Chris Martin closing for Boston this week

September 14, 2023

Boston Red Sox — As we alerted you yesterday, Kenley Jansen has COVID-19 and will be out at least seven days on that specialized IL. Chris Martin should be in line for whatever saves come in Jansen’s absence, with Josh Winckowski, Garrett Whitlock, and John Schreiber in the middle-innings mix.

Updated hierarchy: Martin | Winckowski | Whitlock.

St. Louis Cardinals — Ryan Helsley is pitching back-to-back again already and has three straight saves; let’s axe his asterisk.

Hierarchy remains: Helsley | Gallegos | King.

Pittsburgh Pirates — Carmen Mlodzinski’s second hold in two days officially makes him the third-best reliever on the fourth-best team in the fifth-best division in baseball. Get that on his surprisingly comprehensive Wikipedia page!

Updated hierarchy: Bednar | Holderman | Mlodzinski.

Atlanta Braves — Good show for the Vulture Save Watch, correctly tabbing Kirby Yates for Wednesday’s save with Raisel Iglesias and A.J. Minter each resting after three straight days of use.

Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Minter | Yates.

Miami Marlins — David Robertson isn’t closing for Miami anymore, but he’s found a pretty comfortable home in the seventh inning. Robertson is the only righthander in the Marlins’ top five relievers.

Updated hierarchy: Scott | Nardi | Robertson.

Tampa Bay Rays — Just when we thought the Rays had foresaken their eternal quest to spread out saves, Robert Stephenson earned his first of the season on Wednesday. We’ll keep an eye on it.

Updated hierarchy: Fairbanks | Poche | Stephenson.

Washington Nationals — Mason Thompson was optioned to Rochester on Wednesday, reopening the seventh inning for Jordan Weems.

Updated hierarchy: Finnegan | Harvey | Weems.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Garrett Whitlock (BOS) — The Red Sox play two against . . .
2. Tommy Kahnle (NYY) — . . . the Yankees.
3. Lucas Sims (CIN) — Alexis Diaz has pitched in two straight and three of four.
4. Justin Lawrence (COL) — Tyler Kinley has pitched in three of four.
5. Taylor Rogers (SF) — So have Camilo Doval and Tyler Rogers.

Friday:
1. Colin Holderman (PIT) — David Bednar threw 30 pitches Wednesday and won’t go in three straight.

Justin Lawrence returns to the ninth inning

September 13, 2023

Colorado Rockies – It looks like Justin Lawrence is back in the high-leverage mix for the Rockies, as he closed out Tuesday night’s win with his 11th save of the season. Tyler Kinley was likely down after two straight days of work, but we’ll keep an eye on this to see if it turns into a committee.

Updated hierarchy: Kinley | Lawrence | Bird.

Atlanta Braves – For the second straight night and the fourth time in five appearances, Raisel Iglesias allowed a run, this time giving up a leadoff homer that sent Tuesday’s game to extras. After Atlanta regained the lead in the 10th, Brad Hand retired all three batters he faced for the save. Iglesias now has two blown saves in a row, but those are his first blown saves since June 12, so we don’t expect him to be in any danger of losing his job. If anything, the Braves will likely be cautious with Iglesias once they clinch the NL East title.

Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Minter | Yates.

Boston Red Sox – Kenley Jansen left Tuesday night’s game because of fatigue and illness symptoms, which makes sense because we’d be sick and tired of being on the Red Sox too.

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Martin | Winckowski.

New York Yankees — After all three members of the Yankees’ hierarchy pitched in game one of Tuesday’s doubleheader sweep of the Red Sox, Nick Ramirez finished off the nightcap with a perfect ninth inning for his first career save.

Hierarchy remains: Holmes | Kahnle | Peralta.

Cincinnati Reds – All three Reds hierarchy members had already pitched, so Buck Farmer collected a 10th-inning save on Tuesday.

Hierarchy remains: Diaz | Sims | Gibaut.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Chris Martin (BOS) – Jansen may be unavailable today after leaving yesterday’s game.
2. Trevor Stephan (CLE) – Emmanuel Clase has gone back-to-back.
3. Jason Foley (DET) – Alex Lange has gone in three of four.
4. Lucas Erceg (OAK) – Trevor May has thrown in two straight.
5. Kirby Yates (ATL) – Both Raisel Iglesias and AJ Minter have gone in three straight.
6. Seranthony Dominguez/Gregory Soto (PHI) – Craig Kimbrel and Jose Alvarado have both pitched back-to-back days while Dominguez threw 24 pitches last night.
7. Robert Suarez (SD) – Josh Hader may get a second straight night off after throwing 43 pitches on Monday.

Tomorrow
1. Colin Poche (TB) – If Pete Fairbanks pitches today that will be three of four.
2. The Rogers Brothers (SF) – The same is true for Camilo Doval and for Tyler Rogers.
3. Tommy Kahnle/Wandy Peralta (NYY) – If Clay Holmes pitches today that will be two straight and three of four, which is also true of both Kahnle and Peralta.
4. Griffin Jax (MIN) – If Jhoan Duran goes today that will be two in a row.
5. Lucas Sims (CIN) – Same for Alexis Diaz….
6. Joel Payamps (MIL) – …and Devin Williams.

Cubs have several options after Adbert Alzolay injury

September 12, 2023

Atlanta Braves – After AJ Minter and Raisel Iglesias pitching the 8th and 9th innings (the latter blowing the save), the Braves went to Kirby Yates after retaking the lead in the top of the 10th. Yates converted for his 4th save of the year.

Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Minter | Yates.

Los Angeles Angels – Jimmy Herget picked up his first save of the season on Monday, pitching a scoreless 11th inning. Carlos Estevez had the night off after pitching in back to back games.

Updated hierarchy: Estevez | Soriano | Herget.

Chicago Cubs – Adbert Alzolay has been placed on the IL with a forearm strain, and his roster replacement, Michael Fulmer, was immediately given the save chance in the 9th inning. Look to Fulmer, Mark Leiter Jr., and Julian Merryweather as potential options in Alzolay’s absence.

Updated hierarchy: *Leiter Jr. | Merryweather | Fulmer.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Colin Poche – Pete Fairbanks has gone in back to back and three of four.
2. Taylor Rogers – Camilo Doval has gone back to back and three of four, while Tyler Rogers has gone back to back.
3. Matt Brash – Andres Munoz threw 24 pitches yesterday and is coming off a mild injury.
4. Brusdar Graterol – Evan Phillips threw 28 pitches in a blown save yesterday.
5. Robert Suarez – Josh Hader threw 43 pitches yesterday.
6. Kirby Yates/Pierce Johnson – The Braves hierarchy is gassed after a doubleheader; Kirby Yates could possibly go, while Pierce Johnson is another option.

Tomorrow
1. Jordan Hicks – If Jordan Romano goes today, his recent workload indicates he’s likely down tomorrow.
2. Andrew Nardi – Same for Tanner Scott.
3. Jose Alvarado/Seranthony Dominguez – If Craig Kimbrel or Jose Alvarado go today, it’s back to back and three of four.
4. Kevin Ginkel/Scott McGough – Same for Paul Sewald and Kevin Ginkel.
5. Jason Foley – If Alex Lange goes today, it’s three of four.
6. Jose Soriano – Same for Carlos Estevez.
7. Trevor Stephan – If Emmanuel Clase goes today, it’s back to back.
8. Lucas Erceg – Same for Trevor May…
9. Jake Bird/Matt Koch – …and Justin Lawrence.

Helsley Returns and Yates gets the Vulture Save.

September 2, 2023

Atlanta Braves – With only 4 games on the schedule on Thursday, there weren’t ever going to be many vulture save possibilities, but we picked Kirby Yates as one of them. With both Raisel Iglesias and AJ Minter unavailable, Yates indeed got the save chance and converted for his 3rd save on the year. Expect Iglesias and Minter to be back in action over the weekend.

Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Minter | Yates.

St. Louis Cardinals — Ryan Helsley was activated before Friday’s game and immediately pitched a clean 8th inning in a tie game. JoJo Romero took the loss in extra innings, which may be just the crack in the door that Helsley needs. It’s a bit too early to hand him the top of the committee, but Helsley makes for a great speculative add in leagues where you’re chasing saves as he has an excellent chance to be in the mix for the rest of the season. 

Updated hierarchy: *Romero | Helsley | Gallegos.
* = closer-by-committee


Chicago Cubs — In the first game of a doubleheader the Cubs brought Keegan Thompson on to protect a 3 run lead in the 8th inning. When the Cubs extended the lead to 5 he stuck around for the 9th to earn his first save on the season. Thompson has exactly one save in each of his first 3 years in the majors, and with a month left in the season he has a chance to achieve a career high if he can get another opportunity, but it would likely have to be a similar situation to last night. 

Hierarchy remains: Alzolay | Leiter Jr. | Merryweather.

New York Mets – When the Mets took a 1 run lead in the bottom of the 8th it was Drew Smith who got the call to try to shut the door. Smith had given up solo homers in each of his last 2 appearances, but Buck Showalter felt good enough to run him out there again, and he delivered. Things looked dicey after a leadoff walk, but he picked off the pinch runner and got the last two outs to earn his 3rd save on the year. This is about as pure a committee as you could find right now, but given Smith’s most recent save he bumps up to first in line. 

Updated hierarchy: *Ottavino | Smith | Raley.
* = closer-by-committee

Vulture Save Watch:

  1. Giovanny Gallegos/Ryan Helsley (STL) — JoJo Romero threw 35 pitches in a loss last night, while Helsley may not be ready for back to back games.
  2. Andrew Nardi (MIA) — Tanner Scott threw 30 pitches last night.
  3. Matt Brash (SEA) — Andres Munoz threw 27 pitches last night and has gone in 2 of 3.
  4. Jason Foley (DET) — Today would be 3 in a row for Alex Lange.

For Sunday:

  1. Joel Payamps (MIL) — Devin Williams threw 20 pitches last night, so another long outing could earn him a rest.
  2. Lucas Sims (CIN) — Today would be back to back and 3 of 4 for Alexis Diaz.
  3. Mark Leiter Jr./Julian Mayweather (CHC) — The entire Cubs hierarchy pitched during yesterdays double header and has gone in 3 of 4.
  4. Griffin Jax/Emilio Pagan (MIN) — Today would be back to back and 3 of 4 for Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax.
  5. Trevor Stephan/Matt Moore (CLE) — Today would be 4 of 5 for Emmanuel Clase.

Andres Munoz takes over as Mariners closer; more deals likely on MLB Trade Deadline Day

August 1, 2023

Arizona Diamondbacks – The Diamondbacks traded for Paul Sewald on Monday afternoon, and he said after the deal was made that he’s “excited” to go to a team that wanted him more. While he heads to Arizona, Scott McGough earned the save Monday and now looks to become one of a number of setup men in the desert.

Updated hierarchy: Sewald | Ginkel | Chafin.

Seattle Mariners – Paul Sewald is now gone, and Andres Munoz will look to take over as the primary saves option for Seattle. Munoz pitched in a high-leverage situation on Monday. With the Mariners up 2-1 in the eighth, the Red Sox had two runners on with two outs. Munoz was called in to face Alex Verdugo and struck him out on six pitches. He possibly would have come out to complete the save in the ninth, but after the Mariners tacked on four runs in the bottom half of the inning, Munoz was pulled in favor of a lower-leverage reliever.

Updated hierarchy: Munoz | Topa | Brash.

Los Angeles Angels – The recently acquired Reynaldo Lopez picked up his first save with the Angels on Monday, securing five outs (three via a strikeout). Carlos Estevez threw more than 34 pitches in a two-inning outing on Sunday, so as the Vulture Save Watch predicted, he theoretically was unavailable Monday. But instead of Jose Soriano we saw Lopez, who with this usage will slot in right behind Estevez and we’ll see how the two are deployed moving forward.

Updated hierarchy: Estevez | Lopez | Moore.

Atlanta Braves – A.J. Minter was activated from the injured list Monday and slots right into the setup role for Atlanta. 

Updated hierarchy: Iglesias | Minter | Yates.

Oakland A’s — Sam Moll was traded to the Reds. Lucas Erceg may see more late-inning looks as a result.

Updated hierarchy: May | Long | Ecerg.

Cincinnati Reds – Cincinnati acquired lefty Sam Moll on Monday, but he shouldn’t figure too much into the late-inning plans for the Reds.

Hierarchy remains: Diaz | Sims | Farmer.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH

Today:
1. Gregory Soto (PHI) – Craig Kimbrel has gone in two straight, three of four and four of six.
2. Mason Thompson (WAS) – Kyle Finnegan has gone in two of three and three of five. Mason Thompson has had the same workload, but we’re mostly listing the Nationals situation here as Finnegan has been the subject of trade rumors, so he could be moved.
3. Brad Hand (COL) – Justin Lawrence and Daniel Bard have both worked in two straight.
4. Justin Topa (SEA) – Andres Munoz has gone in three of four.

Wednesday:
1. Yennier Cano (BAL) – Felix Bautista threw 35 pitches Monday and if he goes again Tuesday he very likely won’t go out there Wednesday.
2. Tyler Rogers (SF) – If he goes Tuesday, that would be three of four for Camilo Doval.
3. Nick Martinez/Robert Suarez (SD) – A Tuesday outing would be three of four for Josh Hader. Nick Martinez has been busy lately, too (three of four entering Tuesday).