Gregory Soto: Everything you need to know

Soto (4-1) allowed three runs on three hits and a walk while failing to retire a batter, taking the loss and a blown save versus the Astros on Wednesday. Soto was brought in with two outings in the eighth inning and couldn't clean up the mess Mason Montgomery left him. This poor outing brought his six-inning scoreless streak to a crashing halt. Soto is 8-for-11 in save chances this season while adding six holds, and he's pitched to a 2.86 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 34:12 K:BB through 28.1 innings. He's still the favorite for saves in the Pittsburgh bullpen, but he can't afford to have too many poor performances in a short span.

Soto earned the save in Tuesday's 10-6 win against the Astros, striking out both batters he faced. After Dennis Santana struggled to close out the ninth inning, allowing four batters to reach base while two runs scored, Pittsburgh turned to Soto with two runners on and one out. The left-hander immediately shut the door, striking out both hitters he faced to lock down his eighth save of the season. Soto continues to pitch at a high level out of the bullpen, holding opponents scoreless in 13 of his last 15 appearances while solidifying himself as Pittsburgh's main ninth-inning option. He now owns a 1.91 ERA, 0.74 WHIP and 34:11 K:BB across 28.1 innings.

Soto earned the save in Saturday's 10-9 win over the Twins, allowing no hits and one walk with no strikeouts over 1.1 scoreless innings. Soto was summoned with a one-run lead and two men on in the eighth inning and retired Kody Clemens before closing things out in the ninth. He's now gone five straight appearances without allowing a hit or a run and has kept opponents off the board in 10 of 12 outings in May while converting six of seven save chances during that span. On the season, he owns a 1.95 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 32:11 K:BB with seven saves across 27.2 innings while establishing himself as Pittsburgh's primary ninth-inning option.