Friday’s slate featured three reliever wins, six saves, and seven losses, with three blown saves. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 622 saves this season by 176 different pitchers.
Here are the vulture options, though the stash options may be preferred:
Vulture Save Options for 6.27.2026
- Victor Vodnik (COL): Senzatela and Herget struggled last night, perhaps opening the door for a V-squated vulture.
- Peyton Gray (TEX): Latz and Junis have worked in back-to-back games.
Vulture Save Stash for 6.28.2026
- Orion Kerkering (PHI): He will be unavailable today, but if Duran pitches, it will be two straight outings and three of the last four, opening the door for a Kerkering save opportunity on Sunday.
- Tyler Kinley (ATL): If Iglesias pitches today, it will be consecutive contests.
- Yennier Cano (BAL); If Helsley appears today, it’s back-to-back games and three in the last four.
- Eduard Bazardo (SEA): If Muñoz is used tonight, it will be two straight appearances for the closer.
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Shutting the door on his eighth save, Ryan Helsley fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded a strikeout against Washington’s 3-4-5 batters. He threw 12 pitches (75 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (25 SwStr%).
He’s turned in back-to-back scoreless appearances after allowing three home runs in his first two games after his activation from the injured list. This iteration is the one the Orioles need for the rest of the first half. It’s also worth noting that the team focused on matchups in the seventh and eighth innings, not a set leverage pathway to the ninth inning.
- Grant Wolfram fired a clean eighth, striking out two for his ninth hold.
- Tyler Wells notched his 11th hold, stranding a runner and retiring both batters in the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Ryan Helsley | Yennier Cano | Andrew Kittredge
Three Takeaways
Cincinnati Chaos: Called on with a two-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, Caleb Ferguson recorded his first save of the season and first since April 3, 2024, navigating around Konnor Griffin’s one-out single with a strikeout and a game-ending lineout by Bryan Reynolds. He threw 18 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (11.1 SwStr%). Pierce Johnson stranded a runner while giving up a hit and striking out one during two-thirds of the eighth. Brock Burke collected his third win, stranding a runner in the seventh, walking one, and striking out two during his scoreless combined frame. Tejay Antone allowed a hit while retiring three of four batters across the sixth and seventh innings.
Before this game, Tony Santillan was placed on the 15-day injured list with a strained oblique. Emilio Pagán made his first rehab appearance at Triple-A, retiring the side on six pitches.
He could be activated for the series against Milwaukee. For now:
Updated Hierarchy: *Pierce Johnson | *Brock Burke | *Caleb Ferguson
*= closer-by-committee
The Amorphous A’s: Wrapping up a six-run lead against the Angels’ top of the lineup, Elvis Alvarado retired the side and recorded a strikeout while throwing 15 pitches (66.7 Strike%) with two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%). Hogan Harris stranded two runners, walking one and striking out two during two-thirds of the eighth. Luis Medina allowed a hit and two walks with three strikeouts across 1.1 scoreless frames. For now:
Hierarchy Remains: *Hogan Harris | *Elvis Alvarado | *Mason Barnett
*= closer-by-committee
Is Morris gaining in Minnesota? After stranding the “courtesy runner” and making an athletic play on a bunt, Andrew Morris collected his third win when his team walked off the Rockies at the bottom of the tenth. He threw six pitches (66.7 Strike%) without a whiff. This extends his scoreless streak to eight games, during which he’s posted a 0.652 WHIP with seven strikeouts against two walks (20 K-BB%) across 7.2 innings. Anthony Banda was charged with his second blown save, allowing three hits, including a game-tying two-run home run by Hunter Goodman during his two-thirds of the ninth. Eric Orze turned a four-run lead into a save chance, giving up two hits, three earned runs, and a walk during his one-third of the ninth.
After recording four saves across seven appearances between June 2 and 15, Yoendrys Gómez was not used in this game despite not having pitched since Wednesday, and he has pitched in the eighth inning in his last two outings.
Updated Hierarchy: *Yoendrys Gómez | *Andrew Morris | *Anthony Banda
*= closer-by-committee
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Friday.
American League
Kansas City Royals – Used during a lopsided loss, Alex Lange allowed four hits, five earned runs, and two walks while recording one out, a strikeout, during the bottom of the seventh. This spiked his WHIP to 1.528 across 35.1 innings this season.
- Daniel Lynch IV replaced him, letting two of three inherited runners to score, giving up an RBI fielder’s choice and an RBI single by Kyle Teel, before an inning-ending lineout.
- John Schreiber allowed five hits, four runs (three earned), and struck out one in the sixth.
- Lucas Erceg gave up two hits, including a two-run home run by Teel, in the bottom of the fifth.
This may be a blip, but it represents the risk Lange poses to a team’s ratio statistics.
Hierarchy Remains: Alex Lange | Daniel Lynch IV | Lucas Erceg
Seattle Mariners – Securing his 15th save, Andrés Muñoz fired a clean bottom of the ninth while recording two strikeouts, preserving a two-run lead in Cleveland. He threw 15 pitches (66.7 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%).
He’s been scoreless in his last five appearances, recording a save in each while posting a 0.80 WHIP with nine strikeouts versus two walks (36.8 K-BB%).
- Gabe Speier worked a clean eighth for his tenth hold.
- Jose A. Ferrer notched his tenth hold, retiring the side and striking out one in the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Eduard Bazardo | Gabe Speier
Texas Rangers – Preserving a one-run lead despite issuing a leadoff walk at the bottom of the ninth, Jacob Latz bore down by inducing two pop-outs sandwiched around a flyout against the Blue Jays’ 9-1-2 batters for his 16th save. He threw 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) without a whiff. This marked his tenth outing in June, and he’s been scoreless in nine, converting all nine save chances with a 0.769 WHIP while recording 16 strikeouts against four walks (29 K-BB%) across 13 innings.
- Jakob Junis let both inherited runners score and two earned on his ledger, allowing three hits, including a two-run home run by Kazuma Okamoto during two-thirds of the eighth.
- Robby Ahlstrom gave up a hit, two earned runs, and a walk in his one-third of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Jacob Latz | Jakob Junis | Peyton Gray
Quick Hits
- Cleveland Guardians: Taking over at the top of the seventh, Tim Herrin suffered his third loss, allowing a hit, an earned run, and two walks.
- Houston Astros: Appearing during a loss, Bryan Abreu retired the side and recorded a strikeout at the bottom of the seventh against Detroit’s 3-4-5 pocket, throwing 10 pitches (70 Strike%) with two whiffs. This was his first game back from the restricted list.
- Los Angeles Angels: During a loss, Kirby Yates turned in a clean top of the ninth, striking out two. He’s been scoreless in his last three appearances, all in low-leverage situations.
- Tampa Bay Rays: Finishing off a five-run lead over Arizona, Craig Kimbrel allowed a walk and recorded a strikeout at the top of the ninth. Garrett Cleavinger gave up a hit during a scoreless eighth. Kevin Kelly notched his 17th hold, giving up a hit during a scoreless seventh. Cam Booser stranded two runners while retiring his only batter for his second hold.
- Toronto Blue Jays: Keeping his team within a run, Louis Varland allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout during a scoreless top of the ninth against the 9-1-2-3 hitters for Texas. He threw 10 pitches (60 Strike%) without a whiff.
National League
Atlanta Braves – Locking down his 16th save, Raisel Iglesias retired the Giants’ 8-9-1 batters in order, needing only 10 pitches (70 Strike%) without a whiff. He’s converted 34 straight save opportunities since July 28, 2025. It’s the longest active streak in the majors and is within three of tying Craig Kimbrel’s run for Atlanta in 2013.
- Didier Fuentes stranded a runner while striking out Matt Chapman at the bottom of the eighth, securing his sixth hold.
- Dylan Lee was awarded his fourth win after allowing a hit during 1.2 scoreless frames.
- The home scorer enacted the brief and ineffective rule in this situation, giving Hurston Waldrep a hold after his two scoreless innings, which included two hits and four walks while striking out three.
Before this game, Robert Suarez (elbow inflammation) was placed on the 15-day injured list, backdated to June 23.
Updated Hierarchy: Raisel Iglesias | Didier Fuentes | Dylan Lee
Philadelphia Phillies – Sealing a one-run lead and his 20th save, Jhoan Duran worked around Francisco Lindor’s two-out single with a game-ending strikeout. He threw 17 pitches (8 strikes – 47.1 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (11.8 SwStr%). Only Jeanmar Gómez has recorded more saves (24) in the first half for the Phillies, but Duran has time to chase him down. Through 11 games in June, he’s been scoreless in ten, converting eight of nine save opportunities while posting a 0.90 WHIP with 18 strikeouts and no walks (47.4 K-BB%) across ten innings.
- Orion Kerkering notched his sixth hold, retiring the side and striking out one in the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Duran | Orion Kerkering | José Alvarado
Quick Hits
- Chicago Cubs: With a one-run lead at the bottom of the sixth, Ethan Roberts allowed two hits, including a go-ahead two-run home run by Garrett Mitchell, resulting in his second loss and first blown save.
- Colorado Rockies: Tasked with the bottom of the tenth, Jimmy Herget suffered his second loss. He intentionally walked Victor Caratini, uncorked a wild pitch, and allowed a walk-off RBI single by Royce Lewis. Antonio Senzatela was tagged with his fourth blown save, giving up three hits, including a go-ahead RBI single by Byron Buxton at the bottom of the ninth.
- Milwaukee Brewers: Closing out a four-run lead and extending his team’s win streak to five, Trevor Megill worked a scoreless top of the ninth against the Cubs, issuing a walk during a scoreless top of the ninth. Aaron Ashby allowed an earned run and two walks in the eighth. Abner Uribe notched his 11th hold, giving up a hit during a scoreless seventh.
- New York Mets: Entering a tied contest at the top of the seventh, Huascar Brazobán gave up two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one, resulting in his second loss and snapping his nine-game scoreless streak.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: During a tied game at the top of the eighth, Mason Montgomery suffered his third loss, allowing two hits, including a go-ahead two-run home run by Noelvi Marte, and recorded two strikeouts before being removed. Dennis Santana logged 1.1 clean frames, striking out two.
- St. Louis Cardinals: Entering at the top of the seventh, JoJo Romero retired the side against Miami’s 5-6-7 hitters on 12 pitches (7 strikes – 58.3 Strike%) with one whiff. George Soriano allowed two hits, two earned runs, and two walks during the top of the eighth, resulting in his second loss. He has allowed at least a run in three of his last five games.
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