Tuesday’s slate featured two wins by relievers, eight saves, and two losses. Here are the saves in condensed form:
As for the vulture options across today’s slate:
Vulture Save Options for 4.29.2026
- Camilo Doval (NYY): Bednar has appeared in consecutive contests.
- Blake Treinen (LAD): If Vesia replaces Scott as the highest-leverage reliever in today’s game, he may pitch before the ninth. Scott has pitched in back-to-back games and will be unavailable.
- Jeff Hoffman (TOR): This feels strange typing, but Varland has appeared in three of the previous four days.
- Jordan Hicks (CHW): Seranthony has logged four appearances across the last six days.
- Calvin Faucher (MIA): Phillips has worked in consecutive games.
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Another less-than-stellar performance by the defense and David Bednar resulted in a one-run win, but it was a white-knuckle ride. After retiring Josh Smith on a flyout, Andrew McCutchen reached courtesy of Ryan McMahon’s throwing error, followed by Danny Jansen’s RBI triple, a hit batter (Brandon Nimmo), and an RBI single by Josh Jung. Bednar bore down, inducing a game-ending double play groundout by Corey Seager, earning his ninth save. However, he threw 22 pitches (13 strikes – 59.1 Strike%), producing two whiffs (9.1 SwStr%). First, his illustrator:
And, his results:
He’s posted a 1.658 WHIP with 14 strikeouts against five walks (14.8 K-BB%) across 12.2 innings with some troubling trends beneath the hood. His contact rate allowed is seven percentage points higher than last year, and he’s producing fewer whiffs with a swinging strike percentage down by almost three percent. He’s throwing almost all of his pitches evenly this season:
There has been bad luck with errors by his defense and batted ball events. He will not finish 2026 with a .390 BABIP, but he’s struggling with his four-seam and curve when behind in the count. Yes, our old friend count leverage.
- Bednar’s 4-seam when behind in a count: .717 weighted on-base average (wOBA), .495 xwOBA, 15.4 whiff percentage
- Bednar’s curve when behind in a count: .601 wOBA, .535 xwOBA, 28.6 whiff percentage
Carrying an inflated WHIP, fantasy managers hope Bednar’s upcoming outings migrate toward his 3.01 SIERA and 2.56 xERA. Steamer projects his rest-of-season WHIP at 1.18, which will be needed to whittle down his ratios. However, in the current closer landscape, the nine saves are a valued commodity.
Three Takeaways
Dave Roberts remains infuriating: Death, taxes, and Dave Roberts frustrating fantasy managers, it’s a yearly rite of passage. For a second straight game, Tanner Scott was deployed against the top of the Marlins lineup with his team trailing. He allowed a two-out single by Otto Lopez and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless appearance against the 1-2-3-4 lineup pocket, throwing 16 pitches (13 strikes – 81.3 Strike%) with three whiffs (18.8 SwStr%). He owns a 0.75 WHIP with 13 strikeouts against two walks (22.4 K-BB%) across 15 games, spanning 13.1 innings, but remains at the mercy of his manager’s lineup lanes. Blake Treinen tossed a scoreless eighth, yielding a hit and striking out one. Jack Dreyer worked a scoreless ninth, giving up a hit and striking out one. Here are the usage patterns since Edwin Díaz’s last appearance:
It’s tough hanging on to Scott, though the deeper the format, the more one should remain patient. In shallower leagues, tough decisions face fantasy managers.
Hierarchy Remains: *Tanner Scott | *Alex Vesia | *Blake Treinen
*= closer-by-committee
Phillips gets the first chance: Understanding workloads played a part in how the Marlins handled the late innings on Tuesday, Tyler Phillips navigated around Andy Pages’ one-out single with a flyout and a groundout, recording his second save. Here are the recent patterns for the team:
He threw 16 pitches (75 Strike%) and induced one whiff. He received the first save chance with Pete Fairbanks on the injured list, but this situation may remain fluid in the interim, though he’s firmly in the mix for them. John King stranded two runners at the bottom of the eighth, retiring Kyle Tucker and Max Muncy for his second hold. Michael Petersen could not capitalize on his leverage opportunity, allowing three hits and an earned run against the Dodgers’ 9-1-2-3 hitters, getting credit for his third hold. Anthony Bender fired a clean seventh against the 6-7-8 lineup pocket on eight pitches (87.5 Strike%) without a whiff for his fourth hold.
Updated Hierarchy: *Tyler Phillips | *Calvin Faucher | *Anthony Bender
*= closer-by-committee
All Hail King Louis: Shutting the door on his fourth save while striking out the side, Louis Varland mowed down Boston’s 3-4-5 lineup pocket on 15 pitches (13 strikes – 86.7 Strike%) with three whiffs (20 SwStr%).
Through 16 innings, he’s posted a 1.00 WHIP with 26 strikeouts versus four walks (36.7 K-BB%) and converted all four save chances. Tyler Rogers tossed a clean eighth, striking out one for his seventh hold. Jeff Hoffman fired a clean seventh, striking out two while securing his third hold. Mason Fluharty allowed a walk during two-thirds scoreless in the sixth, notching his fifth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Louis Varland | Tyler Rogers | Jeff Hoffman
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Tuesday’s slate.
American League
Baltimore Orioles
Locking down his seventh save, Ryan Helsley fired a clean top of the ninth against the Astros’ 2-3-4 batters on 12 pitches (66.7 Strike%) with one whiff.
He’s been scoreless in seven of his last eight appearances, with four clean appearances, including this one, resulting in a 0.782 WHIP with 10 strikeouts versus four walks (22.2 K-BB%) over his last 7.1 innings since April 7.
- Anthony Nunez allowed three hits and two earned runs while striking out two in the eighth, creating the save opportunity.
- Andrew Kittredge navigated around two hits and a walk while striking out three in a scoreless seventh for his first hold.
- Rico Garcia notched his fifth hold, stranding two runners and striking out his only batter in the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Helsley | Rico Garcia | Andrew Kittredge
Chicago White Sox
Sealing a three-run lead and recording his seventh save, Seranthony Domínguez worked around a one-out walk of Mike Trout with a game-ending double play groundout against Vaughn Grissom. He threw 12 pitches (7 strikes – 58.3 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%).
He owns a 1.417 WHIP with 15 strikeouts against nine walks (10.9 K-BB%) across 12 innings.
- Jordan Leasure allowed Josh Lowe’s solo home run and recorded two strikeouts in the eighth.
- Sean Newcomb allowed a hit and a walk while striking out three over 1.1 scoreless frames for his second hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Seranthony Domínguez | Grant Taylor | Jordan Hicks
Kansas City Royals
Capping his team’s three-run rally at the top of the tenth, Lucas Erceg navigated around a two-out walk and an infield single with a game-ending lineout, securing his seventh save. He threw 23 pitches (14 strikes – 60.8 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (8.7 SwStr%). It’s been a whirlwind of results for the reliever; he owns a 1.622 WHIP with 10 strikeouts and walks through 12.1 innings while converting seven of nine save opportunities.
- Nick Mears collected his second win, retiring the side and striking out two at the bottom of the ninth.
- Matt Strahm gave up two hits and a walk while striking out two in a scoreless eighth.
- Daniel Lynch IV allowed a hit and worked a scoreless seventh.
Erceg has been serviceable, but has not locked down the closer role, which leaves the door open for Carlos Estévez, though his progress has been protected well by the team. Once he starts rehab outings, a timeline will be clearer, for now, this is the last update from MLB.com:
Hierarchy Remains: Lucas Erceg | Matt Strahm | Daniel Lynch IV
Tampa Bays Rays
Another Rays reclamation project may be in process. Cole Sulser worked around a hit and a walk while striking out two for his first save of the season, and first since 2022. He threw 16 pitches (62.5 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (12.5 SwStr%) while preserving a combined shutout against Cleveland.
- Kevin Kelly stranded three runners while retiring his only batter in the eighth, securing his fourth hold.
- Ian Seymour was credited with his sixth hold despite issuing two walks and striking out one during two-thirds of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Bryan Baker | Kevin Kelly | Ian Seymour
The Athletics
Tasked with the top of the tenth, Justin Sterner suffered his third loss, giving up two hits, including Bobby Witt Jr.’s three-run home runs, putting two earned runs on his ledger.
Jack Perkins fired a clean ninth and recorded a strikeout versus the Royals’ 6-7-8 lineup pocket, keeping the game tied. He threw 12 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and induced one whiff. It’s only one outing, but this reflects the usage pattern of a potential primary save share, but patience will be required.
- Mark Leiter Jr. tossed a clean eighth, striking out one.
- Scott Barlow logged 1.1 scoreless frames, stranding two runners in the sixth and striking out one.
- Hogan Harris suffered his first blown save, giving up two walks and a game-tying solo home run by Salvador Perez during two-thirds of the sixth.
Updated Hierarchy: *Jack Perkins | *Hogan Harris | *Joel Kuhnel
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Detroit Tigers: Forced into action at the bottom of the third, Brant Hurter let his only inherited runner score on a sacrifice fly and logged 2.2 scoreless frames while striking out one during an eventual loss.
- Houston Astros: Turning in a much improved appearance, Bennett Sousa fired a clean bottom of the eighth, striking out the side on 13 pitches (9 strikes – 69.2 Strike%) with three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%).
- Los Angeles Angels: Appearing in back-to-back games, José Fermin retired all five of six batters and recorded a strikeout, though he let one of three inherited runners score at the bottom of the seventh when he hit a batter with a pitch. He could forge a leverage role soon. Also, some good news, Ben Joyce will begin his rehab outings with an appearance today.
- Seattle Mariners: Taking over a tied game at the bottom of the sixth, Eduard Bazardo was scoreless while giving up a hit. He collected his second win after his team took the lead at the top of the seventh. Gabe Speier retired the side in the seventh for his fifth hold. Matt Brash fired a clean eighth, striking out two. Cooper Criswell tossed a clean ninth and recorded a strikeout, closing out a six-run lead.
- Texas Rangers: It did not register in the boxscore, but Cole Winn allowed a solo home run by Aaron Judge at the top of the ninth, which turned out to be the game-deciding run. Jakob Junis tossed a clean eighth, facing the Yankees’ 9-1-2 hitters. Jalen Beeks gave up a solo shot by Austin Wells during the top of the seventh and recorded a strikeout.
National League
Milwaukee Brewers
An old school save for Jake Woodford, his first of the season. He logged three scoreless innings, scattering two hits and recording two strikeouts, finishing a lopsided victory over Arizona. He threw 35 pitches (26 strikes – 74.3 Strike%) and induced one whiff.
- Shane Drohan notched his first hold, retiring the side and striking out one at the top of the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Abner Uribe | Ángel Zerpa | Trevor Megill
Quick Hits
- Chicago Cubs: Preserving a five-run lead, Ryan Rolison tossed two clean frames and recorded two strikeouts against San Diego. Hoby Milner stranded two runners at the bottom of the sixth, and logged 1.1 clean frames while striking out one for his third hold.
- New York Mets: Completing a combined shutout, Craig Kimbrel struck out the side against the Nationals’ 3-4-5 hitters. Tobias Myers logged two innings, walking one and striking out two.
- Philadelphia Phillies: Closing out a combined shutout, Tim Mayza fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts against the Giants. Orion Kerkering worked a clean eighth, striking out two.
- San Diego Padres: Called upon at the top of the fifth, Kyle Hart stranded two runners with an inning-ending strikeout of Michael Busch. However, he allowed a hit, two earned runs, and a walk while only retiring one batter in the sixth, resulting in his first loss. David Morgan let both inherited runners score, giving up a hit, an earned run, and a walk with one strikeout during two-thirds of the sixth.
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