By Bryan Baker’s 40th Save Puts Him Among the Best Closers in Rays History
By Ken Filler | Tampa Bay Sports Journal
ST. PETERSBURG — The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Texas Rangers 3-2 on Saturday night, giving them 89 wins on the season and moving four games ahead of the Yankees for the division lead.
Friday night, Junior Caminero entered the Rays record books with his 40th HR of the season, and last night Bryan Baker recorded his 40th save of the season.
The Rays have had several good closers over the years.
There was Fernando Rodney for a few years.
Another year it was Alex Colomé, Rafael Soriano, Brad Boxberger, or Pete Fairbanks handling the ninth inning.
Now the ninth inning belongs to Bryan Baker.
Baker recorded his major league-leading 40th save Saturday night, getting the final four outs of the Rays’ 3-2 win over the Houston Astros.
He is one reason the Rays sit atop the American League East.
The Rays did not hand Baker a comfortable three-run lead. They gave him one run and asked him to protect it against the top of Houston’s lineup.
Baker entered the game with two outs in the eighth inning and runners at the corners. He struck out Daulton Varsho to end the inning, then returned for the ninth.
Christian Walker grounded out. Cam Smith popped out. Taylor Trammell sent a deep drive toward the right-field wall, but Victor Mesa Jr. made the catch to end the game.
Save No. 40.
Baker climbing Rays’ record book
Baker is now only the seventh pitcher in franchise history to record at least 40 saves in a season.
Here is where he stands on the Rays’ single-season list:
- Fernando Rodney — 48 saves, 2012
- Alex Colomé — 47 saves, 2017
- Rafael Soriano — 45 saves, 2010
- Roberto Hernández — 43 saves, 1999
- Danys Báez — 41 saves, 2005
- Brad Boxberger — 41 saves, 2015
- Bryan Baker — 40 saves, 2026
One more save and Baker moves into a tie with Báez and Boxberger. Three more would tie Hernández, and six would push him past Soriano into third place.
The franchise record of 48 set by Fernando Rodney remains within reach, although Baker would need eight more saves over Tampa Bay’s final 14 games to tie it.
That is unlikely, but with the Rays playing meaningful games in a division race, the opportunities could be there.
Even if Baker does not catch Rodney, what he has accomplished is nothing short of remarkable.
Before this season, Baker had recorded just four saves during his entire major league career. He now has 40 in 2026 alone.
His 40 career saves with Tampa Bay already rank ninth in franchise history, just two behind Esteban Yan and three behind Boxberger.
Baker has climbed that high in his first season as the Rays’ closer.
One of baseball’s best relievers
Baker’s season is much more than accumulating saves.
Through Saturday, the 31-year-old right-hander owns a 1.54 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP, with 62 strikeouts and 21 walks over 58⅓ innings.
He has converted 40 of his 43 save opportunities.
Since the beginning of July, Baker has allowed only three earned runs over 27 appearances.
Those are elite numbers.
Kevin Cash has nothing but the highest praise for Baker. “He’s been outstanding for us. He is so impressive and not a guy that had a lot of saves coming into the season.”
Baker has also set a franchise record by converting 25 consecutive save opportunities, surpassing the 22 straight converted by Rodney during his historic 2012 season.
The Rays have spent much of the season dealing with injuries to their pitching staff. Starters have gone down. Bullpen roles have changed. Cash has had to rearrange the bridge between the starting pitcher and the ninth inning.
The ninth, however, has remained the same. Give the ball to Baker.
Stability at the end of games
A reliable closer changes the way a manager handles an entire game.
Cash does not have to save multiple relievers for the ninth. He can use the best available matchups in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings, knowing Baker is waiting to come on and close it out in the ninth.
That becomes even more important in October, when one run can decide a game—and one bad inning can end a season.
Baker has given the Rays something every championship contender needs: certainty.
The best closers will allow a home run, issue a walk, or suffer a blown save now and again.
But when Baker begins warming in the bullpen, Rays fans get a different feeling. It is a feeling of confidence. They expect the game to be over.
For a team that has used multiple late-inning closers, Baker has taken control of the job and made it his own.
He has gone from a pitcher with four career saves to an All-Star closer leading the majors.
Junior Caminero’s power will get much of the attention. The rotation will dominate the October discussion. But there is no way the Rays would be in this position without Baker protecting narrow leads in the eighth and ninth innings.
A chance to make more history
Baker’s next milestone is one save away.
Save No. 41 will tie him with Báez and Boxberger for fifth on the Rays’ single-season list.
After that come Hernández, Soriano, Colomé and Rodney.
The franchise record remains a long shot, but it is close enough to watch every save opportunity.
Baker will enter October as one of the most trusted closers in baseball.
Postseason games are rarely comfortable. The series feels like it could swing on every pitch.
Baker has spent the regular season proving he can handle the ninth inning. Soon, he will get a chance to prove he can handle October.
For now, he has 40 saves, a place in the Rays’ record book. Not bad for a pitcher who entered the season with four career saves.
