Yates snags a save while Scott moves up in Miami

July 22, 2023
Miami Marlins – Marlins manager Skip Schumaker gave out a vote of confidence for closer AJ Puk yesterday. Puk has had a brutal July, but with the Marlins in the middle of a 7 game skid he is still has their most recent save opportunity and conversion. One bright spot during the losing streak has been Tanner Scott, who has an 8 game scoreless streak going, and was mentioned as being in line for higher leverage spots. This is enough to get him on the hierarchy, but watch the Marlins come deadline day, they may be shopping for outside help. 

Updated hierarchy: Puk | Floro | Scott.

Atlanta Braves – After throwing 22 pitches on Thursday, Raisel Iglesias was given the night off, which left Kirby Yates to protect a 2 run lead. He walked a couple batters, but finished the game with a gorgeous back door slider after an 11 pitch at bat. Yates should continue to be the top choice for Atlanta when Iglesias needs a break, at least until AJ Minter and Nick Anderson are ready to return. 

Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Yates | Jimenez.

Toronto Blue Jays — The Blue Jays acquired recently DFA’d Cardinal Genesis Cabrera in a trade yesterday. Just like the Cardinals, Cabrera has been struggling throughout the year. He has kept his K-rate high, but has been getting hit hard when batters do make contact so maybe a change of scenery will do wonders for him. He is nowhere near ready to crack the hierarchy in Toronto, but could be a holds option if he can turn his season around. 

Hierarchy remains: Romano | Swanson | Garcia.

Vulture Save Watch:

  1. Bryan Abreu (HOU) — Ryan Pressly has pitched 3 in a row.
  2. Jason Adam (TB) — Pete Fairbanks has pitched in back to back games, throwing 34 pitches in that span.
  3. Andres Munoz (SEA) — Paul Sewald has pitched back to back, throwing 37 pitches.

For Sunday:

  1. Erik Swanson/Yimi Garcia (TOR) — Today would be 3 in a row for everyone in the Toronto hierarchy.
  2. Lucas Sims/Buck Farmer (CIN) — Today would be back to back and 3 of 4 for Alexis Diaz.
  3. Nick Martinez/Robert Suarez (SD) — Same for Josh Hader.

Tanner Scott and David Robertson record saves while Michael Fulmer blows one.

April 16, 2023

Miami Marlins — The Marlins have won four in a row and have eight wins on the season but yesterday was their first save since the second game of the season.  It went to Tanner Scott, who pitched a perfect 9th inning for his first save of the season.  Dylan Floro and A.J. Puk both pitched the day before and have typically been pitching after Scott, but this is a good reminder that this looks to be a true committee at this point.

Hierarchy Remains: *Floro | Puk | Scott.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago Cubs — Michael Fulmer has the Cubs only save so far this season and got the call in the 9th inning yesterday to try and close out a 1-0 game.  Unfortunately Fulmer could not get the job done and he blew the save and took the loss after allowing a walk-off two-run single.  Fulmer had a chance to distance himself from his competition but instead the situation becomes a little murkier with Brandon Hughes returning from the IL.  We still think Fulmer is the reliever most likely to see saves for the Cubs but we will see how this setback affects his usage moving forward.

Updated hierarchy: *Fulmer | Boxberger | Hughes.
* = closer-by-committee

New York Mets — After Adam Ottavino picked up the last save for the Mets, it was right back to David Robertson yesterday.  Robertson pitched a scoreless 9th inning for his third save of the season.  Robertson could be used before the 9th inning in certain situations but he has three saves to Ottavino’s one so far and we expect that to continue.

Hierarchy remains: *Robertson | Ottavino | Raley.
* = closer-by-committee

Pittsburgh Pirates — Dauri “Money” Moreta picked up an extra innings save yesterday after he pitched a scoreless bottom of the 10th inning with the Pirates up 6-3.  David Bednar and Colin Holderman pitched the 8th and 9th inning and Duane Underwood Jr. was likely unavailable after pitching in the two previous games.  

Hierarchy Remains: Bednar | Holderman | Underwood.

Arizona Diamondbacks – The Diamondbacks brought in Scott McGough to protect a one-run lead in the 7th inning but he couldn’t get the job done.  He allowed three hits while only recording one out and ended up with the loss.  Andrew Chafin still has a 0.00 ERA on the season while McGough’s jumped over 9.00.  It’s still early but Chafin could have a chance to take a hold of this job for himself.

Updated hierarchy: *Chafin | McGough | Castro.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Chris Martin – Kenley Jansen has pitched in two straight.
2. Adam Cimber – Jordan Romano and Erik Swanson have both pitched in two straight.
3. Kendall Graveman/Aaron Bummer – Reynaldo Lopez has pitched in two straight. Kendall Graveman threw 33 pitches yesterday so if they are both unavailable, Aaron Bummer could be an option to close.
4. Trevor Stephan – Emmanuel Clase and James Karinchak have both pitched in two straight.
5. Jose Cisnero – Alex Lange has pitched in three of the last four.

Monday
1. Giovanny Gallegos – Ryan Helsley threw 27 pitches yesterday and if he pitches again today, he will likely get Monday off.

Marlins could have a new closer in September

August 25, 2019

Miami Marlins – The Marlins, who haven’t recorded a save since July 24th, could have a new closer in September.  Their opening day starter Jose Urena will likely be used as closer when he returns from the IL.   Urena throws hard and could do well in the closer’s role, but don’t expect many saves out of a team who hasn’t converted one in over a month.

Hierarchy remains: *Garcia | Quijada | Stanek.
* = closer-by-committee

Toronto Blue Jays – Derek Law picked up a five out save last night.  Ken Giles is expected to rejoin the team on Sunday after the birth of his son but his time away has confirmed that Law is certainly the handcuff at this point.

Hierarchy remains: Giles | Law | Shafer.

Houston Astros — Roberto Osuna got a much needed day off on Saturday after pitching in five of the previous six days and Will Harris converted the vulture save chance.  Harris should continue to see save chances when Osuna is unavailable.  

Hierarchy remains: Osuna | Harris | Rondon.

Cleveland Indians – Brad Hand converted his second straight save chance yesterday with a scoreless ninth inning.  Meanwhile in the minor leagues, perhaps the Indians’ closer of the future, James Karinchak, is striking out batters at a ridiculous rate.  Fantasy owners will want to keep an eye on Karinchak in the future.

Hierarchy remains: Hand | Wittgren | Goody.

Minnesota Twins — Taylor Rogers retired all five batters that he faced, including three strikeouts, to close out a Twins 8-5 victory yesterday.  Rogers has now recorded the last two saves for the Twins after Sergio Romo got the prior two saves.  This will likely continue as a committee through the rest of the season with Rogers getting a few more save chances that Romo. 

Hierarchy remains: *Rogers | Romo | Dyson.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Nick Wittgren – Brad Hand has pitched in two straight and three of four.
2. Matt Barnes – Brandon Workman has pitched in three of the past four, throwing a total of 61 pitches.

Monday
1. Shane Greene – If Mark Melancon pitches on Sunday, it will be his third appearance in four days.

Sergio Romo dealt as trade deadline nears

July 28, 2019

Miami Marlins — As we mentioned yesterday, Sergio Romo has been traded to the Twins, and Nick Anderson is expected to close.  There is a chance that Anderson gets traded as well, and it’s less clear who is behind him.  One option is Jose Quijada, as he picked up a save earlier this season.  Another sleeper is Jarlin Garcia, who has not allowed an earned run in his last sixteen appearances.  We will slot these two lefties behind Anderson for now.  Tayron Guerrero is a hard-throwing righty who profiles more like a traditional closer, but he has struggled since returning from the IL (4 ER in 4 IP) and his high walk rate (28 BBs in 35 IP) might prevent him from being used in the later innings.

Updated hierarchy: Anderson | Quijada| Garcia.

Minnesota Twins — The Twins bolstered their bullpen yesterday by acquiring Marlins’ closer, Sergio Romo.  Taylor Rogers has been fantastic this year and should continue to see the most save opps.  However, Sergio Romo is a veteran closer and the Twins have not been shy about using Taylor Rogers earlier in games or for multiple innings, which should leave save chances for Sergio Romo as well.  We will put this in a committee for now and see how things play out.

Updated hierarchy: *Rogers | Romo | May.
* = closer-by-committee

Cincinnati Reds – Raisel Iglesias struck out a pair in a perfect ninth inning yesterday for his 18th save of the season.  The Reds are willing to listen to offers for Iglesias so he will be a name to watch as the trade deadline approaches this week.

Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Lorenzen | Garrett.

Houston Astros — All-Star reliever Ryan Pressly is battling soreness in his right knee and the Astros are considering placing him on the IL.  Roberto Osuna has been a little shaky recently, giving up an earned run in his last three appearances, and five of his last seven.  If Pressly misses time, the Astros may be more aggressive in acquiring bullpen help at the deadline.  

Hierarchy remains: Osuna | Pressly | Harris.

Kansas City Royals — Jake Diekman has been traded to the A’s.  Fellow lefty Tim Hill should take Diekman’s place in the later innings for the Royals.

Updated hierarchy: Kennedy | Barlow | Hill.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Shawn Armstrong – Mychal Givens has pitched in two of three, throwing a total of 51 pitches.

Wade Davis converts save while Drew Steckenrider blows save

August 19, 2018

Miami Marlins – Drew Steckenrider got his first save chance since Kyle Barraclough was removed from the closer’s role, but he couldn’t convert.  He gave up a game-tying home run to the first batter he faced but was able to get out the inning without any further damage to keep the game tied.  Steckenrider ended up with the win after the Marlins took the lead back in the top of the 10th and Brett Graves picked up his first career save with a scoreless bottom of the inning.  Graves has made eleven appearances and the Marlins have 9 losses and 2 wins in those games.  In the 2 wins, Graves has a win and a save so he is certainly making the most of his appearances in Marlins’ wins.  Adam Conley threw 1.2 scoreless innings earlier in the game and could be an option for future save chances, but he gave up 5 runs in his previous outing so we will see where the Marlins turn next.

Hierarchy remains: *Steckenrider | Conley | Guerra.
* = closer-by-committee

Colorado Rockies — Wade Davis converted his 34th save of the season on Saturday night.  Since giving up three runs on August 9th, Davis has strung together four straight scoreless appearances, picking up a win and two saves during that time.  He may be back on track and seems to have cooled down his hot seat for now.

Hierarchy remains: Davis | Ottavino | Oh. 

Atlanta Braves — AJ Minter blew the save on Saturday, giving up three runs in the ninth inning.  Minter has been so good recently, only one run in his previous twelve innings, that one blown save probably isn’t much cause for concern.  However, a cut on his finger could be cause for concern.  Minter said the cut did not affect his pitches, but this is something worth monitoring to see if it becomes a bigger issue.

Hierarchy remains: Minter | Brach | Winkler.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Brad Brach – Brach could see a save chance if AJ Minter’s cut on his finger is bothering him today.

Monday
1. Kevin McCarthy/Brandon Maurer – If Wily Peralta goes on Sunday, it will be two straight and three of four. The same will be true for McCarthy and Maurer so if one of them is rested on Sunday, he could get the save chance on Monday.