Tigers Rally for 2-1 Win Over Royals, Jansen Moves Up Career Saves List

Detroit closer Kenley Jansen records 479th career save, passing Lee Smith for third place.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 3:57pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the motion of a baseball pitcher in overlapping planes of navy, green, and orange, conveying the dynamic energy and tension of a close game.Kenley Jansen's record-breaking save highlights the Tigers' resilience and the fractured, dynamic nature of high-stakes baseball.Today in Detroit

The Detroit Tigers came from behind to defeat the Kansas City Royals 2-1 on Tuesday night, with veteran closer Kenley Jansen recording his 479th career save to move past Lee Smith for sole possession of third place on the all-time saves list.

Why it matters

Jansen's milestone save highlights his continued excellence as one of the game's premier closers, while the Tigers' comeback win extends their winning streak to four games as they look to climb the standings in the AL Central division.

The details

Trailing 1-0 in the eighth inning, the Tigers rallied to score two runs and take the lead. Jansen then shut the door in the ninth, allowing a leadoff single but retiring the next three batters to secure the victory and his historic save.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, April 15, 2026.

The players

Kenley Jansen

A veteran relief pitcher for the Detroit Tigers and one of the most accomplished closers in MLB history.

Lee Smith

A former MLB relief pitcher who held the record for career saves before being surpassed by Jansen.

Lane

A player for the Kansas City Royals who recorded a leadoff single in the ninth inning against Jansen.

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What they’re saying

“Jansen's performance tonight was another example of his consistency and ability to close out games at the highest level.”

— Jim Leyland, Tigers Manager

What’s next

Jansen will look to continue his climb up the all-time saves list as the Tigers aim to maintain their winning streak and gain ground in the division race.

The takeaway

Kenley Jansen's historic save underscores his status as one of baseball's elite closers, while the Tigers' comeback win demonstrates their resilience and ability to win close games as they push for a playoff spot.