Baseball Glossary › Save
Save (SV)
A save (SV) is credited to the relief pitcher who finishes a game his team wins while protecting a close lead. Under Rule 9.19 he must not be the winning pitcher, must get at least one out, and must either enter with a lead of three or fewer and pitch an inning, face the tying run, or pitch three innings.
Athletics example: Eckersley and Fingers
Two Hall of Fame closers built their reputations in Oakland. Dennis Eckersley recorded 390 career saves and Rollie Fingers 341. See the full career line on the Dennis Eckersley player page.
Eckersley: 390 saves in 1,071 appearances
Fingers: 341 saves in 944 appearances
Both totals cover their full MLB careers, not only their A's years. Career MLB totals from our player database (MLB Stats API).
What to Know
The full Rule 9.19 test has four parts: he finishes a game his team wins; he is not the winning pitcher; he is credited with at least one-third of an inning; and he meets one of three conditions. Those are entering with a lead of no more than three runs and pitching at least one inning, entering with the potential tying run on base, at bat or on deck, or pitching at least three innings.
Save vs hold vs blown save: every save opportunity in which a reliever records an out ends in a save, a blown save or a hold. The save goes to the pitcher who finishes; a hold goes to a reliever who protects the lead and hands it on. A pitcher cannot get a save and a win in the same game.
The term was used loosely in the 1950s, writer Jerome Holtzman gave it specific criteria in the early 1960s, and it became an official stat in 1969. Oakland closers Dennis Eckersley and Rollie Fingers are both in the Hall of Fame.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does SV mean in baseball?
SV stands for save. It is credited to a relief pitcher who finishes a win for his team while protecting a close lead, under the conditions set out in Official Baseball Rule 9.19.
What are the rules for a save in baseball?
The reliever must finish a game his team wins, not be the winning pitcher, get at least one out, and either enter with a lead of three runs or fewer and pitch an inning, face the potential tying run, or pitch three innings.
Can you get a save with a four-run lead?
Yes, if the potential tying run is on base, at bat or on deck when the reliever enters, or if he pitches at least three innings to finish the win.
Can a pitcher get a win and a save in the same game?
No. Rule 9.19 requires that the pitcher earning the save is not the winning pitcher, so a reliever can be credited with one or the other, but never both.
What is the difference between a save and a hold?
A save goes to the reliever who finishes the win. A hold goes to a reliever who enters in a save situation, records at least one out and leaves with the lead intact for the next pitcher.
When did the save become an official stat?
The save became an official MLB statistic in 1969. Writer Jerome Holtzman had proposed specific criteria for it in the early 1960s.
Related Terms
Sources
- MLB.com Glossary: Save (SV)
- MLB.com Glossary: Save Opportunity (SVO)
- Official Baseball Rules 2026 (MLB)
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