Pirates' Gregory Soto: Nabs second save in as many days
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Soto earned a save against the Diamondbacks on Thursday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning of work.
Soto entered in the ninth frame with Pittsburgh up 4-2 and kept things that way, retiring the side in order on 14 pitches (11 strikes). It was the second straight day on which Soto notched a save after picking up just one save over his first 17 outings. Meanwhile, Dennis Santana, who recorded two saves in April but has given up six runs over his past three appearances spanning 2.2 frames, hasn't been used either of the past two days. It's probably still a fluid closer situation, but for the moment it seems like Soto has jumped ahead of Santana in the pecking order.
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Pirates' Gregory Soto: Picks up second save
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Soto walked one and struck out one in a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 1-0 win over the Diamondbacks.
Soto has primarily worked as a setup man this season, but he converted the save chance Wednesday after Paul Skenes spun eight shutout innings. Dennis Santana pitched in Tuesday's contest, while Soto hadn't been utilized since Sunday. The winds may be changing in the Pirates' bullpen, as Santana hasn't gotten a save chance since blowing one April 27 versus the Cardinals. Soto is at a 1.50 ERA, 0.72 WHIP and 24:7 K:BB through 18 innings, and he's added two saves and six holds across 18 appearances. Soto hasn't worked as a primary closer since 2022 with the Tigers, when he converted 30 of 33 opportunities, but he's certainly gaining momentum with his work early this year, which has made him the most reliable reliever on the team, regardless of role.
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Pirates' Gregory Soto: Closes out win
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Soto (3-0) didn't allow a baserunner while striking out two across 1.1 innings to earn the win Sunday against the Reds.
Soto got the final out of the eighth inning with runners at first and third in a 0-0 game. The Pirates scored the game-winning run in the home half of the frame, while Soto stayed in the contest for the final inning to earn the win. He has had an excellent start to the season in Pittsburgh by allowing only three earned runs across 17 innings, though he hasn't recorded a save since April 3.
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Pirates' Gregory Soto: Earns second win of season
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Soto (2-0) earned the win in relief Saturday against the Brewers after tossing a scoreless ninth inning, striking out one.
Soto needed 14 pitches (nine strikes) to get the job done in the bottom of the ninth inning, and he was credited with the win after the Pirates scored three runs in the top of the 10th. It was a bounce-back performance after the lefty surrendered two earned runs in his previous outing Wednesday Soto has posted eight scoreless outings over his last nine appearances and owns an excellent 1.98 ERA over 13.2 innings in 2026. He and Dennis Santana should continue to split closing duties for Pittsburgh.
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Pirates' Dennis Santana: Works ninth inning in win
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Santana allowed one hit and one walk while striking out one in the ninth inning in Friday's win over the Rays.
The Pirates were up by two runs at the start of the eighth inning but tacked on two runs in the home half of the frame. That meant Santana didn't work in a save situation, though he's now pitched the ninth inning or 10th inning in six consecutive appearances -- five of which were to end the game. Santana looks to be the Pirates' preferred closing option for the time being, though Gregory Soto will likely mix in occasionally.
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Pirates' Gregory Soto: Works in setup role
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Soto struck out one without allowing a baserunner across one inning of work to earn a hold Tuesday against the Padres.
Soto entered Tuesday's game in the eighth inning with the Pirates holding a one-run advantage. He continued his strong start to the season and has now allowed only one earned run across 7.1 innings. Dennis Santana was likely to work the ninth inning of Tuesday's game before the Pirates scored five runs in the home half of the eighth, eliminating the save opportunity.
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Pirates' Gregory Soto: Works ninth in Tuesday's win
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Soto allowed a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth inning during Tuesday's 8-3 win over the Reds. He struck out one.
The veteran lefty was getting ready to handle a save situation when Oneil Cruz added some insurance with a two-run homer in the top of the ninth. Soto has a 0.00 ERA and 6:2 K:BB through 3.1 innings to begin the season, while presumed closer Dennis Santana -- who worked a scoreless eighth against the bottom of the Reds' order to record his first hold of the year -- also has a 0.00 ERA in four innings, albeit with a less dominant 2:2 K:BB. Neither pitcher has a save yet in 2026, but the scales seem to be tipping in Soto's favor as the top high-leverage option in the Pirates' bullpen.
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Pirates' Gregory Soto: Could see save chances
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Pirates manager Don Kelly indicated Monday that Soto is in the mix to see save opportunities this season, Jose Negron of DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.
Dennis Santana will enter the season as the favorite to see most of the save chances for Pittsburgh. However, Kelly noted that he could use Santana in leverage spots earlier in games at times, and the skipper also pointed out Soto's closing experience. The left-handed Soto has held lefty bats to a .211/.306/.294 batting line in his career, making him a candidate to see some save chances when the opposition has lefties due up in the ninth inning.
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Pirates' Gregory Soto: Latches on with Pirates
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Soto signed a one-year, $7.75 million contract with the Pirates on Tuesday, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.
Soto improved in nearly every major statistical category in 2025, finishing the regular season with a 4.18 ERA and 1.43 WHIP alongside 22 holds and a 70:24 K:BB over 60.1 innings between the Orioles and Mets. He'll receive a $2.4 million raise upon moving to the Pirates and is likely to remain in a high-leverage role; however, the majority of save opportunities will presumably continue going to Dennis Santana.
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Orioles' Gregory Soto: Working as left-handed specialist
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Soto covered a scoreless two-thirds of an inning with no strikeouts in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Rays.
With Baltimore's bullpen essentially at full strength, the Orioles have mostly deployed Soto as a left-handed specialist. Soto has now worked less than one inning in 21 of his 43 outings this season, and he's recorded more than two outs on just one occasion through his first seven appearances in July. Soto has a 3.67 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 40:15 K:BB to go with 18 holds across 34.1 innings, which at least offers him some appeal in fantasy leagues that count holds.
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Orioles' Gregory Soto: Fans three in scoreless appearance
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Soto struck out three in a scoreless sixth inning during Monday's 7-1 loss to the Rays, allowing one baserunner on a hit batsman.
Soto had a shaky start to June, serving up a home run in his first outing of the month, but he's now rattled off six scoreless appearances in a row since then. The hard-throwing left-hander had a 4.67 ERA for the season as of May 23, but he's improved that mark to a healthier 3.51 to go with a 1.21 WHIP and 31:8 K:BB over 25.2 innings following Monday's effort. Soto has been a key setup man for closer Felix Bautista with 15 holds, the third-highest figure for this category in the American League so far.
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Orioles' Gregory Soto: Continues to work in setup role
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Soto threw a clean eighth inning Wednesday against the Brewers. He struck out one.
Soto continues to work as a setup man for closer Felix Bautista, picking up his ninth hold of the season Wednesday. Through his first 16.2 innings of the year, Soto owns a 3.78 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 17:7 K:BB. The hard-throwing 30-year-old remains one of Baltimore's top left-handed relievers, but he's without a single save opportunity over 19 appearances on the campaign.
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Orioles' Gregory Soto: Avoids hearing with O's
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Soto agreed to a one-year, $5.35 million contract with the Orioles on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
After being sent to Baltimore from Philadelphia at the trade deadline, Soto turned in a 5.09 ERA and 1.53 WHIP alongside a 21:7 K:BB over 17.2 innings before covering a scoreless two-thirds of an innings during his lone playoff appearance. His poor performance will net him just a $350,000 raise in his final year of arbitration eligibility, and he appears destined to work in middle relief next season.
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Orioles' Gregory Soto: Nabs win Thursday
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Soto (3-5) didn't allow a baserunner or a run over two-thirds of an inning, earning the win over the Giants on Thursday.
Seranthony Dominguez allowed the tying run to score in the top of the ninth inning, but Soto got Mark Canha to ground into a double play to keep the game tied at 3-3. In the bottom of the frame, Anthony Santander lifted the Orioles to a 5-3 win with a walk-off home run. Soto's Baltimore tenure started poorly, but he's since allowed just three runs (two earned) over his last 13.2 innings, posting a 17:3 K:BB in that span. Overall, he has a 4.65 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 62:26 K:BB over 50.1 innings between the Orioles and the Phillies.
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Orioles' Gregory Soto: Disaster outing ends in loss
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Soto (2-5) allowed four runs on four hits and a walk while striking out one over one-third of an inning, taking the loss Tuesday versus the Blue Jays.
The Orioles haven't been able to fix Soto, who has allowed eight runs over 1.1 innings across his first three appearances with the team. Even in a mediocre showing with the Phillies earlier in the season, he was rarely this bad. Overall, he's now at a 5.89 ERA, 1.85 WHIP and 45:23 K:BB over 36.2 innings with two saves and eight holds. Given Soto's struggles, he's likely to be limited to low-leverage work and could even be at risk of getting designated for assignment if he can't turn things around quickly.
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Phillies' Gregory Soto: Perfect inning for save
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Soto pitched a perfect inning to earn his first save of the season in Saturday's 7-4 win over the Rockies.
Soto had no trouble protecting a three-run lead, retiring the side on 10 pitches. This was his first outing since Jose Alvarado (elbow) landed on the injured list. Craig Kimbrel got the first save chance Friday, but Soto should also be in the mix in what's likely to be a closer committee for the next few weeks. Soto has a 4.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 21:10 K:BB while logging seven holds over 20 appearances (18 innings) this season.
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Phillies' Gregory Soto: Should see save chances
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Soto is expected to split closing duties with Craig Kimbrel after Jose Alvarado (elbow) was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
The lefty-throwing Alvarado has been Philadelphia's top reliever and primary closing option this season with five saves, but he's now sidelined by elbow inflammation. Kimbrel has three saves but has struggled at times with a 7.62 ERA in 15 outings, which could allow Soto -- who tallied 30 saves for Detroit in 2022 -- to take a larger share of the closer role.
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Phillies' Gregory Soto: Officially arrives in camp
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Soto (personal) officially arrived at Phillies camp Wednesday.
Soto was delayed in getting to the Phillies' spring training complex in Florida due to visa issues and had to bow out of an opportunity to pitch for Team Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. However, he can now work on playing catch-up from this point forward and should serve as a high-leverage bullpen option for the reigning NL champs come Opening Day. The 28-year-old right-hander was acquired from the Tigers in a January trade.
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Phillies' Gregory Soto: Still resolving visa issues
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Soto remained absent from Phillies camp Tuesday due to ongoing visa issues, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
It's a pretty safe bet at this point that Soto is not going to be allowed to suit up for Team Dominican Republic in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Even if he arrived at the Phillies' complex Wednesday, he'd have less than a week there before having to depart. The 28-year-old reliever was acquired via trade from the Tigers in January.
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Phillies' Gregory Soto: Yet to arrive in camp
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Soto has yet to arrive at Phillies camp due to visa issues, per Alex Coffey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Soto close to the Phillies' facility in the Dominican Republic and can work out there while the visa situation gets resolved. He was acquired from the Tigers in January and projects to operate in a high-leverage bullpen role this year with Philly. Soto should see some save chances but is unlikely to operate as the team's primary closer as he did for Detroit.
