Monday’s 10-game slate resulted in five wins, six saves, four losses, and four blown saves by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 1,170 saves this season by 249 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 upcoming vulture save options:
Vulture Save Options for 9.15.2026
- Jacob Waguespack (DET): Jansen has worked in three of the previous four games.
- Tyler Rogers (TOR): Varland threw 31 pitches across 1.2 innings last night.
- Ryan Watson (LAA): Joyce pitched last night and has not appeared in back-to-back games this season.
- Yuki Matsui (SD): Miller, Morejon, and Rodriguez have all pitched in three of the last four days.
- Calvin Faucher (MIA): Nothing is assured with this bullpen, but if Fairbanks lands on the injured list, Faucher and others are in play.
Vulture Save Stash for 9.16.2026
- Andrew Kittredge (BAL): If Garcia 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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Locking down his ninth save, Rico Garcia fired a clean bottom of the ninth, sealing a one-run lead against the Mets’ 8-9-1 hitters. He threw 14 pitches (9 strikes; 64.3% strike rate) and produced four whiffs (28.6 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in his last eight appearances and has recorded a save in his last three.
- Grant Wolfram gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless eighth for his 13th hold.
- Yennier Cano was awarded his third win, retiring his only batter in the seventh.
- Josh Walker logged 1.2 clean frames, striking out one.
It feels like there has been a revolving door during save situations this season, but Garcia has emerged as the preferred option this month.
Updated Hierarchy: Rico Garcia | Andrew Kittredge | Josh Walker
Today’s Takeaways
Hagen as a ratio eraser: Taking over at the bottom of the seventh in Cleveland, Hagen Smith allowed a hit and recorded three strikeouts over two scoreless innings, throwing 26 pitches (18 strikes; 69.2% strike rate) with four whiffs (15.4 SwStr%). This extends his scoreless streak to nine games, during which he owns a 0.635 WHIP with 25 strikeouts and four walks (33.9 K-BB%) across 17.1 innings.
Although most fantasy managers are trying to find late-season saves, others are trying to protect their rations, and Smith fits the bill in recent appearances.
Hierarchy: *Grant Taylor | *Bryan Hudson | Hagen Smith
*= closer-by-committee
Farewell to thee, Pete: Forced into action with a runner on and no outs, Jack Ralston recorded an out on a sacrifice bunt, then served up a walk-off, two-run home run by Corbin Carroll, resulting in his first loss and a first blown save. Pete Fairbanks took over at the bottom of the ninth and issued Gabriel Moreno a walk, then threw a wide pitch for a ball, prompting his removal by the training staff. He was charged with an earned run while throwing one of six pitches for a strike (16.7% strike rate).
This could be his third stint on the injured list as a result of his nerve issue. Nothing is official, but Clayton McCullough confirmed it was the reason he was lifted:
It’s unfortunate, but fantasy players will deal with fluid roles in leverage situations for the rest of the season if it occurs:
Projected Hierarchy: *Calvin Faucher | *Michael Petersen | Tyler Zuber
*= closer-by-committee
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Monday.
American League
Detroit Tigers – Despite issuing George Springer a leadoff walk, Kenley Jansen recorded a strikeout against Vlad Guerrero Jr., followed by inducing a game-ending double-play groundout versus Alejandro Kirk, preserving the one-run lead for his 20th save. This marked his 496th career save, and he has secured at least 20 saves in 14 straight non-COVID shortened seasons.
- Tyler Kinley retired the side in the eighth and was awarded his seventh win.
- Kyle Finnegan is once again tied with Andrés Muñoz for the major league lead in blown saves, suffering his tenth while giving up three hits, including a game-tying three-run home run by Kazuma Okamoto during the bottom of the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Kenley Jansen | Jacob Waguespack | Drew Sommers
Los Angeles Angels – It was not easy, but Ben Joyce now leads the Angels in saves, navigating around two walks and a wild pitch for a scoreless top of the ninth, protecting a two-run lead over Seattle for his fifth. He threw 20 pitches (45% strike rate) and induced one whiff in this outing. It’s his first save since September 9 and snapped a two-game streak during which he allowed a run in each.
- Ryan Watson notched his eighth hold, retiring all four batters faced, two via strikeouts.
- Blake Weiman was credited with his third hold but gave up J.P. Crawford’s solo home run and struck out one during two-thirds of the seventh inning.
There will probably be an explanation at the end of the season, but Joyce is not throwing his “splinker” as much as he did during his breakout in 2024, and he’s allowing more contact while issuing more walks:
Through 14 games this season, he owns a 16.7 percent walk rate and a career-high 83.6 Z-Contact percentage (in the strike zone).
Hierarchy Remains: Ben Joyce | Ryan Watson | Samy Natera Jr.
Minnesota Twins – With a one-run lead at the top of the eighth, Andrew Morris struggled, allowing three hits, three earned runs, and striking out one during one-third of an inning, resulting in his eighth loss and a sixth blown save.
- A.J. Minter replaced him, putting fuel on the fire, giving up three hits, including Aaron Judge’s three-run home run, and three earned runs on his ledger without retiring a batter.
- Before the eighth-inning implosion, Jeff Hoffman fired a clean seventh, striking out the Yankees’ 3-4-5 hitters, extending his scoreless streak to eight games and securing his 20th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Yoendrys Gómez | *Jeff Hoffman | *A.J. Minter
*= closer-by-committee
New York Yankees – Entering at the bottom of the eighth, John Schreiber stranded both inherited runners with an inning-ending groundout, preserving the lead. He returned for the ninth and worked around a walk for 1.1 scoreless innings, earning his second save. He threw 20 pitches (55% strike rate) and produced two whiffs. It’s his first save with New York.
- Tim Hill collected his fifth win, giving up two hits, including Josh Bell’s solo home run during his combined inning of relief.
- Michael Fulmer stranded a runner in the sixth and retired three of four batters, walking and striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: David Bednar | Paul Blackburn | Brent Headrick
Toronto Blue Jays – Called on at the top of the eighth with runners on the corners and one out, Louis Varland recorded a strikeout against Dillon Dingler, then allowed a broken-bat opposite-field bloop single, scoring the game-tying run, resulting in his second blown save. With the score tied at the top of the ninth, a leadoff walk, a leverage no-no was followed by a fielder’s choice groundout, a stolen base, and an infield squibber, fielded by Vlad Guerrero Jr., but Varland missed the throw to first, scoring the eventual game-winning run, handing him his sixth loss. He finished with two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out two over 1.2 innings.
- Joe Mantiply was credited with his first hold. However, he gave up two hits and an earned run during one-third of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Louis Varland | Tyler Rogers | Spencer Miles
National League
Arizona Diamondbacks – After recording a scoreless top of the ninth, walking one and striking out three, Juan Morillo collected his fourth win on a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning. He threw 24 pitches (13 strikes; 54.2% strike rate) and produced four whiffs (16.7 SwStr%).
- Justin Martinez navigated around two hits and a walk with an inning-ending strikeout of Kyle Stowers at the top of the eighth, throwing 17 pitches (11 strikes; 64.7% strike rate) with one whiff.
- Kevin Ginkel allowed three hits and two earned runs while striking out three in the seventh.
- Jonathan Loáisiga logged 1.1 scoreless innings, scattering two hits and striking out two.
Updated Hierarchy: *Juan Morillo | *Brandyn Garcia | *Justin Martinez
*= closer-by-committee
New York Mets – Entering a tied game at the top of the eighth, Dedniel Núñez gave up two hits, including a go-ahead solo home run by Gunnar Henderson, and recorded a strikeout, resulting in his first loss. He had been scoreless in his previous eight appearances.
Kodai Senga navigated around two hits while striking out three in a scoreless top of the ninth. He threw 24 pitches (15 strikes; 62.5% strike rate) and induced four whiffs (16.7 SwStr%). Through 15 appearances as a reliever since August, he has posted a 1.117 WHIP with 18 strikeouts and six walks (20.3 K-BB%) over 14.1 innings while converting all seven save chances.
Hierarchy Remains: Kodai Senga | Dedniel Núñez | Nate Lavender
San Diego Padres – Finishing off a one-run lead in Colorado, Mason Miller worked around Kyle Karros’ one-out single with a strikeout, followed by a game-ending strikeout for his 37th save. He threw 14 pitches (71.4% strike rate) and racked up six whiffs (42.9 SwStr%) while striking out two. He has been scoreless in his last five outings and recorded a save in each, striking out 12 of 20 batters faced (60 K%) with a 17 percent swinging strike rate.
- Adrian Morejon gave up two hits and an earned run in the eighth, notching his 26th hold.
- Bradgley Rodriguez logged 1.2 innings, giving up two hits, including Cole Carigg’s solo home run during his 15th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Adrian Morejon | Bradgley Rodriguez
St. Louis Cardinals – Sealing a one-run lead, Riley O’Brien provided fantasy players with another white-knuckle ride, giving up Jung Hoo Lee’s one-out single, followed by a walk, then recording a strikeout, followed by a wild pitch moving both runners into scoring position, but inducing a game-ending groundout for his 37th save. He threw 19 pitches (11 strikes; 57.9% strike rate) and produced three whiffs (15.8 SwStr%). Through seven appearances in September, he has been scoreless in three while posting a 1.738 WHIP with eight strikeouts and five walks over 6.1 innings.
- Ryne Stanek gave up a hit and a walk while striking out two in a scoreless eighth for his 26th hold.
- Justin Bruihl stranded three runners and retired his only batter in the seventh, securing his 11th hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Riley O’Brien | Ryne Stanek | George Soriano
Quick Hits
- Colorado Rockies: In an eventual loss, Jordan Romano fired a clean top of the ninth, striking out two on 16 pitches (11 strikes; 68.8% strike rate) with five whiffs (31.3 SwStr%).
- Los Angeles Dodgers: Spoiling the combined shutout, Evan Phillips allowed a solo home run by Elly De La Cruz with one out, then retired the next two batters, finishing off a three-run victory. Alex Vesia fired a clean bottom of the eighth, striking out one.
- San Francisco Giants: During an eventual one-run loss, Carson Seymour allowed a hit in a scoreless bottom of the eighth. Trent Harris fired a clean seventh, striking out one. Joel Kuhnel logged 1.2 clean frames, striking out one and stranded all three inherited runners at the bottom of the fifth.
Holds Tally
Here are the holds from Monday’s slate:
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