Friday’s slate produced eight wins (one accompanied by a blown save), seven saves, seven losses, and four blown saves by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 1,245 saves this season by 256 different pitchers. For perspective, this season has already set an MLB record for the number of pitchers with at least one save; the previous record was 223 in 2024.
Here are the upcoming vulture save options:
Vulture Save Options for 9.26.2026
- Ryan Watson (LAA): He’s the preferred option with Ben Joyce done for the season.
- Aaron Ashby (MIL): Megill and Uribe may not work in back-to-back games ahead of the playoffs.
- Seranthony Domínugez (SEA): With Muñoz on the injured list, he lines up as the preferred option for saves.
As a reminder, Sandy Alcantara (MIA) will be available as a reliever in today’s game.
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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Nailing down his 24th save and preserving a combined shutout in San Francisco, Tanner Scott fired a clean bottom of the ninth, striking out two. He threw 16 pitches (11 strikes; 68.8% strike rate) and racked up five whiffs (31.3 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in his last four appearances and secured a save in his last two.
- Roki Sasaki retired the side and recorded two strikeouts in the eighth, throwing 14 pitches (8 strikes; 57.1% strike rate) with two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%) for his first hold.
With Sasaki back in the leverage mix and improved performance by Edwin Díaz, the Dodgers’ postseason plans may be taking shape.
Updated Hierarchy: Tanner Scott | Roki Sasaki | Edwin Díaz
Today’s Takeaways
More starters in relief, this time, it’s Arizona: An all-hands-on-deck mentality has been pervasive across the landscape, and another example was on display with Zac Gallen closing out a seven-run lead in San Diego with a clean bottom of the ninth in his second career appearance as a reliever. He threw seven pitches (85.7% strike rate) and induced one whiff (14.3 SwStr%). Ryne Nelson stranded one of two inherited runners, allowing a hit in his one-third of the eighth inning.
Taylor in the seventh, again: Finishing off a five-run lead over the Rockies, Bryan Hudson retired the side at the top of the ninth. Grant Taylor notched his 11th hold, firing two clean frames and striking out three. He threw 17 pitches (14 strikes; 82.4% strike rate) and produced four whiffs (23.5 SwStr%). Hagen Smith stranded a runner while walking and striking out one during two-thirds of the sixth, securing his second hold.
Now it’s time for the remaining leverage events of interest from Friday.
American League
Boston Red Sox – (Game 1) – Raymond Burgos logged two clean frames and recorded three strikeouts while preserving a one-run lead for his second save. He threw 33 pitches (25 strikes; 75.7% strike rate) and produced four whiffs (12.1 SwStr%).
- Greg Weissert collected his fourth win, issuing two walks (one intentional – Ian Happ) and striking out one across 1.1 scoreless innings.
(Game 2) – Jedixson Paez earned his first career win as the bulk follower. He worked five scoreless innings, scattering three hits and striking out five in a sweep of the Cubs.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Garrett Whitlock | Erik Miller
Cleveland Guardians – Wrapping up a victory at the bottom of the ninth, Matt Festa gave up Salvador Perez’s two-run home run and issued a walk in a non-save capacity.
Hunter Gaddis allowed Carter Jensen’s game-tying two-run home run in the eighth among his three hits, getting tagged with his sixth blown save, but also picked up his sixth win courtesy of a five-run rally at the top of the ninth.
- Erik Sabrowski notched his 28th hold, giving up a hit and striking out one in a scoreless seventh.
- Daniel Espino fired a clean sixth, striking out one for his first hold.
- Shawn Armstrong worked a clean fifth, securing his ninth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis | Erik Sabrowski
Detroit Tigers – Inching closer to history, Kenley Jansen fired a clean top of the ninth, striking out two, closing out a one-run lead against the Pirates. He threw 13 pitches (8 strikes; 61.5% strike rate) and induced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%), securing his 22nd save of the season and the 498th of his career. He has been scoreless in his last eight, posting a 0.273 WHIP with seven strikeouts and two walks (21.7 K-BB%) across 7.1 innings.
- Tyler Holton retired his only batter in the eighth, securing his 15th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Jacob Waguespack | Drew Sommers
New York Yankees – (Game 1) – David Bednar navigated around a hit and two walks while striking out one in a scoreless top of the ninth during an eventual eight-run loss. He threw 28 pitches (13 strikes; 46.4% strike rate) and three whiffs (10.7 SwStr%). Through nine games in September, he owns a 1.10 WHIP with 11 strikeouts and two walks (23.1 K-BB%) over ten innings.
(Game 2) – Will Warren took over at the top of the third and worked 3.2 scoreless innings, yielding three hits while recording seven strikeouts, earning his 11th win.
Hierarchy Remains: David Bednar | Paul Blackburn | Brent Headrick
Tampa Bay Rays – Slamming the door on his 41st save and preserving a combined shutout, Bryan Baker retired the side against the Phillies’ 4-5-6 hitters. He threw 11 pitches (72.7% strike rate) and induced one whiff. This extended his scoreless streak to seven games.
- Cole Sulser notched his 12th hold, retiring the side and striking out one in the eighth.
- Kevin Kelly secured his 33rd hold, tossing a clean seventh and striking out one.
- Cam Booser stranded both inherited runners and retired both batters faced in the sixth for his 13th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Bryan Baker | Kevin Kelly | Cam Booser
The Athletics – Posting his 17th save, Hogan Harris sealed a one-run lead with a scoreless top of the ninth, issuing a walk and recording a strikeout against Houston’s 8-9-1 batters. He threw 14 pitches (71.4% strike rate) and induced two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in four of his last five outings, converting both save chances.
- Luis Medina let all three inherited runners at the top of the eighth on a sacrifice fly, an RBI single, and a wild pitch. He finished with a hit and a walk while striking out one during his two-thirds of an inning, and was credited with his 13th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Hogan Harris | *Elvis Alvarado | Luis Medina
*= closer-by-committee
Toronto Blue Jays – Locking down his 35th save, Louis Varland fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts, preserving a one-run lead against the Reds. He threw 11 pitches (81.8% strike rate) and generated four whiffs (36.4 SwStr%). It’s his first save since September 16 and the fourth this month.
- Tyler Rogers allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless eighth, notching his 33rd hold.
- Mason Fluharty stranded a runner while retiring both batters faced in the seventh, and was awarded his seventh win.
Hierarchy Remains: Louis Varland | Tyler Rogers | Spencer Miles
Quick Hits
- Houston Astros: Though he did not factor in the game’s decision, Bennett Sousa affected the outcome, letting both inherited runners score at the bottom of the sixth, allowing three hits and three earned runs without retiring a batter for his second blown save. A.J. Blubaugh also let two inherited runners score in the inning, giving up a hit and an earned run while striking out one during his two-thirds of the sixth inning.
- Kansas City Royals: After his team tied the game at the bottom of the eighth, Nate Pearson walked three of his first four batters faced at the top of the ninth and was removed following his fourth walk, scoring the go-ahead run. Nolan Hoffman replaced him with three runners on base and let all three score on two walks and Angel Martínez’s double, with the last out recorded on a play at home. Pearson was charged with his fourth loss, giving up four earned runs and four walks over two-thirds of an inning.
- Los Angeles Angels: Entering with a five-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, Luke Murphy allowed two hits, including Dominic Canzone’s two-run home run, three earned runs, and a walk while striking out one in an eventual two-run victory. Tayler Saucedo stranded all three inherited runners, retiring Cole Young on an inning-ending strikeout for his 11th hold. Sam Bachman gave up three hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out two in his two-thirds of the eighth.
National League
Chicago Cubs – (Game 1) – In a tied game, Aaron Civale suffered his eighth loss, giving up three hits, an earned run, and a walk across 2.1 innings.
(Game 2) – As the first reliever in, Javier Assad issued a walk that resulted in an earned run and recorded three strikeouts, getting charged with his second loss.
- Ryan Rolison let his only inherited runner at the bottom of the eighth, giving up a hit, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one during one-third of an inning.
Hierarchy Remains: *Ryan Zeferjahn | *Ryan Rolison | *Daniel Palencia
*= closer-by-committee
Milwaukee Brewers – Ceding a three-run lead at the top of the seventh, Bryse Wilson allowed three hits, including two home runs, and three earned runs while striking out one in his first blown save.
Abner Uribe worked a scoreless top of the eighth, yielding a hit and striking out one. He collected his sixth win courtesy of a four-run rally at the bottom of the frame.
Trevor Megill closed out a four-run lead with a scoreless ninth, giving up a hit and striking out one on 11 pitches, all strikes, with one whiff. He has been scoreless in five of his last six appearances.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Aaron Ashby
St. Louis Cardinals – It took three relievers to get through the bottom of the eighth. Luis Gastelum worked a scoreless bottom of the seventh, issuing a walk and recording two strikeouts. However, in the eighth, he only faced one batter, Jackson Chourio, who produced a single.
- Justin Bruihl replaced him, hitting a batter, making a fielding error on a sacrifice bunt to load the bases, then giving up Brice Turang’s go-ahead two-RBI single. Gastelum was tagged with his fourth loss and an earned run. Bruihl did not record an out, allowing a hit and three runs (one earned).
- Cade Winquest let both inherited runners score, giving up a hit and a walk while recording three outs in his segment of the fateful eighth inning.
Hierarchy Remains: Riley O’Brien | Ryne Stanek | George Soriano
Washington Nationals – Making his first appearance in Nationals Park since April 4, 2024, Josiah Gray sealed a one-run lead over the Mets with a scoreless top of the ninth, issuing a walk and recording a strikeout for his first career save. He threw 18 pitches (55.6% strike rate) and produced four whiffs (22.2 SwStr%). He’s the 16th pitcher with a save this season, one shy of the record set by Arizona last year.
- Jack Sinclair allowed two hits and an earned run while striking out one in the eighth for his fourth hold.
- Yovanny Cruz fired a clean seventh, striking out one, and secured his third hold.
- Gus Varland collected his second win, retiring all four batters faced, two via strikeout.
Hierarchy Remains: *Will Dion | *Jack Sinclair | *Erik Tolman
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Atlanta Braves: As the bulk follower, Grant Holmes allowed three hits, an earned run, and three walks while striking out one during his four innings. Didier Fuentes had a rough outing, allowing five hits, including Griffin Conine’s solo home run, and two earned runs at the bottom of the eighth.
- Cincinnati Reds: Another late-season meltdown by Luis Mey resulted in his second loss, though he was credited with his fifth hold. He worked around a hit-by-pitch for a scoreless bottom of the sixth. Returning for the seventh, he issued back-to-back walks, gave up a single, and an earned run on a fielder’s choice grounder, then was removed with three runners on. Pierce Johnson allowed a bases-clearing double by Kazuma Okamoto, putting four runs (three earned) on Mey’s line, and a second blown save on his.
- New York Mets: During a bullpen game, Jonathan Pintaro suffered his third loss. He took over at the bottom of the second and stranded two runners. In the third, he did not record an out, giving up two hits, three earned runs, and a walk.
- Philadelphia Phillies: Appearing during a shutout loss, Jhoan Duran retired the side and recorded a strikeout against the Rays, throwing 14 pitches (9 strikes; 64.3% strike rate) with two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%).
Holds Tally
Here are the holds from Friday’s slate:
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Statistical Credits: