Santana (1-1) picked up the win in Sunday's 4-3 victory over Atlanta, pitching a clean inning with one strikeout.
The 29-year-old fired a clean ninth inning in a 3-3 tie, requiring only 11 pitches, eight of which were strikes. Santana was then credited with his first win of the season when Joey Bart drove home the winning run in the bottom of the frame. Santana, who is battling with David Bednar for the closer role in Pittsburgh, bagged the latest Pirates' save in Friday's contest. Through 17.1 innings, Santana has pitched to a 2.08 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 11:3 K:BB.
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Pirates' Dennis Santana: Nabs save despite two earned runs
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Santana collected his fifth save of the season Friday against Atlanta, allowing two runs on three hits in the ninth inning. He did not record a walk or a strikeout.
It was a low-scoring affair Friday, and Santana was brought in to protect the Pirates' three-run lead in the ninth inning. He was on the back foot immediately after giving up a triple, and after yielding two runs on a sacrifice fly and an RBI single, he was able to close things out by getting Ozzie Albies to fly out to center field. This was far from a convincing performance from Santana, who is competing with David Bednar for saves in Pittsburgh. Santana has a 2.35 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 9:3 K:BB across 15.1 innings this season.
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Pirates' Dennis Santana: Back from bereavement leave
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The Pirates reinstated Santana (personal) from the bereavement list Sunday.
Pittsburgh optioned right-hander Kyle Nicolas to Triple-A Indianapolis to clear room on the 26-man roster for Santana, who had been away from the team since Tuesday while tending to a personal matter. David Bednar scooped up a save Wednesday, but he took a loss in a non-save situation Saturday, leaving the team's closing picture murky. Prior to going on bereavement leave, Santana had gone 3-for-3 in save chances while posting a 1.46 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 12.1 innings.
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Pirates' Dennis Santana: Lands on bereavement list
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The Pirates placed Santana (personal) on the bereavement list Tuesday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Santana will step away from the team for a few days in order to tend to a personal matter. David Bednar is back in the closer mix after a brief stint at Triple-A Indianapolis, and he'll be the favorite for saves while Santana is away from the club.
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Pirates' Dennis Santana: Works eighth inning Friday
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Santana gave up a hit in a scoreless eighth inning Friday to record his fourth hold of the season in a 3-0 win over the Dodgers.
The Pirates had said they were going to give David Bednar another look as the closer at some point, and that moment may have arrived -- Bednar pitched a scoreless ninth Friday for his second save of the year. Santana should remain in a high-leverage role given his 1.46 ERA and 0.89 WHIP through 12.1 innings, but his 7:3 K:BB hasn't matched the dominance Bednar is capable of when he's in top form.
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Pirates' Dennis Santana: Gets high-leverage work
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Santana threw a scoreless eighth inning without allowing a baserunner to record a hold Sunday against the Yankees.
Santana looked to be in line to be the Pirates' closer after David Bednar was demoted to Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday. However, he entered the game in the eighth inning Sunday to face the top of the Yankees' order, including Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger and Aaron Judge. Ryan Borucki blew the save in the ninth inning, and the rest of the Pittsburgh bullpen has been shaky, leaving Santana as the likeliest option for saves moving forward. However, his usage Sunday illustrates that he could be used in highest-leverage spots rather than being saved exclusively for the ninth inning.
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Pirates' Dennis Santana: Could be in line for save chances
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Santana might see save chances for the Pirates following the demotion of David Bednar to Triple-A Indianapolis.
Santana was excellent for the Pirates last season after being claimed off waivers, posting a 2.44 ERA and 50:11 K:BB over 44.1 innings while notching one save. He hasn't allowed a hit or a run in his first two appearances in 2025, holding a 3:2 K:BB in 1.1 frames. Colin Holderman could also be in the saves mix for Pittsburgh, although he's struggled this season in yielding three runs on four hits and three walks over three innings.
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Pirates' Dennis Santana: Loses arbitration case
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Santana lost his arbitration hearing against the Pirates on Saturday and will make $1.4 million in 2025, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
After being claimed off waivers from the Yankees in June, Santana emerged as a reliable high-leverage reliever, posting a 2.44 ERA and 0.92 WHIP over 44.1 innings with Pittsburgh. Despite his drastic turnaround, he will make $700,000 less in 2025 than the $2.1 million he filed for at the arbitration deadline. The 28-year-old figures to remain a high-leverage arm heading into the new season, and he could take over as the primary closer if David Bednar is unable to bounce back from his disappointing 2024 campaign.
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Pirates' Dennis Santana: Moves past arm injury
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Santana (arm) struck out two over two scoreless innings of relief in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Mets. He gave up two hits and no walks.
Santana was making his third appearance out of the bullpen since he was lifted from a June 24 relief outing versus the Reds after being struck in the right arm by a line drive. He was held out of action for a week and has given up two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks over four innings through his first three appearances of July.
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Pirates' Dennis Santana: Struck by line drive
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Santana left Monday's game against the Reds after being hit by a line drive and has been diagnosed with a right arm contusion.
Santana was unable to continue after being struck on his pitching arm, but he appears to have avoided a significant injury. He'll be considered day-to-day moving forward.
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Pirates' Dennis Santana: Claimed by Bucs
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The Pirates claimed Santana off waivers from the Yankees on Tuesday.
Santana was DFA'd by the Yankees on Sunday after posting a 6.26 ERA and 1.35 WHIP through 27.1 innings out of the bullpen. With no minor-league options remaining, the 28-year-old righty will join the Pirates' MLB bullpen, though he will likely only be used in low-leverage situations. Jose Hernandez was designated for assignment to make room on Pittsburgh's 40-man roster.
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Yankees' Dennis Santana: Logs second save of career
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Santana earned the save Sunday against the Blue Jays, allowing no hits and no walks over 1.2 scoreless innings. He struck out two.
Santana was given another opportunity Sunday after allowing two runs in his first appearance of 2024 on Friday and delivered a five-out save. The reliever had his contract selected from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on April 5, but considering his career 5.18 ERA, Santana will likely be at the back end of the Yankees' bullpen and see minimal high-leverage work moving forward.
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Yankees' Dennis Santana: Receives NRI from Yankees
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Santana signed a minor-league contract with the Yankees on Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jessica Kleinschmidt of The Comeback reports.
The 27-year-old holds a career 5.17 ERA and 140:79 K:BB over 149.2 innings covering parts of six seasons at the big-league level.
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Mets' Dennis Santana: Pushed off 40-man
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The Mets designated Santana for assignment Saturday.
After accumulating a 5.91 ERA and 1.59 WHIP through 10.2 innings in the majors, Santana will lose his spot on the Mets' 40-man roster and pass through waivers. The 27-year-old righty has struggled to get going in Triple-A as well, so there is a good chance he clears waivers and gets outrighted back to Syracuse. Adam Kolarek was selected from Triple-A in a corresponding move.
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Mets' Dennis Santana: Back in big leagues
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The Mets selected Santana's contract from Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.
Santana was added and removed from the Mets' 40-man roster multiple times in the first half of the season and has now made his way back on it again. He will give the bullpen a fresh arm.
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Mets' Dennis Santana: Outrighted to Triple-A
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Santana cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday, Michael Mayer of MetsmerizedOnline.com reports.
It's the second time since April that Santana has cleared waivers after being removed from the 40-man roster. He'll remain in the organization.
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Mets' Dennis Santana: Pushed off 40-man roster
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The Mets designated Santana for assignment Sunday.
Less than two hours after tossing a scoreless inning Sunday in the Mets' 3-2 loss in the resumption of Saturday's suspended game, Santana was dropped from the 40-man roster ahead of the second game of New York's doubleheader in Washington. The Mets reinstated Brooks Raley (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to take Santana's spot on the 26-man active roster and in the bullpen.
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Mets' Dennis Santana: Contract selected from Syracuse
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The Mets selected the contract of Santana from Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
Santana has a good chance to pitch at some point in Sunday's twin bill against the Nationals. The Mets designated Seth Elledge for assignment to clear room on the 40-man roster for Santana while Joey Lucchesi was optioned to Syracuse in a corresponding transaction.
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Mets' Dennis Santana: Sent outright to Triple-A
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Santana was sent outright to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday.
Santana passed through waivers unclaimed after being designated for assignment Saturday. He had yielded six earned runs through 7.2 major-league innings of relief this season with the Mets.
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Mets' Dennis Santana: Designated for assignment
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Santana was designated for assignment by the Mets on Saturday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
Santana earned a win in relief Friday against the Athletics, but he had surrendered six earned runs on seven hits and five walks through 7.2 total innings this season. The 27-year-old posted a 5.22 ERA across 58.2 frames with the Rangers in 2022.
