June 17, 2013
Detroit Tigers – Joaquin Benoit got the last out of the 8th inning on Sunday, then stayed on for the 9th to earn his fourth save of the year. After the game, Jim Leyland said that Benoit “will be an option,” though he stopped well short of naming Benoit the new closer, saying Jose Valverde would still get save chances. It’s possible that Benoit, who can be slow to bounce back and rarely pitches three straight days, will get save opps when fresh, and Valverde will get them otherwise. Either way, he’s definitely worth adding, especially until Leyland offers some clarity on the situation. No hierarchy change.
| . | Closer | . | Set-Up | . | 2nd in line | . | 2014 Closer | . | Updated | |
| DET | Jose Valverde | Joaquin Benoit | Drew Smyly | Bruce Rondon | 6/17/13 |
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Houston Astros – Travis Blackley got the last out of the 8th inning on Sunday, earning his 11th hold of the season. In recent weeks, he’s often shared the 8th inning with Hector Ambriz, and has become the go-to lefty in the Houston bullpen, ahead of the struggling Wesley Wright. Hierarchy change: Travis Blackley to 2nd in line, replacing Josh Fields.
| . | Closer | . | Set-Up | . | 2nd in line | . | 2014 Closer | . | Updated | |
| HOU | Jose Veras | Hector Ambriz | Travis Blackley | Jose Veras | 6/17/13 |
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Chicago Cubs – Kevin Gregg had the night off yesterday, so Carlos Marmol got the call in the 9th inning in a 3-run game against the Mets on Sunday. Five batters later, the Mets had walked off, and Dale Sveum was saying things like “We’ve come to find out that he has trouble with the last three outs,” while Marmol destroyed the clubhouse. I don’t even know what joke to make about Sveum’s hilarious admission, which the rest of humanity realized in 2011, but the Cubs don’t appear close to cutting Marmol altogether. Maybe, just maybe, this means that James Russell will finally get a shot in the 9th the next time Gregg is unavailable. Hierarchy change: James Russell to Set-up, Carlos Marmol to 2nd in line.
| . | Closer | . | Set-Up | . | 2nd in line | . | 2014 Closer | . | Updated | |
| CHC | Kevin Gregg | James Russell | Carlos Marmol | Kevin Gregg | 6/17/13 |
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Cincinnati Reds – Alfredo Simon picked up a three-inning save with an impressive, 6-strikeout outing on Sunday. He’s had a solid year, but only has two holds on the season to this point, and is unlikely to break in to the usual late-inning hierarchy, even with Jonathan Broxton on the shelf. No hierarchy change.
| . | Closer | . | Set-Up | . | 2nd in line | . | 2014 Closer | . | Updated | |
| CIN | Aroldis Chapman | Sam LeCure | J.J. Hoover | Jonathan Broxton | 6/17/13 | |||||
| Jonathan Broxton (DL) |
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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Hector Ambriz, Houston Astros – Jose Veras has pitched in three straight.
2. Luke Gregerson/Dale Thayer, San Diego Padres – Huston Street has pitched in two straight, and might get a day off, given that he’s just back from the disabled list.
3. Joaquin Benoit, Detroit Tigers – Joaquin Benoit could get a save on any given night, should Jim Leyland deem him a better matchup than Jose Valverde.
