Saturday’s slate featured six wins, nine saves, six losses, and five blown saves by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 1,014 saves this season by 236 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 8.23.2026
- Daniel Palencia (CHC): Webb has worked in the previous two games.
- Daniel Duarte (NYM): Senga pitched in a non-save outing last night and has not appeared in back-to-back games as a reliever.
- Bradgley Rodriguez (SD): Miller has pitched in back-to-back contests.
- Yennier Cano (BAL): Kittredge and Garcia have worked in two straight games.
Vulture Save Stashes for 8.24.2026
- Matt Festa (CLE): If Smith, Gaddis, and Sabrowski are used today, it’s back-to-back appearances and four in five days.
- Ryan Watson (LAA): If Joyce pitches today, he will not be available on Monday.
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Capping his team’s come-from-behind rally and nailing down his 32nd save, Mason Miller retired the side and recorded one strikeout, sealing a two-run margin over the Twins. He threw 10 pitches (80% Strike Rate) and generated three whiffs. He has been scoreless in 17 of his last 18 appearances, recording two wins while converting 11 of 12 save opportunities with a 0.696 WHIP and 33 strikeouts against six walks (39.1 K-BB%) across 18.2 innings.
- Adrian Morejon notched his 21st hold, firing a clean top of the eighth while striking out one.
- Griffin Canning earned his fourth win, logging 3.1 scoreless innings, scattering three hits while walking and striking out one.
Here are the results for the high-leverage triumvirate in the second half:
- Miller (2H): 14 games, 14.2 IP, two wins, seven saves in eight chances, 27:6 K:BB (37.5 K-BB%), 1.61 SIERA, 0.82 WHIP, 20.2 SwStr%
- Morejon (2H): 15 games, 19 IP, two wins, one save, six holds, 26:7 K:BB (24.4 K-BB%), 2.63 SIERA, 1.00 WHIP, 16.6 SwStr%
- Bradgley Rodriguez (2H): 15 games, 16 IP, one win, one save in two chances, four holds, 22:3 K:BB (29.7 K-BB%), 2.00 SIERA, 0.94 WHIP, 12.8 SwStr%
San Diego has won 22 of 34 games in the second half (.647), and despite issues with the starting pitchers, the bullpen’s ability to shorten games has fueled the team’s success.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Adrian Morejon | Bradgley Rodriguez
Today’s Takeaways
Vitello’s bullpen is not a San Francisco treat: Pressed into action with a runner on and no outs at the bottom of the ninth, Sam Hentges hit Jahmai Jones with a pitch, induced a fielder’s choice groundout, allowed a pinch-hit RBI-single by Eli White, followed by Nick Sogard’s game-tying RBI double, intentionally walked Ceddanne Rafaela, then had the game winning score on Wilyer Abreu’s groundout with the runner beating the throw home, resulting in his sixth loss and third blown save. He finished with two hits, two earned runs, and one walk during one-third of an inning. Dylan Smith worked a scoreless eighth, but issued a leadoff walk to Chad Durbin at the start of the ninth, prompting his removal. He was charged with an earned run while yielding a hit and a walk with two strikeouts during his inning-plus of relief, credited with his seventh hold. Carson Seymour logged 1.1 scoreless innings, giving up two hits and a walk for his third hold.
Through the team’s first 129 games, the Giants’ bullpen has as many losses (24) as saves, and only two teams have fewer save opportunities, according to Baseball Reference. Four teams have a lower save success rate than San Francisco’s 54.5 percent. Improving the depth and swing-and-miss capabilities should be a priority for next year.
Updated Hierarchy: Dylan Smith | Sam Hentges | Jason Foley
Senga shows resiliency: Warming up for a potential save opportunity, Kodai Senga still entered at the bottom of the ninth after his team scored two more runs, pushing the lead to five. His outing began with a leadoff walk to Miguel Vargas, followed by Andrew Benintendi’s single, putting runners at the corners. However, Senga bore down, recording consecutive strikeouts and a game-ending groundout for a scoreless appearance. He threw 23 pitches (11 strikes – 47.8% Strike Rate) and produced three whiffs (13 SwStr%). His command has to be better moving forward:
Dedniel Núñez retired the side and struck out one in the eighth for his first hold. Austin Warren was awarded his second win, logging 1.2 scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out three.
Hierarchy Remains: Kodai Senga | Daniel Duarte | Nate Lavender
No Fairbanks, no worries: Protecting a two-run lead, it was Calvin Faucher taking over at the top of the ninth against the Nationals. He retired the side while throwing 13 pitches (7 strikes – 53.8% Strike Rate) without a whiff while recording his second save. His previous save this season was on April 29, but he extended his scoreless streak to eight games, during which he has a 0.782 WHIP with 11 strikeouts and one walk (34.5 K-BB%) across 7.2 innings. Tyler Zuber retired both batters in the eighth for his eighth hold. Josh Eckness fired 1.1 clean innings, striking out one, and recorded his first hold. Michael Petersen tossed a clean sixth, striking out one for his 22nd hold.
After the game, this note was shared on X regarding Pete Fairbanks:
Updated Hierarchy: Pete Fairbanks | Calvin Faucher | Michael Petersen
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Saturday.
American League
Baltimore Orioles – With a runner on third and one out at the top of the tenth, Rico Garcia fielded a suicide bunt and barehand flipped it home, cutting down the “courtesy runner,” then induced an inning-ending flyout, keeping the game tied. He collected his fifth win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. He has been scoreless in his last six outings, posting this win and a save in his last two.
- Andrew Kittredge worked around Jonny DeLuca’s two-out double for a scoreless ninth.
- Alex Hoppe stranded a runner in the seventh and retired all four batters faced.
- Josh Walker stranded two runners in the sixth and allowed a hit in the seventh, tossing a scoreless combined inning.
Hierarchy Remains: *Andrew Kittredge | *Rico Garcia | Yennier Cano
*= closer-by-committee
Cleveland Guardians – Despite serving up a solo home run by Connor Norby, Cade Smith finished off a one-run margin for his 33rd save. He threw 11 pitches, all strikes, and induced three whiffs (27.3 SwStr%) while striking out one in his outing against the Rockies. It snapped his modest five-game scoreless streak, but he has converted his last three save chances.
- Hunter Gaddis gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless eighth, securing his 26th hold.
- Erik Sabrowski notched his 23rd hold, retiring the side and striking out one in the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis | Erik Sabrowski
Kansas City Royals – Filling in capably while sealing a two-run lead against the Tigers, Craig Kimbrel recorded his first save of the season and first since July 7, 2024. He allowed a walk and recorded two strikeouts, throwing 20 pitches (70% Strike Rate) with two whiffs. Since joining the Royals, he has turned in five scoreless appearances.
- Alex Lange retired the side and recorded his third hold in the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: *Steven Cruz | *Nate Pearson | John Schreiber
*= closer-by-committee
Los Angeles Angels – Preserving a combined shutout and posting his second save, first with his new team, Ryan Watson retired the Rangers’ 2-3-4 pocket, including a game-ending strikeout of Brandon Nimmo. He threw seven pitches, all strikes, and induced one whiff (14.3 SwStr%). This extended his scoreless streak to five games, during which he owns a 0.462 WHIP with eight strikeouts and one walk (46.7 K-BB%) across 4.1 innings.
- Michael Fulmer notched his first hold, walking one during a scoreless bottom of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Ben Joyce | Ryan Watson | José Fermin
The Athletics – Handed a one-run lead against Houston’s bottom third of the lineup, Elvis Alvarado nailed down his third save, retiring the side and striking out two. He threw 13 pitches (9 strikes – 69.2% Strike Rate) and produced three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%). It’s his first save since June 13 and extends his scoreless streak to six games.
- Hogan Harris notched his 11th hold, firing a clean eighth and striking out one while facing the 4-5-6 hitters.
- Luis Medina allowed three hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out two in the seventh, but was awarded his fifth win after his teammates scored three runs at the top of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Hogan Harris | Luis Medina | Elvis Alvarado
Toronto Blue Jays – Presented a one-run lead in the Bronx, Louis Varland worked around Jazz Chisholm’s leadoff double with two strikeouts sandwiched around a groundout, securing his 29th save. He threw 21 pitches (12 strikes – 57.1% Strike Rate) and generated four whiffs (19 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in his last five appearances and converted all four save chances with seven strikeouts and one walk (28.6 K-BB%) across his last 5.2 innings.
- Tyler Rogers hit Ben Rice with a pitch and served up a two-run home run by Luis García Jr. while recording two strikeouts in the eighth, credited with his 27th hold.
- Spencer Miles stranded two runners and retired his only batter in the seventh, posting his fourth hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Louis Varland | Tyler Rogers | Spencer Miles
Quick Hits
- Boston Red Sox: Summoned with two outs at the top of the eighth, Wyatt Olds stranded both inherited runners and logged 1.1 scoreless innings despite giving up a hit and two walks while striking out one. Despite this, he collected his first career win on his team’s walk-off rally at the bottom of the ninth.
- Minnesota Twins: Things went sideways for Andrew Morris at the bottom of the seventh. Entering with a three-run lead, he retired Xander Bogaerts on a groundout, Freddy Fermin reached on catcher’s interference, Fernando Tatis Jr. singled, and Jake Cronenworth launched a two-RBI double, cutting the lead to one. After getting a ground ball by Manny Machado, Kaelen Culpepper tried to get the lead runner, and an error scored the game-tying run, followed by Ty France’s go-ahead RBI single, resulting in a fifth loss for Morris along with a fourth blown save, giving up four runs (three earned).
- Seattle Mariners: Working a clean top of the ninth with his team trailing by two and striking out one against the Cubs, Michael Rucker collected his first win courtesy of a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. Seranthony Domínguez fired a scoreless eighth, hitting a batter and striking out three on 15 pitches (66.7% Strike Rate) with four whiffs (26.7 SwStr%).
- Tampa Bay Rays: Tasked with a tied score at the bottom of the tenth, Bryan Baker suffered his second loss, giving up Dylan Beavers’ walk-off RBI-double, putting an unearned run on his ledger.
National League
Chicago Cubs – An unceremonious end to his 24-game scoreless streak occurred in Seattle. Entering with a two-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, Jacob Webb allowed Weston Wilson’s two-out double, followed by Leo Rivas’ single, and a walk-off three-run home run by Randy Arozarena, resulting in his third loss and a fifth blown save. He threw 15 pitches (66.7% Strike Rate) and only produced one whiff in this outing. Regression comes for everyone in this silly game we love.
- Ryan Rolison retired both batters in the eighth, striking out one for his seventh hold.
- Trent Thornton logged 1.1 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and striking out one, securing his fifth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Jacob Webb | Daniel Palencia | Ryan Zeferjahn
Los Angeles Dodgers – Shutting the door on his 19th save, Tanner Scott preserved a one-run lead with a clean top of the ninth and recorded a strikeout against the Pirates. He threw 11 pitches (72.7% Strike Rate) and induced one whiff. Through nine games in August, he has converted three saves and five holds while being scoreless in eight, posting a 1.173 WHIP across 7.2 innings.
- Jack Dreyer stranded a runner and struck out his only batter in the eighth for his tenth hold.
- Evan Phillips allowed a hit and recorded two strikeouts during two-thirds of the eighth, securing his fifth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Tanner Scott | Edgardo Henriquez | Jack Dreyer
Milwaukee Brewers – Increasing the level of difficulty at the top of the ninth, Aaron Ashby allowed consecutive hits by Ozzie Albies and Mauricio Dubón leading off the inning, then recorded a flyout, followed by a game-ending double-play groundout against Austin Riley, preserving the three-run lead for his second save. He threw 21 pitches (71.4% Strike Rate) and produced two whiffs. Coming off a two-inning outing with only one day of rest, it’s impressive he could extend his scoreless streak to nine games, spanning 11.1 innings while posting a 1.059 WHIP with 18 strikeouts and five walks (28.3 K-BB%).
- DL Hall fired a clean eighth, striking out two while securing his fifth hold.
- Chad Patrick issued a walk in a scoreless seventh, notching his ninth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Aaron Ashby | Chad Patrick
Quick Hits
- Atlanta Braves: During an eventual loss, Brent Suter logged three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out one.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: As the first reliever in during the bottom of the fifth, Yohan Ramírez gave up two hits, two earned runs, and struck out two, resulting in his fourth loss.
Holds Tally
Here are the holds from Saturday’s slate:
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Statistical Credits: