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Generally, a save situation is when a pitcher enters the game with a lead of three runs or less and finishes the game without relinquishing the lead. Most of the time, the saving pitcher pitches one or more innings.

To receive a hold, the pitcher must not finish the game (thus becoming the closing pitcher) or be the winning pitcher.

The hold was invented in 1986 to give a statistical measure of the effectiveness of non- closer relief pitchers. Holds are most often accredited to setup pitchers, as they usually pitch between the starter and the closer.

See also: baseball statistics