson notched his seventh hold, retiring the side and striking out two in the seventh.
- Seattle Mariners: Entering with a one-run lead at the bottom of the 10th, Eduard Bazardo served up Donovan Walton’s walk-off, two-run home run, resulting in his fourth loss and a fourth blown save.
- The Athletics: Despite letting the courtesy runner score at the top of the tenth while allowing two hits, Chris Roycroft collected his second win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning.
National League
Atlanta Braves – Although Didier Fuentes allowed consecutive singles by Bryce Harper and Luis Arraez, with one out scoring the courtesy runner at the top of the 11th, he retired two of the next three batters, mitigating any further damage. He collected his seventh win courtesy of a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning.
- Raisel Iglesias also gave up an unearned run at the top of the tenth on Justin Crawford’s RBI leadoff single, then retired the next three batters faced, one via strikeout.
- Victor Mederos stranded a runner and retired both batters in the ninth, striking out one.
- Dylan Lee logged 1.1 scoreless innings, yielding a hit and a walk.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Didier Fuentes | Dylan Lee
Philadelphia Phillies – Handed a one-run lead at the bottom of the 11th, Brooks Raley allowed a game-tying RBI single by Ha-Seong Kim with two outs, followed by Drake Baldwin’s walk-off RBI double, resulting in his sixth loss and a fourth blown save.
- Chase Shugart was tagged with his second blown save, letting both courtesy runners score in the tenth and 11th innings while working 1.1 innings.
- Jonathan Bowlan suffered his fifth blown save, giving up two hits, including Sean Murphy’s single that scored a runner from first, aided by a fielding error in center field.
- Alex McFarlane allowed a hit during a scoreless eighth for his third hold.
- José Alvarado notched his 15th hold, stranding a runner and striking out both batters faced in the seventh.
Updated Hierarchy: Jhoan Duran | Jonathan Bowlan | José Alvarado
San Diego Padres – Working into and then out of trouble, Mason Miller recorded his 35th save. His outing began with two quick outs, then a walk, followed by a single, and another walk to Rafael Devers, loading the bases. However, he struck out Bryce Eldridge, preserving a two-run lead. He threw 27 pitches (15 strikes; 55.6% strike rate) and induced two whiffs (7.4 SwStr%). Through four appearances this month, he has recorded a win and all three save chances while posting a 1.20 WHIP with 11 strikeouts and three walks (40 K-BB%) over five innings.
- Bradgley Rodriguez allowed Eldridge’s leadoff double, then retired the next three batters, two on strikeouts, for his 14th hold in the eighth.
- Adrian Morejon fired a clean seventh, striking out two, and notched his 24th hold.
- Yuki Matsui secured his ninth hold, retiring the side in the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Adrian Morejon | Bradgley Rodriguez
Washington Nationals – Taking over with a two-run lead, Erik Tolman issued a two-out walk, with the runner moving up to second on defensive indifference, then scoring on Christian Moore’s RBI double. However, he induced a game-ending flyout, securing his second save. He threw 25 pitches (60% strike rate) and produced three whiffs.
- Clayton Beeter was awarded his sixth win, firing a clean top of the eighth and striking out one.
- Will Dion worked a clean seventh, recording one strikeout.
Updated Hierarchy: *Clayton Beeter | *Erik Tolman | Yovanny Cruz
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Arizona Diamondbacks: As the first reliever in at the top of the fifth and one out, Kevin Ginkel stranded two runners while retiring two of three batters (HBP – Ezequiel Duran). He was awarded his sixth save for his efforts.
- Chicago Cubs: Wrapping up a lopsided win over the Pirates, Trent Thornton allowed a hit during a scoreless top of the ninth. Daniel Palencia issued a walk in a scoreless eighth, throwing 15 pitches (66.7% strike rate) and inducing one whiff. Javier Assad gave up a hit in a scoreless seventh.
- Colorado Rockies: Entering at the bottom of the sixth, Mark Manfredi gave up a hit, two earned runs, and a walk during two-thirds of an inning, resulting in his second loss.
- Los Angeles Dodgers: Finishing off a four-run lead in Miami, Edgardo Henriquez navigated around two hits and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless bottom of the ninth. He threw 21 pitches (71.4% strike rate) and induced three whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). This extends his scoreless streak to 11 games, during which he owns a 0.484 WHIP with 18 strikeouts and one walk (45.9 K-BB%) over 10.1 innings.
- Milwaukee Brewers: Completing a combined 20-0 win over the Reds, Garrett Stallings secured his first career save, logging three innings while issuing a walk and striking out two. He threw 30 pitches (70% strike rate) and produced six whiffs (20 SwStr%).
- St. Louis Cardinals: Taking over at the top of the fifth, Gordon Graceffo stranded a runner and retired two of three batters, walking and striking out one, and was awarded his eighth win.
Holds Tally
Here are the holds from Friday’s slate:
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Statistical Credits: