Jose Alvarado has more September saves than Craig Kimbrel

September 22, 2023

Philadelphia Phillies — On Thursday, Jose Alvarado notched his third save in September — in all of the saves, Craig Kimbrel served as his setup man, so this situation definitely has entered committee status. Kimbrel himself has just two saves in September.

Updated hierarchy: *Kimbrel | Alvarado | Dominguez.
* = closer-by-committee

Los Angeles Angels – Rookie fireballer Ben Joyce returned earlier in September after a multi-month absence and has looked impressive, striking out four in four scoreless innings, including an eighth-inning hold Thursday. Jimmy Herget served as an opener earlier this week, so that’s enough evidence for us to slide Joyce back into the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Estevez | Soriano | Joyce.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Brusdar Graterol (LAD) – Evan Phillips has gone in two straight.

Saturday:
1. Shintaro Fujinami (BAL) – An outing Friday would be four of six for Yennier Cano.
2. Jose Soriano (LAA) – Carlos Estevez threw 29 pitches in a rough outing Thursday and if he goes Friday he’d very likely be out Saturday.

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.

A tour around the AL West

August 30, 2023

Texas Rangers – With both Aroldis Chapman and Will Smith available, the Rangers went to Smith in the eighth inning to protect a 1-0 lead against the top of the Mets order. Smith needed just seven pitches to retire the side, leaving the final three outs for Chapman. The Rangers added an insurance run in the top of the ninth to make it a 2-0 game, which turned out to be huge as Chapman allowed a two-out homer that cut the lead to 2-1. Chapman rebounded by inducing a groundout to earn the save. There’s still a possibility that Smith gets another save chance or two, but Chapman appears to have the inside track based on what we’ve seen so far this week.

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

Los Angeles Angels – The Angels placed a bunch of guys on waivers yesterday, including relievers Reynaldo Lopez and Matt Moore. We’ll wait to see where Lopez and Moore land, but it’s safe to say there should be a few contenders interested in their services.

Hierarchy remains: Estevez | Lopez | Moore.

Houston Astros – Ryan Pressly was unavailable in the Astros’ 6-2 win over the Red Sox on Tuesday because he was sick, but Dusty Baker hopes to have Pressly available today.

Hierarchy remains: Pressly | Abreu | Neris.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Tommy Kahnle (NYY) – Clay Holmes has pitched in two straight.
2. Austin Cox (KC) – So has Carlos Hernandez.
3. Hector Neris (HOU) – If for some reason Ryan Pressly is still sick, Neris is the best bet to fill in on Wednesday as Bryan Abreu threw 25 pitches on Tuesday.
4. Giovanny Gallegos (STL) – JoJo Romero completed two innings of work yesterday.
5. Steven Wilson/Scott Barlow (SD) – Both Josh Hader and Robert Suarez have pitched in two straight.

Tomorrow:
1. AJ Minter/Kirby Yates (ATL) – If Raisel Iglesias pitches today that will be two straight. An appearance today for AJ Minter would be three in a row.
2. Hunter Harvey/Mason Thompson (WAS) – Each member of the Washington hierarchy threw over 20 pitches last night, so if any of them pitch today they will likely be down on Thursday.

Jason Foley picks up another save for the Tigers

August 20, 2023

Detroit Tigers – Jason Foley struck out a pair in a perfect 9th inning to record his 7th save of the season.  Foley has recoreded the last three saves for the Tigers and one more should be enough to kick the asterisk.

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

Los Angeles Angels – As predicted in the Vulture Save Watch, Carlos Estevez received the day off and Reynaldo Lopez picked up the save in game one of their doubleheader.

Hierarchy remains: Estevez | Lopez | Moore.

Los Angeles Dodgers – Evan Phillips pitched a perfect 9th inning in game one to earn his 19th save of the season.  The Dodgers won game two of the doubleheader also and this time Brusdar Graterol closed it out for his 6th save of the season.  Score another one for the Vulture Save Watch.

Hierarchy remains: Phillips | Graterol | Ferguson.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Beau Brieske (DET) – Jason Foley has pitched in two straight and three of four.
2. AJ Minter/Kirby Yates (ATL) – Raisel Iglesias has pitched in two straight and three of four. AJ Minter has also pitched in two straight but has only thrown 14 pitches.

Monday
1. Austin Cox (KC) – If Carlos Hernandez pitches today, it will be three of four.

Dominic Leone earns a save

August 9, 2023

Los Angeles Angels – All three members of the Angels’ hierarchy were unavailable on Tuesday, which left the save chance to deadline acquisition Dominic Leone. He converted for his first save as an Angel.

Hierarchy remains: Estevez | Lopez | Moore.

Miami Marlins – Andrew Nardi pitched a perfect seventh inning and Tanner Scott followed with a perfect eighth inning in last night’s win, and we’ll adjust the hierarchy accordingly.

Updated hierarchy: Robertson | Scott | Nardi.

Pittsburgh Pirates – Yerry De Los Santos was sent down to Triple-A on Tuesday, making room for Carmen Mlodzinski on the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Bednar | Holderman | Mlodzinski.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today

1. Yennier Cano (BAL) – Felix Bautista threw 30 pitches in last night’s blown save.
2. Colin Holderman/Carmen Mlodzinski (PIT) – David Bednar has gone two straight and four of five. Holderman threw 20 pitches last night and has gone in two of three.
3. AJ Minter (ATL) – Raisel Iglesias has gone back to back.
4. Robert Garcia (WAS) – The entire Washington hierarchy has pitched in four of five, so we’re going off the board with Garcia, who was one of the few relievers who did not pitch during yesterday’s doubleheader.

Tomorrow
1. Jason Adam/Colin Poche (TB) – If either Poche or Pete Fairbanks pitch today, that’ll be two straight.
2. Trevor Stephan/Enyel De Los Santos (CLE) – If either Stephan or Emmanuel Clase pitch today that will be two straight and three of four.
3. Bryan Abreu (HOU) – An appearance today will be two in a row for Ryan Pressly.
4. Seranthony Dominguez/Gregory Soto (PHI) – Same is true for Craig Kimbrel and the rest of the Philadelphia hierarchy…
5. Brusdar Graterol/Caleb Ferguson (LAD) – …as well as Graterol and Evan Phillips.