Sunday’s slate was an overwhelming force of nature, featuring 11 wins and 11 losses by relievers, with 12 saves converted. Here are the saves in condensed form:
Today’s three takeaways cover Bryan Abreu, Cade Smith, and Robert Garcia. As for the vulture options across today’s slate:
Vulture Save Options for 4.6.2026
- Jared Koenig (MIL): Megil and Uribe have appeared in back-to-back games. DL Hall could log multi-innings in this game as well.
- Jimmy Herget (COL): Vodnik has pitched in consecutive contests.
- John Schreiber (KC): Erceg (30 pitches) and Strahm (29 pitches) had high pitch counts on Sunday.
- Tyler Philliips (MIA): Multiple innings may be required by the veteran reliever. Fairbanks will be on paternity leave while teammates Faucher, Bender, and Nardi all appeared in back-to-back games versus the Yankees.
- Ron Marinaccio (SD): Miller and Estrada have pitched in consecutive contests. Morejon threw 29 pitches on Saturday.
- Cole Henry (WSH): Beeter logged 1.2 innings, throwing 25 pitches, on Sunday.
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Mason Miller has been dominant to this point in the season. It’s a limited sample, but he’s retired his last six batters faced on strikeouts, and recorded 11 against one walk (66.7 K-BB%) across 15 total hitters across his scoreless 4.1 innings. On Sunday, he nailed down his fourth save, striking out the side in Boston while facing the 2-3-4 hitters. He threw 12 pitches (75 Strike%) and generated six whiffs (50 SwStr%).
Beneath his 0.00 ERA, he has a negative SIERA (-0.32) and a 0.80 xERA with an eye-popping 51.5 O-Swing percentage and 25 percent swinging strike rate while yielding a 50 percent contact rate allowed. There will be rough outings; they happen with every reliever, but this level of performance stands out in a landscape littered with fluid bullpens and struggling relievers at the onset of the season, which segues perfectly into today’s takeaways.
Three Takeaways
Another implosion by Abreu: After recording the last out at the bottom of the ninth on a single with the runner cut down at home, Bryan Abreu returned for the tenth with a one-run lead. Things did not go well. He walked Tyler Soderstrom and served up Brent Rooker’s walk-off, three-run home run. Abreu’s final line reads: two hits, three runs (two earned), and one walk, resulting in his first loss. His WHIP has swelled to 3.38, and he’s only completed 2.2 innings through four appearances. In this appearance, he only threw one four-seam fastball in the strike zone, and it was crushed:
His current 23.63 ERA is accompanied by a 5.94 SIERA and a 7.50 xERA, fueled by his paltry 48.6 strike percentage this season and an awful 35.3 percent strike rate with his four-seam fastball. He does not trust the pitch or have command of it right now, illustrated by his -14.9 K-BB percentage by his fastball in this year’s small sample. He has recorded six of his seven outs across four outings via strikeout, but three of his four hits allowed have been home runs. This cannot continue, but fantasy managers may benefit by benching him until things improve. It’s tough leaving potential saves on the bench; however, it’s more challenging to overcome inflated ratios while hoping they accrue. Nine of 16 hitters have reached against him this season, resulting in a 3.375 WHIP through his first 2.2 innings. Those seeking a stream option for saves this week could do worse than Bryan King. For now:
Hierarchy Remains: Bryan Abreu | Bryan King | Kai-Wei Teng
Cade holds on during another traffic-infused outing: The good news is that Cade Smith recorded his third save, but it was an adventure. It started with two outs when he walked Nico Hoerner and Alex Bregman ahead of an Ian Happ RBI single, before producing a game-ending strikeout of Carson Kelly. Smith threw 33 pitches (20 strikes – 60.6 Strike%) and generated six whiffs (18.2 SwStr%), but his command must be better than this:
At his best, he’s dotting four-seam fastballs in the upper-third of the strike zone, inside against right-handed hitters and away from lefties. His results are not as extreme as those of other relievers; he owns a 7.50 ERA with a 3.22 SIERA and a 4.47 xERA. With better results from his fastball and some better luck, he will bounce back. Currently, his four-seam has an inflated .417 batting average on balls in play with a .387 weighted on-base average. For reference, his career wOBA with his four-seam is .234. Add in a reduced whiff rate by his split-fingered fastball, and it manifests in his 1.67 WHIP. Side sessions focused on location and improved outings will turn his season around, but some patience may be required.
Hierarchy Remains: Cade Smith | Shawn Armstrong | Erik Sabrowski
A Texas misstep: Robert Garcia took over at the top of the eighth, with manager Skip Schumaker forcing Elly De La Cruz to hit from his weaker side of the plate, or so was the plan according to Shawn McFarland’s game recap for The Dallas Morning News:
Things did not work out. Garcia suffered his first loss, giving up a hit, an earned run, and two walks while recording one out at the top of the eighth against the Reds. He threw 20 pitches (40 Strike%) and produced three whiffs. In 2026, he’s faced 10 right-handed hitters, issuing 4 walks (including this appearance) and striking out none, resulting in a 3.60 WHIP and a .464 wOBA; it’s less than optimal. For his career, he has a 1.33 WHIP and a .291 wOBA facing right-handed hitters, but last year the numbers were a 1.36 WHIP and a 14.1 K-BB percentage.
He was replaced by Chris Martin, who allowed three hits and recorded a strikeout over 1.1 scoreless frames; he stranded two runners in the eighth. As a team, the Rangers have had three meltdowns this season, all by their “co-closers.” This was Garcia’s first, and Martin has suffered two. There has not been any official word that the team will revamp roles in the leverage ladder, but fantasy managers should keep tabs on how Jalen Beeks, Jakob Junis, Cole Winn, and Jacob Latz are deployed this scoring period.
Updated Hierarchy: *Robert Garcia | *Chris Martin | *Jalen Beeks
*= closer-by-committee
Sunday’s slate was rife with leverage results of interest, so some streamlined recaps will be necessary.
American League
Chicago White Sox
Finishing a combined shutout and recording his first save this season, Chris Murphy worked around Kazuma Okamoto’s leadoff walk with back-to-back popouts, followed by a game-ending strikeout of Andrés Giménez. He threw 15 pitches (60 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
- Jordan Leasure notched his first hold, retiring all four batters, one via strikeout.
- Bryan Hudson stranded two runners and allowed two hits while striking out one during his two-thirds of the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Seranthony Domínguez | Grant Taylor | Jordan Hicks
Minnesota Twins
Entering at the top of the tenth, Justin Topa suffered his first loss, allowing two hits, three runs (two earned), and a walk while recording one out.
- Taylor Rogers let one of two inherited runners score, issuing two walks during his two-thirds of the tenth.
- Cole Sands worked two scoreless frames, giving up a hit and striking out one.
- Kody Funderburk stranded two runners while retiring his only batter in the seventh. His leverage role may grow soon, putting him into the hierarchy.
Hierarchy Remains: *Cole Sands | *Taylor Rogers | *Justin Topa
*= closer-by-committee
Seattle Mariners
At the bottom of the 11th, Gabe Speier issued an intentional walk (Zach Neto) and recorded two outs, but gave up Nolan Schanuel’s walk-off sacrifice fly, saddling him with his second loss. Matt Brash was tagged with his first blown save, giving up an unearned run and striking out one in the tenth.
Andrés Muñoz fired a clean ninth and recorded a strikeout at the bottom of the ninth, keeping the game tied. He threw 16 pitches (62.5 Strike%) and generated six whiffs (37.5 SwStr%).
- Casey Legumina logged two scoreless frames, allowing only one hit.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Matt Brash | Gabe Speier
Tampa Bay Rays
Lowering his ERA to 16.88, your team leader in saves, Kevin Kelly, closed out a three-run lead with a scoreless bottom of the tenth, retiring the side and striking out one against the Twins. He threw 19 pitches (11 strikes – 57.9 Strike%) with two whiffs.
Bryan Baker collected his first win, firing a clean ninth and striking out two on 14 pitches (8 strikes – 57.1 Strike%) with three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%).
He’s retired all nine batters this season, four via strikeout (44.4 K-BB%).
- Griffin Jax logged two scoreless frames, scattering two hits and issuing a walk.
Hierarchy Remains: *Bryan Baker | *Griffin Jax | *Ian Seymour
*= closer-by-committee
The Athletics
Pressed into action at the top of the tenth with one out, Elvis Alvarado stranded a bases-loaded situation, striking out Cam Smith and inducing an inning-ending Yainer Diaz flyout. He collected his first win courtesy of a walk-off home run at the bottom of the frame. He threw eight pitches (62.5 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (25 SwStr%).
- Hogan Harris logged 1.1 innings, giving up a hit, an unearned run, and two walks while striking out two.
- Mark Leiter Jr. was tagged with his first blown save, inheriting two runners with no outs in the eighth, but let both score, Cam Smith’s two-RBI singles during his inning of work.
- Scott Barlow made the mess, allowing two hits, four earned runs, and two walks without retiring a batter.
- J.T. Ginn also suffered a blown save, yielding two hits, two earned runs, and striking out one over 1.1 innings.
Updated Hierarchy: *Mark Leiter Jr. | *Hogan Harris | *Elvis Alvarado
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Boston Red Sox: Suffering his first loss, Tyler Uberstine allowed three hits, including Jackson Merrill’s go-ahead solo home run, and a walk while striking out two over his 2.2 innings.
- Kansas City Royals: During a dreaded non-save appearance, Lucas Erceg allowed three hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out one at the top of the ninth against Milwaukee, requiring 30 pitches. This spiked his WHIP to 1.91 through his first 3.2 innings.
- Los Angeles Angels: Outlasting Seattle on a walkoff rally at the bottom of the 11th, handing Shaun Anderson his first win this season. He worked two innings, allowing a hit, an unearned run, and a walk while striking out one across the tenth and 11th innings.
- New York Yankees: Summoned at the top of the eighth, Jake Bird not only let an inherited runner score, but he also gave up a hit, hit a batter, three earned runs, and issued a walk without recording an out, resulting in his first loss and a blown save. Ryan Yarbrough allowed both inherited runners to score, yielding a hit and striking out three over 1.2 innings.
National League
Arizona Diamondbacks
Taking over at the top of the tenth, Taylor Rashi stranded the “ghost runner” while retiring the side and collected his first win via a walk-off at the bottom of the inning.
- Jonathan Loáisiga suffered his first blown save, allowing three hits, including a game-tying RBI single by Drake Baldwin, and recorded a strikeout in the ninth.
- Kevin Ginkel gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless eighth, notching his first hold.
- Ryan Thompson allowed a hit, an unearned run, and a walk while striking out one in the seventh, getting charged with his first blown save.
- Taylor Clarke stranded two runners in the fifth and logged 1.1 clean frames while striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Paul Sewald | Juan Morillo | Jonathan Loáisiga
Atlanta Braves
It was a short outing for Joel Payamps, resulting in his first loss. He gave up Ketel Marte’s walk-off RBI double, scoring the “ghost runner” at the bottom of the tenth.
- Raisel Iglesias fired a clean ninth, striking out one on 14 pitches (64.3 Strike%) with two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%).
- Robert Suarez worked a clean eighth, striking out the side while throwing 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) with five whiffs (35.7 SwStr%).
- Dylan Lee allowed two hits and an earned run in the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Robert Suarez | Dylan Lee
Chicago Cubs
(Game 1) – Daniel Palencia completed a combined shutout and slammed the door on his first save of the season, retiring Cleveland’s 4-5-6 lineup pocket in order, striking out one. He threw 13 pitches (10 strikes – 76.9 Strike%) and generated five whiffs (38.5 SwStr%).
- Hoby Milner notched his first hold, tossing a clean eighth.
- Caleb Thielbar stranded the bases loaded in the sixth and logged 1.1 scoreless frames while issuing a walk, collecting his first win.
(Game 2) – As the first reliever in at the bottom of the sixth, Ben Brown allowed two hits, two earned runs, and two walks, resulting in his first blown save.
- Jacob Webb was tagged with his first loss and first blown save, giving up three hits, three earned runs, and a walk over one-third of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Daniel Palencia | Hunter Harvey | Phil Maton
Cincinnati Reds
Recording his first career save, Brock Burke fired a clean bottom of the ninth, striking out the side against the Rangers’ 7-8-9 lineup pocket. He threw 14 pitches (9 strikes – 64.3 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (35.7 SwStr%).
- Connor Phillips recorded two quick outs, then allowed a double and a walk before an inning-ending flyout for his first hold in the eighth.
- Sam Moll was awarded his first win. He stranded two runners while retiring his only batter in the seventh.
- Pierce Johnson issued a walk and struck out one during two-thirds of the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Tony Santillan | Graham Ashcraft
Colorado Rockies
Despite allowing a hit by two of his first three batters faced, Victor Vodnik recorded his first save of the season with three strikeouts, closing out a three-run lead against the Phillies. He threw 22 pitches (72.7 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (13.6 SwStr%). He’s posted a 1.75 WHIP with four strikeouts across his first four innings.
- Brennan Bernardino notched his first hold, retiring the side against the top of the lineup and striking out two.
- Jaden Hill worked a clean seventh for his first hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Victor Vodnik | Jimmy Herget | Brennan Bernardino
Los Angeles Dodgers
Locking down his third save, Edwin Díaz fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded a strikeout, sealing a late rally over the Nationals. He threw 13 pitches (9 strikes – 69.2 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
He’s posted a 0.75 WHIP with five strikeouts versus two walks (18.8 K-BB%) over four innings.
- Tanner Scott secured his first hold, allowing a hit and striking out one in a scoreless eighth.
- Jack Dreyer was awarded his first win, working a scoreless seventh, walking and striking out one.
- Alex Vesia tossed a scoreless sixth despite giving up a hit and a walk.
Hierarchy Remains: Edwin Díaz | Tanner Scott | Alex Vesia
Miami Marlins
Presented a three-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, Anthony Bender lined up against the Yankees’ 2-3-4 lineup pocket. He issued consecutive one-out walks to Cody Bellinger and Ben Rice, followed by a two-RBI two-out double by Jazz Chisolm Jr., intentionally walked Austin Wells, then retired J.C. Escarra via strikeout for his first save of the season. Bender finished with a hit, two earned runs, and three walks while striking out two.
- Calvin Faucher notched his first hold, walking and striking out one at the bottom of the eighth.
- John King stranded two runners while retiring his only batter in the seventh, resulting in his first win.
- Things did not go well for Pete Fairbanks as the “opener.” He allowed three hits, including Rice’s three-run home run, and issued a walk. He will go on paternity leave today.
Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks | Anthony Bender | Calvin Faucher
Milwaukee Brewers
After retiring the first two hitters, Trevor Megill allowed a single by Bobby Witt Jr. before inducing a game-ending flyout by Vinnie Pasquantino, securing his third save. He threw 12 pitches (66.7 Strike%) without a whiff. Through four games, he owns a 1.50 WHIP with five strikeouts versus three walks.
- Ángel Zerpa notched his first hold, tossing 1.2 scoreless frames, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out one.
- Abner Uribe gave up two hits and an earned run while striking out one over one-third of the seventh, getting credit for his third hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Ángel Zerpa
New York Mets
Although he allowed a hit by two of the first three batters, Devin Williams benefited from a caught stealing and bore down with two outs, recording a game-ending strikeout of Jung Hoo Lee for his second save. He threw 21 pitches (13 strikes – 61.9 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (9.5 SwStr%).
He remains scoreless through four appearances with a 1.25 WHIP and five strikeouts versus two walks (18.8 K-BB%).
- Luke Weaver retired the side at the bottom of the eighth for his first hold.
- Huascar Brazobán collected his first win, retiring all four batters across the sixth and seventh innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Devin Williams | Luke Weaver | Brooks Raley
San Francisco Giants
Entering with a one-run lead at the top of the eighth, Keaton Winn suffered his first loss while getting credit for his second hold. He allowed Jorge Polanco’s one-out double, then a single by Luis Robert Jr., prompting his removal, but was charged with two earned runs after both scored.
- Erik Miller could not stem the tide, giving up a two-RBI double by Luis Torrens, ceding the lead, followed by an RBI single (Mark Vientos) and an RBI double (Marcus Semien), resulting in his first blown save. He finished with three hits against and two earned runs during his two-thirds of the eighth.
Updated Hierarchy: *Ryan Walker | *Caleb Kilian | *Keaton Winn
*= closer-by-committee
St. Louis Cardinals
Securing his second save, Riley O’Brien retired the Tigers’ 2-3-4 lineup pocket in order and recorded a strikeout, throwing 13 pitches (7 strikes – 53.8 Strike%) with one whiff.
Through five games, he owns a 0.75 WHIP with five strikeouts against zero walks (26.3 K-BB%) over 5.1 innings.
- Ryne Stanek worked around a walk and struck out two in a scoreless eighth for his second hold.
- JoJo Romero stranded two runners in the sixth and logged 1.2 scoreless frames, walking and striking out one, notching his third hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Riley O’Brien | *JoJo Romero | *Ryne Stanek
*= closer-by-committee
Washington Nationals
Forced into action at the top of the eighth, Clayton Beeter took over with no outs and the bases loaded against the Dodgers. He induced an RBI fielder’s choice groundout against Kyle Tucker, retired Shohei Ohtani on a sacrifice fly, and recorded an inning-ending strikeout of Miguel Rojas, resulting in his first blown save. Returning for the ninth, he gave up a solo home run (Teoscar Hernández) and retired two more hitters before being removed. All told, Beeter allowed a hit, an earned run, and struck out two on 25 pitches (64 Strike%) with four whiffs (16 SwStr%).
- Cionel Pérez created the chaos, allowing three hits, four earned runs, and two walks without retiring a batter in the eighth, suffering his first loss.
- Cole Henry was unavailable after tossing two innings during a loss on Saturday.
There will be a learning curve for a first-time MLB manager, especially running a matchup-based bullpen, but using Henry during a loss on Saturday likely caused another one on Sunday.
Updated Hierarchy: *Clayton Beeter | *Cole Henry | PJ Poulin
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Philadelphia Phillies: In an eventual loss, Kyle Backhus fired a clean bottom of the eighth, striking out two. Tanner Banks worked a clean seventh and recorded one strikeout. Tim Mayza tossed a clean sixth, striking out one.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Wrapping up a six-run margin against Baltimore, José Urquidy logged two scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out three. Mason Montgomery allowed three hits and an earned run while striking out three in the seventh.
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Statistical Credits: