Scott McGough hits the IL; Camilo Doval roughed up

September 18, 2023

San Francisco Giants – Camilo Doval entered the 9th with a 5-run lead and promptly got into a mess of trouble, allowing 4 runs while only logging two outs, eventually departing with the tying run on first base. Taylor Rogers came on to get the 1-out save, his second of the season. Don’t you just love when your closers pitch in non-save situations?

Hierarchy remains: Doval | Ty.Rogers | Ta.Rogers.

Los Angeles Dodgers – The Dodgers’ top arms needed a rest, and fortunately, some early offense and a strong bulk outing by Ryan Yarbrough allowed them to turn to struggling rookie Gavin Stone for the final out of the 6th inning. Stone proceeded to turn in by far the best outing of his young career — it was, in fact, the first of his 7 career appearances whereby he didn’t allow a run — and recorded the game’s final 10 outs for his first save.

Hierarchy remains: Phillips | Graterol | Ferguson.

Arizona Diamondbacks – Scott McGough was placed on the IL with shoulder inflammation on Sunday; expect Miguel Castro to get more holds in his absence.

Updated hierarchy: Sewald | Ginkel | Castro.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Jordan Weems – Kyle Finnegan has gone back to back and Hunter Harvey has gone in two of three, including 30 pitches yesterday.
2. Beau Brieske – Alex Lange and Jason Foley have gone back to back.

Tomorrow
1. Brusdar Graterol/Caleb Ferguson – If Evan Phillips or Brusdar Graterol go today, it’s three of four.
2. Giovanny Gallegos/John King – If Ryan Helsley or Giovanny Gallegos go today, it’s back to back.
3. Danny Coulombe/Shintaro Fujinami – Same for Yennier Cano and Danny Coulombe.

Kenley Jansen leaves game with injury

August 24, 2023

Boston Red Sox – Kenley Jansen left Wednesday’s game with right hamstring tightness after retiring the first batter he faced in the ninth inning. If Jansen misses any time, Chris Martin will be the frontrunner to close games for Boston. Martin pitched the eighth inning of a tie game on Tuesday, so Josh Winckowski closed out the win in the 10th.

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Martin | Winckowski.

San Francisco Giants – Camilo Doval’s struggles continued on Wednesday, as he became the first player in franchise history to blow a save in four straight appearances. Thankfully for the Giants, they retook the lead in the 10th and eventually Ryan Walker came on to record the final out and lock up his first MLB save. Manager Gabe Kapler, who said after Tuesday’s game that Doval needed to mix his pitches better, said on Wednesday that the game is moving fast for Doval. The Giants are off on Thursday, but we’ll see how Kapler uses Doval this weekend against Atlanta.

Hierarchy remains: Doval | Ty. Rogers | Ta. Rogers.

St. Louis Cardinals — JoJo Romero pitched the final two innings of last night’s 6-4 win over Pittsburgh and now has the Cardinals’ last two saves, albeit over 10 days apart. In addition, Romero has pitched the ninth in his other three appearances between those two saves. We’ll swap him and Giovanny Gallegos accordingly.

Updated hierarchy: *Romero | Gallegos | Pallante.
* = closer-by-committee

Colorado Rockies – Justin Lawrence’s rough stretch continued on Wednesday, as he suffered his third blown save over his last five appearances. Lawrence may have been a bit unlucky on Tuesday, but he’s now allowed eight earned runs over his last three outings. We’ll see just how long a leash the Rockies give Lawrence, but you have to imagine it’s getting shorter and shorter.

Hierarchy remains: Lawrence | Bard | Koch.

San Diego Padres – Robert Suarez is facing a 10-game suspension after being ejected from Wednesday’s game following a foreign substance check. We’ll let you know when the suspension becomes official.

Hierarchy remains: Hader | Suarez | Wilson.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. John Schreiber (BOS) – Kenley Jansen is likely unavailable today after his injury on Wednesday. Chris Martin threw 29 pitches yesterday and Josh Winckowski has gone in two straight, combining for 46 pitches.
2. Aaron Bummer/Jimmy Lambert (CHW) – Gregory Santos threw 36 pitches in yesterday’s blown save. Aaron Bummer tossed 28 pitches of his own on Wednesday while Bryan Shaw has thrown 47 pitches over the last two days.
3. Griffin Jax (MIN) – Jhoan Duran threw 34 pitches yesterday.
4. Hector Neris (HOU) – Both Ryan Pressly and Bryan Abreu have gone in three of four.
5. Buck Farmer (CIN) – Alexis Diaz has gone in two straight, Lucas Sims threw 31 pitches last night and Ian Gibaut has pitched back-to-back nights.
6. Daniel Bard (COL) – Justin Lawrence threw 25 pitches yesterday and may get a breather today.
7. Brusdar Graterol (LAD)/Trevor Stephan (CLE) – The Dodgers and Guardians will complete last night’s suspended game before playing their regularly scheduled contest today, which means there could be a vulture save opportunity for one or both teams.

Friday:
1. Jason Adam (TB) – If Pete Fairbanks pitches today that will be back-to-back days of work.
2. Tyler Rogers (SF) – The Giants are off today but Camilo Doval may get another day of rest to get himself right.
3. Mark Leiter Jr. (CHC) – If Adbert Alzolay goes doay that will be two in a row.
4. Kevin Ginkel/Scott McGough (ARI) – If either Paul Sewald or Ginkel pitches today that will be three of four.

Recapping a relatively calm Deadline Day

August 2, 2023

Kansas City Royals – As expected, the Royals dealt closer Scott Barlow, sending him to the Padres. We expect Carlos Hernandez to lead a committee that includes Taylor Clarke and Dylan Coleman.

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

San Diego Padres — The Padres traded for Royals closer Scott Barlow on Tuesday, giving them an experienced option for saves should Josh Hader be unavailable. We’ll see if the Padres simply deploy Barlow in the eighth or use him in a high-leverage spot regardless of inning.

Updated hierarchy: Hader | Barlow | Suarez.

Philadelphia Phillies – With Craig Kimbrel unavailable, Gregory Soto pitched the eighth with the Phillies trailing by a run. Seranthony Dominguez came on once the Phillies took a 3-1 lead in the ninth and earned his first save of the season. Both Dominguez and Soto are candidates to fill in for Kimbrel in the ninth, as they have now each recorded a save since Dominguez returned from the IL last week.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Soto | Dominguez.

Arizona Diamondbacks – The Diamondbacks traded Andrew Chafin to the Brewers on Tuesday. Scott McGough, who secured a save on Monday, returns to the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Sewald | Ginkel | McGough.

Colorado Rockies — The Rockies shipped Brad Hand to the Braves on Tuesday, which means Jake Bird returns to the hierarchy. One name to keep an eye on is Tyler Kinley, who was activated from the IL on Tuesday after recovering from Tommy John surgery. Kinley was one of the Rockies’ best relievers last season before his injury and may very well return to high-leverage situations this year.

Updated hierarchy: *Lawrence | Bard | Bird.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago White Sox – The White Sox dealt one final reliever on Tuesday, sending Keynan Middleton to the Yankees. It’s a pretty underwhelming group behind Gregory Santos and Aaron Bummer. Bryan Shaw  joins the hierarchy by default.

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

San Francisco Giants – The entire Giants hierarchy received a day off after some heavy lifting the previous three games. Ryan Walker got the seventh in a tie game and stayed on for the eighth when the Giants grabbed a one-run lead. He remained in the game for the first two batters of the ninth before making way for Sean Manaea. The lefty induced a fly out before his catcher, Patrick Bailey, ended the game with a fantastic snap throw to first to ensure Manaea recorded his first MLB save.

Hierarchy remains: Doval | Ty. Rogers | Ta. Rogers.

New York Mets – The Mets lost in extra innings to the Royals on a walk-off balk.

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

VULTURE SAVE WATCH

Today:
1. Yennier Cano (BAL) – Felix Bautista threw 35 pitches Monday and may get a second day off today.
2. Jason Adam (TB) – Pete Fairbanks only threw four pitches yesterday but it was a second straight day of work.
3. Taylor Clarke (KC) – Carlos Hernandez has pitched in four of five.
4. A.J. Puk (MIA) – David Robertson threw 24 pitches in a blown save on Tuesday.

Thursday:
1. Erik Swanson (TOR) – Jordan Hicks threw 15 pitches in his Toronto debut on Tuesday and if he goes again today it’s unlikely they pitch him three straight days.
2. Griffin Jax (MIN) – An appearance today would be two in a row for Jhoan Duran.
3. Joel Payamps/Elvis Peguero (MIL) – Same is true of both Devin Williams and Joel Payamps.
4. Colin Holderman (PIT) – It’s also true for David Bednar.

Adbert Alzolay ascends in Cubs’ bullpen while Jordan Hicks records a save

June 18, 2023

Chicago Cubs — Adbert Alzolay picked up his 4th save of the season by striking out a pair in a scoreless 9th inning yesterday.  Mark Leiter Jr. pitched the 7th and 8th inning ahead of Alzolay.  Alzolay has eight straight scoreless appearances and has recorded three of the last four saves for the Cubs.  He also has a sparkling 1.97 ERA and 0.88 WHIP on the season.   We will move Alzolay to the top of this committee and see if he can separate himself from the rest of the pack.

Updated hierarchy: *Alzolay | Leiter Jr. | Fulmer.
* = closer-by-committee

Arizona Diamondbacks – Scott McGough got the last two outs yesterday to pick up his third save of the season.  McGough has recorded two of the last three saves for the Diamonbacks and has not allowed an earned run in his last fourteen appearances.  Andrew Chafin was likely unavailable yesterday after pitching in the previous two games but he hasn’t recorded a save since May 29th and may not be at the top of this committee for much longer.

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

St. Louis Cardinals – In their first save chance since Ryan Helsley was placed on the injured list, the Cardinals used Giovanny Gallegos in the 8th inning. That left Jordan Hicks for the save opportunity in the 9th inning and he struck out the side for his first save since 2019.  Hicks struggled to start this season but is rounding into form with 13 strikeouts in just 6.2 innings in June.  Gallegos was used in the higher leverage situation yesterday and should be the primary source for saves while Helsey is out but if Hicks can keep throwing pitches like this, he might steal some save chances.

Updated hierarchy: *Gallegos | Hicks | VerHagen.
* = closer-by-committee

Miami Marlins – A.J. Puk has pitched six scoreless innings since his return in early June and has recorded all three of the Marlins save.  Puk has eliminated any concerns of a committee in Miami. 

Updated hierarchy: Puk | Floro | Scott.

Philadelphia Phillies — Jeff Hoffman picked up the 12th inning save for the Phillies yesterday.  Also, Seranthony Dominguez was placed on the IL.  Gregory Soto should see more time in the later innings while Dominguez is out.

Updated hierarchy: Kimbrel | Alvarado | Soto.

Chicago White Sox – Jesse Scholtens picked up an extra inning save for his first career save.  The entire White Sox hierarchy got a second day off after pitching in back-to-back games.

Hierarchy remains: *Graveman | Kelly | Lopez.
* = closer-by-committee

San Francisco Giants – Tristan Beck pitched the final four innings in the Giants 15-0 romp of the Dodgers yesterday to pick up a save.

Hierarchy remains: Doval | Ty. Rogers | Ta. Rogers.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Justin Topa (SEA) – Paul Sewald and Andres Munoz have both pitched in two straight and three of four.
2. Dylan Floro (MIA) – AJ Puk has pitched in two straight and three of four.
3. Jose Alvarado (PHI) – Craig Kimbrel has pitched in three of four.
4. Chris Martin (BOS) – The Red Sox have a doubleheader today…
5. Michael King/Wandy Peralta (NYY) – …against the Yankees.

Monday
1. Nick Martinez (SD) – If Josh Hader pitches today, it will be two straight.
2. Mark Leiter Jr./Michael Fulmer (CHC) – If Adbert Alzolay pitches today, it will be two straight. Same for Mark Leiter Jr.

Two relievers record their first MLB saves

June 17, 2023

San Francisco Giants – With the Giants ahead by two in the 11th and the rest of the hierarchy having already pitched, Jakob Junis collected his first MLB save in memorable fashion after being an integral part of one of the wildest plays you’ll ever see. 

Hierarchy remains: Doval | Ty. Rogers | Ta. Rogers.

Los Angeles Angels — Sam Bachman pitched a perfect final two innings of a 3-0 win last night for his first MLB save, which allowed the Angels’ hierarchy to have a needed night off. Bachman has allowed just one hit in nine innings of work this month, but he only has one hold in addition to the save and is primarily a multi-inning option. 

Hierarchy remains: Estevez | Devenski | Soriano.

Oakland A’s – As expected, Richard Lovelady officially hit the 15-day IL yesterday with a strained left elbow.

Hierarchy remains: *May | Long | Moll.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Lucas Sims (CIN) – Alexis Diaz has gone in three of the last four and five of the past seven days.
2. Jason Adam/Colin Poche (TB) – Pete Fairbanks has pitched in each of his first two games back from the IL.

Tomorrow
1. Erik Swanson (TOR) – If Jordan Romano pitches today that will be two straight and three of four.
2. Tyler Rogers (SF) – That goes for Camilo Doval as well.
3. Joe Kelly/Reynaldo Lopez (CHW) – A Kendall Graveman appearance today would be his third in four days.
4. Bryan Abreu (HOU) – The same is true for Ryan Pressly.
5. Jose Alvarado (PHI) – And for Craig Kimbrel.