2026 Stats
W-L
2-1
ERA
0.82
WHIP
0.82
K
7
SV
2
Rest-of-Season Projections
2026 Fantasy Outlook
Santana doesn't fit the typical closer profile - he struck out just 22.2 percent of the batters he faced last season - but the 29-year-old posted a career-best 2.18 ERA (18th) and 0.87 WHIP (T-5th) that were near the top of the leaderboard for relief pitchers. The Dominican native relied heavily on his slider, tossing it a career-high 46.4 percent of the time with great success (.159 BAA, .286 SLG). He also produced a 43.6 percent O-Swing on the pitch and finished 2025 with a 96th percentile chase rate; signs that more strikeouts are possible if his slider usage persists. When the Pirates traded David Bednar at last year's deadline, Santana was summoned for 10 of the team's final 12 saves (83.3 percent team save share). Overall, he secured 16 saves in 19 chances to increase his odds of opening 2026 as the Pirates' closer. However, Santana's 4.13 career ERA and 3.56 xERA last year paint a cloudy outlook for the right-hander. He's a risky bet to lead Pittsburgh in saves in 2026. Read Past Outlooks
Signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Pirates in January of 2026.
Works ninth inning in win
Santana allowed one hit and one walk while striking out one in the ninth inning in Friday's win over the Rays.
Analysis
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.
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.
Pitching Stats
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2026 MLB Game Log
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
Minor League Game Log
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Pitching Appearances Breakdown
Average Pitch Count
16
Last 10 Games
16
Last 5 Games
18
How many pitches does Dennis Santana generally throw?
1-10
11-20
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
61-70
71-80
81-90
91-100
101-110
111-120
121+
What part of the game does Dennis Santana generally pitch?
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
Extra
% Games Reaching Innings Threshold
% Games By Number of Innings Pitched
Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2024
-35%
BAA vs LHP
2026
-73%
BAA vs LHP
| BAA | K | BB | H | HR | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2024vs Left | .145 | 59 | 25 | 29 | 3 | |||
| Since 2024vs Right | .223 | 77 | 18 | 76 | 6 | |||
| 2026vs Left | .050 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2026vs Right | .188 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | |||
| 2025vs Left | .143 | 23 | 11 | 14 | 1 | |||
| 2025vs Right | .203 | 37 | 6 | 30 | 4 | |||
| 2024vs Left | .171 | 31 | 12 | 14 | 2 | |||
| 2024vs Right | .243 | 38 | 9 | 43 | 2 | |||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | |||||||
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2024
-1%
ERA on Road
2026
-100%
ERA at Home
| ERA | WHIP | IP | K/9 | BB/9 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2024Home | 2.89 | 0.96 | 84.0 | 7.7 | 2.3 | ||||
| Since 2024Away | 2.87 | 0.97 | 69.0 | 8.3 | 2.9 | ||||
| 2026Home | 0.00 | 0.60 | 5.0 | 5.4 | 1.8 | ||||
| 2026Away | 1.50 | 1.00 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | ||||
| 2025Home | 1.91 | 0.72 | 37.2 | 8.1 | 1.7 | ||||
| 2025Away | 2.48 | 1.04 | 32.2 | 7.2 | 2.8 | ||||
| 2024Home | 4.14 | 1.23 | 41.1 | 7.6 | 2.8 | ||||
| 2024Away | 3.56 | 0.89 | 30.1 | 10.1 | 2.4 | ||||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | ||||||||
Stat Review
How does Dennis Santana compare to other relievers?
This section compares his stats with all relief pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 30 innings)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 30 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 30 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
K/BB
1.40K/9
5.7BB/9
4.1HR/9
0.0Fastball
93.7 mphERA
0.82WHIP
0.82BABIP
.143GB/FB
1.11Left On Base
77.8%Exit Velocity
79.9 mphBarrels/BBE
0.0%Spin Rate
2455 rpmBalls Hit 95+ MPH
22.7%Swinging Strike
10.7%Prospect Rankings History
Advanced Pitching Stats
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Defensive Stats
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2025
2023
2021
2020
2019
Santana received a NRI from the Yankees last offseason, and while he didn't break camp with New York, he impressed during spring training and was recalled in early April. He spent two months in the Bronx, struggling to a 6.26 ERA and 1.35 WHIP across 27.1 innings before he was DFA'd. The 28-year-old righty was claimed by Pittsburgh a few days later and changed his approach, throwing fewer sinkers (.279 BAA, .395 SLG) in favor of more fastballs (.196 BAA, .268 SLG). Santana was much better with the Pirates, even making 21 consecutive appearances without permitting an earned run. He finished the campaign with career-highs in innings pitched (71.2) and WHIP (1.09), the latter being a notable improvement over his 1.32 mark for his career. Santana should open 2025 as one of Pittsburgh's highest-leverage relievers, which may include save chances if David Bednar does not reclaim the closer role.
More Fantasy News
Shuts door for second save
Santana picked up the save Wednesday against the Nationals, hitting a batter but allowing no other baserunners in a scoreless ninth inning. He did not record a strikeout
Analysis
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Blows first save of season
Santana gave up one run on one hit and two walks in the ninth inning Saturday, blowing his first save of the season in a 4-3 extra-innings win over the Cubs. He failed to strike out a batter.
Analysis
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Notches first save of season
Santana struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his first save of the season in a 2-0 win over the Cubs.
Analysis
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Picks up second win
Santana (2-0) earned the win in Saturday's 3-2 victory over the Orioles, striking out one while not allowing a baserunner during the ninth inning.
Analysis
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Works eighth inning again
Santana struck out one without allowing a baserunner in a scoreless eighth inning to earn a hold Friday against the Orioles.
Analysis
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Expected to be traded
Santana and David Bednar are the Pirates players likeliest to be traded ahead of the July 31 deadline, per Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com.
Analysis
Santana bounced around the waiver wire over the previous few years before landing with Pittsburgh last season, and he's become a reliable high-leverage reliever with a 2.02 ERA in 75 outings with the Buccos. The right-hander has been especially effective in 2025 with a 1.50 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 28:6 K:BB across 36 innings while recording five saves and nine holds. Santana will enter his final year of arbitration eligibility in 2026, and it would be logical for the Pirates to sell high while he still has a season-plus left under team control.
Santana bounced around the waiver wire over the previous few years before landing with Pittsburgh last season, and he's become a reliable high-leverage reliever with a 2.02 ERA in 75 outings with the Buccos. The right-hander has been especially effective in 2025 with a 1.50 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 28:6 K:BB across 36 innings while recording five saves and nine holds. Santana will enter his final year of arbitration eligibility in 2026, and it would be logical for the Pirates to sell high while he still has a season-plus left under team control.