Tuesday’s slate featured four wins, eight saves, three losses, and three blown saves by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 983 saves this season by 235 different pitchers. For perspective, this season has already set an MLB record for the number of pitchers with at least one save.
Here are the vulture save options:
Vulture Save Options for 8.19.2026
- Jeff Hoffman (MIN): Gómez has pitched in back-to-back games.
- Ryan Zeferjahn (CHC): Webb has appeared in two straight games.
- Luis Gastelum (STL): O’Brien, Stanek, and Soriano have all worked in consecutive contests.
- Ryan Watson (LAA): Joyce pitched last night, and Samy Natera Jr. was unavailable with back stiffness.
Vulture Save Stash for 8.20.2026
- None recommended yet.
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Forced into action at the bottom of the eighth with two runners on and two outs, Tanner Scott induced an inning-ending fielder’s choice groundout against Brett Sullivan. Returning for the ninth, he allowed Jake McCarthy’s one-out double and Willi Castro’s two-out RBI single before recording a game-ending popout by TJ Rumfield, sealing a one-run margin for his 17th save. He matched his season-high with 27 pitches (22 strikes – 81.4% Strike Rate) and produced four whiffs (14.8 SwStr%) across 1.1 innings. This snapped his seven-game scoreless streak but confirmed his role with Edwin Díaz back on the injured list.
- Evan Phillips allowed two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one over two-thirds of the eighth for his fourth hold.
- Edgardo Henriquez fired a clean seventh, striking out two, and securing his ninth hold.
- Jack Dreyer worked a scoreless sixth, walking one and striking out two for his ninth hold.
Before this game, the team placed embattled closer Edwin Díaz on the 15-day injured list:
Staying true to his word, Dave Roberts deployed Scott as his preferred save option:
For the season, Scott owns a 0.93 WHIP with 62 strikeouts and 11 walks (26.3 K-BB%) across 50.1 innings. He has converted 17 of 19 save opportunities while recording a career-best 17.9 percent swinging strike rate. Not having another option was lip service by Roberts protecting their most recent offseason addition, not a condemnation of the talented southpaw’s results this season.
Updated Hierarchy: Tanner Scott | Alex Vesia | Edgardo Henriquez
Today’s Takeaways
Perhaps there is a plan in Pittsburgh: Protecting a three-run lead at the top of the ninth with the Tigers having two left-handed hitters on tap, Mason Montgomery worked around Kevin McGonigle reaching on an error by retiring the next three batters, two via strikeout, securing his fifth save. He threw 15 pitches (66.7% Strike Rate) and produced four whiffs (26.7 SwStr%).
He has recorded three saves this month and has been scoreless in his last seven appearances, posting a 0.429 WHIP with 15 strikeouts and two walks (48.2 K-BB%) across seven innings. Despite his recent run of dominance, he will share saves with Luke Weaver based on lineup lanes in the late innings, according to Don Kelly in the latest Pirates Beat by Aiden Stepansky for MLB.com:
Hierarchy Remains: *Mason Montgomery | *Luke Weaver | Gregory Soto
*= closer-by-committee
Palencia’s return is imminent, but his role is not defined: It makes sense to ease Daniel Palencia back into high-leverage situations. However, Jacob Webb has changed the calculus for Craig Counsell during save situations. This also happened last year when Palencia returned in September but did not displace Brad Keller as the preferred save option. Will this repeat?
J-Mart returns: Appearing in an eventual loss, Justin Martinez made his season debut, issuing a walk during a scoreless bottom of the eighth. He threw 19 pitches (9 strikes – 47.4% Strike Rate) without a whiff. Command remains his nemesis, but it’s encouraging to see him back from his surgery. Hopefully this outing was some rust in the moment. Here is his illustrator:
And his Statcast box displaying his velocity:
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Tuesday.
American League
Chicago White Sox – Entering after a rain delay, Trevor Richards retired the side at the bottom of the eighth. Back for the ninth, things did not go as well. He allowed Carson Kelly’s leadoff double, recorded a strikeout, intentionally walked Pete Crow-Armstrong, and induced a pop-out by Seiya Suzuki. However, Alex Bregman laced a walk-off single, resulting in Richards’ first loss. He gave up two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out one over 1.2 innings.
- Grant Taylor took over in the seventh with two runners on and no outs. He recorded consecutive strikeouts of Crow-Armstrong and Suzuki, then allowed an inherited runner to score on Bregman’s game-tying RBI single, handing him his fifth blown save.
- Huascar Brazobán was credited with his 11th hold, stranding two runners in the fifth, then walking two in the sixth, prompting his removal and ending with an earned run on his ledger.
Hierarchy Remains: *Grant Taylor | *Bryan Hudson | *Sean Newcomb
*= closer-by-committee
Los Angeles Angels – Despite getting into a 3-0 count against Jose Altuve leading off the bottom of the ninth, Ben Joyce locked down his third save, striking him out while retiring the side, securing a two-run lead. He threw 11 pitches (72.7% Strike Rate) and induced one whiff while recording two strikeouts. He has been scoreless through his first six appearances and has not allowed a baserunner in his last four, recording a save in each of his last three.
- Ryan Watson stranded a runner and retired both batters faced in the eighth, striking out one for his third hold.
- José Fermin spoiled the combined shutout, giving up Cam Smith’s solo home run among his two hits during one-third of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: *Ben Joyce | *Samy Natera Jr. | José Fermin
*= closer-by-committee
Minnesota Twins – Working around a leadoff double by Michael Harris II, Yoendrys Gómez retired the next three Braves hitters in order, preserving a three-run lead for his 19th save. He threw 16 pitches (62.5% Strike Rate) and produced two whiffs (12.5 SwStr%) while recording a strikeout in his outing. Through seven appearances in August, he has two losses and converted all five save chances, posting a 1.764 WHIP with six strikeouts and four walks over 5.2 innings.
- A.J. Minter retired the side for his fifth hold in the eighth.
- Andrew Morris fired a clean seventh, striking out one for his 20th hold.
- Kody Funderburk stranded two runners, striking out his only batter in the sixth, securing his ninth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Yoendrys Gómez | Andrew Morris | Jeff Hoffman
New York Yankees – Shutting the door on his 28th save, David Bednar fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts, preserving a two-run lead in Baltimore. He threw eight pitches, all strikes, and racked up four whiffs (50 SwStr%). He has allowed two runs (one earned) over seven games spanning 8.1 innings, resulting in a 0.72 WHIP with 10 strikeouts and four walks. Three of his outings have required more than three outs.
- Paul Blackburn secured his sixth hold, walking one and striking out two in a scoreless eighth.
- Fernando Cruz stranded two runners, retiring his only batter in the seventh for his 19th hold.
- Brent Headrick gave up a hit and a walk while striking out one in two-thirds of the seventh, notching his 20th hold.
- Yerry De Los Santos collected his first win, yielding a hit across two scoreless innings.
Hierarchy Remains: David Bednar | Paul Blackburn | Brent Headrick
The Athletics – Summoned with two runners on and one out at the bottom of the ninth, Elvis Alvarado retired Isaac Collins on a lineout, then gave up a walk-off RBI single by Bobby Witt Jr. Hogan Harris stranded two runners in the eighth, despite allowing an infield single by inducing an inning-ending lineout by Maikel Garcia. Returning for the ninth, Harris retired Vinnie Pasquantino on a flyout, had Salvador Perez reach on catcher’s interference, followed by Michael Massey’s single, and a walk. With the bases loaded, Tyler Tolbert drove in two runs with a single, forcing Harris from the game. He finished with three hits, three runs (two earned), and a walk across two-thirds of an inning for his second loss and sixth blown save.
- Luis Medina logged 1.1 scoreless innings despite issuing three walks for his seventh hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Hogan Harris | Luis Medina | Elvis Alvarado
Quick Hits
- Boston Red Sox: Finishing off a five-run lead against Arizona, Wyatt Olds made his MLB debut, allowing a hit and striking out one. Erik Miller worked a scoreless eighth, walking and striking out one. Tyron Guerrero notched his 16th hold, scattering two hits and striking out one over 1.2 scoreless innings.
- Kansas City Royals: After tossing a scoreless top of the ninth, Carlos Duran collected his first career win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. He allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout against the A’s, keeping his team within two runs, throwing 12 pitches (66.7% Strike Rate) with one whiff. Alex Lange retired the side in the eighth.
National League
Philadelphia Phillies – Handed a two-run lead at the top of the ninth, Brooks Raley retired the Marlins’ bottom third of the lineup in order and recorded a strikeout for his first save of the season, and first since July 30, 2023. He threw 12 pitches (66.7% Strike Rate) and produced one whiff.
- Orion Kerkering allowed a hit and an unearned run while striking out one in the eighth, securing his 15th hold.
- José Alvarado gave up a hit in a scoreless seventh for his 11th hold.
- Alex McFarlane was awarded his first career win, giving up a hit, an unearned run, and a walk in the sixth, ahead of his team’s go-ahead four-run rally at the bottom of the inning.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Duran | Jonathan Bowlan | Orion Kerkering
San Diego Padres – Making his first appearance in six days, Mason Miller nailed down his 31st save, firing a clean bottom of the ninth and striking out two against the Mets. He threw 16 pitches (9 strikes – 56.3% Strike Rate) and produced three whiffs (18.8 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in 15 of his last 16 games, recording a 0.78 WHIP with 29 strikeouts and six walks (36.5 K-BB%) across 16.2 innings.
- Adrian Morejon stranded two runners in the seventh, but gave up a solo home run by Luis Robert Jr. in the eighth, finishing with two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out three for his 20th hold.
- Bradgley Rodriguez allowed a hit and struck out one during one-third of the seventh for his tenth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Adrian Morejon | Jeremiah Estrada
St. Louis Cardinals – Sealing a combined shutout and his 32nd save, Riley O’Brien retired the side against the Reds’ 2-3-4 pocket, including a game-ending strikeout. He threw 13 pitches (9 strikes – 69.2% Strike Rate) and induced one whiff. He has converted his last seven save chances and extended his scoreless streak to 11 games, during which he owns a 0.545 WHIP with 12 strikeouts and five walks (18 K-BB%) over 11 innings.
- George Soriano notched his 19th hold, tossing a clean eighth and striking out one.
- Gordon Graceffo worked around a walk and struck out one in a scoreless seventh for his sixth hold.
- Ryne Stanek worked a clean sixth, securing his 24th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Riley O’Brien | Ryne Stanek | George Soriano
Quick Hits
- Chicago Cubs: Preserving a tied game with a scoreless top of the ninth, Jacob Webb worked around a walk, then collected his sixth win on a walk-off rally. He threw 14 pitches (8 strikes – 57.1% Strike Rate) and produced one whiff. He owns a 23-game scoreless streak, posting a 0.929 WHIP with five wins, seven saves, and three holds over his last 23.2 innings.
- Colorado Rockies: Appearing in a loss, Jordan Romano allowed a hit during a scoreless top of the ninth facing the Dodgers’ 2-3-4-5 hitters.
- Miami Marlins: Taking over with a two-run lead at the bottom of the sixth in Philadelphia, Michael Petersen allowed four hits and four earned runs, resulting in his third loss and a first blown save.
Holds Tally
Here are the holds from Tuesday’s slate:
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Statistical Credits: