Wednesday’s 14-game slate featured five wins (two bulk), five saves, two losses, and one blown save by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 660 saves this season by 186 different pitchers.
Here are the vulture options:
Vulture Save Options for 7.2.2026
- Didier Fuentes (ATL): Iglesias has pitched in back-to-back games.
- Abner Uribe (MIL): Megill and Ashby have worked in three of the last four.
- Mason Montgomery (PIT): He was in line for the last save chance until the lead grew to four on Monday.
- Tyler Alexander (TEX): Providing Latz with one more day off after tossing three innings between his outings on Monday and Tuesday would be optimal, but is not assured.
Vulture Save Stashes for 7.3.2026
- Cincinnati Reds: It will depend on who pitches, but if Emilio Pagán is used in today’s game, it will be consecutive contests.
Trade Deadline Primers
Our first trade deadline primers were posted on Wednesday. If you missed them, or would like to reread one:
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New Month, New Hierarchies
Detroit Tigers – Although Kenley Jansen was warming up for the top of the ninth and tenth innings, he was passed over by A.J. Hinch.
Keider Montero took over a tied game in the tenth and tossed two scoreless frames, issuing Ben Rice an intentional walk while striking out three en route to his fifth win. He threw 23 pitches (14 strikes – 60.8 Strike%) and produced three whiffs (13 SwStr%).
One takes note that his four-seam and slider velocities rose as a reliever. This also could signal a return to “chaos” during the high-leverage innings, with Montero in the mix, according to Jeff Seidel of the Detroit Free Press:
- Drew Anderson suffered his fourth blown save. He worked a scoreless eighth but gave up two earned runs, including a solo home run by Amed Rosario, in the ninth. He finished with five hits, two earned runs, and a strikeout.
- Drew Sommers notched his fourth hold, retiring both batters in the seventh, one via strikeout.
This usage pattern places Jansen on the “hot seat.” This was not workload management for him or Kyle Finnegan:
In June, Jansen recorded two saves with a 1.31 WHIP and 8.7 K-BB percentage across 5.1 innings. Finnegan secured three holds with a 1.26 WHIP and 17.3 K-BB percentage through 12.2 innings.
For now:
Updated Hierarchy: Kenley Jansen | Kyle Finnegan | Keider Montero
Baltimore Orioles – Closing out a five-run lead against the White Sox, Andrew Kittredge retired the side at the top of the ninth. Tyler Wells fired two clean frames and recorded two strikeouts. He has been scoreless in eight of his last nine games, posting a 0.649 WHIP with 16 strikeouts against two walks (31.8 K-BB%) across 12.1 innings. The biggest news from this contest was that Ryan Helsley was warming up for an appearance but stopped due to elbow soreness. Covered in this Rapid Reaction.
There have not been any updates regarding his status, but he is undergoing imaging, so for now:
Updated Hierarchy: Ryan Helsley | Andrew Kittredge | Tyler Wells
However, if he gets placed back on the injured list:
Projected Hierarchy: *Andrew Kittredge | *Tyler Wells | Yennier Cano
*= closer-by-committee
Here are the leverage events of interest from Wednesday.
American League
Minnesota Twins – Wrapping up a five-run lead in Houston, Yoendrys Gómez navigated around Jose Altuve’s one-out single and Isaac Paredes reaching on an error with a game-ending flyout. He threw 18 pitches (83.3 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (11.1 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in seven of his last eight outings, recording four saves and a hold with a 0.391 WHIP across 7.2 innings.
- Taylor Rogers worked a clean eighth, striking out one.
- Andrew Morris stranded two runners at the bottom of the sixth and logged 1.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit while securing his 11th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Yoendrys Gómez | Andrew Morris | Taylor Rogers
New York Yankees -With the score tied at the top of the 11th, Camilo Doval was not sharp, allowing a hit, four runs (two earned), and three walks (one intentional) while throwing 21 pitches (10 strikes – 47.6 Strike%) and getting one whiff. This snapped his three-game scoreless streak.
- Fernando Cruz logged 1.2 scoreless frames and recorded a strikeout on 17 pitches (11 strikes – 64.7 Strike%) with three whiffs (17.6 SwStr%).
- Brent Headrick worked 1.1 scoreless innings, striking out one.
- Paul Blackburn chipped in with 1.2 scoreless innings, walking and striking out one.
David Bednar should return from paternity leave ahead of Friday’s game against the Twins.
Hierarchy Remains: David Bednar | Fernando Cruz | Camilo Doval
Tampa Bay Rays – Called on at the bottom of the eighth with two runners on and two outs, Kevin Kelly induced an inning-ending groundout by Bobby Witt Jr., then returned for the ninth, working around Jac Caglianone’s leadoff single and an error with a double-play groundout, followed by a game-ending lineout by Carter Jensen, earning his fourth save. He threw 1.1 scoreless innings on seven pitches (85.7 Strike%) without a whiff.
- Garrett Cleavinger allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one during two-thirds of the eighth.
- Cole Sulser notched his sixth hold, giving up a hit and striking out two during a scoreless seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Bryan Baker | Kevin Kelly | Garrett Cleavinger
Toronto Blue Jays – Recording his first save since September 15, 2016, Patrick Corbin logged five innings, allowing four hits and three earned runs while striking out five. He threw 73 pitches (48 strikes – 65.8 Strike%) and produced eight whiffs (11 SwStr%).
- Spencer Miles collected his fourth win, working three scoreless frames, yielding a hit and a walk with five strikeouts on 46 pitches (34 strikes – 73.9 Strike%) while inducing five whiffs (10.9 SwStr%) as the “bulk follower.”
Hierarchy Remains: Louis Varland | Tyler Rogers | Jeff Hoffman
Quick Hits
- Chicago White Sox: Taking over at the bottom of the fifth, Bryan Hudson let both inherited runners score while giving up two hits and a sacrifice fly, putting an earned run on his line while only retiring one batter, snapping his modest four-game scoreless streak.
- Houston Astros: Logging two innings during an eventual loss, Bryan Abreu allowed Luke Keaschall’s solo home run and recorded three strikeouts, throwing 34 pitches (24 strikes – 70.6 Strike%) with four whiffs (11.8 SwStr%). Miguel Ullola tossed two clean frames, striking out three on 23 pitches (17 strikes – 73.9 Strike%) with three whiffs (13 SwStr%).
National League
Atlanta Braves – Appearing in back-to-back games in non-save situations, Raisel Iglesias secured a four-run lead against the Cardinals with a clean top of the ninth and recorded one strikeout. He threw 13 pitches (11 strikes – 84.6 Strike%) and induced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%).
- Dylan Lee fired a clean eighth, striking out two for his 16th hold.
- Didier Fuentes retired the side and struck out one in the seventh, notching his seventh hold.
- Dylan Dodd worked a clean sixth and recorded a strikeout for his second hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Didier Fuentes | Dylan Lee
Chicago Cubs – For a second straight appearance, Jordan Wicks has recorded a save, this time closing out a lopsided win over the Padres. He worked the final three frames, giving up five hits and an earned run while recording three strikeouts on 40 pitches (27 strikes – 67.5 Strike%) with two whiffs.
- Trent Thornton tossed a clean sixth, throwing six pitches.
Hierarchy Remains: *Jacob Webb | *Caleb Thielbar | *Trent Thornton
*= closer-by-committee
Cincinnati Reds – Summoned with a runner on and two outs at the bottom of the eighth, Emilio Pagán made his first appearance back from the injured list, hitting William Contreras with a pitch, then recording an inning-ending strikeout against Jake Bauers. He threw eight pitches (50 Strike%) and produced two whiffs. Plus, with increased velocity:
- Pierce Johnson stranded a runner in the seventh, but gave up a hit in the eighth, retiring three of four batters faced.
- Brock Burke allowed two hits, two earned runs, and a walk during two-thirds of the seventh, resulting in his fourth loss.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Brock Burke | Tejay Antone
Colorado Rockies – Forced into action at the bottom of the ninth with a runner on and one out, Jimmy Herget stranded him, retiring Byron Buxton on a flyout, followed by a game-ending Austin Martin flyout, recording his third save. He threw nine pitches (44.4 Strike%) and induced one whiff (11.1 SwStr%). Although he suffered the loss in extra-innings on Friday, Herget has recorded two saves in his last three outings.
- Zach Agnos created the chaos, allowing three hits, three earned runs, and a walk while striking out one during one-third of the ninth.
- Brennan Bernardino worked a scoreless eighth and recorded a strikeout.
- Victor Vodnik notched his third hold, retiring all four batters, one via strikeout.
Hierarchy: *Jimmy Herget | *Victor Vodnik | *Antonio Senzatela
*= closer-by-committee
Milwaukee Brewers – Preserving a two-run lead while working around a one-out double by Tyler Stephenson, Trevor Megill induced a groundout by Noelvi Marte, followed by a game-ending strikeout of JJ Bleday, locking down his 12th save. He threw 11 pitches (81.8 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%). This extended his scoreless streak to 12 games, during which he’s collected a win, converted all four save chances, and recorded a 0.60 WHIP with 15 strikeouts versus two walks (36.1 K-BB%) through ten innings.
- Abner Uribe fired a clean eighth, notching his 12th hold.
- Aaron Ashby collected his MLB-leading 12th win, stranding a runner in the sixth and logging 1.1 scoreless frames, giving up a hit and striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Aaron Ashby
Philadelphia Phillies – Although the save chance was removed when his teammates scored two runs at the bottom of the eighth, Jhoan Duran tossed a scoreless ninth, allowing a two-out single by Jake Mangum and recording a game-ending strikeout against Jared Triolo. He threw 14 pitches (71.4 Strike%) and produced two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). This extends his scoreless streak to eight games, during which he’s recorded a 0.875 WHIP with 12 strikeouts against one walk (36.7 K-BB%) across eight innings while converting all five save chances.
- Orion Kerkering stranded a runner in the seventh and logged 1.2 clean frames and was awarded his sixth win.
Also, positive news regarding Brad Keller:
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Duran | Orion Kerkering | José Alvarado
San Francisco Giants – Shutting the door on his seventh save, Caleb Kilian retired the side and recorded two strikeouts while protecting a two-run lead in Arizona. Facing the 6-7-8 pocket, he threw 10 pitches (70 Strike%) and generated three whiffs. It was his first clean appearance since June 16, and though there has been a learning curve with occasional blowups, he has converted four of five save opportunities since June 4, posting a 1.393 WHIP with 14 strikeouts versus three walks (26.8 K-BB%) across 9.1 innings.
- Dylan Smith let an inherited runner score, giving up a hit and striking out one in a scoreless outing in the eighth.
- Ryan Walker did not record an out, allowing four hits and four earned runs, spoiling the shutout bid when he took over in the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Caleb Kilian | Dylan Smith | Erik Miller
Quick Hits
- New York Mets: During an eventual loss, A.J. Minter logged 1.1 clean frames and recorded a strikeout. He has not allowed an earned run through his first 14 games.
- Washington Nationals: As the “bulk follower,” Andrew Alvarez logged 4.2 scoreless frames, scattering two hits and walking one while striking out six for his second win.
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Statistical Credits: