Thursday’s five-game slate featured two wins (one accompanied by a blown save), four saves, four losses, and three blown saves by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 781 saves this season by 205 different pitchers.
Our Trade Deadline Market Trends for relievers entering game play on July 24.
Here are the vulture save options:
Vulture Save Options for 7.24.2026
- Didier Fuentes (ATL): Iglesias has worked in back-to-back games.
- Jeff Hoffman (TOR): Varland and Rogers have pitched in consecutive contests.
Vulture Save Stashes for 7.25.2026
- Colin Holderman (CLE): If Smith pitches today, it’s back-to-back games, and if Holderman does not, he will be in line for the save on Saturday.
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Called on with two runners on and one out at the top of the ninth, Kyle Finnegan induced a game-ending double-play groundout against Salvador Perez for his second save of the season, preserving a one-run lead. He only needed two pitches for the save, his first since April 30. It’s been an up-and-down season for the veteran reliever, but he’s been scoreless in five of his last six appearances.
- Drew Sommers started the ninth against the top of the Royals’ lineup, but issued Lane Thomas a one-out walk, followed by Vinnie Pasquantino’s single, forcing his removal. He was credited with his sixth hold.
- Drew Anderson allowed two hits, including a game-tying RBI single by Josh Rojas, resulting in his fifth blown save. However, courtesy of his team’s rally at the bottom of the inning, he also collected his fourth win.
Playing close games while chasing spots in the Wild Card standings puts pressure on a team’s bullpen. Kenley Jansen was unavailable, and here are usage patterns since the start of the second half:
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Kyle Finnegan | Drew Anderson
American League
Cleveland Guardians – Taking over at the top of the 12th, Erik Sabrowski suffered his second loss, allowing an RBI single by Trevor Larnach after intentionally walking Royce Lewis. He finished with two hits, two runs (one earned), and a walk while striking out one.
- Colin Holderman turned in two scoreless innings while walking one (intentional – Byron Buxton).
- Cade Smith took over with two runners on and one out at the top of the eighth but allowed a game-tying RBI single by Alan Roden, resulting in his fourth blown save. He finished with two hits and a strikeout across 1.2 scoreless innings.
- Hunter Gaddis was credited with his 20th hold despite giving up an earned run on two walks while striking out one during one-third of the eighth inning.
Updated Hierarchy: Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis | Colin Holderman
Minnesota Twins – Thrust into a save situation in his fifth game in the majors at the bottom of the 12th, Jack Anderson worked around Patrick Bailey’s two-out walk with a game-ending flyout for his first career save. He threw 18 pitches (50% Strike Rate) and produced three whiffs (16.7 SwStr%).
- Taylor Rogers collected his fifth win, issuing José Ramírez an intentional walk and striking out one in a scoreless bottom of the 11th.
- Tommy Nance worked a clean tenth.
- Yoendrys Gómez allowed two walks and recorded two strikeouts at the bottom of the ninth, keeping the game tied, throwing 22 pitches (50% Strike Rate) with three whiffs. He has walked five and struck out five over his last five games, resulting in a 1.60 WHIP.
- Andrew Morris gave up a hit during a scoreless eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Yoendrys Gómez | Andrew Morris | Taylor Rogers
Toronto Blue Jays – Shutting the door on his 21st save, Louis Varland fired a clean top of the ninth, striking out two while preserving a two-run lead against the Rays. He threw 15 pitches (80% Strike Rate) and induced three whiffs (20 SwStr%). It’s his fourth save in as many chances in July, during which he’s been scoreless in five of six appearances, posting a 0.833 WHIP with six strikeouts and no walks (27.3 K-BB%) across six innings.
- Tyler Rogers notched his 21st hold, retiring the side and striking out one in the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Louis Varland | Tyler Rogers | Jeff Hoffman
Quick Hits
- Kansas City Royals: With the score tied at the bottom of the eighth, Steven Cruz allowed a one-out single by Hao-Yu Lee, who moved to second on Riley Greene’s groundout, then scored on Dillon Dingler’s go-ahead RBI single, resulting in his third loss. This was his third appearance in four days and his fifth in seven in the second half. John Schreiber suffered his second blown save, giving up four hits, including a game-tying three-run home run by James Outman in the seventh. Matt Strahm worked a scoreless sixth, walking and striking out one for his 13th hold.
- Tampa Bay Rays: As the bulk follower, Ian Seymour logged six innings, giving up five hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out seven, resulting in his third loss.
National League
Atlanta Braves – Sealing a one-run lead and his 21st save, Raisel Iglesias navigated around consecutive two-out singles by Jake Cronenworth and Fernando Tatis Jr. with a game-ending strikeout of Luis Rengifo. He threw 17 pitches (14 strikes – 82.4% Strike Rate) and generated five whiffs (29.4 SwSt%) while recording two strikeouts. He’s converted five of six save opportunities in July despite a 1.269 WHIP with only five scoreless appearances across nine games.
- Danny Young retired his only batter in the eighth, securing his fourth hold.
- Tyler Kinley allowed two hits, including Ty France’s two-run home run, and struck out one during two-thirds of the eighth, and was credited with his 11th hold.
- Dylan Dodd fired a clean seventh, striking out one for his sixth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Didier Fuentes | Dylan Lee
Quick Hits
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Entering the bottom of the ninth with an eight-run lead proved pivotal when Ryan Thompson allowed five hits and four earned runs, closing out a win in St. Louis. Taylor Clarke retired the side in the eighth. Brandyn Garcia notched his 12th hold, giving up a hit and striking out one in a scoreless seventh. He’s been scoreless in his last 16 games, recording a save and seven holds while posting a 0.538 WHIP with 19 strikeouts against three walks (34.8 K-BB%) across 13 innings.
- San Diego Padres: As the bulk follower, Griffin Canning suffered his ninth loss, allowing five hits, five runs (four earned), and striking out two across 2.2 innings. Yuki Matsui logged 1.1 scoreless frames, yielding a hit and striking out one.
Rehab Recon
Robert Suarez (ATL) – It’s been radio silence from the team regarding his return.
Daniel Palencia (CHC) – Last update suggested the middle of August as his projected return. This was from a post on July 20 for The Chicago Sun Times by Jeff Egrest:
Ben Joyce (LAA) – Appeared at Triple-A on Thursday, throwing eight pitches (87.5% Strike Rate) with two whiffs, allowing a hit during a scoreless inning.
And his velocities:
However, he only threw fastballs.
Edwin Díaz (LAD) – He appeared in back-to-back games, facing one batter on Thursday. He threw six pitches (50% Strike Rate) and induced one whiff (16.7% Strike Rate), inducing an inning-ending pop-out.
He may not be going full tilt in the minors, but it’s worth noting that he averaged 97.5 miles per hour with his four-seam fastball in 2024 and 97.2 last year.
Jeremiah Estrada (SD) – Showed signs of rust in his first Triple-A outing on July 21, throwing only seven of his 19 pitches for strikes (36.8% Strike Rate), allowing a hit and two walks during one-third of an inning. His velocity was fine:
But the command needs more refinement:
Holds Tally
Here are the eight holds from Thursday’s slate:
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