Gregory Soto: Everything you need to know

Soto was charged with his second blown save of the season Friday in an 11-9 extra-inning loss to the Phillies, giving up three runs (two earned) on two hits and two walks in the ninth inning. With the Pirates holding an 8-5 lead, the southpaw was called in to get them across the finish line, but a Konnor Griffin error put the first batter aboard and things unraveled from there. It was the first time since April 10 that Soto has issued multiple walks, but he's been scored upon in back-to-back appearances, inflating his ERA on the season from 1.33 to 2.42 to go along with a 0.85 WHIP and 26:9 K:BB through 22.1 innings. His job security as the team's primary closing option likely didn't slip, however, as Dennis Santana failed to record an out while taking the loss in the 10th.

Soto earned the save in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Rockies, allowing one run on two hits in the ninth inning. After Paul Skenes breezed through eight shutout innings, allowing just two hits with 10 strikeouts, Soto came on and recorded two quick outs. He then surrendered back-to-back doubles before getting TJ Rumfield to ground out to preserve Skenes' win and earn Soto his fourth save. It was Soto's third save in his last four outings, as it appears he's again passed Dennis Santana in the pecking order for saves in Pittsburgh. Soto owns a 1.69 ERA and 26:7 K:BB across 21.1 innings this season.

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.