Hot Seat: August 15, 2015

Here’s our latest Hot Seat update, a ranking of current closer job security.

HottestIn a committee, or on the verge of losing their job right now

30. Edward Mujica (cuffs: Fernando Rodriguez/Sean Doolittle)
29. Junichi Tazawa (cuff: Jean Machi)
28. Tommy Kahnle (cuff: Justin Miller)

27. Bruce Rondon (cuff: Alex Wilson)

-Oakland’s next save chance might go to Doolittle after he successfully completed his second rehab outing on Friday. Koji Uehara’s injury has thrown the Boston bullpen into chaos, with neither Tazawa nor Machi clearly in charge. In Detroit, Bruce Rondon has grabbed the job from Alex Wilson, but has only slightly more job security.

Hot – Closers who could be in danger after their next blown save

26. Santiago Casilla (cuff: Sergio Romo)
25. Carson Smith (cuffs: Fernando Rodney/Tom Wilhelmsen)

24. Brad Boxberger (cuff: Jake McGee)
23. Greg Holland (cuff: Wade Davis)

-Casilla has stayed iffy, and Holland drops down a level after his four-run, no out debacle on Thursday. Some more regular work might help him.

Warmish – Two blown saves in a row and these players might be in trouble

22. Luke Gregerson
21. Glen Perkins
20. Arodys Vizcaino

-Gregerson and Perkins aren’t out of the woods yet; Vizcaino continues to impress, but probably needs to do a little more to escape this cohort.

Cool – These players would have to blow 3 consecutive saves for their jobs to be in jeopardy

19. Francisco Rodriguez
18. Hector Rondon
17. Brad Ziegler

16. AJ Ramos
15. David Robertson
14. Jeurys Familia
13. Huston Street
12. Roberto Osuna
11. Kenley Jansen
10. Cody Allen
9. Ken Giles
8. Mark Melancon

-Osuna moves up five slots on the strength of a three-save week. Street and Robertson slide a bit.

Sub-zero – These players would have to blow 4+ consecutive saves for their jobs to be in jeopardy

7. Jonathan Papelbon
6. Trevor Rosenthal
5. Shawn Tolleson

4. Zach Britton
3. Andrew Miller
2. Craig Kimbrel
1. Aroldis Chapman

-Welcome Papelbon and Rosenthal to the safest zone of all. Britton and Miller each get passed by Kimbrel after some minor struggles.