Wednesday’s full slate featured four wins, eight saves, six losses, and three blown saves by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 941 saves this season by 232 different pitchers. For perspective, this season has already set an MLB record for the number of pitchers with at least one save on Sunday, and another in last night’s slate.
Here are the vulture save options:
Vulture Save Options for 8.13.2026
- Samy Natera Jr. (LAA): He’s been the preferred option for the Angels, and Joyce pitched last night.
- Hunter Gaddis (CLE): Smith threw 38 pitches across 1.1 innings yesterday.
- Spencer Miles (TOR): Varland threw only five pitches last night, but he has appeared five times in the last eight days, and the team does not have an off-day until Monday.
Vulture Save Stash for 8.14.2026
- Abner Uribe (MIL): If Megill pitches today, it will be back-to-back outings.
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Recording his first save since September 1, 2024, Ben Joyce preserved a three-run lead with a clean top of the ninth against the Rangers’ 6-7-8 hitters, throwing 12 pitches (66.7% Strike Rate) and producing three whiffs (25 SwStr%).
He has been scoreless through his first four appearances back from the injured list, allowing a hit and a walk (0.50 WHIP) while striking out four (23.1 K-BB%) in his limited sample. His eventual role and workload will determine his fantasy potential.
- Ryan Watson notched his second hold, stranding two runners and retiring both batters, one via strikeout, at the top of the eighth.
- Blake Weiman allowed two hits and struck out one across 1.1 scoreless innings for his second hold.
One sees Joyce’s easy velocity and has visions of a dominant closer. In the game recap by Jeff Fletcher for The Orange County Register, Kurt Suzuki noted his reliever’s strong return from the injured list:
However, to be a closer, a reliever has to be available in consecutive contests, which remains a durability hurdle Joyce has not cleared. Through 52 major league appearances in his career, he has worked on zero days’ rest five times and has not done so since 2024. Injuries have been a factor, but he was not used in back-to-back games in his college career, and managed workloads cap his save potential. He will get more saves this season, but fantasy managers should be satisfied with five while he shares them with Samy Natera Jr. This can change, but until he proves capable of handling more appearances with less rest in between, it must be accounted for in his projected statistics.
Hierarchy Remains: *Samy Natera Jr. | *Ben Joyce | José Fermin
*= closer-by-committee
Today’s Takeaways
Uneasy about Raisel: Ahead of an off-day, Raisel Iglesias took over at the top of the ninth with a three-run lead. He was greeted by Bo Bichette’s leadoff solo home run, Carson Benge’s double, and a walk to Luis Robert Jr. Bearing down, the veteran closer induced a groundout by Jared Young, retired Francisco Alvarez via pop-out, and ended the game on a Marcus Semien groundout. All told, he gave up two hits, an earned run, and a walk while throwing 22 pitches (14 strikes – 63.6% Strike Rate) with two whiffs. He has allowed at least a run in three of his last five appearances, and four home runs over his last 17 games, recording a 1.435 WHIP across 15.1 innings. Here are some intriguing split results from this year:
On July 6, he recorded his fastest average four-seam velocity at 96 miles per hour. In last night’s game, his average was 94.1 MPH:
If one has Iglesias as their closer and has not stashed Didier Fuentes as a handcuff, should do so in the interim.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Didier Fuentes | Dylan Lee
Houston’s bullpen remains hot: Shutting the door on his 17th save, Josh Hader protected a one-run lead with a clean bottom of the ninth against the Giants. He dispensed of the 8-9-1 pocket with eight pitches (75% Strike Rate) and one whiff. This extended his scoreless streak to 10 games, during which he’s posted a minuscule 0.281 WHIP with 10 strikeouts and two walks (22.9 K-BB%) across 10.2 innings, converting seven saves. Bryan Abreu fired a clean eighth, striking out two for his eighth hold, and extended his scoreless streak to 12 games. Steven Okert stranded a runner in the sixth and retired all four batters, collecting his sixth win.
Current scoreless streaks:
- Abreu: 12 games, 12 IP, 2 wins, two saves, three holds, 15:4 K:BB (25.6 K-BB%), 0.583 WHIP
- Hader: 10 games, 10.2 IP, one win, seven saves, 10:2 K:BB (22.9 K-BB%), 0.281 WHIP
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Steven Okert
Eyes on the prize: Providing rest to its high-leverage relievers against the Royals, Los Angeles used Seth Halvorsen in an extra-inning win on Tuesday, demoted him, and promoted Landon Knack, who logged 2.2 scoreless innings, entering at the top of the seventh, scattering two hits and recording two strikeouts en route to his first save of the season, third of his career. He threw 36 pitches (22 strikes – 61.1% Strike Rate) and induced three whiffs (8.3 SwStr%), closing out a two-run lead. Having relievers with minor league options creates segments of the season like this. Edwin Díaz and Tanner Scott enter the Brewers series on two days’ rest as a result.
Hierarchy Remains: Edwin Díaz | Tanner Scott | Alex Vesia
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Wednesday.
American League
Cleveland Guardians – Forced into action with two runners on and two outs at the bottom of the eighth, Cade Smith had one inherited runner score on a wild pitch before inducing an inning-ending strikeout of Max Clark. In the ninth, Smith navigated around a leadoff single by Javier Báez and Gleyber Torres’ one-out single with a strikeout, followed by a game-ending groundout, securing the two-run margin and his 31st save. He threw 38 pitches (27 strikes – 71.1% Strike Rate) and produced two whiffs. He has only allowed an unearned run over his last nine appearances, posting a 1.162 WHIP across 10.1 innings. However, he has issued seven walks in this span while recording 14 strikeouts (15.9 K-BB%).
- Hunter Gaddis gave up a hit, an earned run, and a walk while striking out two in two-thirds of the eighth for his 23rd hold.
- Erik Sabrowski notched his 21st hold, striking out both batters faced in the seventh.
- Colin Holderman logged 1.1 scoreless innings, walking and striking out one for his ninth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis | Colin Holderman
Minnesota Twins – Better lucky to be lucky than good summarizes the 17th save for Yoendrys Gómez. He took over with a three-run lead at the top of the ninth and served up a solo shot by Leody Taveras, then walked Christian Franklin, followed by a line drive comebacker into his glove for a double play, and a game-ending comeback groundout. Gómez threw 11 pitches (5 strikes – 45.5% Strike Rate) without a whiff. He has allowed at least a run in three of five appearances this month.
- A.J. Minter notched his third hold with a clean top of the eighth, striking out two.
- Jeff Hoffman escaped with a scoreless seventh, walking two and striking out one for his 14th hold.
- Andrew Morris fired a clean sixth, striking out two, and secured his 19th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Yoendrys Gómez | Andrew Morris | Jeff Hoffman
Toronto Blue Jays – Pressed into duty with two runners on and one out at the top of the ninth, Louis Varland let one score on a sacrifice fly, then induced a game-ending groundout by Nick Sogard, securing his 26th save. He only threw five pitches (80% Strike Rate) and did not produce a whiff in two-thirds of an inning. He has recorded a save in his last two appearances, both scoreless.
- Matt Waldron allowed three hits, three earned runs, and a walk while striking out one in one-third of the ninth, creating the save opportunity.
- Tyler Rogers collected his second win, yielding a hit during a scoreless top of the eighth, ahead of his team’s five-run rally at the bottom of the inning.
Hierarchy Remains: Louis Varland | Tyler Rogers | Braydon Fisher
Quick Hits
- Boston Red Sox: Called on with the bases loaded and no outs at the bottom of the eighth, Alec Gamboa let each inherited runner score, allowing two hits and recording three outs. Tyron Guerrero suffered his second loss, giving up three hits, five runs (four earned), and two walks without retiring a batter in the eighth. Garrett Whitlock was unavailable with elbow inflammation and has been placed on the 15-day IL.
- New York Yankees: Timing can be key, and Paul Blackburn took over with a runner on at the top of the sixth during a tied game. He stranded the runner and worked 1.2 scoreless innings, issuing a walk, then collected his fourth win, courtesy of a three-run go-ahead rally at the bottom of the seventh. Brent Headrick fired a clean eighth, striking out the side and securing his 19th hold. Yerry De Los Santos finished the eventual five-run victory with a scoreless ninth, giving up two hits and striking out one.
- Seattle Mariners: With the score tied at the bottom of the seventh, Gabe Speier allowed three hits, three earned runs, and two walks while striking out one, resulting in his third loss. It could have been worse, but Seranthony Domínguez stranded all three inherited runners, inducing an inning-ending groundout by Ryan McMahon.
National League
Colorado Rockies – Sealing a two-run lead and his 12th save, Jordan Romano worked around a two-out walk with a game-ending lineout to first base. He threw 17 pitches (10 strikes – 58.8% Strike Rate) and induced one whiff. He has been scoreless in his last two outings after allowing at least an earned run in his first two this month. Through 12 games with the Rockies, he has converted eight of nine save opportunities with a 1.457 WHIP across 11.2 innings.
- Brennan Bernardino allowed three hits, including Corbin Carroll’s solo home run in the eighth, and was credited with his tenth hold.
- Jimmy Herget stranded one of two inherited runners in the seventh, issuing two walks and recording three outs for his seventh hold.
- Juan Mejia stranded three runners in the sixth, but issued two walks in the seventh, putting an earned run on his ledger while getting his eighth hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Jordan Romano | Brennan Bernardino | Juan Mejia
Milwaukee Brewers – Taking over at the bottom of the 11th with a one-run lead, Antonio Senzatela hit Ty France after retiring Manny Machado and recording his second out on Jackson Merrill’s game-tying sacrifice fly, then gave up Luis Campusano’s walk-off RBI single, resulting in his fourth loss and sixth blown save.
- Trevor Megill not only made his second appearance amid an inning, taking over in the ninth with a runner on and one out, but he logged his first multi-inning outing, working 1.2 scoreless frames, allowing one baserunner on an intentional walk (Fernando Tatis Jr.). He only threw 15 pitches (11 strikes – 73.3% Strike Rate) and produced four whiffs (26.7 SwStr%).
- Aaron Ashby stranded one of two runners in the eighth, charged with his sixth blown save. He gave up an RBI infield single by Jake Cronenworth, retired Manny Machado, ending the eighth. In the ninth, he struck out France, followed by Merrill’s double, prompting his removal.
- Chad Patrick was credited with his seventh hold, but issued two walks resulting in an earned run during two-thirds of the inning.
- Abner Uribe was not used despite being on two days’ rest as a precautionary measure.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Aaron Ashby
San Diego Padres – After working a scoreless top of the tenth, Adrian Morejon gave up an RBI double by Gary Sánchez leading off the 11th, then navigated around a wild pitch and a walk by striking out the next two batters, issuing Jackson Chourio an intentional walk, followed by an inning-ending strikeout. He finished two innings with two hits, an unearned run, and two walks while striking out four, collecting his ninth win on a walk-off at the bottom of the 11th.
- Mason Miller tossed a scoreless ninth during a tied game despite walking two and striking out one. He only threw nine of his 23 pitches for strikes (39.1% Strike Rate) and produced two whiffs.
- Kyle Hart worked a scoreless eighth, walking and striking out two.
- Jeremiah Estrada fired a clean seventh, striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Adrian Morejon | Jeremiah Estrada
Quick Hits
- Chicago Cubs: Taking the baton from David Peterson, Javier Assad worked the last four innings in an eventual six-run victory over the Nationals, giving up two hits, both solo home runs, and a walk while striking out two for his second save. He threw 66 pitches (50% Strike Rate) and induced two whiffs.
- San Francisco Giants: Entering a tied game at the top of the seventh, Sam Hentges allowed a hit that resulted in an unearned run, but was credited with his ninth hold during one-third of the inning. Keaton Winn let one of two inherited runners score in the seventh on a sacrifice fly. He also allowed a leadoff triple in the eighth, followed by another sacrifice fly, scoring the go-ahead run, handing him his third loss while logging 1.2 innings.
- Washington Nationals: Tagged with his second loss, Tom Cosgrove allowed two hits and three runs (one earned) while striking out one during one-third of the sixth. Yovanny Cruz let both inherited runners score, giving up two hits, two earned runs, and a walk in one-third of the sixth.
Rehab Recaps
Atlanta Braves – Robert Suarez will begin his return-to-play throwing progression later today.
Key phrase here: “hope that he returns at some point,” not a definitive timeline.
Chicago Cubs – It flew beneath my radar under an avalanche of high-leverage events on Tuesday, but Daniel Palencia had a clunker at Double-A. He issued three walks and hit a batter, resulting in four earned runs while recording a strikeout during two-thirds of an inning. He threw 24 pitches (11 strikes – 45.8% Strike Rate) and, according to his manager in this video from X, needs more work in the minors.
It was presumed he could return and reclaim the closer role. However, fantasy players that added Jacob Webb should hold firm, recalling that last year Palencia returned in September, but Brad Keller kept the role Webb has filled this year as the team’s most trusted high-leverage reliever and preferred save option.
Holds Tally
Here are the holds from Wednesday’s slate:
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