Two hits for the vulture save watch and updates from playoff contenders

September 24, 2023
Pittsburgh Pirates — As the Vulture Save Watch noted, David Bednar needed a rest last night, so the 9th inning duties fell to Carmen Mlodzinski. Mlodzinski allowed a run and let the tying run reach 3rd base before an 11 pitch strikeout and a flyout stranded the runner for the first save of his career. Mlodzinski has put together an excellent season, and is a bright spot for the forward looking Pirates, but expect David Bednar to continue to hold his spot in this hierarchy for the rest of the year.

Hierarchy remains: Bednar | Mlodzinski | Borucki.

Philadelphia Phillies — Score another for the Vulture Save Watch as Jose Alvarado was summoned to protect a 2 run lead. He got the job done for his 10th save on the year. The Phillies are close to securing a wildcard spot so the last week could see some more use of Alvarado and Dominguez as they ramp up for the playoffs. 

Hierarchy remains: *Kimbrel | Alvarado | Dominguez.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago Cubs – With a 1 run lead the Cubs turned to Julian Merryweather in the 8th inning, and although he struggled he escaped without giving up a run. This left the 9th not to Mark Leiter Jr. but to Jose Cuas who was acquired by the Cubs in a quiet trade with the Royals. The Cubs scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the 8th to make it a 3 run game, and Cuas converted the save for his first on the year. Mark Leiter has been reluctant to throw his splitter recently (by far his best pitch) and this usage suggests the Cubs don’t trust him without that pitch in his arsenal. We will bump him down for now while bringing Cuas up on the strength of his most recent save.  

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

Boston Red Sox — Kenley Jansen was reinstated from the COVID IL, and although he didn’t pitch yesterday, he will resume closing duties for Boston. 

Updated hierarchy: Jansen | Martin | Winckowski.

Tampa Bay Rays — Jason Adam was returned to injured list Saturday morning and will miss the rest of the regular season. Tampa Bay has locked up a playoff spot so they may be resting key parts of their bullpen anyway, but we expect Andrew Kittridge to see some more late inning looks without Adam.

Updated hierarchy: Fairbanks | Poche | Kittridge.

Chicago White Sox – Aaron Bummer took the 8th inning yesterday which left the 9th for Bryan Shaw. Shaw converted for his 3rd save on the year. We will swap these guys at the top of the hierarchy but with Santos out there is no clear cut number 1 in Chicago.

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

Baltimore Orioles – Yannier Cano was called in to put a fire out in the 8th inning, and with the rest of the Baltimore hierarchy resting the save chance fell to Cionel Perez. Perez converted for his 3rd save on the year. With the Orioles having locked up a playoff spot, don’t expect them to stretch their top arms too far heading into the postseason. 

Hierarchy remains: Cano | Fujinami | Coulombe.

Kansas City Royals – The Royals cannot be stopped. Having won 4 in a row and 8 of their last 9 they gave the ball to Taylor Clarke for the last 2 outs of the 8th in a 1 run game. He got out of the jam, and stuck around for the 9th to land his 3rd save on the year. James McArthur had thrown 19 pitches the day before and was resting, but everything is working for Kansas City right now. Expect this bullpen to continue to be flexible with a week remaining, but McArthur is still the best arm to own. 

Hierarchy remains: *McArthur | Hernandez | Clarke.
* = closer-by-committee

Vulture Save Watch:

  1. Shintaro Fujinami (BAL) — Yennier Cano has pitched in back to back games and may get the day off.
  2. Jordan Hicks (TOR) — Jordan Romano has gone back to back and thrown 43 pitches in that time.
  3. Aaron Bummer (CHW) — Bryan Shaw has thrown back to back and 42 pitches.
  4. Jose Soriano (LAA) — Carlos Estevez has pitched in 3 of 4, including a 19 pitch save yesterday.
  5. AJ Minter (ATL) — The Braves have a doubleheader today…
  6. Hunter Harvey (WAS) — …against the Nationals.

For Monday:

  1. Kevin Ginkel (ARI) — The Diamondbacks play a doubleheader…
  2. Tommy Kahnle (NYY) — …against the Yankees.

James McArthur pitches his way to the top of the Royals’ hierarchy

September 23, 2023

Kansas City Royals – James McArthur pitched 1.2 scoreless innings with a pair of strikeouts to pick up his second save.  McArthur has an ugly ERA because he gave up 7 earned runs in one inning in his first appearance of the season but he has reeled off nine straight scoreless outings and his WHIP on the season is under 1.00.  McArthur moves to the top of this hierarchy and could be worth a pickup for the last week of the season if you need some potential saves and strong ratios.

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

Pittsburgh Pirates — Colin Holderman has been placed on the IL with a right thumb injury.  Ryan Borucki picked up the 7th inning hold yesterday and should see more time in the later innings while Holderman is out.

Updated hierarchy: Bednar | Mlodzinski | Borucki.

New York Yankees — Jhony Brito pitched the final 3.2 innings of a Yankees 7-1 win to pick up his first save.  In other Yankees’ bullpen news, Wandy Peralta was placed on the IL with a triceps injury.  Ian Hamilton will take his place on the hierarchy.  

Updated hierarchy: Holmes | Kahnle | Hamilton.

Boston Red Sox — Kenley Jansen remained out on Friday and Chris Martin pitched a perfect inning for his 3rd save of the season. 

Hierarchy remains: Martin | Winckowski | Whitlock.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Trevor Stephan (CLE) – Emmanuel Clase has pitched in two straight, throwing a total of 57 pitches.
2. Griffin Jax (MIN) – Jhoan Duran has pitched in two of three, including a 34 pitch outing yesterday.
3. Jose Alvarado (PHI) – Craig Kimbrel has pitched in three straight.
4. Carmen Mlodzinski (PIT) – David Bednar has pitched in two straight, throwing a total of 44 pitches.

Sunday
1. AJ Minter (ATL) – The Braves have a doubleheader on Sunday…
2. Hunter Harvey (WAS) – …against the Nationals.

Watch out for the red-hot Royals!

September 20, 2023

Kansas City Royals – Don’t look now, but the Royals have won six of their last seven games! Four different relievers have picked up a save in that span, with Collin Snider earning his first MLB save on Tuesday. Carlos Hernandez faced the 9-1-2 hitters in the eighth and gave up a homer, walk and single before being pulled for James McArthur, who struck out all three hitters he faced to continue a September to remember. McArthur has retired 31 of the 32 hitters he’s faced in September, striking out 11 and walking zero. Hernandez has basically done the opposite, allowing at least one run in five of his six September outings. This still isn’t a bullpen to trust (especially with three games against Houston on the horizon) but McArthur looks to be the best arm to own in Kansas City.

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

Texas Rangers — The Rangers called on Aroldis Chapman to face Rafael Devers and Justin Turner with runners on second and third in a tie game. Chapman struck out Devers and got Turner to ground out to end the threat. Chapman stayed on for a 1-2-3 eighth when the Rangers regained the lead, which left the ninth for Jose Leclerc. The righty completed a perfect inning of his own for the save. Chapman remains the best bet for a save on any given night, but Tuesday proved the Rangers are willing to pitch him in what they deem is the most important spot, regardless of inning.

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

Baltimore Orioles – With the Orioles leading by four, Jack Flaherty was in line for a three-inning vulture save. However, he allowed a leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth. Yennier Cano, who had pitched the previous two days, entered and gave up a single before inducing a double play. After a walk, which included a wild pitch, Brandon Hyde lifted Cano for Cionel Perez, who struck out Jordan Alvarez to collect the save.

Hierarchy remains: Cano | Fujinami | Coulombe.

Boston Red Sox — Kenley Jansen won’t rejoin the team in Texas – he’s projected to be back on Friday.

Hierarchy remains: Martin | Winckowski | Whitlock.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Shintaro Fujinami/Danny Coulombe (BAL) – Yennier Cano has pitched in three straight while Fujinami and Coulombe got yesterday off. It’s likely Brandon Hyde elects to play matchups if his team is leading in the final two innings.
2. Jason Foley/Will Vest (DET) – Alex Lange has gone in three of four, including a 24-pitch blown save last night. Foley has also gone in three of four, though he’s thrown far fewer pitches than Lange. Beau Brieske threw 30 pitches last night. If the Tigers somehow find themselves leading in the ninth inning, they may turn to Vest or even Jose Cisnero.
3. Collin Snider (KC) – Both Carlos Hernandez and Taylor Clarke threw over 25 pitches last night while James McArthur has gone in two straight and three of four, so the Royals could turn to Snider again.
4. Andrew Nardi (MIA) – Tanner Scott has gone in two straight and four of five. He needs a breather.
5. Hunter Harvey (WAS) – Kyle Finnegan has gone in three of four, including a 24-pitch save last night.
6. John King/Drew VerHagen (STL) – Ryan Helsley may get a second day off after working two straight games.
7. Robert Suarez (SD) – Josh Hader has thrown in two straight and three of four.

Tomorrow
1. Hunter Harvey (WAS) – If Kyle Finnegan does go today, it’s very likely he’s down on Thursday.
2. John King/Drew VerHagen (STL) – If Ryan Helsley ends up pitching today that will be three of four.

Giovanny Gallegos placed on the IL

September 19, 2023

Kansas City Royals – James McArthur picked up his first career save on Monday, pitching a scoreless 9th inning after the Royals scored 4 runs against the scuffling Trevor Stephan. With a win, a hold, and now a save, all in the past week, we welcome McArthur to this hierarchy.

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

St. Louis Cardinals – Giovanny Gallegos was placed on the IL with shoulder inflammation. Look for Drew VerHagen to get more holds opportunities in his absence.

Updated hierarchy: Helsley | King | VerHagen.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Jorge Lopez – The entire Baltimore hierarchy has pitched in back to back games, so we’ll tab old pal Jorge Lopez for a possible save chance today.
2. Bryan Abreu – Ryan Pressly threw 31 pitches in a blown save yesterday, and Hector Neris has thrown 53 pitches over the last three days.
3. Andrew Nardi – Tanner Scott has gone in three of four, including a 24-pitch loss last night.
4. Drew VerHagen – Ryan Helsley and John King have gone back to back.

Tomorrow
1. Josh Winckowski – If Chris Martin goes today, it’s back to back and three of four.
2. Robert Suarez – Same for Josh Hader.
3. Jason Foley/Beau Brieske – If Alex Lange or Jason Foley go today, it’s three of four.

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.