Friday’s slate featured seven wins (one accompanied by a blown save), five saves, seven losses, and seven blown saves by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 1,005 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 8.22.2026
- Aaron Ashby (MIL): Megill has pitched in back-to-back games.
- Sean Newcomb (CHW): He has not pitched since August 16 and Taylor has appeared in three of the previous four games.
- Fernando Cruz (NYY): Bednar, Blackburn, and Headrick have all pitched in three of the previous four days.
- Jakob Junis (TEX): Latz and Silseth have worked in two straight games.
- Ryan Watson (LAA): Joyce has not been used in consecutive games since his return or during his rehab outings.
Vulture Save Stashes for 8.23.2026
- Tyron Guerrero (BOS): If Chapman pitches today, it will be consecutive appearances.
- Jonathan Bowlan (PHI): If Duran pitches today, it’s back-to-back games.
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Preserving a tied score at the top of the ninth, Grant Taylor picked up his fifth win courtesy of a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. He issued Luis Robert Jr. a leadoff walk, then retired the next three Mets’ batters with two strikeouts sandwiched around a popout, throwing 15 pitches (66.7% Strike Rate) with three whiffs (20 SwStr%). He has been scoreless through nine appearances in August and has this win and a save in his last two games while pitching the ninth inning. It’s almost as if this could be an effective use of his talent.
- Bryan Hudson worked a clean eighth, striking out one.
- Jordan Hicks allowed a hit and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless seventh.
No matter how much the fantasy community or I prefer having Taylor operate like a closer, Will Venable will continue to pick his spots with his best reliever. Since the All-Star break, he has allowed one unearned run while recording a win, three saves in five chances, and five holds across 13 appearances spanning 18.2 innings. In them, he has posted a 0.803 WHIP with 20 strikeouts versus five walks (21.7 K-BB%) while leading the team in Win Probability Added.
Updated Hierarchy: *Grant Taylor | *Bryan Hudson | Jordan Hicks
*= closer-by-committee
Today’s Takeaways
Munoz and his slider: Maintaining a tied score at the top of the tenth, Seranthony Domínguez retired the side and recorded a strikeout while facing the Cubs’ bottom third of the lineup. He collected his fifth win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. Andrés Muñoz moved into a tie for the major league lead in blown saves, suffering his eighth. He took over with a one-run margin and allowed Alex Bregman’s game-tying solo home run at the top of the ninth. It was on a slider in an 0-2 count, his fifth allowed with the pitch this year:
He finished with two strikeouts and threw 18 pitches (14 strikes – 77.8% Strike Rate) with four whiffs (22.2 SwStr%). Through nine appearances in August, he has allowed a home run in all three blown saves, resulting in a 2-1 record while converting four of seven save chances with seven runs (six earned) over nine innings despite an alluring 16:2 K:BB (38.9 K-BB%). As for his slider, he allowed five home runs with the pitch in the three previous seasons, and has matched that total in 2026.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Eduard Bazardo | Gabe Speier
Another matchup-based approach in Kansas City: Navigating around a leadoff double by Javier Báez and a two-out walk of Carter Jensen, Nate Pearson produced a game-ending strikeout of Dillon Dingler, sealing a two-run lead while recording his third save. He threw 21 pitches (11 strikes – 52.4% Strike Rate) and induced two whiffs (9.5 SwStr%). This marks his first save since August 8 and sets a career high. He has been scoreless in his last three appearances. Steven Cruz let his only inherited runner score at the top of the seventh on Kevin McGonigle’s RBI single, then retired Dingler, ending the inning. He finished with 1.1 scoreless innings, scattering two hits and striking out one for his 13th hold. John Schreiber was awarded his 13th hold despite giving up a hit, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out one during two-thirds of the seventh inning. Although Cruz remains the preferred option for saves, he will be used at the highest-leverage moments, keeping Peason relevant in deeper formats or as a stream option for saves.
Updated Hierarchy: *Steven Cruz | *Nate Pearson | John Schreiber
*= closer-by-committee
Another Albernaz alternate ending: Securing his sixth save and first since July 27, Rico Garcia retired the side while recording two strikeouts at the top of the ninth against the Rays. He threw 12 pitches (66.7% Strike Rate) and induced two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in his last five appearances and in nine of ten in August, posting a 1.125 WHIP with eight strikeouts and four walks (12.1 K-BB%) across eight innings. Andrew Kittredge notched his ninth hold, giving up a hit and striking out two against the top of the lineup.
Again, trusting any reliever in this bullpen as currently constructed for consistent save chances is a mistake.
Updated Hierarchy: *Andrew Kittredge | *Rico Garcia | Yennier Cano
*= closer-by-committee
Approaching blown saves at a historic rate: As a franchise, the Nationals are well aware of blown saves. The franchise is tied with the White Sox for the most in a season. Washington suffered 37 blown saves in 2024, and the White Sox did so in 2021. After last night’s walk-off loss, the 2026 iteration has 33 blown saves, only the 13th time this has happened in MLB history. With 32 games remaining, four blown saves matches the team’s mark, and five would be the most ever using Baseball Reference as our guide.
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Friday.
American League
Boston Red Sox – Sealing a two-run lead against the Giants, Aroldis Chapman issued a walk while recording three strikeouts, locking down his 28th save. He threw 20 pitches (65% Strike Rate) and produced four whiffs (20 SwStr%). It’s his first save since August first and extends his modest scoreless streak to three games.
- Alec Gamboa worked a clean eighth, striking out one for his first hold.
- Erik Miller fired a clean seventh against his former team while striking out two, securing his 12th hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Aroldis Chapman | Tyron Guerrero | Erik Miller
Los Angeles Angels – Provided a one-run lead at the bottom of the tenth, Ben Joyce allowed a flyout and struck out Corey Seager. However, with a two-strike count and two outs, he gave up Wyatt Langford’s RBI opposite-field double, issued Brandon Nimmo an intentional walk, then an infield single with a throwing error, resulting in his first loss and first blown save. He was not charged with an earned run while yielding two hits and a walk over two-thirds of the tenth on 11 pitches (81.8% Strike Rate) with two whiffs.
- Ryan Watson allowed a hit and a walk while striking out three in a scoreless ninth.
Poor defense combined with poor placement of an 0-2 fastball fueled this result:
Updated Hierarchy: Ben Joyce | Ryan Watson | José Fermin
New York Yankees – Closing out a two-run lead and his 30th save, David Bednar navigated around Brandon Valenzuela’s leadoff double with a flyout, a groundout, and a game-ending strikeout. He threw 16 pitches (75% Strike Rate) and produced two whiffs (12.5 SwStr%), recording at least 30 saves in a season for the second time in his career (39 saves in 2023). He has two wins and converted seven of eight save opportunities in August, posting a 0.678 WHIP with 12 strikeouts and four walks (20.5 K-BB%) over 10.1 innings.
- Paul Blackburn gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless eighth, securing his eighth hold.
- Brent Headrick notched his 21st hold, yielding a hit and striking out two in a scoreless seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: David Bednar | Paul Blackburn | Brent Headrick
Quick Hits
- Cleveland Guardians: Summoned with the bases loaded and two outs at the bottom of the fifth, Tim Herrin induced an inning-ending groundout by Will Castro, then retired the side in the sixth. He collected his second win as a result, retiring all four batters while striking out two.
- Houston Astros: Completing a combined shutout, Enyel De Los Santos retired the side against the A’s at the top of the ninth. Steven Okert worked a clean eighth. Bryan Abreu notched his tenth hold, walking and striking out two in the seventh. Bennett Sousa navigated around two hits and recorded three strikeouts in the sixth for his sixth hold.
- Texas Rangers: Despite letting the “courtesy runner” score at the top of the tenth on Denzer Guzman’s RBI double, Tyler Alexander bore down, retiring the next three batters, two on strikeouts, then collected his fourth win courtesy of a walk-off at the bottom of the inning. Jacob Latz tossed a scoreless ninth, walking one and striking out two while throwing 12 strikes of 24 pitches (50% Strike Rate) with two whiffs.
- Toronto Blue Jays: Entering at the bottom of the first as the bulk follower, Spencer Arrighetti suffered his sixth loss, giving up three hits, three earned runs, and two walks while striking out four across 3.1 innings.
National League
Chicago Cubs – Entering a tied game at the bottom of the tenth, Ryan Zeferjahn recorded an out on a sacrifice bunt, retired Julio Rodríguez on a groundout, intentionally walked Josh Naylor, then gave up a walk-off RBI single by Leo Rivas, suffering his fourth loss.
- Jacob Webb worked around Brendan Donovan’s two-out single for a scoreless ninth, striking out one on 11 pitches (72.7% Strike Rate) with two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%).
- Colin Rea tossed a scoreless eighth, walking and striking out one.
- Daniel Palencia returned from the injured list with a clean bottom of the seventh while striking out two against Seattle’s top of the batting order. He threw 10 pitches (70% Strike Rate) and induced one whiff.
Updated Hierarchy: Jacob Webb | Daniel Palencia | Ryan Zeferjahn
Los Angeles Dodgers – Tasked with the top of the tenth, Evan Phillips navigated around Bryan Reynolds’ leadoff single with a strikeout, intentionally walked Oneil Cruz, then induced an inning-ending double-play grounder by Henry Davis. He collected his first win courtesy of his team’s ensuing walk-off rally at the bottom of the frame.
- Edgardo Henriquez stranded a runner in the eighth and retired all five batters he faced, striking out two on 23 pitches (15 strikes – 65.2% Strike Rate) with four whiffs (17.4 SwStr%).
- Kyle Hurt allowed two hits, including a game-tying two-run home run by Cruz during his one-third of the eighth, suffering his second blown save.
- Brock Stewart stranded two runners, retiring both batters in the seventh and striking out one for his sixth hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Tanner Scott | Edgardo Henriquez | Jack Dreyer
Miami Marlins – Handed a one-run lead, Pete Fairbanks struck out his first two batters at the top of the ninth, then issued Jacob Young a walk, followed by a stolen base, and a game-tying RBI single by Daylen Lile, resulting in his fourth blown save and snapping his personal eight-game scoreless streak. However, a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning provided him with his fourth win. He threw 25 pitches (64% Strike Rate) and induced three whiffs (12 SwStr%).
- Calvin Faucher retired both batters in the eighth.
- Cade Gibson fired 1.2 clean innings, striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks | Michael Petersen | Calvin Faucher
Philadelphia Phillies – Although he allowed the “courtesy runner” to score on José Fermin’s one-out RBI single at the top of the tenth, Alex McFarlane induced an inning-ending double-play groundout, then collected his second win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning.
- Jhoan Duran allowed Jordan Walker’s two-out single and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless top of the ninth, throwing 13 pitches (12 strikes – 92.3% Strike Rate) with three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in 10 of 11 outings in August.
- Brooks Raley let one of two inherited runners score on an RBI single by Bryan Torres and recorded one out, resulting in his third blown save.
- Orion Kerkering logged 1.1 innings, giving up a hit and an unearned run while striking out one, credited with his 16th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Jhoan Duran | Jonathan Bowlan | Orion Kerkering
Pittsburgh Pirates – Stepping into a tied game at the bottom of the tenth, Gregory Soto recorded a strikeout, intentionally walked Mookie Betts, induced a fielder’s choice grounder by Kyle Tucker, then gave up Tommy Edman’s walk-off RBI single, resulting in his fourth loss.
- Mason Montgomery fired a clean bottom of the ninth, striking out two versus the Dodgers’ top of the lineup. He threw 13 pitches (8 strikes – 61.5% Strike Rate) and produced two whiffs (15.4 SwStr%).
- Luke Weaver struck out the side against the bottom third of the order, throwing 13 pitches (9 strikes – 69.2% Strike Rate) with five whiffs (38.5 SwStr%).
Hierarchy Remains: *Mason Montgomery | *Luke Weaver | Gregory Soto
*= closer-by-committee
San Diego Padres – Firing a clean top of the ninth in a non-save capacity, Mason Miller closed out a four-run lead by striking out the side against the Twins’ top of the batting order. He threw 17 pitches (11 strikes – 64.7% Strike Rate) and generated four whiffs (23.5 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in his last four outings, racking up multiple strikeouts in his last two.
- Bradgley Rodriguez retired the side in the eighth and recorded one strikeout. He owns a seven-game scoreless streak with 10 strikeouts and one walk (27.3 K-BB%) across 9.1 innings.
Updated Hierarchy: Mason Miller | Adrian Morejon | Bradgley Rodriguez
Washington Nationals – Clayton Beeter took over with a one-run lead and a runner on with one out at the bottom of the eighth. But he gave up Otto Lopez’s game-tying RBI single with two outs, resulting in Tom Cosgrove suffering his second blown save.
Returning for the ninth after his team tied the game, Beeter issued a leadoff walk, allowed a bunt single, and intentionally walked Jakob Marsee to load the bases, ending in a walk-off RBI single up the middle for his fourth loss. He finished with three hits, an earned run, and three walks over two-thirds of an inning. Cosgrove yielded Marsee’s leadoff triple and an RBI hit by Javier Sanoja in one-third of the eighth.
- Orlando Ribalta stranded two runners in the sixth and logged 1.1 scoreless innings, walking one and striking out two for his 12th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Clayton Beeter | Orlando Ribalta | Yovanny Cruz
Quick Hits
- New York Mets: Taking over a tied game at the bottom of the ninth, Jefry Yan issued Colson Montgomery a leadoff walk, followed by a sacrifice bunt and a groundout, then served up a Jake Rogers’ walk-off, two-run home run, resulting in his first loss. Daniel Duarte retired both batters in the eighth, one via strikeout. Nate Lavender tossed 1.1 clean frames, striking out two.
- St. Louis Cardinals: With the bullpen stretched thin, Luis Gastelum retired the Phillies’ top of the lineup in order in the ninth. However, returning for the tenth with a one-run lead, he gave up a leadoff single by Luis Arraez, followed by Alec Bohm’s walk-off, two-RBI triple, handing him his third loss.
Holds Tally
Here are the holds from Friday’s slate:
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Statistical Credits: