Thursday’s 12-game slate produced seven wins, nine saves, six losses, and one blown save by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 1,238 saves this season by 255 different pitchers. For perspective, this season has already set an MLB record for the number of pitchers with at least one save; the previous record was 223 in 2024.
Here are the upcoming vulture save options:
Vulture Save Options for 9.25.2026
- Bradgley Rodriguez (SD): Miller and Morejon have pitched in the two previous games.
- Jeff Hoffman (MIN): He could be in line for the save, though his last one was traffic-infused.
- A.J. Blubaugh (HOU): Hader threw 44 pitches on Wednesday; Abreu has worked in consecutive contests.
Doubleheader Recommendations
- Chicago Cubs – Preferred Option: Ryan Rolison
- Boston Red Sox – Preferred Option: Greg Weissert
- New York Yankees – Preferred Option: John Schreiber
- Baltimore Orioles – Preferred Option: Josh Walker
Vulture Save Stash for 9.26.2026
- Sandy Alcantara (MIA): If he was dropped in your league, he will work as a reliever on Saturday.
- Gregory Soto (PIT): If Montgomery pitches tonight, it’s two straight games.
- Graham Ashcraft (CIN): If Pagán, Burke, and Antone pitch tonight, it’s back-to-back games for each reliever.
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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Pittsburgh Pirates
Shutting the door on his 17th save and a one-run lead, Mason Montgomery fired a clean top of the ninth, striking out the side. He threw 17 pitches (10 strikes; 58.8% strike rate) and generated five whiffs (29.4 SwStr%). This continued his scoreless streak to 25 games, during which he has posted a 0.649 WHIP with 37 strikeouts and seven walks (32.6 K-BB%) across 24.2 innings, recording three wins and 15 saves.
- Luke Weaver stranded both inherited runners, retiring his only batter in the eighth via strikeout, then collected his fourth win.
- Gregory Soto allowed two hits and struck out one in two-thirds of the eighth.
- Yohan Ramírez worked two-thirds scoreless in the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Montgomery | Luke Weaver | Gregory Soto
Today’s Takeaways
Sugar is surging: Appearing for the fourth time in seven days, Edwin Díaz fired a clean top of the ninth, striking out two on 11 pitches (63.6% strike rate) with two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%). Through four outings this month, he has allowed a hit and a walk (0.50 WHIP) while recording eight strikeouts (50 K-BB%) in four scoreless frames, throwing 72 pitches (47 strikes; 65.3% strike rate) and generating 11 whiffs (15.3 SwStr%).
Joyce back to the IL: Although Ben Joyce has been shut down for the remainder of the season, he’s not discouraged about his return from shoulder injury, as covered in this column by Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register:
Until he finishes a season healthy, risk remains high for the hard-throwing reliever.
Now it’s time for the remaining leverage events of interest from Thursday.
American League
Cleveland Guardians – Nailing down his 41st save and completing a 1-0 win in Boston, Cade Smith fired a clean bottom of the ninth, striking out the side. He threw 15 pitches (11 strikes; 73.3% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (13.3 SwStr%). He owns a 12-game scoreless streak, during which he has posted a 0.419 WHIP with 25 strikeouts and three walks (35 K-BB%) over 14.1 innings, recording three wins and seven saves.
- Erik Sabrowski notched his 27th hold, issuing a walk and striking out two in the eighth.
- Hunter Gaddis secured his 32nd hold, navigating around a hit and a walk while striking out one in the seventh.
- Joey Cantillo earned his 11th win as the bulk follower, giving up a hit and two walks while striking out four during his five innings.
Hierarchy Remains: Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis | Erik Sabrowski
Houston Astros – Forced into action with a runner on and two outs at the bottom of the eighth, Bryan Abreu issued a walk before inducing an inning-ending lineout. Returning for the ninth, he worked around Lawrence Butler’s one-out single with a game-ending double-play groundout, preserving a two-run win over the A’s while securing his ninth save. He threw 14 pitches (9 strikes – 64.3% strike rate) and produced one whiff.
- Bennett Sousa gave up tw ohits, including Zack Gelof’s solo home run during two-thirds of the eighth, and was credited with his 12th hold.
- Miguel Ullola collected his third win, tossing three scoreless frames while giving up a hit and striking out three.
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | A.J. Blubaugh
Los Angeles Angels – Locking down his fourth save, Ryan Watson fired a clean bottom of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts in Seattle. He threw nine pitches (77.8% strike rate) and induced two whiffs (22.2 SwStr%). Through nine appearances in September, he has been scoreless in eight, posting a 0.84 WHIP with 11 strikeouts and one walk (32.3 K-BB%) while recording two saves and four holds in 8.1 innings.
- Sammy Peralta earned his second hold, tossing three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out one.
Updated Hierarchy: Ryan Watson | Tayler Saucedo | Sam Bachman
Texas Rangers – Preserving a two-run lead and his first save of the season, Jordan Montgomery retired the side and recorded a strikeout at the top of the ninth against the Mets. He threw eight pitches (62.5% strike rate) and induced one whiff. This marked the second save of his career, and he has been scoreless in four of his last five games.
- Chase Silseth fired a clean eighth, striking out two for his 18th hold.
- Tyler Alexander allowed a hit in a scoreless seventh, securing his 14th hold.
- Robert Garcia retired the side in the sixth, notching his fifth hold.
Updated Hierarchy: Jacob Latz | Chase Silseth | Robert Garcia
Quick Hits
- New York Yankees: After working a scoreless top of the eighth, keeping the game tied, Bradley Hanner collected his first career win, returning for the ninth to preserve a two-run lead. He threw 30 pitches (19 strikes; 63.3% strike rate) and induced one whiff, scattering two hits across two innings.
- Tampa Bay Rays: Called on during a tied game at the bottom of the eighth, Steven Matz allowed two hits, including George Lombard Jr.’s go-ahead two-run home run, resulting in his sixth loss. Brody Hopkins let his only inherited runner score, giving up a hit, an earned run, and two walks during one-third of the seventh, getting charged with his first blown save.
- The Athletics: In a tied game at the top of the seventh, Scott Blewett allowed three hits, including a go-ahead solo home run by Lucas Spence, resulting in his second loss.
National League
Chicago Cubs – Sealing a one-run lead and his seventh save, Ryan Zeferjahn tossed a clean top of the ninth, clinching a postseason berth. He threw nine pitches (77.8% strike rate) and produced two whiffs (22.2 SwStr%) while facing the Marlins’ 5-6-7 batters. He has been scoreless in his last six appearances despite a 1.40 WHIP over his last five innings.
- Daniel Palencia allowed a walk during a scoreless eighth, notching his third hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Ryan Zeferjahn | *Ryan Rolison | *Daniel Palencia
*= closer-by-committee
Cincinnati Reds – Despite allowing a leadoff single by Michael Harris II, followed by a sacrifice bunt, and a wild pitch putting him on third with one out, Emilio Pagán recorded his 25th save, striking out Ozzie Albies, then inducing a game-ending flyout, sealing the one-run lead. He threw 14 pitches (12 strikes; 85.7% strike rate) and racked up four whiffs (28.6 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in his last nine outings, recording a 0.96 WHIP with 10 strikeouts and two walks (25 K-BB%) over 8.1 innings while converting five saves.
- Brock Burke gave up a hit during a scoreless eighth for his 23rd hold.
- Tejay Antone fired a clean seventh, striking out one, securing his 11th hold.
- Connor Phillips collected his second win, logging 1.1 scoreless innings, yielding a hit and two walks.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Brock Burke | Tejay Antone
Milwaukee Brewers – Taking over at the bottom of the eighth with one out, Antonio Senzatela logged 1.2 scoreless innings, walking and striking out one, recording his fourth save. He threw 19 pitches (12 strikes; 63.2% strike rate) and produced one whiff.
- JoJo Romero earned his third win, working 1.1 scoreless, giving up a hit and striking out one in Philadelphia.
- Aaron Ashby fired two clean frames, striking out two.
- Chad Patrick tossed 1.1 scoreless, issuing a walk.
Hierarchy Remains: Trevor Megill | Abner Uribe | Aaron Ashby
San Diego Padres – Clinching his team’s postseason berth, Mason Miller retired the first two batters, but Tommy Edman reached on what could have been a game-ending strikeout, moved to second on defensive indifference, and scored on Shohei Ohtani’s double. Miller ended the game on Mookie Betts’ groundout, finishing a two-run lead while throwing 17 pitches (13 strikes; 76.5% strike rate) with four whiffs (23.5 SwStr%) and striking out two for his 38th save.
- Adrian Morejon retired one batter in the seventh and allowed an earned run in the eighth, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out two across 1.1 innings.
- Jason Adam was credited with his 18th hold, recording an out in the sixth and two in the seventh.
- Yuki Matsui earned his fourth win, stranding a runner in the fifth while retiring his only batter, then recording two outs while yielding a hit in the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Adrian Morejon | Bradgley Rodriguez
Quick Hits
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Closing out a four-run lead in Coors, Kevin Ginkel fired a clean bottom of the ninth, striking out the side while throwing 16 pitches (11 strikes; 68.8% strike rate) with four whiffs (25 SwStr%).
- Colorado Rockies: Appearing in an eventual loss, Jordan Romano allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout in a scoreless top of the ninth. Juan Mejia worked a clean eighth, striking out one.
- Miami Marlins: As the first reliever in, Jack Ralston allowed three hits and two earned runs while striking out two across 1.1 innings. Josh Ekness stranded a runner in the sixth and logged 1.2 scoreless innings, yielding a walk.
- Philadelphia Phillies: Entering a tied game at the top of the eighth, José Alvarado gave up two hits, three earned runs, and a walk, resulting in his fourth loss while recording one out. Chase Shugart could not quell the rally, letting both inherited runners score, yielding two hits during two-thirds of the eighth.
- St. Louis Cardinals: With the score tied at the bottom of the eighth, Ryne Stanek issued two walks, resulting in an unearned run and his third loss.
Holds Tally
Here are the holds from Thursday’s slate:
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Statistical Credits: