Thursday’s 10-game slate featured seven wins, six saves, seven losses, and three blown saves by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 842 saves this season by 213 different pitchers.
Here are the vulture save options:
Vulture Save Options for 7.31.2026
- Luke Weaver (NYM): Williams has worked in two straight contests.
- Alex Vesia (LAD): Both Díaz and Scott have been used in consecutive games.
- Kevin Kelly (TB): Baker has appeared in back-to-back games.
- Didier Fuentes (ATL): Iglesias and Lee have pitched in the two previous games.
- Garrett Whitlock (BOS): Chapman has been used in back-to-back contests.
Vulture Save Stash for 8.1.2026
- Pierce Johnson (CIN): If Pagán, Burke, and Antone pitch today, it will be back-to-back games and three in four days for the triumvirate.
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Our updated Trade Deadline Market Trends with notes on relievers before gameplay on July 30.
Trades and Transactions
- Minnesota Twins – Acquired A.J. Minter from the Mets for two prospects, according to Jeff Passan.
- Texas Rangers – Placed Jakob Junis (left adductor strain) on the 15-day injured list and acquired Chase Silseth from the Angels as a potential replacement.
Three Takeaways
Free Monty: Called on at the bottom of the ninth during a tied contest, Gregory Soto allowed Elly De La Cruz’s leadoff double, intentionally walked Sal Stewart, struck out JJ Bleday, walked Tyler Stephenson to load the bases, then induced a groundout by Nathaniel Lowe, who beat out the double play attempt, scoring the game-winning run. Soto suffered his third loss as a result, giving up a hit, an earned run, and two walks with one strikeout in two-thirds of an inning.
Mason Montgomery carved up the bottom of the Reds’ lineup, retiring the side and striking out two on seven pitches, all strikes, while inducing one whiff (14.3 SwStr%). Another master class from Don Kelly.
Hierarchy Remains: *Gregory Soto | *Mason Montgomery | Carmen Mlodzinski
*= closer-by-committee
Hierarchy change in Kansas City: As the first reliever in, Lucas Erceg took over a 3-0 game at the bottom of the ninth. He retired the first two batters, one via strikeout, then hit Ryan Jeffers with a pitch, allowed Royce Lewis’ single, and walked Josh Bell, prompting his removal. Matt Strahm let all three inherited runners score when he served up a walk-off grand slam by Kody Clemens, resulting in his fourth loss and fourth blown save. Erceg gets credited with his fourth hold despite getting three earned runs on his line.
Entering this game, Alex Lange was on a day of rest, but was not used in an obvious save situation:
Usage patterns and the trade deadline will ultimately confirm the shift in philosophy, but:
Updated Hierarchy: Steven Cruz | Daniel Lynch IV | Alex Lange
It’s Miller time: Closing out a three-run lead in San Diego, Erik Miller allowed Luis Campusano’s two-out single and recorded a strikeout, securing his fourth save, second in as many outings. He threw 14 pitches (11 strikes – 78.6% Strike Rate) and induced one whiff. This extends his scoreless streak to 13 games, during which he owns a 0.868 WHIP with 18 strikeouts and five walks (27.1 K-BB%) over 12.2 innings.
Dylan Smith gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless eighth for his sixth hold. Caleb Kilian recorded his fourth hold, walking and striking out one in a scoreless seventh.
Updated Hierarchy: Erik Miller | Dylan Smith | Caleb Kilian
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Thursday.
American League
Boston Red Sox – Protecting a one-run lead, Aroldis Chapman worked around Alika Williams’ one-out double with back-to-back strikeouts, securing his 26th save. He threw 11 pitches (72.7% Strike Rate) and racked up three whiffs (27.3 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in 11 of 12 appearances in July, posting a 1.167 WHIP with 17 strikeouts and five walks (24.3 K-BB%) through 12 innings, recording two wins and 10 saves.
- Greg Weissert notched his sixth hold, giving up a hit and striking out one in a scoreless eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Garrett Whitlock | Justin Slaten
Chicago White Sox – After working a scoreless top of the 11th, walking and striking out one, Seranthony Domínguez collected his fourth win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. He threw 15 pitches (60% Strike Rate) and produced one whiff.
- Chris Murphy allowed a hit and an unearned run in the tenth.
- Bryan Hudson retired the side in the ninth.
- Sean Newcomb tossed two scoreless innings, giving up two hits and a walk while striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Grant Taylor | Bryan Hudson | Jordan Hicks
Minnesota Twins – Despite allowing two hits at the top of the ninth, Yoendrys Gómez turned in a scoreless appearance and recorded one strikeout. Courtesy of a walk-off grand slam at the bottom of the inning, he collected his second win, throwing 21 pitches (15 strikes – 71.4% Strike Rate) with three whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in seven of his last eight games, posting two wins and converting all four save chances with a 1.364 WHIP and eight strikeouts versus five walks over 7.1 innings.
- Andrew Morris allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless eighth.
- Taylor Rogers gave up a hit and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Yoendrys Gómez | Andrew Morris | Taylor Rogers
Tampa Bay Rays – Appearing in back-to-back games, Bryan Baker navigated around a leadoff walk that featured two ABS challenge overrulings and a two-out walk of Wyatt Langford with a game-ending strikeout, securing his 30th save. He threw 30 pitches (18 strikes – 60% Strike Rate) and induced two whiffs while recording two strikeouts. He has converted his last 19 save chances since May 17, recording a 0.708 WHIP across his last 24 innings.
- Garrett Cleavinger collected his third win, issuing a walk and striking out two in a scoreless top of the eighth, ahead of his team’s go-ahead rally at the bottom of the inning.
- Steven Matz logged two scoreless innings, walking one and striking out three.
Hierarchy Remains: Bryan Baker | Kevin Kelly | Garrett Cleavinger
Quick Hits
- New York Yankees: Taking over at the bottom of the 10th, Fernando Cruz stranded both inherited runners, inducing an inning-ending double-play groundout. Returning for the 11th, he struggled with his command, giving up a hit and three walks, including a walk-off walk, resulting in his fifth loss. He threw 10 strikes among his 20 pitches and recorded two strikeouts in his 1.1 innings.
- The Athletics: As the first reliever in, Scott Blewett logged two scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a strikeout in the sixth and seventh innings. Luis Medina took over in the eighth and served up two solo home runs, resulting in his third loss and a fourth blown save. Elvis Alvarado worked a scoreless ninth, walking and striking out one.
National League
Atlanta Braves – Although he issued James Wood a two-out walk, Raisel Iglesias worked a scoreless top of the ninth, preserving a one-run lead for his 23rd save. He threw 15 pitches (66.7% Strike Rate) without a whiff. Through 12 games in July, he owns a 1.114 WHIP with 13 strikeouts and three walks (20.4 K-BB%) over 11.2 innings, converting seven of nine save chances.
- Dylan Lee retired all four batters faced, one via strikeout, securing his 22nd hold.
- Victor Mederos was awarded his first win, allowing a hit, an earned run, and a walk during his combined inning of work. He did strand a runner in the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Didier Fuentes | Dylan Lee
Chicago Cubs – Summoned with the “courtesy runner” on second and one out at the bottom of the tenth, Aaron Civale recorded his first save of the season and second of his career, retiring both batters, one via strikeout, preserving a two-run lead in St. Louis. He threw nine pitches (55.6% Strike Rate) and produced one whiff (11.1 SwStr%).
- Jacob Webb collected his fourth win and was awarded his eighth hold, logging 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing a hit.
- Gavin Hollowell gave up a hit during a scoreless eighth.
- Caleb Thielbar served up JJ Wetherholt’s game-tying solo home run, resulting in his fourth blown save.
Hierarchy Remains: *Jacob Webb | *Trent Thornton | Caleb Thielbar
*= closer-by-committee
Cincinnati Reds – With the score tied at the top of the ninth, Emilio Pagán allowed Jhostynxon Garcia’s two-out single and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless appearance. He collected his third win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. He threw 16 pitches (13 strikes – 81.3% Strike Rate) and generated four whiffs (25 SwStr%), extending his scoreless streak to five games, during which he’s posted a 0.40 WHIP with seven strikeouts (41.2 K-BB%).
- Tejay Antone gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless eighth.
- Brock Burke issued two walks while striking out two in a scoreless seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Brock Burke | Tejay Antone
Los Angeles Dodgers – Wrapping up a four-run lead, Edwin Díaz allowed Randy Arozarena’s one-out single, then recorded consecutive strikeouts against Dominic Canzone and Julio Rodríguez, working in consecutive games back from the injured list, and his velocity remained stable:
- Tanner Scott tossed a scoreless eighth, navigating around a hit and a walk while striking out one.
- Edgardo Henriquez gave up a hit and a walk during one-third of the seventh.
- Jack Dreyer stranded three runners in the sixth and retired all four batters, one via strikeout, recording his seventh hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Edwin Díaz | Tanner Scott | Alex Vesia
New York Mets – Capping a go-ahead rally at the bottom of the eighth, Devin Williams worked around Heriberto Hernández’s leadoff walk with consecutive strikeouts and a game-ending popout, preserving a two-run lead against the Marlins. He threw 17 pitches (10 strikes – 58.8% Strike Rate) and racked up four whiffs (23.5 SwStr%). It’s a small sample, but he’s been scoreless in his first five appearances in the second half, converting all three save opportunities while posting a 0.80 WHIP with seven strikeouts and one walk (35.3 K-BB%) across five innings.
- Brooks Raley earned his fifth win, stranding a runner in the seventh and logging 1.2 scoreless innings, allowing a hit and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Devin Williams | Luke Weaver | Brooks Raley
Quick Hits
- Miami Marlins: In a tied game at the bottom of the eighth, Michael Petersen allowed three hits, including two earned runs on Luis Robert Jr.’s go-ahead single, and struck out one, resulting in his second loss during two-thirds of an inning. John King stranded a runner while striking out his only batter, finishing off the inning.
- St. Louis Cardinals: Tasked with the top of the tenth for a second straight game, Luis Gastelum suffered his second loss, allowing two hits and two runs (one earned). Riley O’Brien fired a clean ninth, striking out one on 17 pitches (11 strikes – 64.7% Strike Rate) and inducing one whiff.
- Washington Nationals: Appearing in a one-run loss, Riley Cornelio fired a clean bottom of the eighth, striking out two on nine pitches (88.9% Strike Rate) with one whiff. He has been scoreless in three of his last four games.
Holds Tally
Here are the holds from Thursday’s slate:
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Statistical Credits: