Baseball Reference Glossary

Saves

What Is a Save?

A Save is a stat credited to a relief pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under specific conditions. To record a save, the pitcher must not be the winning pitcher and must meet one of the following requirements:

  • Enter the game with a lead of three runs or fewer and pitch at least one full inning
  • Enter with the tying run on base, at bat, or on deck
  • Pitch the final three innings of the game, regardless of the score

In all cases, the pitcher must be the final pitcher of the game and his team must win. Saves are typically recorded by closers, but any relief pitcher can earn one if the conditions are met.

How Is a Save Used?

The save is used to track how often a relief pitcher finishes a game while preserving a lead. It plays a key role in defining bullpen usage, particularly for pitchers assigned to close out tight games. Closers, who often appear in the ninth inning, typically record the most saves across a season.

Saves also help outline bullpen structure. While setup pitchers can earn holds for maintaining a lead before the final inning, only the last pitcher in a qualifying situation can be credited with a save. If that pitcher allows the lead to slip, it is recorded as a blown save, a related stat used to evaluate late-game performance.

Another stat tied to this is the save opportunity, which occurs any time a pitcher enters the game under save conditions. Regardless of whether the pitcher earns the save or not, the appearance counts toward this total.

Saves are used to compare relief pitchers across seasons and eras. Leaders in saves are often pitchers who consistently appear in close-game scenarios and finish the job. The stat provides a standardized way to assess which relievers were trusted to secure wins when the game was on the line. Closers atop the saves leaderboard are those who consistently deliver in high-leverage situations.

Save Examples

Edwin Díaz (June 12th, 2025 – Washington Nationals vs New York Mets)

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN202506120.shtml

1.0 IP

S (15)

Edwin Díaz came into the game in the 9th inning with the score being 4–1 Mets. Ryne Stanek left baserunners on first and third, creating a save situation once Díaz entered. After the lead was cut to 4–3, Díaz retired the final two batters to end the game and secure the win. Because he was the final pitcher, his team won, he was not the winning pitcher, and he entered with the tying run on base, Díaz met the conditions for a save and was credited with his 15th of the season.

Josh Hader (June 6, 2025 – Cleveland Guardians vs Houston Astros)

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CLE/CLE202506060.shtml

1.0 IP

S (15)

Josh Hader came into the game in the 9th inning with a 4–2 lead. In the inning, he retired all 3 batters consecutively with a groundout and two strikeouts. Since he entered with a lead of three runs or fewer, pitched a full inning, was the final pitcher in the game, and was not credited with the win, Hader met all the conditions for a save and was awarded his 14th of the season.

Filed under Statistics