Wednesday’s slate resulted in seven wins, seven saves, six losses, and six blown saves by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 1,183 saves this season by 250 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 upcoming vulture save options:
Vulture Save Options for 9.17.2026
- Abner Uribe (MIL): Megill has made consecutive appearances in the previous two days.
- Jeff Hoffman (MIN): Gómez has pitched in two straight and has not been effective in recent outings.
Vulture Save Stashes for 9.18.2026
- Jonathan Bowlan (PHI): If Duran pitches today, it’s back-to-back appearances.
- Ryan Watson (LAA): If Joyce pitches tonight, he has not worked in consecutive games this season.
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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Making his third career relief appearance, Sandy Alcantara recorded his first-ever save, closing out a one-run lead in Arizona. He induced two deep flyouts, then walked Jordan Lawlar, but the game ended on a caught steal. He threw 13 pitches (7 strikes; 53.8% strike rate) and induced one whiff. He’s the 250th different pitcher with a save this season.
- Jack Ralston worked two innings, giving up Nolan Arenado’s solo home run and striking out four, recording his third hold.
- Cade Gibson earned his fifth win, logging 1.2 scoreless innings, allowing a hit and striking out one.
Usage patterns in the previous five days forced Clayton McCullough to call an audible:
Alcantara made this appearance instead of throwing a side session, keeping his team’s postseason pursuits intact, though they are a long shot at best with nine games remaining.
Updated Hierarchy: *Michael Petersen | *Calvin Faucher | *Tyler Zuber
*= closer-by-committee
Today’s Takeaways
Another rocky outing for ROB: Tasked with the top of the tenth, Riley O’Brien was greeted by Drew Gilbert’s leadoff, two-run home run, then walked Jung Hoo Lee before inducing a double-play grounder, followed by a single and an inning-ending pop-out, resulting in his ninth loss. He’s given up at least a run in five of his eight appearances in September, recording a 1.91 WHIP with eight strikeouts and six walks over 7.1 innings.
Almost at the finish line for 2026, a change in leverage roles may not occur, but assurance of the closer role in 2027 for O’Brien becomes less likely due to his results after May.
Hierarchy Remains: Riley O’Brien | Ryne Stanek | George Soriano
Scoreless for Seattle: The good news is that Andrés Muñoz turned in a scoreless appearance while finishing off a five-run margin over the Angels. However, he allowed consecutive hits with one out before inducing a game-ending double-play grounder. He only threw eight pitches (75% strike rate) and produced one whiff.
As the season has progressed, Muñoz has been using his kick-change more, which may be paramount for a rebound in 2027:
His best-case scenario would be fewer four-seam fastballs with more sliders and change-ups. This is not assured, but worth monitoring over his last few appearances.
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Wednesday.
American League
Cleveland Guardians – Not only did Cade Smith strand two runners at the top of the eighth, but he retired all four batters he faced, striking out two while slamming the door on his 37th save. He threw 15 pitches (11 strikes; 73.3% strike rate) and generated four whiffs (26.7 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in his last eight appearances, posting a 0.40 WHIP with 16 strikeouts and two walks (40 K-BB%) across ten innings, recording three wins and three saves.
- Erik Sabrowski issued two walks during two-thirds of the eighth inning, getting credit for his 25th hold.
- Hunter Gaddis allowed a hit in a scoreless seventh, securing his 29th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis | Erik Sabrowski
Minnesota Twins – Entering at the top of the 13th, Tommy Nance retired the side and recorded two strikeouts against the Yankees’ 5-6-7 hitters, then collected his third win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning.
- Travis Adams logged three innings, allowing two hits, two earned runs, and a walk with one strikeout.
- Kody Funderburk stranded two runners at the top of the ninth, retiring his only batter.
- Yoendrys Gómez was tagged with his first blown save, squandering a two-run lead after retiring two of the first three batters at the top of the ninth. However, a Paul Goldschmidt single put two runners on, followed by Anthony Volpe’s game-tying two-RBI double, and a walk to Ben Rice, prompting his removal. Gómez has allowed multiple runs in two of his last three outings and in three of his last eight.
- A.J. Minter escaped with a scoreless eighth, giving up two hits and a walk while striking out two for his ninth hold.
- Jeff Hoffman fired a clean seventh, striking out two, securing his 21st hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Yoendrys Gómez | *Jeff Hoffman | *A.J. Minter
*= closer-by-committee
Tampa Bay Rays – Sealing a one-run lead and his third save, Cole Sulser retired the side against the A’s 5-6-7 batters, throwing 12 pitches (66.7% strike rate) with one whiff.
- Cam Booser worked a clean eighth, striking out one, notching his 11th hold.
- Kevin Kelly logged two innings, giving up three hits and an earned run while striking out four, securing his 31st hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Bryan Baker | Kevin Kelly | Cam Booser
Toronto Blue Jays – Forced into action with two runners on and no outs at the top of the ninth, Louis Varland retired all three batters, striking out two, sealing a four-run lead for his 34th save. He threw 14 pitches (57.1% strike rate) and induced two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). Through seven appearances in September, he owns a 1.228 WHIP with 11 strikeouts and four walks (21.2 K-BB%) across 7.1 innings.
- Spencer Miles gave up four hits and a walk while striking out one over two scoreless innings.
- Mason Fluharty notched his 17th hold, retiring the side in the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Louis Varland | Tyler Rogers | Spencer Miles
Quick Hits
- Chicago White Sox: Regression came calling for Hagen Smith. He allowed a hit, two earned runs, and two walks while striking out two over 1.2 innings, resulting in his second loss. He was removed with two runners on and two outs, but Sean Newcomb let both score on Petey Halpin’s go-ahead three-run home run, handing him his second blown save.
- New York Yankees: Brought into a tied game at the bottom of the 12th, John Schreiber issued Brooks Lee an intentional walk, picked off the courtesy runner, then induced an inning-ending double play. Upon his return in the 13th, he gave up Victor Caratini’s walk-off, RBI single, resulting in his fourth loss. David Bednar could not close out a one-run lead in the tenth or in the 11th inning, letting both inherited runners score while giving up three hits and striking out two, leading to his fourth blown save.
- Seattle Mariners: As the first reliever in, Carlos Vargas stranded two runners at the bottom of the fifth and worked 1.1 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and a hit-by-pitch while striking out three, resulting in his first win.
National League
Cincinnati Reds – Closing out a four-run lead, Emilio Pagán allowed a hit and recorded three strikeouts versus the Dodgers. He threw 21 pitches (66.7% strike rate) and produced two whiffs, extending his scoreless streak to five games while converting all three saves in it.
- Graham Ashcraft worked around two walks while striking out one for a scoreless eighth.
- Brock Burke notched his 20th hold, yielding a hit in a scoreless seventh.
- Tejay Antone collected his third win, stranding two runners and retiring his only batter in the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Brock Burke | Tejay Antone
Milwaukee Brewers – Locking down his 28th save, Trevor Megill fired a clean bottom of the ninth while striking out two, facing the Pirates’ 8-9-1 pocket. He threw eight pitches, all strikes, and induced two whiffs (25 SwStr%). He’s already recorded career-highs in games (59), innings (57.2), and strikeouts (65) this season; will saves be next? Megill only needs three more to eclipse his total from last year.
- Abner Uribe allowed a hit during a scoreless eighth, securing his 21st hold.
- Shane Drohan gave up two hits and stranded a runner during two-thirds of the seventh for his third hold.
- Antonio Senzatela was awarded his 11th win, stranding a runner in the sixth while giving up a hit and striking out two during two-thirds of an inning.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Aaron Ashby
Philadelphia Phillies – Preserving a combined shutout, Jhoan Duran fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts for his 31st save. He threw 21 pitches (13 strikes; 61.9% strike rate) and produced four whiffs (19 SwStr%). It’s his first save since September 5 and is one save away from tying his career-best 32 set last season.
- José Alvarado issued a walk and struck out one in the eighth, securing his 16th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Duran | Jonathan Bowlan | José Alvarado
San Francisco Giants – Despite letting the courtesy runner while issuing two walks at the bottom of the tenth, Joel Kuhnel prevented any further damage, finishing off an eventual one-run lead for his eighth save, second with the Giants. He threw 17 pitches (7 strikes; 41.2% strike rate) without a whiff.
- Reiver Sanmartin collected his third win, stranding two runners at the bottom of the ninth while retiring his only batter faced.
- Dylan Smith suffered his fifth blown save, giving up two hits, two earned runs, and two walks while striking out one during two-thirds of the ninth. He has yielded multiple runs in two of his last eight games and at least a run in four.
- Trent Harris stranded two of three runners in the eighth, giving up a hit and striking out two across 1.1 scoreless frames for his fifth hold. Carson Seymour handed out two walks, which resulted in two unearned runs and his eighth hold in two-thirds of the seventh. Philip Abner notched his first hold, striking out his only batter in the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Dylan Smith | Trent Harris | Joel Kuhnel
Quick Hits
- Chicago Cubs: Pressed into action with two runners on and no outs at the top of the ninth, Ryan Zeferjahn let both score. One on an RBI double by Mauricio Dúbon, and the second on a fielder’s choice groundout. He retired three of four batters faced, striking out one while throwing 20 pitches (70% strike rate) with four whiffs (20 SwStr%). Ryan Rolison finished with a hit, two earned runs, and a walk on his ledger, retiring two batters in the eighth and none in the ninth.
- Los Angeles Dodgers: Forced into a bullpen game, Seth Halvorsen suffered his second save and a second blown save, allowing two hits, including a go-ahead two-run home run by Elly De La Cruz at the bottom of the third.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Conceding a one-run lead, Carmen Mlodzinski suffered his seventh loss and a second blown save, allowing two hits, two earned runs, and two walks while striking out one across two innings facing the Brewers, snapping his 6.2-inning scoreless streak.
Holds Tally
Here are the holds from Wednesday’s slate:
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Statistical Credits: