Tuesday’s slate featured four wins (one accompanied by a blown save), six saves, four losses, and four blown saves by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 874 saves this season by 217 different pitchers. For perspective, this season has already surpassed last year for the number of pitchers with at least one save and is within six more relievers recording their first save to tie the record of 223 set in 2024.
Here are the vulture save options:
Vulture Save Option for 8.5.2026
- Luke Weaver (PIT): It’s not truly a vulture situation, but if the Pirates have a lead in the ninth, he’s our projected preferred option for closer.
Vulture Save Stash for 8.6.2026
- Didier Fuentes (ATL): If Iglesias and Lee pitch today, it will be back-to-back appearances.
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Trade Deadline Tracker for Relievers
Recording his first career save during a rout of the White Sox, Brayan Bello logged three clean frames while striking out two. He threw 28 pitches (19 strikes – 67.9% Strike Rate) and racked up eight whiffs (28.6 SwStr%).
He has been scoreless in his last two relief outings, giving up three hits and a walk (intentional) while striking out five (20 K-BB%) over seven innings, recording a win and a save in them.
- Erik Miller stranded a runner, striking out his only batter in the seventh in his team debut.
While many bullpens are lacking depth, the Red Sox have reinforced theirs with Miller’s addition and Bello’s transition.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Garrett Whitlock | Justin Slaten
Today’s Takeaways
Albernaz prefers pliability: Reliever roulette landed on Yennier Cano against the Angels with a two-run lead. He allowed Josh Lowe’s leadoff double, then bore down, retiring the next three batters, including the last two on strikeouts, securing his second save. He threw 19 pitches (12 strikes – 63.2% Strike Rate) and induced three whiffs (15.8 SwStr%), recording his first save since June 20 while extending his scoreless streak to six games.
Andrew Kittredge notched his seventh hold, giving up two hits and an earned run while striking out one in the eighth, entering against the 2-3-4 hitters. Rico Garcia gave up a hit and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless seventh, securing his 13th hold.
There is a chance a reliever separates himself from the pack, but Craig Albernaz has been playing matchups by lineup lanes, which makes trusting any roles difficult in this bullpen with Ryan Helsley on the injured list. Since July 4, Kittredge and Tyler Wells, who was traded, have three saves; Garcia and Cano have one, as do Grant Wolfram and Cam Sanders.
Updated Hierarchy: *Yennier Cano | *Andrew Kittredge | *Rico Garcia
*= closer-by-committee
Raisel and regression: Spoiling the combined shutout, Raisel Iglesias allowed three hits, two earned runs, and a walk during the top of the ninth against Miami, benefiting from a game-ending caught stealing at third base. This snapped a modest three-game scoreless streak for the closer, and in the second half, he has allowed at least a run in four of nine appearances, posting a 1.269 WHIP across 8.2 innings. Hope lies in his 2.94 xERA that his recent struggles will not continue, but it will be monitored. Dylan Lee issued a walk and struck out two in a scoreless eighth, securing his 24th hold. Dylan Dodd retired the side in the seventh for his eighth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Didier Fuentes | Dylan Lee
Are the Royals’ roles in flux? Closing out a six-run lead, Nate Pearson allowed a leadoff single at the top of the ninth, then retired the next three Twins. Steven Cruz gave up two hits, including Josh Bell’s solo shot in the eighth, ending his four-game scoreless streak. John Schreiber issued a walk and struck out two in a scoreless seventh. Daniel Lynch IV worked a scoreless sixth, yielding a hit and striking out one.
Updated Hierarchy: Steven Cruz | Daniel Lynch IV | Nate Pearson
Here are the leverage events of interest from Tuesday.
American League
New York Yankees – Pressed into action at the top of the eighth, David Bednar took over with two runners on and issued Alec Burleson an intentional walk, then recorded an inning-ending strikeout of Nelson Velázquez. Returning for the ninth, he retired the side in order, striking out two, sealing the combined shutout and his 25th save. He threw 23 pitches (15 strikes – 65.2% Strike Rate) and generated five whiffs (21.7 SwStr%) across 1.1 innings with three strikeouts.
- Brent Headrick stranded a runner in the seventh, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out one during his combined inning, securing his 16th hold.
- Fernando Cruz gave up a hit during his two-thirds of the seventh for his 18th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: David Bednar | Paul Blackburn | Brent Headrick
Tampa Bay Rays – Capping his team’s go-ahead rally at the top of the 11th, Bryan Baker locked down his 32nd save, retiring the 6-7-8 hitters in order, two via strikeout, in Colorado. He threw 13 pitches (11 strikes – 84.6% Strike Rate) and generated four whiffs (30.8 SwStr%). He has converted his last 21 save chances, posting a 0.654 WHIP with 25 strikeouts and seven walks (19 K-BB%) through 26 innings.
- Garrett Cleavinger earned his fourth win, stranding two runners and retiring both hitters at the bottom of the tenth.
- Kevin Kelly gave up a hit and a walk during his scoreless combined inning.
Updated Hierarchy: Bryan Baker | Tyler Wells | Garrett Cleavinger
Texas Rangers – Despite having his consecutive save streak snapped at 16, suffering his third blown save, Jacob Latz benefited from a walk-off rally, collecting his third win. He had not pitched since July 28 and allowed a one-out single, followed by a walk, then a passed ball put the runners on second and third. Bryce Eldridge took advantage, hitting a two-RBI go-ahead single, then Latz retired the next two batters. He finished with two hits, two runs (one earned), and a walk while striking out one. Although this result may have been the result of his recent inactivity, he has allowed at least a run in three of his last four appearances.
- Peyton Gray retired his only batter via strikeout in the eighth.
- Robby Ahlstrom recorded one out in the seventh and two in the eighth, two via strikeout.
- Chase Silseth issued a walk and gave up a two-run home run by Osleivis Basabe, resulting in his fourth blown save during two-thirds of the seventh.
Updated Hierarchy: Jacob Latz | Chase Silseth | Tyler Alexander
The Athletics – Summoned with a runner on and two outs, Elvis Alvarado retired his only batter at the bottom of the eighth.
Hogan Harris struggled with his command, issuing three walks, and allowed two earned runs on wild pitches, resulting in his first loss and fifth blown save. He threw 24 pitches (11 strikes – 45.8% Strike Rate) and induced two whiffs.
- Brady Basso retired the side in the seventh, earning his second hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Hogan Harris | *Luis Medina | José Suarez
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Houston Astros: Logging two scoreless innings, Enyel De Los Santos preserved a five-run lead against the Blue Jays. He allowed a hit and struck out one. Bennett Sousa tossed a clean seventh, striking out one.
- Seattle Mariners: It was a rough debut for Seranthony Domínguez at home. He allowed four hits, including two home runs, four earned runs, and two walks during one-third of the ninth, facing the Tigers.
- Toronto Blue Jays: Forced into a bullpen game because of an injury, Chad Dallas suffered his first loss, allowing seven hits, six earned runs, and four walks while striking out three across three innings.
National League
Chicago Cubs – Sealing a four-run lead against the Dodgers, Jacob Webb retired the side at the top of the ninth against the 2-3-4 hitters.
- Ryan Zeferjahn made his team debut with a clean eighth, securing his tenth hold while facing the 8-9-1 pocket.
- Tyler Ferguson retired his only batter in the seventh for his fourth hold.
- Ryan Rolison stranded a runner in the sixth and retired all three batters while striking out one, collecting his sixth win.
Updated Hierarchy: *Jacob Webb | *Ryan Zeferjahn | *Caleb Thielbar
*= closer-by-committee
Cincinnati Reds – Working into and then out of trouble, Emilio Pagán navigated around a one-out infield single and a two-out single by Henry Bolte with a game-ending strikeout, preserving the one-run lead for his 12th save. He threw 14 pitches (11 strikes – 78.6% Strike Rate) and produced three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in nine of his 11 appearances back from the injured list, recording two wins and converting all six save chances while posting a 0.871 WHIP with 16 strikeouts and two walks (33.3 K-BB%) across 10.1 innings.
- Julian Garcia fired a clean eighth, striking out two and collecting his second win after his team’s rally at the bottom of the inning.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Brock Burke | Tejay Antone
Colorado Rockies – Allowing two hits and two runs (one earned) at the top of the 11th in his major league debut, Nick Frasso suffered his first loss.
- Jimmy Herget tossed a clean 10th and recorded two strikeouts.
- Jordan Romano had deuces wild on his ledger; he allowed two hits, two earned runs, and two walks while striking out two at the top of the ninth, resulting in his third blown save. It began with a one-out walk, Yandy Díaz’s single, a stolen base, and Jonathan Aranda’s two-RBI single.
- Juan Mejia worked around two hits for a scoreless eighth and his seventh hold.
- Parker Mushinski tossed a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and a walk for his first hold.
- Brennan Bernardino stranded a runner despite giving up a hit during two-thirds of the sixth, notching his seventh hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Jordan Romano | Juan Mejia | Brennan Bernardino
Milwaukee Brewers – Shutting the door on his 19th save, Trevor Megill fired a clean top of the ninth against the Pirates’ 5-6-7 batters, throwing 10 pitches (60% Strike Rate) with one whiff. He has converted his last 11 save chances since June 16 and has been scoreless in 17 of his 18 outings since, posting a 0.577 WHIP across 17.1 innings.
- Abner Uribe notched his 17th hold, allowing a hit and striking out three in the eighth.
- Antonio Senzatela made his team debut, issuing a walk during a scoreless seventh, securing his fifth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Aaron Ashby
Quick Hits
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Appearing in a loss, Jonathan Loáisiga issued Sung-Mun Song a leadoff walk, a leverage no-no, followed by consecutive singles, an RBI fielder’s choice, and an inning-ending double play groundout, putting an earned run on his ledger. He has allowed a run in back-to-back games and in four of his last five.
- Los Angeles Dodgers: Getting in work during an eventual loss, Edwin Díaz allowed two hits, including Nico Hoerner’s solo home run, and a walk while striking out one in two-thirds of the bottom of the eighth. He threw 23 pitches (14 strikes – 60.9% Strike Rate) and only induced one whiff.
- New York Mets: Finishing off a four-run lead in Cleveland, Kodai Senga issued a walk during a scoreless bottom of the ninth. He threw 18 pitches (62.5% Strike Rate) without a whiff.
- San Francisco Giants: Entering a tied game at the bottom of the ninth, Dylan Smith gave up Jake Burger’s leadoff double, retired Wyatt Langford, intentionally walked Corey Seager, and struck out Brandon Nimmo. However, with two outs, he induced a fly ball to right field by Ezequiel Duran, and Jung Hoo Lee lost his footing, resulting in Smith’s fourth loss of the season.
Rehab Roundup
Arizona Diamondbacks – Justin Martinez made his first appearance for Single-A Visalia, retiring the side and striking out two on 14 pitches (8 strikes – 57.1% Strike Rate), with this tweet showing his sequence against the first batter of the game.
Chicago Cubs – Daniel Palencia will work in today’s game for Iowa in a Triple-A contest.
Los Angeles Angels – Ben Joyce was activated for the first time since April of last year:
He was scoreless in three of four games at Triple-A before his activation, but with three strikeouts and two walks across 3.2 innings. The team may ease him into save situations, however, with Ryan Zeferjahn traded, the closer role is there for the taking.
Holds Tally
Here are the holds from Tuesday’s slate:
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