Wednesday’s slate featured four wins (one accompanied by a blown save), ten saves, six losses, and five blown saves by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 884 saves this season by 219 different pitchers. For perspective, this season has already surpassed last year for the number of pitchers with at least one save and is within four 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 8.6.2026
- Brock Burke (CIN): Pagán has worked in two straight games.
- Nate Pearson (KC): Cruz has been used in back-to-back games.
- Aaron Ashby (MIL): Megill and Uribe have both pitched on Tuesday and Wednesday.
- Trent Thornton (CHC): Webb and Zeferjahn have worked in consecutive games.
- Yaramil Hiraldo (BAL): Kittredge, Cano, and Garcia have all pitched in back-to-back games.
Vulture Save Stash for 8.7.2026
- Colin Holderman (CLE): If Smith pitches today, it will be back-to-back appearances, and he threw 29 pitches on Wednesday.
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Trade Deadline Tracker for Relievers
Locking down his 20th save, Andrés Muñoz fired a clean top of the ninth, recording two strikeouts while preserving a two-run lead. He threw 11 pitches (63.6% Strike Rate) and generated three whiffs (27.3 SwStr%).
This marked his first save in August and his third straight season with at least 20 saves.
- Eduard Bazardo took over at the top of the eighth and let his only inherited runner score on Dillon Dingler’s two-run home run, and retired one batter, getting credit for his 22nd hold. He has allowed a home run in three straight outings, three of his last four, and in six of his last 10.
- Gabe Speier recorded two outs, then hit Gleyber Torres with a pitch, resulting in his ejection from the contest. He did notch his 14th save and had an earned run on his line.
Getting a lead to Muñoz may be an issue as the season progresses. Bazardo’s struggles with home runs, Jose A. Ferrer’s inconsistency, and Seranthony Domínguez’s rough debut will factor in how the Mariners line up its setup relievers while holding a lead. There were reports Seattle could use a starting pitching prospect in the bullpen, but Kade Anderson will start when he’s promoted, according to Jerry DiPoto in this video on X. This leaves Ryan Sloan as a possibility if Bazardo and Domínguez do not improve over the next two weeks, but he has not been used as a reliever yet at Double-A.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Eduard Bazardo | Gabe Speier
Today’s Takeaways
Albernaz prefers pliability, take 2: Another game of reliever roulette, this time landing on Andrew Kittredge. He retired the Angels’ 2-3-4 hitters in order, locking down his fifth save, throwing six pitches (83.3% Strike Rate) without a whiff. This was his assigned lineup lane yesterday as well, which signals a matchups-based approach. Enter with clear expectations and anticipated frustrations, mining saves in this bullpen. Yennier Cano fired a clean top of the eighth, striking out two for his 10th hold. Rico Garcia stranded a runner and retired his only batter in the seventh, notching his 14th hold. Alex Hoppe gave up a hit during two-thirds of the seventh for his second hold.
From this post by Rich Dubroff shared before last night’s game regarding the state of a closer:
And went on:
Updated Hierarchy: *Andrew Kittredge | *Yennier Cano | *Rico Garcia
*= closer-by-committee
Ben’s debut: Making his season debut, Ben Joyce allowed a walk and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless bottom of the seventh while facing Baltimore’s bottom third of the lineup. He did benefit from an inning-ending caught stealing. He threw 16 pitches (50% Strike Rate) and induced one whiff.
It’s a positive step, and fantasy managers await what type of workload and role he will eventually have for the remainder of the season.
Before this game, Sam Bachman was placed on the 15-day injured list with nerve inflammation in his right forearm.
Updated Hierarchy: *Ben Joyce | *Samy Natera Jr. | José Fermin
*= closer-by-committee
Finding Foley: During a shutout loss, Jason Foley retired the side and recorded a strikeout at the bottom of the seventh, throwing 14 pitches (8 strikes – 57.1% Strike Rate) with one whiff.
He has been scoreless in his last two and may be worth tracking for more leverage work as the season progresses. His 54.2 percent ground ball rate sits 10 percentage points over league average, and he has been a closer previously.
In the latest Giants Beat by Maria Guardado for MLB.com, it was shared that bullpen roles are evolving following the trades of Erik Miller and Caleb Kilian:
Among the relievers listed, there are a combined 39 saves, with Foley’s 35 carrying the group, and he recorded 28 in 2024. Only Keaton Winn (2) has more than one in his career, and River Sanmartin has not notched a save in the majors. Dylan Smith worked the ninth inning in Texas and remains atop the hierarchy, but things may evolve as the month progresses, meaning fantasy managers should keep tabs on which relievers earn larger leverage roles. For now:
Updated Hierarchy: *Dylan Smith | *Keaton Winn | *Jason Foley
*= closer-by-committee
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Wednesday.
American League
Cleveland Guardians – Entering at the top of the tenth, Matt Festa let the “courtesy runner” score on Bo Bichette’s lead-off RBI single, who was thrown out at second, followed by two strikeouts. However, the one run was the difference, handing Festa his third loss.
Cade Smith issued Jared Young a lead-off walk, a leverage mortal sin, then struck out Luis Robert Jr., allowed Jorge Polanco’s double, putting runners at second and third, then loaded them with another walk. An error by Brayan Rocchio permitted the game-tying run to score, resulting in Smith’s fifth blown save. He threw 29 pitches (17 strikes – 58.6% Strike Rate) and racked up nine whiffs (31 SwStr%) with traffic doing him in while striking out two.
- Hunter Gaddis notched his 22nd hold, yielding a hit and striking out one in the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis | Colin Holderman
Kansas City Royals – Taking the baton from Noah Cameron and preserving a one-run lead, Steven Cruz notched his third save, firing a clean top of the ninth and striking out one against the Twins. He threw 16 pitches (62.5% Strike Rate) and induced one whiff. He has converted all three save opportunities since July 22, posting a 1.00 WHIP with seven strikeouts and one walk (18.8 K-BB%) over eight innings. Home runs remain an issue, but he’s been a sneaky source of saves.
Hierarchy Remains: Steven Cruz | Daniel Lynch IV | Nate Pearson
Toronto Blue Jays – Handed a two-run lead at the bottom of the tenth, Chase Lee let the “courtesy runner” score on Yordan Alvarez’s RBI single, but he was thrown out trying to take second base. Lee retired the next two batters, recording his first career save.
- Louis Varland collected his fourth win, firing a clean bottom of the ninth and striking out one against the Astros’ 8-9-1 hitters, throwing 17 pitches (12 strikes – 70.6% Strike Rate) with three whiffs (17.6 SwStr%).
- Tyler Rogers allowed a hit during a scoreless eighth.
- Mason Fluharty tossed a clean seventh, striking out two.
- Spencer Miles logged two scoreless innings, scattering two hits and recording two strikeouts.
Hierarchy Remains: Louis Varland | Tyler Rogers | Braydon Fisher
Quick Hits
- Houston Astros: Tasked with the top of the tenth, Bennett Sousa gave up two hits, including Ernie Clement’s go-ahead two-run home run, putting an earned run on his ledger and getting tagged with his first loss. Josh Hader fired a clean top of the ninth, striking out one on 10 pitches (80% Strike Rate) with one whiff. Bryan Abreu worked a clean eighth, striking out two, becoming the fourth reliever in team history with 500 career strikeouts as a reliever.
- Minnesota Twins: Keeping his team within one, Jeff Hoffman fired a clean bottom of the eighth, striking out two while throwing 11 pitches (63.6% Strike Rate) with three whiffs (27.3 SwStr%). A.J. Minter allowed Michael Massey’s go-ahead solo home run in the seventh, resulting in his second loss.
- Texas Rangers: As the first reliever in, Tyler Alexander stranded two runners at the top of the fifth, retiring both batters, and worked a clean sixth, finishing with three strikeouts en route to his second win.
- The Athletics: Entering at the bottom of the sixth, Hayden Juenger gave up two hits and an earned run while striking out one, resulting in his first loss.
National League
Atlanta Braves – Capable of multiple-inning outings, Didier Fuentes stranded two runners at the top of the eighth, inducing an inning-ending groundout against Otto Lopez, and returned for the ninth to retire the side, striking out two while nailing down his second save. He threw 19 pitches (15 strikes – 78.9% Strike Rate) and produced three whiffs (15.8 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in his last four appearances, allowing two walks and striking out 10 of 17 batters (47.1 K-BB%) through five innings.
- Dylan Dodd allowed two hits and recorded a strikeout during two-thirds of the eighth for his ninth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Didier Fuentes | Dylan Lee
Chicago Cubs – Preserving a one-run lead at the top of the ninth, Jacob Webb retired the side while facing the Dodgers’ 4-5-6 batters, securing his sixth save. He threw 11 pitches (45.5% Strike Rate) and induced one whiff. This extended his scoreless streak to 18 games, during which he owns a 0.927 WHIP with 17 strikeouts and seven walks (14.1 K-BB%) while recording three wins, four saves, and three holds across 18.1 innings.
- Ryan Zeferjahn let his only inherited runner score, and one on his ledger, giving up Shohei Ohtani’s two-run home run, and struck out two during two-thirds of the eighth for his 11th hold.
- Caleb Thielbar had another rough outing, allowing four hits and four earned runs while retiring one batter in the eighth. It would not be a surprise if Ryan Rolison moves ahead of him in the hierarchy.
- Tyler Ferguson logged two scoreless innings, yielding a hit and striking out three.
Hierarchy Remains: *Jacob Webb | *Ryan Zeferjahn | *Caleb Thielbar
*= closer-by-committee
Cincinnati Reds – Shutting the door on his 13th save, Emilio Pagán retired the side and struck out one, sealing a one-run lead against the A’s. He threw 11 pitches (72.7% Strike Rate) and produced two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%). This extended his scoreless streak to eight games, during which he’s recorded two wins while converting six saves, posting a 0.50 WHIP with 10 strikeouts (34.5 K-BB%) over eight innings.
- Tejay Antone retired both batters in the eighth, securing his seventh hold.
- Brock Burke logged 1.1 clean innings, striking out three for his 13th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Brock Burke | Tejay Antone
Milwaukee Brewers – Reaching the 20-save plateau for a third consecutive season, Trevor Megill protected a two-run lead, firing a clean top of the ninth and striking out one against the Pirates. He threw 12 pitches (7 strikes – 58.3% Strike Rate) and produced three whiffs (25 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in 20 of his last 21 games, recording a 0.639 WHIP with 22 strikeouts and four walks (24.3 K-BB%) across 20.1 innings.
- Abner Uribe worked a clean eighth, securing his 18th hold.
- Antonio Senzatela retired his only batter in the seventh via strikeout for his sixth hold.
- DL Hall allowed two hits, two earned runs, and a walk during two-thirds of the seventh.
- Chad Patrick tossed a scoreless sixth, walking one and striking out two for his sixth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Aaron Ashby
New York Mets – Called on with a one-run lead at the bottom of the tenth, Daniel Duarte converted his first save of the season and second of his career (August 13, 2023) with a scoreless appearance. He recorded an out on a leadoff popout on a bunt, walked Chase DeLauter, then retired the next two batters, throwing 14 pitches (57.1% Strike Rate) without a whiff.
- Chayce McDermott logged two scoreless innings, walking one and striking out two, collecting his first win.
- Dedniel Nuñez suffered his first blown save, giving up three hits and two unearned runs while striking out two in the seventh.
- Jefry Yan navigated around two hits and a walk while striking out two in a scoreless sixth for his first hold.
- Devin Williams was unavailable because of arm fatigue, but the team expects he will be available on Thursday.
Hierarchy Remains: Devin Williams | Daniel Duarte | Nate Lavender
St. Louis Cardinals – Navigating around Ben Rice’s two-out walk, Riley O’Brien secured his 27th save with a game-ending strikeout of Ali Sánchez, preserving a two-run lead. He threw 22 pitches (14 strikes – 63.6% Strike Rate) and induced one whiff. It’s his first save since June 22 and extends his scoreless streak to five.
- Ryne Stanek walked two and struck out two in a scoreless eighth for his 20th hold.
- Justin Bruihl gave up a hit and a walk in two-thirds of the seventh, earning his seventh hold.
- George Soriano stranded one of two runners in the sixth and worked a scoreless combined inning, walking one and striking out three, securing his 17th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Riley O’Brien | George Soriano | Ryne Stanek
Quick Hits
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Spoiling the shutout, Kevin Ginkel allowed two hits, four earned runs, and two walks during two-thirds of the top of the ninth against the Padres. Paul Sewald recorded the final out, stranding a runner.
- Miami Marlins: During an eventual loss, Josh Eckness gave up a hit in a scoreless bottom of the eighth in Atlanta. Cade Gibson retired the side in the seventh. Calvin Faucher allowed two hits and struck out three in the sixth.
Rehab Roundup
Chicago Cubs – Daniel Palencia made his first rehab outing at Triple-A, and his velocity was encouraging.
However, his command was a bit rusty, throwing 11 strikes of his 22 pitches, allowing a hit, an earned run, and two walks while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning. His illustrator:
Based on this outing, he will need two to three more appearances before being reactivated.
Holds Tally
Here are the holds from Wednesday’s slate:
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