Garrett Crochet and Jason Adam return

September 21, 2023

Chicago White Sox – Aaron Bummer and Bryan Shaw are in line for saves now that Gregory Santos is out for the year, but they’ll be joined in the bullpen by old friend Garrett Crochet. Although Crochet might be a starter next season, he’s likely to stay in relief for the next few weeks.

Updated hierarchy: *Bummer | Shaw | Crochet.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago Cubs – Mark Leiter Jr. pitched in the sixth inning on Wednesday, with the Cubs down 8-6, and let three more runs score. We’ve got to think this gives Julian Merryweather the inside track at Chicago’s next save chance, with Adbert Alzolay and Michael Fulmer still out injured.

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

Milwaukee Brewers — Elvis has left the building, with righty Peguero hitting the injured list with right elbow trouble. He will miss the rest of the regular season, but could conceivably return for the playoffs. We’ve got Abner Uribe slightly ahead of Hoby Milner and Trevor Megill for the time being.

Updated hierarchy: Williams | Payamps | Uribe.

Tampa Bay Rays — Jason Adam was reinstated from the injured list Thursday morning and should be thrown right back into the Rays’ late-inning mix.

Updated hierarchy: Fairbanks | Adam | Poche.

Detroit Tigers — See! Will! Vest! See Will Vest! We’ll admit he’s not the best. But when the Tigers need a vulture, he’s the righty that they culture. Lange’s a mensch, but on the bench; had to get his arm refreshed. Holy moley, Jason Foley’s gotta sit and watch his homey — that’s Will Vest! Wasn’t stressed: he got five outs with flair and zest. Yes, Detroit chose to exploit their bullpen guest! Will’s ringing up the K’s, Thursday he’ll spank the A’s, see Will Vest, see Will Vest, seeeee Willll Vessssssssst!

Updated hierarchy: Lange | Foley | Vest.

Seattle Mariners — Protecting a three-run lead against the heart of the Oakland lineup on Wednesday, the Mariners went with top arm Andres Muñoz, which left Justin Topa to pull down the save against lesser hitters in the ninth. Muñoz is still the main guy here, but expect him to get the occasional high-leverage eighth.

Hierarchy remains: Muñoz | Brash | Topa.

Philadelphia Phillies — Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth in a tied game, leaving the tenth-inning save to Matt Strahm, making him the sixth Phillie reliever with at least two saves. Strahm, Gregory Soto, Jeff Hoffman, and Seranthony Dominguez are all neck-and-neck (and other-neck-and-other-neck) for that second-in-line spot in Philadelphia’s bullpen.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Alvarado | Dominguez.

Minnesota Twins — Jhoan Duran came into the game in the eighth inning to keep Minnesota within a run, so when Alexis Diaz gave up three in the ninth, it was Griffin Jax called on for the save.

Hierarchy remains: Duran | Jax | Pagan.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Shintaro Fujinami/Danny Coulombe (BAL) — Yennier Cano hasn’t thrown a lot of pitches lately, but an appearance Thursday would be his fourth in five days.

Friday:
1. Jason Foley/Will Vest (DET) — SEE…. WILL… Okay, we won’t put you through the reprise, but Alex Lange has had a lot of work lately and his backups could grab another save against Oakland.
2. Hunter Harvey (WAS) — Kyle Finnegan has pitched a lot recently.

Tyler Kinley records another save

September 17, 2023

Colorado Rockies – In game 2 of their doubleheader yesterday, Tyler Kinley pitched a scoreless 9th inning to pick up his 4th save of the season.  Kinley recorded a pair of saves last week after Justin Lawrence vultured one and he seems to still be the clear option in the 9th for now.  In game 1 of their doubleheader, Gavin Hollowell earned a very interesting save by coming on in the 7th inning with the tying run on deck and pitching the final 2.2 innings.  Hollowell gave up a couple runs but was able to finish off the victory for his first save.

Hierarchy remains: Kinley | Lawrence | Bird.

Chicago White Sox — The White Sox brought in Gregory Santos in the 8th inning with a 6 run lead but he made a mess of things giving up 4 runs (3 earned).  Lane Ramsey started the 9th inning with the White Sox up two but got pulled after giving up a pair of singles.  Tanner Banks came on and walked a pair of batters, which forced in a run, but was able to preserve a 7-6 win for his first save of the season.  The White Sox have now used 3 different relievers to record their 3 saves in September so it’s tough to trust anybody at this point.

Hierarchy remains: *Santos | Bummer | Shaw.
* = closer-by-committee

Detroit Tigers — Alex Lange gave up three runs to blow a save in the bottom of the 9th but ended up with the win after the Tigers took the lead again in the top of the 10th.  Beau Brieske and Jason Foley both pitched earlier in the game so that left Will Vest for the bottom of the 10th and he pitched a scoreless inning for his first save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Lange | Foley | Brieske.

Kansas City Royals – Carlos Hernandez started the 9th inning with the Royals up 4 but quickly ran into trouble by allowing hits to the first three batters he faced.  Hernandez was then able to record a couple outs but after a walk to put the tying run on base, he was pulled in favor of Taylor Clarke.  Clarke retired the only batter he faced to record his second straight save.  We will leave Hernandez at the top of the hierarchy for now but we will watch this to see if Clarke becomes the preferred option to close out games.  

Updated hierarchy: *Hernandez | Clarke | Snider.
* = closer-by-committee

Cincinnati Reds – The entire Reds’ hierarchy had pitched in three of four and got the day off yesterday.  Derek Law filled in and pitched a scoreless 9th inning to earn his second save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Diaz | Sims | Gibaut.

Chicago Cubs – Michael Fulmer has been placed on the IL and we will slide veteran Brad Boxberger into his hierarchy spot.  

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

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Tommy Kahnle (NYY) – Clay Holmes has pitched in two straight.
2. Yimi Garcia/Erik Swanson (TOR) – Jordan Romano and Jordan Hicks have both pitched in two straight.
3. Steven Cruz (KC) – The entire Royals hierarchy has gone in two straight so maybe Cruz gets a chance today if there is a save opportunity.
4. David Robertson (MIA) – Tanner Scott and Andrew Nardi have both pitched in two straight and three of four.
5. Scott McGough (ARI) – Paul Sewald and Kevin Ginkel have both pitched in two straight.
6. Caleb Ferguson (LAD) – Evan Phillips and Brusdar Graterol have both pitched in two straight.

Monday
1. John Winckowski (BOS) – If Christ Martin pitches on Sunday, it will be two straight and three of four.
2. Joel Payamps (MIL) – If Devin Williams pitches today, it will be three of four and four of six.

Ryan Helsley records first save since returning from injury

September 10, 2023

St. Louis Cardinals – Ryan Helsley pitched a scoreless inning for his first save since returning from the IL while Giovanny Gallegos got the 8th inning.  Helsey has four scoreless appearances since coming back and should be the best option for saves on any given night.

Hierarchy remains: *Helsley | Gallegos | King.
* = closer-by-committee

Texas Rangers — Aroldis Chapman worked around a pair of walks to pitch a scoreless inning and close out a 3-2 Rangers win.  Will Smith picked up the win with a scoreless 8th inning.  The Rangers have been struggling so there haven’t been a ton of save chances but Chapman has recorded the last two saves and should continue to lead this committee.

Hierarchy remains: *Chapman | Smith | Leclerc.
* = closer-by-committee

Detroit Tigers — Alex Lange went 1.1 perfect innings with a pair of strikeouts to pick up his 22nd save of the season.  Lange has cut his walks down and seems to be settling back into the role as he has recorded the last five saves for the Tigers.  We will get rid of the committee label and hope Lange can keep it going through the end of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Lange | Foley | Brieske.

Kansas City Royals – Austin Cox hurt his knee trying to cover 1st base and was placed on the 60-day IL.  The Royals bullpen is a mess and they haven’t had any save chances in September so it’s probably best to just avoid this situation.

Updated hierarchy: *Hernandez | Clarke | Cruz.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Mark Leiter Jr. (CHC) – Adbert Alzolay has pitched in two straight.
2. John King (STL) – Ryan Helsley and Giovanny Gallegos have both pitched in two straight.

Monday
1. Shintaro Fujinami (BAL) – Yennis Cano threw 32 pitches yesterday and will likely get Monday off if he pitches again today.
2. Trevor Stephan (CLE) – If Emmanuel Clase pitches on Sunday, it will be four of five.
3. Kevin Ginkel/Scott McGough (ARI) – If Paul Sewald pitches on Sunday, it will be two straight and three of four. Same for Kevin Ginkel.

Guardians claim Matt Moore, Reynaldo Lopez off waivers

September 1, 2023

Cleveland Guardians – Cleveland is six games under .500, but in the pitiful AL Central that puts them only five games back of the division-leading Twins at the start of September. With that in mind, the Guardians made some big moves Thursday, claiming pitchers Lucas Giolito, Matt Moore and Reynaldo Lopez off waivers from the Angels. For our purposes, Moore and Lopez are interesting additions to the bullpen. We think Moore fits into the hierarchy right away, but expect some shuffling of the many viable options behind Emmanuel Clase.

Updated hierarchy: Clase | Stephan | Moore.

Los Angeles Angels – The Angels lost two hierarchy members Thursday when Cleveland landed both Matt Moore and Reynaldo Lopez. We’ll slot in Jose Soriano, who had four holds in August, and Aaron Loup, who has an ERA above 5.00 on the season but had a pair of holds in August.

Updated hierarchy: Estevez | Soriano | Loup.

Detroit Tigers — Just when it seems like he pulls us back in, Alex Lange burns us once again. On Thursday, Lange was protecting a 3-0 lead in the ninth inning when he yielded a game-tying, three-run shot to blow the save. Lange, who had been on a run of seven straight scoreless outings before Thursday, is still likely the Tigers closer moving forward, but we’ll see how he trends over the final few weeks.

Hierarchy remains: *Lange | Foley | Brieske.
* = closer-by-committee

San Diego Padres — Robert Suarez has dropped his appeal of a 10-game suspension issued over foreign-substance use on the mound. Suarez began serving it Thursday. For the time being, expect Nick Martinez to gather some late-inning holds when the Padres have a slim lead.

Updated hierarchy: Hader | Barlow | Martinez.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Kirby Yates (ATL) – Raisel Iglesias has gone in three straight, while A.J. Minter has pitched in three of four.
2. Tommy Kahnle (NYY) – Clay Holmes has gone in three of four.
3. Mark Leiter Jr. (CHC) – The Cubs play a doubleheader Friday…
4. Lucas Sims (CIN) – … against the Reds.

Saturday:
1. Scott Barlow (SD) – If he goes Friday, that would be four of five for Josh Hader.

Detroit returns to Alex Lange

August 23, 2023

Detroit Tigers — Just when we thought it might be time to anoint Jason Foley Tigers closer, Alex Lange stepped back up to earn two straight saves. There’s been no official word from the team, but if Lange can overcome his struggle with wildness, we expect him to have the edge in a closer rotation.

Updated hierarchy: *Lange | Foley | Brieske.
* = closer-by-committee

Washington Nationals — Mason Thompson is back from the IL and pitching the seventh again, including in last night’s narrow win over the Yankees.

Updated hierarchy: Finnegan | Harvey | Thompson.

Cincinnati Reds — Ian Gibaut picked up a one-out eighth-inning hold on Tuesday and has moved ahead of Buck Farmer in the Reds’ bullpen.

Updated hierarchy: Diaz | Sims | Gibaut.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Jason Foley (DET) — It’s probably Foley’s turn in the Detroit merry-go-round, as Alex Lange has pitched in three of four.
2. Lucas Erceg (OAK) — Trevor May has pitched back-to-back.
3. Scott McGough (ARI) — Paul Sewald and Kevin Ginkel have each pitched in three of four.
4. Tyler Rogers (SF) — Camilo Doval has great numbers overall, but he has blown two straight saves while pitching in two of three. Maybe he’ll rest tonight.

Wednesday:
1. Bryan Abreu/Hector Neris (HOU) — A Ryan Pressly appearance would be three of four.
2. Aroldis Chapman (TEX) — Same for Will Smith.
3. Hunter Harvey (WAS) — And Kyle Finnegan.