Sunday’s 14-game slate featured seven reliever wins, nine saves, and five losses, with five blown saves. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 586 saves this season by 173 different pitchers.
Here are the vulture options:
Vulture Save Options for 6.22.2026
- Orion Kerkering (PHI): Duran has logged back-to-back outings during non-save situations.
- Brock Burke (CIN): Santillan worked two innings on a low pitch count, but workload management and left-handed hitters atop the Brewers lineup may work in Burke’s favor if a save chance is provided.
Vulture Save Stash for 6.23.2026
- Bryan Abreu (HOU): If Hader pitches tonight, it’s back-to-back appearances.
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Shutting the door on a one-run lead and his fifth save, Josh Hader fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts against the Guardians. He threw nine pitches (88.9 Strike%) and generated four whiffs (44.4 SwStr%).
Through his first eight appearances, he’s posted a 0.375 WHIP with 13 strikeouts against one walk (44.5 K-BB%) across eight innings.
- Bryan King worked a clean eighth, striking out one for his seventh hold.
- Steven Okert notched his ninth hold, issuing a walk and striking out three during a scoreless seventh inning.
Despite my concerns about his shoulder issue carrying over into this season, he has performed beyond expectations in this year’s limited sample. He has appeared on consecutive days, and even though he will not be used for multiple innings, his team remains in the hunt for the division or a Wild Card spot as teams barrel toward the midpoint of the season. Among qualified relievers in June, only Louis Varland (7), Jacob Latz (6), and Jhoan Duran (6) have recorded more saves than Hader’s five. He also ranks fourth in K-BB percentage (44.4 percent), fifth in SIERA (0.88), first in swinging strike rate (26.4 percent), and has posted the second-lowest contact percentage (55.6 percent).
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan King | Bryan Abreu
Three Takeaways
Leverage havoc with the Halos: Capping his team’s go-ahead rally at the top of the ninth, Sam Bachman retired the side against the A’s top of the lineup while recording his first save of the season, second of his career. He threw 11 pitches (81.8 Strike%) and induced one whiff (9.1 SwStr%). He had allowed seven earned runs combined in his two previous appearances, but also recorded a 13-game scoreless streak before them. What will his role be moving forward? Your guess is as good as mine. Chase Silseth collected his second win, working a scoreless eighth, walking one and striking out two.
On Saturday, Ryan Zeferjahn threw 24 pitches across 1.2 scoreless frames and Kirby Yates pitched on back-to-back days, leaving them unavailable in Sunday’s come-from-behind win. Determining who emerges from this bullpen as the preferred save share remains a challenge. How Kurt Suzuki deploys his leverage relievers this week may determine roles through the All-Star break, but nothing seems assured for the team with the fewest saves this season (8) and the fifth-fewest save opportunities (24) in its first 79 contests. For now:
Updated Hierarchy: *Sam Bachman | *Ryan Zeferjahn | *Chase Silseth
*= closer-by-committee
Minnesota’s matchups in Arizona: Sealing a two-run lead and recording his second save of the season, Anthony Banda retired the side against Arizona’s 9-1-2 hitters at the bottom of the ninth. He threw 10 pitches (60 Strike%) and produced two whiffs while recording one strikeout. His last save was on May 22, but he’s been scoreless over his last six games, posting a 1.058 WHIP with five strikeouts versus two walks across 5.2 innings. Yoendrys Gómez worked around a walk for a scoreless eighth, securing his sixth hold. Andrew Morris tossed a scoreless seventh, walking and striking out one. Cody Lawyerson collected his first win, retiring the side and striking out one at the bottom of the sixth.
The Twins have recorded six saves in June: Gómez (4), Travis Adams (1), Morris (1), and Banda (1). This keeps Gómez as the preferred save option, but he’s also the highest-leveraged reliever (HLR), meaning he will not be reserved solely for the ninth inning. He’s also worked in back-to-back games, making him unavailable for tonight’s tilt against the Dodgers.
Hierarchy Remains: Yoendrys Gómez | Andrew Morris | Anthony Banda
A Chicagoan Collapse: Summoned with the bases loaded and no outs at the bottom of the tenth, Jordan Hicks allowed a walk-off RBI single by Matt Vierling. Brandon Eisert gets tagged with his first loss and first blown save, allowing two hits and two runs (one earned) without recording an out in the tenth. Seranthony Domínguez suffered his fourth blown save, allowing a two-out infield single, followed by consecutive hits, including a game-tying RBI single by Dillon Dingler, and recorded a strikeout during the ninth inning. Grant Taylor was credited with his fifth hold, serving a solo shot by Dingler and issuing a walk while striking out one in his first outing since June 14. Bryan Hudson notched his fifth hold, yielding a hit and striking out one during a scoreless seventh.
Fantasy players’ frustrations with Taylor’s role are palpable. For instance, if he’s going to be stretched out, why not bring him back for the ninth inning after throwing 20 pitches in the eighth? This was shared on X after Friday’s loss:
Taylor has recorded four or more outs in 14 of his 28 appearances this season. Could his results be better? Absolutely, but not knowing how he will be deployed, and when, makes things difficult for the talented pitcher. As for this game, the postgame quotes from Will Venable in the game recap by Scott Merkin for MLB.com:
Domínguez has converted two of four save chances since May 17 and owns a 1.258 WHIP over his last 10.1 innings with 11 strikeouts versus five walks (14 K-BB%). Until clarity emerges, which may not happen:
Hierarchy Remains: *Seranthony Domínguez | *Grant Taylor | *Bryan Hudson
*= closer-by-committee
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Sunday.
American League
Detroit Tigers – Despite letting the “courtesy runner” score at the top of the tenth on a sacrifice fly while retiring all three batters, Will Vest collected his third win courtesy of a walk-off rally at the bottom of the frame. He threw 16 pitches (11 strikes – 68.8 Strike%) and produced one whiff. He has been scoreless in five of his last six outings.
- Kyle Finnegan fired a clean ninth, striking out one.
- Drew Sommers worked a clean eighth, striking out the side.
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Will Vest | Kyle Finnegan
Seattle Mariners – Closing out a two-run lead against Boston, Andrés Muñoz navigated around Mickey Gasper’s one-out single with consecutive strikeouts, securing his 13th save. He threw 15 pitches (80 Strike%) and generated five whiffs (33.3 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in three straight appearances and has converted his last four save chances.
- Eduard Bazardo fired a clean eighth, striking out one for his 15th hold.
- Gabe Speier notched his ninth hold, stranding a runner despite allowing a hit while striking out two across two-thirds of the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Eduard Bazardo | Gabe Speier
Tampa Bay Rays – Preserving a one-run lead against Washington, Kevin Kelly navigated around a leadoff single by Daylen Lile with a strikeout, a caught-stealing, and a game-ending strikeout of José Tena, securing his third save. He threw 14 pitches (11 strikes – 78.6 Strike%) and induced three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%). This was his first save since April 5.
- Bryan Baker lined up against the 2-3-4 hitters and retired the side on 19 pitches (11 strikes – 57.9 Strike%) without a whiff for his second hold.
- Garrett Cleavinger collected his second win, allowing a hit and striking out two in a scoreless seventh, ahead of his team’s go-ahead rally at the bottom of the inning.
Hierarchy Remains: Bryan Baker | Kevin Kelly | Garrett Cleavinger
Texas Rangers – Increasing the level of difficulty, Jakob Junis allowed consecutive singles by Fernando Tatis Jr. and Xander Bogaerts at the top of the ninth, then bore down, retiring the next three batters, one via strikeout, for his fifth save. He threw 15 pitches (11 strikes – 73.3 Strike%) and induced one whiff. Junis had allowed a run in his two previous outings but has secured two ancillary saves this month.
- Robby Ahlstrom issued a walk during a scoreless eighth, recording his first hold.
- Peyton Gray fired a clean seventh, striking out two for his third hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Jacob Latz | Jakob Junis | Peyton Gray
The Athletics – Things did not go well for the A’s high-leverage combination. Elvis Alvarado retired both batters in the eighth, but allowed a go-ahead two-run home run among his two hits at the top of the ninth, resulting in his second loss.
He logged 1.2 innings and recorded three strikeouts on 21 pitches (16 strikes – 76.2 Strike%) with five whiffs (23.8 SwStr%). It’s part of the process.
- Hogan Harris was tagged with his fourth blown save, allowing three hits, including a game-tying three-run home run by Denzer Guzman, during his one-third of the eighth.
- Luis Medina notched his fourth hold during a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and striking out one.
- Matt Krook worked a scoreless sixth despite walking one for his first hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Hogan Harris | *Elvis Alvarado | Mark Leiter Jr.
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Cleveland Guardians: In an eventual one-run loss, Hunter Gaddis allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout at the bottom of the eighth in Houston. Colin Holderman tossed a clean seventh, striking out one.
- Kansas City Royals: Amid a loss, Lucas Erceg stranded a runner at the top of the fifth and allowed a hit while striking out one across 1.1 scoreless frames. Matt Strahm worked a scoreless seventh despite giving up a hit and a walk.
National League
Cincinnati Reds – Forced into action at the bottom of the eighth, Tony Santillan retired all six Yankees’ batters faced, one via strikeout, while nailing down his fifth save. He only needed 16 pitches (68.8 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (18.8 SwStr%). This extends his scoreless streak to seven games while posting a 0.571 WHIP with six strikeouts and no walks (23.1 K-BB%) across seven innings.
- Caleb Ferguson worked a scoreless seventh, giving up a hit and striking out one for his second hold.
- Sam Moll navigated around a hit and a walk while recording a strikeout in a scoreless sixth, securing his third hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Tony Santillan | Tejay Antone | Brock Burke
Miami Marlins – One day removed from being an “opener,” Lake Bachar recorded his first save, closing out a one-run lead at the top of the ninth against the Giants. He worked around Rafael Devers’ leadoff walk with a flyout and a game-ending double-play grounder against Willy Adames. Bachar threw 11 pitches (6 strikes – 54.5 Strike%) without a whiff.
- Michael Petersen notched his tenth hold, retiring the side in the eighth.
- Calvin Faucher stranded a runner in the sixth and logged 1.1 clean frames for his ninth hold.
- John King collected his fourth win, stranding a runner in the fifth and retiring four of five batters, allowing a hit.
Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks | Michael Petersen | Anthony Bender
Milwaukee Brewers – Taking the baton from Robert Gasser at the bottom of the seventh, Chad Patrick logged three innings, giving up three hits, including a two-run home run by Rowdy Tellez, and recorded two strikeouts while notching his fourth save. He threw 40 pitches (75 Strike%) and produced seven whiffs (17.5 SwStr%). He has made eight relief outings this month and is 2-1 while converting two of three save chances with a 1.33 WHIP and 18 strikeouts versus four walks (22.6 K-BB%) across 15 innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Aaron Ashby
Philadelphia Phillies – Finishing off a four-run lead against the Mets, Jhoan Duran navigated around A.J. Ewing’s leadoff single by striking out the next three batters. He threw 15 pitches (11 strikes – 73.3 Strike%) and generated six whiffs (40 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in eight of nine appearances this month, posting a 1.00 WHIP with 14 strikeouts and no walks (45.2 K-BB%) across eight innings while converting six of seven save chances.
- Orion Kerkering fired a clean eighth, striking out one.
- José Alvarado tossed a scoreless seventh, giving up a hit and striking out two.
- Jonathan Bowlan stranded two runners, striking out his only batter in the sixth for his second hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Jhoan Duran | Orion Kerkering | José Alvarado
St. Louis Cardinals – Surviving a late rally, Riley O’Brien finished off a win in Kansas City. He entered with a four-run lead, giving up a home run by Jac Caglianone, hitting Salvador Perez with a pitch, a single by Michael Massey, putting runners at the corners, and Perez scored on a fielder’s choice ground ball. With no outs and runners on first and second, O’Brien recorded his first out on a sacrifice bunt, then recorded a strikeout and induced a game-ending groundout. He finished with two hits and two earned runs, making this the second time in three appearances he has allowed at least a run.
- Gordon Graceffo collected his fifth win, retiring the side at the bottom of the fifth.
- Matt Svanson notched his second hold, letting an inherited runner score, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out one during two-thirds of the fourth inning.
Is this a rough patch for O’Brien or migration to the mean?
Following this game, he owns a 3.26 SIERA and a 4.51 xERA, but his rest-of-the-season WHIP ranges between 1.30 by ATC and 1.40 by THE BAT. Monitor this closely.
Hierarchy Remains: Riley O’Brien | JoJo Romero | George Soriano
Quick Hits
- Arizona Diamondbacks: A rough outing for Juan Morillo resulted in his fourth loss and fourth blown save. He took over at the top of the seventh, allowing four hits and three runs (two earned) while striking out one.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: In a non-save appearance, Gregory Soto gave up two hits, two runs (one earned), and a walk while striking out one at the bottom of the ninth in Colorado, closing out an eventual two-run margin. This represents the third time in his last five outings that he’s allowed multiple runs, but the lack of competition in this bullpen insulates his role.
- San Diego Padres: As the “bulk follower,” Lucas Giolito suffered his third loss, allowing seven hits, four earned runs, and two walks while striking out two across four innings.
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