2023 Donation Drive

With the first postseason save just underway (Can Jhoan Duran protect a 2 run lead??), we we want to thank all our subscribers and supporters for joining us through another season of obsessively tracking bullpens. We hope we’ve helped your fantasy team succeed and given you some entertainment along the way.

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And one more time, THANK YOU for reading. This is our 13th year of writing about bullpens and we could not and would not continue if it wasn’t for all of you. The Closer Monkey team is still just a motley crew of baseball fans who continue to be amazed that so many of you enjoy our coverage and service. 

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-Closer Monkey

Sure looks like a committee in Toronto

August 3, 2023

Toronto Blue Jays – Erik Swanson earned the first save for the Blue Jays in the Jordan Hicks era, but it comes with the caveat that Hicks faced the heart of Baltimore’s order in the eighth. No swap to this hierarchy yet, but we’ll keep an eye on it.

Hierarchy remains: *Hicks | Swanson | Garcia.
*=closer-by-committee

Chicago White Sox — The White Sox announced that Liam Hendriks underwent Tommy John surgery on Wednesday, which will require 12 to 14 months of healing and rehabilitation before he can pitch again. Chicago is likely to decline Hendriks’s $15 million team option for 2024, leaving his MLB future uncertain, but this is not a man to bet against.

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

Detroit Tigers — Alex Lange struck out the first two hitters in the ninth inning with a four-run lead, but then things went off the rails; three walks and a single brought the winning run to the plate. Rookie lefty Tyler Holton entered the game and secured his first career save with a strikeout. 

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

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. AJ Puk (MIA) — David Robertson has pitched in three of the last four games.
2. Seranthony Dominguez (PHI) — Gregory Soto and Craig Kimbrel pitched last night and have gone in three of four.
3. Elvis Peguero (MIL) — Devin Williams blew the save on Wednesday in his second straight day of work, while Joel Payamps has pitched in three of four.
4. Taylor Rogers (SF) — Camilo Doval and Tyler Rogers have each pitched in four of five.

Friday:
1. Justin Topa (SEA) — An appearance for Andres Muñoz tonight would be three of four and five of seven.

The Reds call up Eduardo Salazar

May 25, 2023

Arizona Diamondbacks — In what can only be described as an obscene abuse of power, Major League Baseball robbed Miguel Castro of Tuesday’s committee-making save and stuck him with some nineteenth-century anachronism called a “win.” On Wednesday, in solidarity with Castro, Jose Ruiz selflessly gave up his shot at a vulture save by letting the Phillies tie the score in the ninth inning. Arizona’s overworked relievers are ready for the off day on Thursday.

Hierarchy remains: *Chafin | Castro | McGough.
* = closer-by-committee

Cincinnati Reds — Cincinnati has called up 25-year-old reliever prospect Eduardo Salazar. In 17.2 minor league innings this season, Salazar allowed one earned run while boasting a 35% K rate and a 63% groundout rate, which doesn’t leave room for much else. Something to think about.

Hierarchy remains: Diaz | Sims | Gibaut.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Yennier Cano/Bryan Baker (BAL) — Felix Bautista has gone in two straight. Cano threw 30 pitches on Tuesday.
2. Jason Foley (DET) — Alex Lange has pitched in two of three.
3. Adbert Alzolay (CHC) — Mark Leiter Jr. has gone in two straight.

Friday:
1. Colin Poche (TB) — Pete Fairbanks has gone in two of three, and Jason Adam threw 22 pitches Wednesday.
2. A.J. Minter (ATL) — Both Raisel Iglesias and Nick Anderson threw 20+ pitches last night.
3. Giovanny Gallegos (STL) — Ryan Helsley has gone in two of three (and three of five).
4. Justin Lawrence (COL) — Same for Pierce Johnson.
5. Tyler Rogers (SF) — Camilo Doval has appeared in three of five.

A proven closer collects another save

May 17, 2023

New York Yankees – You read the Vulture Save Watch yesterday and knew Michael King still isn’t pitching on consecutive days, which paved the way for Clay Holmes in the eighth and Wandy Peralta in the ninth to close out a Yankee win.

Hierarchy remains: *King | Peralta | Holmes.
* = closer-by-committee

Texas Rangers – Josh Sborz has a hold in each of his last three appearances, including the eighth inning of last night’s win. Jonathan Hernandez had a second consecutive rough outing on Tuesday and may soon be surpassed by Jose Leclerc, who continues to work through his own struggles, or the recently recalled Joe Barlow.

Updated hierarchy: Smith | Sborz | Hernandez.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Justin Topa (SEA) – Paul Sewald threw 27 pitches last night.
2. Bryse Wilson (MIL) – Both Devin Williams (27 pitches) and Peter Strzelecki (30 pitches) had heavy workloads last night.
3. Miguel Castro (ARI) – Andrew Chafin has gone in two straight and four of five. Scott McGough threw 49 pitches last night.
4. John Brebbia (SF) – Camilo Doval (39 pitches) has pitched in two straight games while Tyler Rogers threw 27 pitches last night, so Brebbia (19 pitches last night) is the best rested of the Giants hierarchy.

Tomorrow
1. Wandy Peralta/Clay Holmes (NYY)– If Michael King pitches tonight, don’t expect him to pitch on Thursday.

The Yankees expect to get two relievers back from injury

June 29, 2021

New York Yankees — Justin Wilson and Darren O’Day are expected back for New York on Tuesday. Time will tell how quickly the two return to higher-leverage use.

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Green | Loaisiga.

Baltimore Orioles — Paul Fry pitched the eighth in a tie game and was sent back out for the ninth even after the team took a five-run lead. This was colossally dumb, and three singles and a hit batsman later, the O’s needed Adam Plutko to intervene for a save. In fairness, manager Brandon Hyde may have been playing first base for the Winston-Salem Warthogs the last time Baltimore scored five in the ninth. 

Hierarchy remains: *Fry | Sulser | Harvey.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Tanner Rainey (WAS) — Brad Hand has pitched back-to-back and got five outs on Monday.
2. Hunter Harvey (BAL) — See above. Paul Fry threw a lot more pitches than he should have.

Wednesday:
1. Mike Mayers (LAA) — Raisel Iglesias has gone in two straight.