Stanek picked up the save Thursday against the Rays, allowing no hits and three walks in a scoreless ninth inning. He struck out one.
The right-hander drew St. Louis' first save opportunity of the year in his team debut, suggesting he's firmly in the mix for ninth-inning work. It's perhaps too early to tell if he'll get the bulk of the save chances in 2026, but Stanek could be worth a speculative pickup in fantasy leagues as this situation shakes out. JoJo Romero and Riley O'Brien worked the seventh and eighth innings respectively Thursday.