Thursday’s 11-game slate featured six wins, four saves, three losses, and four blown saves by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 888 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 8.7.2026
- Tyler Rogers (TOR): Varland has worked in back-to-back games.
Vulture Save Stash for 8.8.2026
- Garrett Whitlock (BOS): If Chapman pitches today, it will be two straight outings and put Whitlock in line for Saturday.
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Securing his 15th save, Yoendrys Gómez preserved a one-run lead, working around Salvador Perez’s leadoff walk by picking off his pinch runner (Tyler Tolbert) at first base, then striking out the next two batters. He threw 18 pitches (50% Strike Rate) and induced one whiff. Here is his illustrator:
- Andrew Morris notched his 17th hold, firing a clean eighth and striking out one.
- Kody Funderburk collected his third win, yielding a hit and striking out one in a scoreless seventh, ahead of his team’s go-ahead rally at the top of the eighth.
It was obviously premature to move Jeff Hoffman to the top of the bullpen hierarchy, though his skillset warrants it. So, it appears some patience may be required. However, this game may not have the same outcome if Tolbert was not so aggressive in a two-strike count. Through 47 games, Gómez has a 3.35 ERA with a 1.33 WHIP, but his 9.9 K-BB percentage does not inspire confidence, confirmed by his 4.51 SIERA. I would hold Hoffman as a stash candidate if possible.
Updated Hierarchy: Yoendrys Gómez | Andrew Morris | Jeff Hoffman
Today’s Takeaways
Is Senga a sleeper? After being passed over for a save chance on Wednesday, Devin Williams would have been available if one occurred on Thursday:
He has been walking the line all season, converting 16 of 19 save opportunities with a 3.38 SIERA and a 1.59 WHIP. Hope lies in his second-half rebound last year, but working with arm fatigue could result in a managed workload. In this game, Kodai Senga fired a clean seventh, striking out two on 14 pitches (11 strikes – 78.6% Strike Rate) and producing three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%).
This marked Senga’s third one-inning appearance this season, and his second straight in August. In these three games, he’s thrown 41 pitches (27 strikes – 65.9% Strike Rate) with four whiffs (9.6 SwStr%), recording three strikeouts and one walk across three scoreless innings, allowing only one baserunner. It’s a small sample, but his outing in Cleveland could signal he’s gaining confidence as a reliever and may be in leverage situations sooner rather than later.
Updated Hierarchy: Devin Williams | Daniel Duarte | Kodai Senga
The Royals suffer two losses in the bullpen during one game? Summoned with two runners on and one out at the top of the eighth, Nate Pearson allowed a two-RBI single by Brooks Lee and issued a walk before retiring the next two batters, one via strikeout, resulting in his first blown save. Aaron Bummer gave up two hits, three earned runs, and a walk in one-third of the eighth for his second loss while getting credit for his fifth hold. Alex Lange worked a scoreless seventh, walking and striking out one for his second hold. Jose Cuas notched his first hold, retiring his only batter in the sixth.
With Steven Cruz unavailable, not seeing Daniel Lynch IV used in this contest does not make sense until:
Kansas City will be taking its most reliable reliever out of the bullpen for the rest of the season. Plan accordingly.
Updated Hierarchy: Steven Cruz | Nate Pearson | Alex Lange
Louis’ first blown save: Tasked with the bottom of the 11th and a tied score, Brendon Little suffered his third loss, giving up Pete Crow-Armstrong’s leadoff single with the “courtesy runner” thrown out at home, followed by Seiya Suzuki’s intentional walk and a double steal, with the ball being thrown away, scoring the walk-off run. Chase Lee worked a scoreless tenth, walking (intentional – Michael Conforto) and striking out one. Louis Varland could not preserve a combined shutout, allowing two hits, including Alex Bregman’s game-tying two-run home run with two outs at the bottom of the ninth, resulting in his first blown save.
Varland threw 21 pitches (16 strikes – 76.2% Strike Rate) and produced three whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). Braydon Fisher notched his 11th hold, retiring the side and striking out one in the eighth.
As for Varland, his decline in strikeout percentage should be monitored, though he rebounded from a dip in May previously this season:
But it’s a game of adjustments, and Varland may need a slight tweak in his sequencing, though if he gets his knuckle-curve lower in the zone, the blown save may not have transpired.
Hierarchy Remains: Louis Varland | Tyler Rogers | Braydon Fisher
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Thursday.
American League
Boston Red Sox – Although Brayan Bello let the “courtesy runner” score at the top of the 12th, he worked a scoreless 13th, finishing with three hits, an unearned run, and a walk while striking out one over his two innings, collecting his fourth win on a walk-off at the bottom of the 13th.
- Garrett Whitlock advanced the “courtesy runner” on a wild pitch and allowed a sacrifice fly while striking out one in the 11th.
- Aroldis Chapman gave up Chase Meidroth’s two-run home run in the tenth, putting an earned run on his ledger, snapping his 11-game scoreless streak.
- Jovani Morán walked two during a scoreless top of the ninth.
- Erik Miller tossed two scoreless innings, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out three.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Garrett Whitlock | Justin Slaten
Chicago White Sox – Tasked with a tie score at the bottom of the 13th, Erick Fedde suffered his seventh loss after intentionally walking Wilyer Abreu, then giving up Caleb Durbin’s walk-off RBI single.
- Chris Murphy stranded three runners in the 11th and worked 1.1 innings, yielding an unearned run.
- Trevor Richards was charged with his second blown save, allowing three hits, three runs (one earned), and four walks over 1.2 innings.
- Huascar Brazobán took over with two outs in the eighth, stranding two runners, but gave up Connor Wong’s leadoff double in the ninth and a two-out game-tying RBI single by Abreu, resulting in his fourth blown save.
- Grant Taylor stranded a runner in the sixth and logged two scoreless innings, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out two for his eighth hold.
- Jordan Hicks gave up two hits and an earned run while striking out one in two-thirds of the sixth, credited with his sixth hold.
No matter how much fantasy players would like Taylor to close, he is not used like one and cannot be counted on as a trusted source in saves-only formats. He does have the most since June with four, through 19 appearances.
Updated Hierarchy: *Grant Taylor | *Huascar Brazobán | Jordan Hicks
*= closer-by-committee
Los Angeles Angels – After taking over at the bottom of the eighth with a runner on and two outs, Samy Natera Jr. allowed a hit with the runner being thrown out at home, then retired all three batters in the ninth, two on strikeouts, securing his second save. He threw 23 pitches (14 strikes – 60.9% Strike Rate) and generated six whiffs (26.1 SwStr%).
- Tayler Saucedo issued a walk and recorded a strikeout during two-thirds of the eighth, getting credit for his third hold.
- Luke Murphy logged 1.1 scoreless innings, walking one and striking out three for his second hold.
- Mitch Farris stranded a runner in the fifth and collected his first win, retiring three of four batters, walking one and striking out three.
Given Ben Joyce‘s injury history, he will not be working on consecutive days initially, if at all, this season. He should be in line for saves soon, but he may not be deployed like a traditional closer.
Updated Hierarchy: *Ben Joyce | *Samy Natera Jr. | José Fermin
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Detroit Tigers: Completing a combined shutout in Seattle, Brenan Hanifee allowed a hit and recorded two strikeouts at the bottom of the ninth. Kyle Finnegan gave up a hit during the eighth.
National League
Atlanta Braves – Wrapping up an eventual eight-run victory, Brent Suter logged two innings, allowing four hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one.
- Dylan Lee earned his 25th hold, stranding three runners while retiring his only batter in the seventh (Otto Lopez) on an inning-ending flyout.
- Danny Young gave up three hits, two earned runs, and a walk with one strikeout in two-thirds of the seventh.
- Victor Mederos collected his second win, tossing two scoreless innings, walking one and striking out three.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Didier Fuentes | Dylan Lee
Chicago Cubs – After working around an intentional walk (Andrés Giménez) and striking out one during a scoreless top of the 11th, Trent Thornton earned his fifth win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. He threw 12 pitches (75% Strike Rate) and produced two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%).
- Caleb Thielbar retired the side in the tenth.
- Aaron Civale logged three innings, scattering four hits and allowing an earned run while striking out three.
- Ryan Rolison tossed a clean sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: *Jacob Webb | *Ryan Zeferjahn | *Caleb Thielbar
*= closer-by-committee
Cincinnati Reds – Despite allowing two hits, including Brian Servin’s two-run home run, Brock Burke finished an eventual one-run win over the A’s for his second save. He threw 22 pitches (15 strikes – 68.2% Strike Rate) and produced three whiffs (13.6 SwStr%) while recording one strikeout in his outing that snapped a 12-game scoreless streak.
- Sam Moll retired his only batter in the eighth, securing his sixth hold.
- Pierce Johnson retired all three batters, one via strikeout, across the seventh and eighth innings for his sixth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Brock Burke | Tejay Antone
Milwaukee Brewers – Providing much-needed rest to his leverage teammates, Chad Patrick notched his fifth save, working around a hit and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless top of the ninth against the Pirates. He threw 16 pitches (62.5% Strike Rate) and induced two whiffs (12.5 SwStr%). It’s his first save since June 21, and he has been scoreless in his last four appearances.
- Aaron Ashby gave up a hit and struck out three in a scoreless eighth, securing his tenth hold.
- DL Hall allowed a hit during a scoreless seventh for his fourth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Aaron Ashby
Philadelphia Phillies – Sealing a four-run lead, Jhoan Duran retired the side while striking out one at the top of the ninth against the Nationals. He threw 13 pitches (8 strikes – 61.5% Strike Rate) and produced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in four August appearances and in 18 of his last 19 since June 10, posting a 0.962 WHIP with 24 strikeouts and one walk (31.9 K-BB%) over 17.2 innings.
- Jonathan Bowlan worked a clean eighth, striking out one.
- José Alvarado fired a clean seventh, striking out one.
- Orion Kerkering gave up two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out three in the sixth.
Duran has pitched in consecutive games, but with the Wild Card chase tightening, I think he will be used in a save situation if presented tonight.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Duran | Orion Kerkering | Brooks Raley
San Diego Padres – Closing out a four-run lead, Mason Miller worked around Max Kepler’s two-out single with a game-ending strikeout. He threw 17 pitches (12 strikes – 70.6% Strike Rate) and generated five whiffs (29.4 SwStr%) while recording two strikeouts.
- Adrian Morejon allowed a hit and struck out three in the eighth.
- Jeremiah Estrada fired a clean seventh, striking out one.
- Bradgely Rodriguez collected his third win, logging two clean frames and striking out one across the fifth and sixth innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Adrian Morejon | Jeremiah Estrada
Quick Hits
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Getting in work, Juan Morillo allowed two hits, a leadoff single by Luis Rengifo, who was picked off at first base, and a two-out double by Ty France, in a scoreless top of the ninth. Phillip Abner logged three innings, giving up four hits, two earned runs, and two walks with one strikeout. Jonathan Loáisiga stranded two runners in the fourth and retired all four batters, two via strikeout.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: In an eventual loss, Kirby Yates tossed a clean bottom of the eighth, striking out two in Milwaukee. Camilo Doval walked one during a scoreless seventh. Gregory Soto allowed three hits and an earned run while striking out three in the sixth.
- Washington Nationals: During an eventual loss, Trevor Williams tossed a scoreless bottom of the eighth, walking one and striking out two. Max Kranick logged two innings, allowing four hits and an earned run.
Holds Tally
Here are the holds from Thursday’s slate:
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