Before we dive into Sunday’s recaps, I hope you enjoy and relax this Labor Day with your family and friends.
Sunday’s slate resulted in seven wins, 11 saves, seven losses, and four blown saves by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 1,115 saves this season by 242 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 9.7.2026
- Garrett Whitlock (BOS): Chapman has pitched in three of the previous four days.
- Jonathan Bowlan (PHI): With the caveat that Duran may go three-in-a-row, if not, Bowlan lines up for the save chance in today’s contest.
Vulture Save Stashes for 9.8.2026
- Didier Fuentes (ATL): If Iglesias pitches today, it will be two straight and three times in four days.
- Dedniel Núñez (NYM): If Senga pitches today, it’s back-to-back games.
In case you missed them, sneak previews of potential closer options for both leagues have been posted:
2027 Potential Closers | American League
2027 Potential Closers | National League
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Boston Red Sox
Despite giving up Pete Alonso’s one-out single and moving him to second with a wild pitch, Aroldis Chapman locked down his 33rd save, and the 400th of his career, striking out the next two batters, sealing a two-run lead in Baltimore. He threw 19 pitches (12 strikes – 63.2% strike rate) and racked up five whiffs (26.3 SwStr%). He’s the third left-handed closer and the ninth reliever all-time with at least 400 saves. Chapman has also converted his last 17 save chances since the start of July.
- Jovani Morán tossed a clean bottom of the eighth, striking out one for his fifth hold.
- Erik Miller fired a clean seventh and recorded two strikeouts, securing his 13th hold.
When viewing his splits this season by month and half, along with understanding that he pitched through a hamstring issue earlier this year, he remains steady, but our expectations in the strikeout department must adapt moving forward:
Locked in for 2027 with the Red Sox ensures more saves will be accrued and the second half could be a guide for his results combined with his WHIP to this point of the season.
Hierarchy Remains: Aroldis Chapman | Garrett Whitlock | Erik Miller
Today’s Takeaways
A win for Hagen and Taylor in the seventh (again)? Entering at the top of the fourth, Hagen Smith logged three clean innings and recorded four strikeouts on 35 pitches (27 strikes; 77.1% strike rate), producing five whiffs (14.3 SwStr%). He was awarded his third win as a result. Grant Taylor spoiled the shutout, allowing a leadoff solo home run by Brooks Lee at the top of the seventh, then settled in, retiring six of his next batters faced and recording three strikeouts.
Obviously, Will Venable and the White Sox can deploy Taylor however they choose. He has appeared in 55 games this season, four as an opener. In his 51 relief outings, here are his game counts by inning of entry:
- 10th inning – Once: 1 loss
- 9th inning – 15 times: 3 wins, 7 saves, 1 blown save
- 8th inning – 10 times: 1 win, 1 save, 2 blown saves, 3 holds
- 7th inning – 12 times: 2 wins, 2 blown saves, 4 holds
- 6th inning – 12 times: 1 win, 1 blown save, 3 holds
- 5th inning – Once
The narrative has been that he deals with the best lanes of an opposing team’s lineup, but of his 51 appearances, only 25 are identified as high-leverage ones by Baseball-Reference, less than 50 percent of his relief outings this season. It’s September; his usage patterns won’t change. Our expectations should.
Hierarchy Remains: *Grant Taylor | *Bryan Hudson | Sean Newcomb
*= closer-by-committee
Back at Triple-A for Edwin: In his first rehab outing during his second stint on the injured list, Edwin Díaz turned in a scoreless inning. He induced a groundout to second base, issued a walk, recorded a strikeout, and produced an inning-ending lineout to left field. However, he was not sharp with his command, throwing seven of his 16 pitches for strikes (43.8% strike rate):
His velocities were in line with previous results, but he did not produce a whiff in this appearance:
Another blown save; this and the next time are historical: After working a scoreless bottom of the seventh, Will Dion returned for the eighth and, with two outs and two runners on, gave up Mookie Betts’ go-ahead three-run home run, resulting in his second loss and a first blown save. He finished with two hits, three earned runs, and two walks while striking out three over his two innings. His blown save also tied a major league record for the most blown saves by a team in a season (37). With 17 games remaining, taking over first place alone feels inevitable for this iteration of the Nationals.
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Sunday.
American League
Cleveland Guardians – Turning in a dominant outing, Cade Smith fired two clean frames across the ninth and tenth, striking out five of six batters. He collected his fifth win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the tenth. Smith threw 27 pitches (24 strikes; 88.9% strike rate) and generated seven whiffs (25.9 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in his last four games, recording two wins and a save while racking up 11 strikeouts against one walk (55.6 K-BB%) across five innings.
- Hunter Gaddis issued a walk during a scoreless top of the eighth.
- Erik Sabrowski retired the side and struck out one in the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis | Erik Sabrowski
Seattle Mariners – Nailing down his 25th save and completing a combined shutout of the A’s, Andrés Muñoz fired a clean top of the ninth while striking out one. He threw 15 pitches (11 strikes – 73.3% strike rate) and generated four whiffs (26.7 SwStr%). He has been scoreless through three appearances in September, and this marked his first save since August 25.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Eduard Bazardo | Gabe Speier
Texas Rangers – Changing course from past usage patterns, Jakob Junis was deployed in the ninth inning with a two-run lead. He retired the Rays’ 4-5-6 hitters in order on 11 pitches (63.6% strike rate) without a whiff while recording his sixth save, and his first since June 21.
- Jacob Latz matched up against the top of the lineup, preserving a one-run lead with a scoreless eighth, giving up a two-out single by Jonathan Aranda and recording a strikeout for his third hold.
- Tyler Alexander gave up two hits and an earned run with a strikeout in the seventh for his 12th hold.
- Chase Silseth notched his 15th hold, tossing a clean sixth and striking out one.
- Trevor Williams collected his first win, walking one during two scoreless innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Jacob Latz | Jakob Junis | Tyler Alexander
Quick Hits
- Detroit Tigers: Entering a tied game at the bottom of the tenth, Kyle Finnegan allowed two hits, including a walk-off RBI single by Daniel Schneeman, resulting in his first loss. Kenley Jansen retired the side in the eighth. Tyler Kinley stranded a runner and retired both batters in the eighth.
- Houston Astros: Keeping his team within one run of Arizona, Bryan Abreu allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout during a scoreless top of the ninth in an eventual loss. Miguel Ullola tossed a scoreless eighth, giving up a hit and striking out one.
National League
Arizona Diamondbacks – Confirming there is no closer for his team right now, Kevin Ginkel fired a clean bottom of the ninth, preserving a one-run margin while striking out the side in Houston, nailing down his third save. He threw 14 pitches (71.4% strike rate) and produced four whiffs (28.6 SwStr%), facing the 9-1-2 hitters. It’s his first save since August 23, and he moved his scoreless streak to five games.
- Jonathan Loáisiga gave up three hits and an earned run while striking out two in the eighth for his ninth hold.
- Brandyn Garcia stranded two runners and retired his only batter, Yordan Alvarez, via a pop-out for his 16th hold.
- Juan Morillo allowed a hit and hit a batter with one strikeout during two-thirds of the seventh, securing his 18th hold.
Updated Hierarchy: *Juan Morillo | *Brandyn Garcia | *Kevin Ginkel
*= closer-by-committee
Atlanta Braves – Sealing a one-run lead and his 31st save, Raisel Iglesias worked around Bryson Stott’s leadoff single and a passed ball, putting him at third with one out, by retiring Bryan De La Cruz on a lineout to short, followed by a game-ending strikeout of Edmundo Sosa. He threw 13 pitches (10 strikes; 76.9% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%). He has converted his last seven save chances and extended his scoreless streak to seven games, spanning 7.1 innings in this outing.
- Dylan Lee collected his sixth win, retiring the side at the bottom of the eighth, keeping the game tied ahead of his team’s go-ahead rally at the top of the ninth.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Didier Fuentes | Dylan Lee
Cincinnati Reds – Forced into action with the tying run in the on-deck circle and two outs at the top of the ninth, Emilio Pagán induced a game-ending groundout against Gary Sánchez, preserving the four-run lead for his 22nd save. He only threw three pitches in this outing. Since returning from the injured list in July, he has converted his last 15 save opportunities and recorded three wins across 24 appearances.
- Pierce Johnson created the save chance, giving up a hit, an earned run, and two walks, departing with two runners on after working two-thirds of the ninth inning.
- Graham Ashcraft returned from his injured list stint, allowing a hit, an earned run, and two walks with two strikeouts while getting credit for his 11th hold.
- Brock Burke gave up a hit in a scoreless seventh, securing his 18th hold.
- Luis Mey tossed a clean sixth, striking out one for his fourth hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Emilio Pagán | Graham Ashcraft | Brock Burke
Los Angeles Dodgers – Preserving his team’s comeback, Edgardo Henriquez sealed a two-run lead against the Nationals’ top of the lineup despite issuing James Wood a leadoff walk, retiring the next three batters, two via strikeout, and securing his second save. He threw 17 pitches (10 strikes; 58.8% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (17.6 SwStr%).
- Bobby Miller logged three innings, allowing a hit, an earned run, and two walks while striking out two, collecting his first win.
- Blake Treinen tossed a scoreless fifth, walking and striking out one.
- Brock Stewart walked one during a scoreless fourth.
Hierarchy Remains: Tanner Scott | Edgardo Henriquez | Jack Dreyer
New York Mets – Capping his team’s come-from-behind rally, Kodai Senga fired a clean top of the ninth while striking out one for his sixth save. He threw 14 pitches (8 strikes – 57.1% strike rate) and induced one whiff, facing the Giants’ 4-5-6 hitters. He owns a modest five-game scoreless streak and has converted all six save opportunities this season.
- Tobias Myers allowed a hit and struck out two during a scoreless top of the eighth, collecting his first win courtesy of his team’s four-run rally at the bottom of the frame.
Hierarchy Remains: Kodai Senga | Daniel Duarte | Nate Lavender
Pittsburgh Pirates – Shutting the door on his tenth save and preserving a 1-0 win over the Angels, Mason Montgomery navigated around Kyren Paris’ two-out walk with a game-ending flyout against Denzer Guzman. He threw 16 pitches (62.5% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (18.8 SwStr%) while recording a strikeout. This extended his scoreless streak to 18 games, during which he has recorded three wins and eight saves while posting a 0.635 WHIP with 27 strikeouts and four walks (35.4 K-BB%) across 17.1 innings.
- Camilo Doval gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless eighth for his seventh hold.
- Carmen Mlodzinski issued a walk in the seventh, securing his fourth hold.
- Gregory Soto retired both batters in the sixth for his 11th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Montgomery | Luke Weaver | Gregory Soto
San Diego Padres – Preserving a one-run lead over the Yankees, Mason Miller recorded consecutive strikeouts, walked Austin Wells, then finished his 33rd save with a strikeout of Ben Rice. He threw 21 pitches (12 strikes; 57.1% strike rate) and induced two whiffs. This was his first save since August 22 and snapped a three-game streak of allowing at least a run.
- Adrian Morejon spoiled the shutout, allowing three hits, three runs (two earned), and a walk while striking out one in the eighth inning.
- Bradgley Rodriguez fired a clean seventh, striking out two for his 12th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Adrian Morejon | Bradgley Rodriguez
St. Louis Cardinals – Pressed into duty with two runners on and two outs at the bottom of the ninth, George Soriano put gasoline on the fire, allowing Jake McCarthy’s two-RBI single, scoring both inherited runners. However, he recorded a game-ending strikeout of Troy Johnston, finishing off a two-run margin for his third save. He threw 13 pitches (10 strikes; 76.9% strike rate) and induced one whiff.
- Ryne Stanek hit a batter with a pitch and gave up a single before being removed in the ninth.
- Luis Gastelum allowed two hits, including McCarthy’s solo home run, and struck out two in the eighth.
- In his major league debut, Cooper Hjerpe fired four clean frames while recording six strikeouts and his first career win.
Adjusted Hierarchy: Riley O’Brien | George Soriano | Ryne Stanek
Quick Hits
- Chicago Cubs: During an eventual loss, Daniel Palencia tossed a scoreless bottom of the eighth, walking and striking out one on 16 pitches (6 strikes – 37.5% strike rate) without a whiff. No bueño.
- Colorado Rockies: As the first reliever in, Jimmy Herget was charged with his sixth loss. He let both inherited runners score and gave up two hits, resulting in two earned runs during one-third of the top of the fifth.
- Milwaukee Brewers: After stranding two runners at the bottom of the fourth, Antonio Senzatela suffered his fifth loss, giving up two hits, three earned runs, and two walks while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning across the fourth and fifth innings against the Reds.
- San Francisco Giants: Not only did Carson Seymour lose the combined shutout bid, but he also imploded, allowing three hits, two of which were home runs, and a walk, resulting in four earned runs and his second loss along with a second blown save at the bottom of the eighth against the Mets. Joel Kuhnel gave up a hit during a scoreless seventh for his sixth hold.
Holds Tally
Here are the holds from Sunday’s slate:
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Statistical Credits: