Tuesday’s slate resulted in six wins (one accompanied by a blown save), three saves, six losses, and three blown saves by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:

There have been 1,075 saves this season by 241 different pitchers. For perspective, this season has already set an MLB record for the number of pitchers with at least one save. Is 250 within reach?
Here are the upcoming vulture save options:
Vulture Save Options for 9.2.2026
- Michael Petersen (MIA): Based on recent usage patterns, he should be in line for the save if provided in today’s contest.
- Gregory Soto (PIT): Montgomery and Weaver have worked in three of the previous four games.
- Gabe Speier (SEA): If Muñoz is unavailable, Speier could be in line for the vulture save based on Boston’s lineup.
Vulture Save Stashes for 9.3.2026
- Gabe Speier (SEA): If Muñoz does pitch today, it will be three straight games for the second time in his career.
- Jakob Junis (TEX): If Latz pitches today, it’s back-to-back games for the closer.
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Despite turning a two-run lead into a one-run outcome, Emilio Pagán recorded his 20th save, serving up a solo shot by Fernando Tatis Jr. with two outs; he bore down with a game-ending strikeout of Samad Taylor. He threw 13 pitches (8 strikes – 61.5% Strike Rate) and induced one whiff. As his illustrator highlights, he missed on his location with one pitch, and Tatis Jr. made him pay:

The good news is that he has converted all 13 save opportunities in the second half. However, he has allowed a home run in consecutive appearances and three of his last six.
- Brock Burke collected his sixth win, navigating around a hit and a walk with two strikeouts in a scoreless top of the eighth, keeping the game tied.
- Luis Mey tossed a scoreless seventh, walking one and striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Brock Burke | Luis Mey
Today’s Takeaways
Command and J-Mart: Appearing in an eventual loss, Justin Martinez allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless top of the seventh. He threw 21 pitches (10 strikes – 47.6% Strike Rate) and induced one whiff.

His command remains an issue since his return from Tommy John surgery. Through five appearances, he has thrown 55 of 102 pitches for strikes (53.9%) and has only induced five whiffs (4.9%). Fantasy managers should monitor how his strike rate and whiffs progress through the end of the regular season, but save chances may not be on the horizon this year.
Hierarchy Remains: *Juan Morillo | *Brandyn Garcia | Kevin Ginkel
*= closer-by-committee
Another clunker: Summoned with two runners on and one out at the top of the sixth, Daniel Palencia balked in one, then gave up Andrew Vaughn’s game-tying RBI double, followed by Christian Yelich’s two-run home run, before retiring the next two batters. This resulted in his second loss and a first blown save. First, his illustrator:

And, his results:

Yelich’s home run was on an 0-2 slider that was not buried. In his four appearances since returning from the injured list, Palencia has only been scoreless in one, giving up five hits, two home runs, six earned runs, and a walk while striking out five. This limited sample has produced a 1.802 WHIP and a 64.4 percent strike rate over 59 pitches, with only seven whiffs (12.1 SwStr%). Until he can stack consecutive scoreless outings, it’s tough trusting him in a leverage situation right now.
Updated Hierarchy: Jacob Webb | Trent Thornton | Ryan Rolison
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Tuesday.
American League
Chicago White Sox – Preserving a four-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, Grant Taylor retired the side and struck out two against Houston’s bottom third of the lineup. He threw 14 pitches (64.3% Strike Rate) and produced three whiffs (21.4 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in 12 of his last 13 appearances, recording three wins, three saves in six chances, and three holds while posting a 0.981 WHIP with 19 strikeouts against six walks (19.7 SwStr%) across 17.1 innings.
- Jordan Hicks allowed a solo home run, walked two, and recorded two strikeouts at the bottom of the eighth.
- Bryan Hudson stranded a runner in the sixth and logged 1.1 scoreless frames, giving up a hit while striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: *Grant Taylor | *Bryan Hudson | Sean Newcomb
*= closer-by-committee
Seattle Mariners – Pressed into action at the bottom of the ninth, Andrés Muñoz retired both batters faced, one via strikeout, sealing a three-run lead. But, without a runner on base, it was not considered a save situation. He threw four pitches, all strikes, racking up three whiffs. This marked consecutive appearances for the closer, which may preclude him from being used on Wednesday. He has worked in three straight games only once in his career, from September 18-20 last year.
- Hoby Milner allowed two hits, including a two-run home run by Jahmai Jones during one-third of the ninth before being removed.
- Jose A. Ferrer worked 1.1 scoreless innings, giving up two hits and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Eduard Bazardo | Gabe Speier
Tampa Bay Rays – Protecting a four-run lead, Kevin Kelly fired a clean top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts against the Mets’ 6-7-8 hitters.
- Tyler Wells stranded two of three inherited runners in the seventh, inducing two pop-outs sandwiched around a bases-loaded walk, then retired the side in the eighth, securing his 15th hold.
- Garrett Cleavinger made the mess, handing out three walks, resulting in an earned run during his one-third of the seventh.
- Bryan Baker was warmed up for the save, but was not used when the lead grew to four.
Updated Hierarchy: Bryan Baker | Kevin Kelly | Tyler Wells
Texas Rangers – Sealing a three-run lead and his 28th save, Jacob Latz stranded an inherited runner and recorded both outs on strikeouts against the A’s. He threw seven pitches (85.7% Strike Rate) and generated three whiffs (42.9 SwStr%). He’s been scoreless in his last eight games, converting all seven save chances while posting a 0.931 WHIP with 16 strikeouts and six walks (27.8 K-BB%) over 9.2 innings.
- Trevor Williams created the save situation, allowing four hits, three earned runs, and a walk while striking out one in his 1.1 innings.
- Adam Macko gave up two hits, an earned run, and a walk with one strikeout in the seventh.
- Chase Silseth stranded two runners in the sixth, walking one and striking out two in two-thirds of an inning, notching his 14th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Jacob Latz | Jakob Junis | Chase Silseth
Quick Hits
- Minnesota Twins: Deployed as the bulk follower at the top of the second inning, Connor Prielipp earned his fourth win, scattering three hits and issuing a walk while striking out five across five scoreless innings.
- Toronto Blue Jays: As a bulk follower, Spencer Arrighetti allowed two hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out two across 3.2 innings, resulting in his eighth loss.
National League
Colorado Rockies – Shutting the door on his 14th save, tenth with the Rockies, Jordan Romano retired the Orioles’ 8-9-1 hitters in order, striking out two, securing a two-run lead. He threw 17 pitches (11 strikes – 64.7% Strike Rate) and produced four whiffs (23.5 SwStr%). This extended his scoreless streak to nine games, during which he has a 0.48 WHIP with five strikeouts and two walks (10.3 K-BB%) across 8.1 innings, converting four saves.
- Juan Mejia gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless eighth, notching his ninth hold.
- Jaden Hill served up Jackson Holliday’s game-tying solo home run, handing him his fifth blown save. But he was awarded his first win after his teammates retook the lead at the bottom of the frame.
- Zach Agnos worked a scoreless sixth, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out one for his first hold.
- Brennan Bernardino stranded three inherited runners in the fifth, retiring his only batter.
Hierarchy Remains: Jordan Romano | Brennan Bernardino | Jaden Hill
Milwaukee Brewers – Called into action at the bottom of the fifth with a runner on and one out, Antonio Senzatela walked Seiya Suzuki, then induced an inning-ending double-play groundout by Alex Bregman. Returning for the sixth, he was removed after Nico Hoerner’s one-out single, who eventually scored, putting an earned run on his ledger. However, Senzatela was awarded his tenth win, propelled by his team’s four-run rally at the top of the sixth.
- JoJo Romero let his only inherited runner score, allowing two his during two-thirds of the sixth inning in his team debut, picking up his 21st hold.
- Abner Uribe returned from the injured list with a clean seventh, striking out two, securing his 19th hold.
- Aaron Ashby fired a clean eighth, striking out one.
- DL Hall worked a clean ninth, striking out one, sealing a five-run lead.
Updated Hierarchy: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Aaron Ashby
Pittsburgh Pirates – With the score tied at the top of the ninth, Mason Montgomery hit the leadoff hitter with a pitch (Turner Hill), induced a double-play grounder by Rafael Devers, followed by a Bryce Eldridge single and a Jonah Cox double, but ended the inning on a groundout by Jung Hoo Lee. Despite the traffic, he extended his scoreless streak to 15 games, throwing 15 pitches (60% Strike Rate) with three whiffs (20 SwStr%), and collected his sixth win courtesy of a walk-off rally at the bottom of the frame.
- Luke Weaver suffered his fourth blown save, letting all three inherited runners score, and putting two earned runs on his own ledger, giving up two hits and a walk during the two-thirds of the eighth.
- Evan Sisk recorded one out and gave up three walks that resulted in three earned runs in the eighth.
- Camilo Doval worked a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and striking out two.
- Gregory Soto stranded two of three runners in the sixth, retiring both batters, one via strikeout, for his 11th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Montgomery | Luke Weaver | Gregory Soto
San Diego Padres – A rare rough outing for Adrian Morejon tagged him with his third loss. He took over a tied game at the bottom of the eighth in Cincinnati and battled his command, resulting in two hits, two earned runs, and two walks during his two-thirds of an inning. He threw 27 pitches (15 strikes – 55.6% Strike Rate) with only one whiff, ending his six-game scoreless streak.
- Yuki Matsui worked a scoreless seventh, walking one and striking out two.
- Bradgley Rodriguez stranded a runner in the fifth and retired four of five batters faced, yielding a hit and striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Adrian Morejon | Bradgley Rodriguez
Quick Hits
- Miami Marlins: Presented a four-run lead at the bottom of the ninth in Kansas City, Tyler Zuber allowed Nick Loftin’s two-out home run and a single before recording a game-ending flyout. Victor Vodnik gave up two hits, two earned runs, and a walk while striking out two across the seventh and eighth innings. Calvin Faucher notched his 15th hold, giving up a hit during a scoreless sixth.
- New York Mets: Making his major league debut, Dylan Ross retired the side against the Rays’ 4-5-6 pocket, throwing 11 pitches (63.6% Strike Rate) with one whiff.
- Philadelphia Phillies: Sealing a four-run lead, Chase Shugart retired the side at the bottom of the ninth in Arizona. Jonathan Bowlan stranded two runners in the bottom of the seventh and retired all four batters, striking out two, while recording his 12th hold.
- San Francisco Giants: Tasked with a tied score at the bottom of the ninth, Carson Seymour allowed Brandon Lowe’s leadoff single and a one-out hit by Nick Gonzales, then recorded an out on a fielder’s choice groundball by Oneil Cruz, but suffered his first loss on a throwing error on a groundball to third. Trent Harris worked a scoreless eighth, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out two.
Holds Tally
Here are the holds from Tuesday’s slate:

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Statistical Credits:
