Tuesday’s slate featured five reliever wins, 11 saves, and four losses, with four blown saves. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 554 saves this season by 168 different pitchers.
Here are the vulture options:
Vulture Save Options for 6.17.2026
- Alex Vesia (LAD): Scott, Klein, and Hurt have all pitched in back-to-back games.
- Bryan Abreu (HOU): Hader recorded the save last night and has not pitched in consecutive games since his activation from the injured list.
- Didier Fuentes (ATL): With a split-game doubleheader today, he could record a multi-inning vulture win or save.
- Dylan Smith (SF): On the other side of the doubleheader in Atlanta, he’s the preferred vulture option for a save.
Vulture Save Stashes for 6.18.2026
- Tyler Rogers (TOR): If Louis Varland works in tonight’s game, it will be consecutive appearances.
- George Soriano (STL): If Riley O’Brien pitches today, it will be back-to-back games.
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Since May 15, the Cubs are the only team without a save. Even the Angels have converted two in this timeframe. Daniel Palencia recorded his last save on May 14 and will not have another one for at least 15 days:
What is less appealing than a team not providing save chances? One that will take a matchup-based approach while its closer is unavailable, citing this quote from Craig Counsell in this post for The Athletic by Patrick Mooney:
During last night’s loss, Ryan Rolison let both inherited runners score on an RBI single by Jake McCarthy and a wild pitch while tossing 1.2 scoreless frames and recording three strikeouts. Phil Maton gave up two hits and a walk while striking out one during two-thirds of the seventh. Trent Thornton stranded all three inherited runners and issued two walks during 1.1 scoreless innings. Gavin Hollowell tossed a scoreless ninth, walking and striking out one. An ancillary option on other teams will be more alluring to fantasy players than our adjusted hierarchy:
Updated Hierarchy: *Jacob Webb | *Caleb Thielbar | *Phil Maton
*= closer-by-committee
Since May 15, Thielbar has had two blown saves, and Rolison, Webb, and Maton have one. If these relievers struggle, Trent Thornton or Ethan Roberts could earn a larger leverage role.
Three Takeaways
Spiked velocity in Seattle? Showing no signs of a back issue, Andrés Muñoz worked around Adley Rutschman’s one-out single with a strikeout against Pete Alonso and a game-ending groundout by Samuel Basallo for his 11th save. He threw 17 pitches (13 strikes – 76.5 Strike%) and induced one whiff. Though he did not generate many swings-and-misses, his velocity was at or above triple-digits on seven occasions in this outing, including these:
Still, since May 26, he has a loss and converted two of four save opportunities while posting a 1.94 WHIP with six strikeouts versus four walks (6.7 K-BB%) through 5.2 innings. Fantasy managers must monitor his outcomes for the rest of the month and any setbacks with his back. Eduard Bazardo notched his 13th hold, striking out one in a clean top of the eighth.
Updated Hierarchy: Andrés Muñoz | Gabe Speier | Eduard Bazardo
Santillan the stabilizer: Protecting a two-run lead, Tony Santillan worked around an infield single by Juan Soto and recorded two strikeouts, securing his fourth save. He threw 20 pitches (70 Strike%) and generated six whiffs (30 SwStr%) while facing the Mets’ 2-3-4-5 batters.
It’s his second save in as many appearances and extends his scoreless streak to six games, during which he’s posted a 0.80 WHIP with five strikeouts and no walks (25 K-BB%) through five innings. From a post by Charlie Goldsmith, Santillan watched an old video and noticed something in his delivery, and has found a groove:
While Emilio Pagán continues his rehab work, Santillan has reemerged as an option for saves for fantasy players in mixed leagues.
Updated Hierarchy: Tony Santillan | Tejay Antone | Brock Burke
Soto the traffic cop? Despite allowing consecutive one-out singles by Nick Kurtz and Shea Langeliers, Gregory Soto retired the next two A’s, one via strikeout, preserving the one-run margin for his 11th save. He threw 20 pitches (65 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (15 SwStr%). The good news is that he has converted four of five save chances over five outings in June; however, he has allowed multiple hits in three of his last four appearances, resulting in a 2.452 WHIP across 3.2 innings. It’s a limited sample but worth noting. Here are his splits by month and season:
Also from this contest, Mason Montgomery collected his second win, issuing a walk and striking out two at the bottom of the eighth, ahead of his team’s go-ahead rally in the ninth.
Hierarchy Remains: Gregory Soto | Mason Montgomery | Carmen Mlodzinski
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Tuesday.
American League
Detroit Tigers – Shifted into the bullpen, Keider Montero worked around a hit for a scoreless bottom of the seventh. Back for the eighth inning, things did not go as smoothly. He gave up a one-out single by Yainer Diaz, followed by Cam Smith reaching on a fielder’s choice, reaching second on a throwing error, and being removed.
Will Vest took over with a runner on, issuing Joey Loperfido a walk, and allowed a two-RBI single by Raynel Delgado. Despite inducing a ground ball by Jeremy Peña, he reached on an errant relay throw from second, scoring another run, handing Vest his fourth blown save, finishing with a hit, an unearned run, and a walk during one-third of the eighth. Montero was charged with his fifth loss, allowing two hits, two runs (one earned), and striking out two across 1.1 innings.
Updated Hierarchy: Kenley Jansen | Will Vest | Kyle Finnegan
Houston Astros – Capping his team’s comeback, Josh Hader navigated around Riley Greene’s leadoff single with back-to-back pop-outs and a game-ending strikeout, preserving a two-run lead for his third save. He threw 19 pitches (14 strikes – 73.7 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (26.3 SwStr%). Through his first six games this season, he remains scoreless, recording a win while converting each save chance with a 0.33 WHIP and eight strikeouts against one walk (35 K-BB%) across six innings.
- Bryan King allowed a hit, an earned run, and a walk during the top of the eighth, but was awarded his second win, benefiting from his team’s three-run rally at the bottom of the frame.
- Enyel De Los Santos tossed a clean seventh, striking out one.
- Steven Okert stranded a runner and retired his only batter in the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan King | Bryan Abreu
The Athletics – With the score tied at the top of the ninth, Elvis Alvarado allowed a go-ahead solo shot by Brandon Lowe, resulting in his first loss.
This snapped his modest four-game scoreless streak since his promotion on June 6.
- Mark Leiter Jr. kept the game tied, giving up a single during a scoreless eighth.
- Hogan Harris suffered his third blown save in the seventh, yielding two hits, including a two-run home run by Bryan Reynolds, and a walk while striking out one.
- Justin Sterner let his only inherited runner score, but was credited with his 12th hold when he allowed two hits and recorded two strikeouts in the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: *Hogan Harris | *Elvis Alvarado | Mark Leiter Jr.
*= closer-by-committee
Toronto Blue Jays – Pressed into action with two runners on and two outs at the bottom of the eighth, Louis Varland recorded an inning-ending strikeout of Mickey Gasper. Back for the ninth, he navigated around a leadoff single by Masataka Yoshida and a two-out walk with a game-ending strikeout of Jarren Duran. Varland notched his 13th save, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out three on 19 pitches (13 strikes – 68.4 Strike%) and produced four whiffs (21.1 SwStr%) while securing his fifth save requiring at least four outs this season. Through 35 games, he owns a 1.00 WHIP with 52 strikeouts against 11 walks (27.2 K-BB%) across 39 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Louis Varland | Tyler Rogers | Jeff Hoffman
Quick Hits
- Cleveland Guardians: Tasked with a tied game at the bottom of the seventh, Hunter Gaddis allowed a go-ahead solo shot by Garrett Mitchell, resulting in his second loss.
- Kansas City Royals: Suffering his first loss, Daniel Lynch IV took over a tied game at the bottom of the seventh, issuing a leadoff walk, followed by a stolen base, another walk, and a go-ahead three-run home run by Curtis Mead. Lynch finished with two hits, three earned runs, and two walks while striking out one.
- New York Yankees: Wrapping up a lopsided win over the White Sox, Ryan Yarbrough earned his second save, logging three scoreless frames while allowing a hit and striking out three. He threw 36 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and produced five whiffs (13.8 SwStr%).
National League
Colorado Rockies – Recording his first career save, Jaden Hill retired the side while finishing off a three-run lead against the Cubs. He threw 12 pitches (75 Strike%) without a whiff facing the 9-1-2 batters. He had allowed at least a run in three of his previous six appearances this month, but was called on for the save in this ever-changing leverage ladder.
- Victor Vodnik notched his second hold, tossing a clean bottom of the eighth.
- Brennan Bernardino worked around a hit and a walk for a scoreless seventh, securing his fourth hold.
- Blas Castaño collected his first win, logging 1.1 clean frames and striking out one.
Updated Hierarchy: *Jaden Hill | *Victor Vodnik | *Juan Mejia
*= closer-by-committee
Los Angeles Dodgers – Locking down his ninth save and sealing a 1-0 win over the Rays, Tanner Scott retired the side and recorded two strikeouts against the top of the lineup in the ninth inning. He threw 11 pitches (81.8 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (36.4 SwStr%). He has converted all four save chances in June, posting a 0.79 WHIP with 10 strikeouts and no walks (41.7 K-BB%) across 6.1 innings.
- Kyle Hurt secured his sixth hold, striking out one during a clean top of the eighth.
- Will Klein issued a walk during the seventh and recorded his tenth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Tanner Scott | Alex Vesia | Will Klein
Milwaukee Brewers – Shutting the door on his ninth save, Trevor Megill retired the side and recorded two strikeouts facing the Guardians’ 7-8-9 lineup pocket. He threw 12 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (25 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in 10 of his last 11 outings, posting a 0.818 WHIP with 17 strikeouts versus two walks (35.7 K-BB%) across 11 innings.
- Abner Uribe stranded an inherited runner while issuing a walk and striking out two during a scoreless eighth, securing his eighth hold.
- Aaron Ashby allowed a hit, an earned run, and two walks while striking out two in the seventh, suffering his second blown save. However, his team rallied to retake the lead at the bottom of the inning, handing him his tenth win.
- Joel Kuhnel stranded a runner and gave up a hit during a scoreless one-third of the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Aaron Ashby
St. Louis Cardinals – While navigating around Manny Machado’s two-out walk, Riley O’Brien recorded his 18th save, preserving a one-run lead at the top of the ninth. He threw 13 pitches (8 strikes – 61.5 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%). It’s been a tumultuous stretch for the closer. He has given up at least a run in five of his last nine appearances, resulting in two losses while converting five of six save opportunities with a 1.929 WHIP and seven strikeouts versus nine walks through 9.1 innings.
- Ryne Stanek fired a clean eighth, striking out two for his 12th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Riley O’Brien | JoJo Romero | George Soriano
Washington Nationals – Entering with a three-run lead at the top of the ninth, Gus Varland allowed a leadoff home run by Lane Thomas and walked Bobby Witt Jr. before inducing a double-play groundout by Jac Caliganone, followed by a game-ending strikeout of Isaac Collins, securing his sixth save. He threw 23 pitches (14 strikes – 60.9 Strike%) and induced one whiff. This was his first save since June 8, and he has allowed at least a run in three of his last four games.
- Paxton Schultz collected his first win, giving up a hit and striking out one during a scoreless top of the eighth.
- Richard Lovelady let both inherited runners score while yielding a hit during two-thirds of the seventh, resulting in his second blown save.
- Orlando Ribalta was credited with his fifth hold despite allowing a hit, two earned runs, and a walk while retiring one batter in the seventh.
Updated Hierarchy: *Clayton Beeter | *Gus Varland | *Brad Lord
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- New York Mets: Appearing in a loss, Luke Weaver fired a clean bottom of the eighth, striking out the side on 13 pitches (9 strikes – 69.2 Strike%) with four whiffs (30.8 SwStr%). Huascar Brazobán tossed a scoreless seventh, walking one and striking out two.
- Philadelphia Phillies: Closing out a six-run win over the Marlins, Max Lazar allowed a hit and recorded two strikeouts at the top of the ninth. Tanner Banks gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless eighth.
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