Sunday’s slate featured nine wins, eight saves, seven losses, and five blown saves by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 810 saves this season by 211 different pitchers. In the previous five MLB seasons, the league average for pitchers with a save was just over 214:
This season may surpass the last five years’ 214.4 average by the trade deadline, if not the end of July.
Here are the vulture save options:
Vulture Save Option for 7.27.2026
- Max Kranick (WSH): Beeter has appeared in back-to-back games, but it’s reliever roulette with the Nationals this season during save opportunities.
Vulture Save Stashes for 7.28.2026
- Didier Fuentes (ATL): If Iglesias pitches today, it’s two straight games for the veteran closer.
- Yennier Cano (BAL): If Wells and Kittredge appear today, it will be consecutive contests.
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Our Trade Deadline Market Trends for relievers entering gameplay on July 24.
Sealing a one-run lead and his second save, Steven Cruz worked around a leadoff walk and a single by Colt Keith by retiring the top of the Tigers’ lineup. He induced a flyout against Kevin McGonigle, then recorded back-to-back strikeouts of Gleyber Torres and Riley Greene. Cruz threw 22 pitches (16 strikes – 72.7% Strike Rate) and produced four whiffs (18.2 SwStr%).
- John Schreiber gave up a hit and a walk in a scoreless eighth, securing his eighth hold.
- Nate Pearson issued a walk during a scoreless seventh and collected his second win in his team debut for the Royals, courtesy of a go-ahead rally at the top of the eighth.
Over the last 30 days, he has recorded the best Win Probability Added for his bullpen:
He’s benefited from a high strand rate that indicates some pending regression, and raising his strikeout rate would be preferred, but he’s entered the mix for saves moving forward, and if the team trades Alex Lange, a preferred save share would be possible for Cruz.
Updated Hierarchy: Alex Lange | Daniel Lynch IV | Steven Cruz
Three Takeaways
In Will, we do not trust: In order of appearance, Jordan Hicks stranded a runner and retired two batters in the top of the fifth while issuing a walk, then recorded one out in the sixth. Sean Newcomb replaced him and worked around a hit and a walk during two-thirds of the sixth. He was awarded his first win as the result of a go-ahead rally in the bottom of the inning. Grant Taylor notched his seventh hold, walking one and striking out two on 17 pitches (10 strikes – 58.8% Strike Rate) with two whiffs. Chris Murphy tossed a clean eighth, striking out two. Seranthony Domínguez closed out a nine-run lead with a scoreless ninth, yielding a hit and striking out one.
Although Taylor recorded three saves in four appearances previously this month, he’s been used in the seventh inning in his last two games, recording a hold in each. His talent and strikeout upside keep him relevant for fantasy purposes, but the usage patterns by his manager remain consistently inconsistent.
Hierarchy Remains: Grant Taylor | Bryan Hudson | Jordan Hicks
Monitoring Emilio: After his team scored three runs at the top of the tenth, Julian Garcia took over instead of Emilio Pagán. He allowed two hits and an unearned run on Alec Burleson’s RBI single, and recorded a strikeout for his first career save. He threw 22 pitches (18 pitches – 81.8% Strike Rate) and induced three whiffs (13.6 SwStr%). Brock Burke stranded three runners in the eighth and logged 1.1 clean innings, striking out two, resulting in his fourth win. Tejay Antone allowed two hits and struck out one during two-thirds of the eighth. Pierce Johnson tossed a scoreless seventh and walked one.
In the postgame presser, Terry Francona said Pagán was not feeling his fastball. It could have been a combination of warming up on multiple occasions in the heat, but it’s something fantasy managers must track moving forward. For now:
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Brock Burke | Tejay Antone
Where was Riley? In this same contest, St. Louis did not use Riley O’Brien despite being on three days’ rest:
All that was reported was he had an illness:
As a result, it was Matt Svanson at the top of the tenth. He allowed two hits, three runs (two earned), and recorded one out, resulting in his third loss. Justin Bruihl let both inherited runners score on Nathaniel Lowe’s two-RBI single after replacing Svanson.
Hierarchy Remains: Riley O’Brien | George Soriano | Ryne Stanek
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Sunday.
American League
Los Angeles Angels – With two runners on and one out at the bottom of the ninth, Mitch Farris retired Daniel Susac on a lineout, allowed a two-RBI double by Luis Arraez, then recorded a game-ending strikeout against Heliot Ramos, benefiting from no challenges remaining for the Giants, securing his first career save. He threw 10 pitches (70% Strike Rate) without a whiff during his two-thirds of the inning.
- Sam Bachman opened the ninth but was removed after throwing only seven strikes of his 18 pitches (38.9% Strike Rate), resulting in two walks and two earned runs while being credited for his 16th hold.
- Ryan Zeferjahn notched his eighth hold, allowing a leadoff single by Ramos, then retiring the next three batters, two via strikeout.
- Chase Silseth gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless seventh for his eighth hold.
- Samy Natera Jr. worked a scoreless sixth, walking and striking out one for his fourth hold.
In his rehab outing at Triple-A, Ben Joyce worked a clean inning, striking out one on 17 pitches (9 strikes – 52.9% Strike Rate) with three whiffs (17.6 SwStr%).
It’s encouraging that he has appeared two times in the past four days, and he used his “splinker” in Sunday’s outing.
Updated Hierarchy: Ryan Zeferjahn | Sam Bachman | Samy Natera Jr.
Seattle Mariners – Capping his team’s come-from-behind rally, Andrés Muñoz fired a clean bottom of the ninth, striking out the side in Texas. He threw 14 pitches (9 strikes – 64.3% Strike Rate) and produced two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). This extended his scoreless streak to 13 games, during which he owns a 0.692 WHIP with 21 strikeouts against four walks (36.2 K-BB%) across 13 innings, converting all eight save chances.
- Eduard Bazardo allowed Ezequiel Duran’s solo home run and struck out two for his 20th hold.
- Gabe Speier stranded a runner in the sixth and retired all four batters, three via strikeout, earning his second win.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Eduard Bazardo | Gabe Speier
Tampa Bay Rays – Preserving a 1-0 shutout and securing his 28th save, Bryan Baker worked around Chase DeLauter’s two-out walk with a game-ending strikeout. He threw 28 pitches (18 strikes – 64.3% Strike Rate) and induced two whiffs (7.1 SwStr%). This extends his scoreless streak to nine games, during which he’s posted a 0.667 WHIP with eight strikeouts and two walks (18.8 K-BB%) while converting all eight save opportunities.
- Garrett Cleavinger notched his 18th hold, retiring the side and striking out one at the top of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Bryan Baker | Kevin Kelly | Garrett Cleavinger
Quick Hits
- Baltimore Orioles: Summoned at the top of the 11th, Andrew Kittredge allowed Austin Riley’s RBI leadoff double, issued a walk, recorded an out on a sacrifice bunt, intentionally walked Drake Baldwin, then retired Ozzie Albies (pop-out) and Matt Olson (flyout), preventing any further damage. However, he suffered his third loss as a result. Tyler Wells navigated around Olson’s leadoff walk in the tenth, retiring the 4-5-6 hitters, keeping the game tied.
- Boston Red Sox: Wrapping up an 8-2 homestand, Ryan Watson allowed three hits and an earned run while striking out one across the eighth and ninth innings. Justin Slaten notched his 15th hold, retiring the side and striking out one in the seventh. Tyron Guerrero navigated around a hit and a walk in a scoreless sixth, securing his 11th hold. Greg Weissert collected his third win, yielding a hit and striking out one in the fifth.
- Detroit Tigers: As the first reliever in, Ty Madden posted his first hold, logging 1.2 scoreless innings while walking and striking out one. Drew Sommers retired a batter in the seventh, but allowed two hits, including a go-ahead two-run home run by Michael Massey, resulting in his first loss and first blown save. He finished with two strikeouts across his 1.1 innings.
- Texas Rangers: Things started well when Robby Ahlstrom notched his fifth hold with a clean top of the sixth while striking out two. However, Tyler Alexander struggled, giving up two hits and retiring one batter in the seventh. Cole Winn took over with two runners on, allowing Dominic Canzone’s go-ahead three-run home run, followed by Randy Arozarena’s solo shot, putting two earned runs on his ledger, resulting in a third loss and second blown save. Alexander absorbed two earned runs but was credited with his tenth hold.
National League
Atlanta Braves – Summoned with two runners on and two outs at the bottom of the tenth, Tyler Kinley induced an inning-ending flyout by Taylor Ward. Returning for the 11th with a one-run margin, he worked around two two-out walks (one intentional – Jackson Holliday), with a game-ending groundout, resulting in his sixth win.
- Danny Young walked two during two-thirds scoreless in the tenth.
- Raisel Iglesias was charged with his second blown save, but an error by Ozzie Albies proved costly, scoring an unearned run. Iglesias finished with a walk and a strikeout in the ninth.
- Dylan Lee gave up Pete Alonso’s solo home run and recorded a strikeout for his 20th hold.
- Dylan Dodd stranded a runner in the sixth and retired all four batters, securing his seventh hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Didier Fuentes | Dylan Lee
Pittsburgh Pirates – Presented a three-run lead at the top of the ninth, Mason Montgomery allowed Dansby Swanson’s leadoff single, struck out Pete Crow-Armstrong, then served up Seiya Suzuki’s two-run home run. He bore down, retiring Michael Busch via groundout, followed by a game-ending strikeout of Ian Happ for his second save. He threw 25 pitches (64% Strike Rate) and induced two whiffs. This snapped his 10-game scoreless streak, but he’s posted a 0.656 WHIP with 21 strikeouts and four walks (43.6 K-BB%) over his last 10.2 innings.
- Carmen Mlodzinski logged two innings, giving up three hits and an earned run while striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: *Gregory Soto | *Mason Montgomery | Carmen Mlodzinski
*= closer-by-committee
San Diego Padres – Shutting the door on his 27th save, Mason Miller sealed a two-run lead in Miami, firing a clean bottom of the ninth and striking out one. He threw 15 pitches (8 strikes – 53.3% Strike Rate) and produced three whiffs (20 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in his last eight appearances, recording a 0.75 WHIP with 14 strikeouts and two walks (40 K-BB%) while converting all six save chances.
- Adrian Morejon notched his 16th hold, retiring the side in the eighth.
- Wandy Peralta allowed a hit in a scoreless seventh and collected his second win courtesy of a go-ahead rally at the top of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Adrian Morejon | Bradgely Rodriguez
Washington Nationals – Thrust into a bases-loaded situation with no outs at the top of the ninth, Clayton Beeter induced a fielder’s choice out, allowed Ryan Waldschmidt’s RBI single, let an inherited runner score in a fielder’s choice groundout, walked Ildemaro Vargas, then induced a game-ending groundout, recording his tenth save. He let two of three inherited runners score, throwing 14 pitches (8 strikes – 57.1% Strike Rate) and produced two whiffs (14.3 SwStr%).
- Matt Krook created the chaos, issuing three walks that resulted in two earned runs without retiring a batter in the ninth.
- Tom Cosgrove gave up two hits and an earned run in the eighth.
- Max Kranick tossed a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and striking out one for his first hold.
- Riley Cornelio earned his second win, logging two innings, allowing a hit, an earned run, and two walks.
Hierarchy Remains: *Clayton Beeter | *Tom Cosgrove | *Orlando Ribalta
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Entering at the bottom of the fifth, Jonathan Loáisiga suffered his third loss, giving up two hits, including CJ Abrams’ go-ahead two-run home run, and struck out one.
- Los Angeles Dodgers: Taking over at the bottom of the sixth, Jack Dreyer issued two walks and retired one batter before being removed. Evan Phillips replaced him and served up Tyrone Taylor’s go-ahead three-run home run, resulting in his second loss and first blown save. Dreyer was credited with his sixth hold while getting two earned runs on his ledger.
- Miami Marlins: Trailing by two, Pete Fairbanks fired a clean top of the ninth while facing the Padres’ top of the lineup, throwing nine pitches (66.7% Strike Rate) with one whiff. Lake Bachar suffered his second loss and first blown save, allowing five hits, including two home runs, and four earned runs during the top of the eighth.
Holds Tally
Here are the holds from Sunday’s slate:
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Statistical Credits: