Garrett Crochet and Jason Adam return

September 21, 2023

Chicago White Sox – Aaron Bummer and Bryan Shaw are in line for saves now that Gregory Santos is out for the year, but they’ll be joined in the bullpen by old friend Garrett Crochet. Although Crochet might be a starter next season, he’s likely to stay in relief for the next few weeks.

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

Chicago Cubs – Mark Leiter Jr. pitched in the sixth inning on Wednesday, with the Cubs down 8-6, and let three more runs score. We’ve got to think this gives Julian Merryweather the inside track at Chicago’s next save chance, with Adbert Alzolay and Michael Fulmer still out injured.

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

Milwaukee Brewers — Elvis has left the building, with righty Peguero hitting the injured list with right elbow trouble. He will miss the rest of the regular season, but could conceivably return for the playoffs. We’ve got Abner Uribe slightly ahead of Hoby Milner and Trevor Megill for the time being.

Updated hierarchy: Williams | Payamps | Uribe.

Tampa Bay Rays — Jason Adam was reinstated from the injured list Thursday morning and should be thrown right back into the Rays’ late-inning mix.

Updated hierarchy: Fairbanks | Adam | Poche.

Detroit Tigers — See! Will! Vest! See Will Vest! We’ll admit he’s not the best. But when the Tigers need a vulture, he’s the righty that they culture. Lange’s a mensch, but on the bench; had to get his arm refreshed. Holy moley, Jason Foley’s gotta sit and watch his homey — that’s Will Vest! Wasn’t stressed: he got five outs with flair and zest. Yes, Detroit chose to exploit their bullpen guest! Will’s ringing up the K’s, Thursday he’ll spank the A’s, see Will Vest, see Will Vest, seeeee Willll Vessssssssst!

Updated hierarchy: Lange | Foley | Vest.

Seattle Mariners — Protecting a three-run lead against the heart of the Oakland lineup on Wednesday, the Mariners went with top arm Andres Muñoz, which left Justin Topa to pull down the save against lesser hitters in the ninth. Muñoz is still the main guy here, but expect him to get the occasional high-leverage eighth.

Hierarchy remains: Muñoz | Brash | Topa.

Philadelphia Phillies — Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth in a tied game, leaving the tenth-inning save to Matt Strahm, making him the sixth Phillie reliever with at least two saves. Strahm, Gregory Soto, Jeff Hoffman, and Seranthony Dominguez are all neck-and-neck (and other-neck-and-other-neck) for that second-in-line spot in Philadelphia’s bullpen.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Alvarado | Dominguez.

Minnesota Twins — Jhoan Duran came into the game in the eighth inning to keep Minnesota within a run, so when Alexis Diaz gave up three in the ninth, it was Griffin Jax called on for the save.

Hierarchy remains: Duran | Jax | Pagan.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Shintaro Fujinami/Danny Coulombe (BAL) — Yennier Cano hasn’t thrown a lot of pitches lately, but an appearance Thursday would be his fourth in five days.

Friday:
1. Jason Foley/Will Vest (DET) — SEE…. WILL… Okay, we won’t put you through the reprise, but Alex Lange has had a lot of work lately and his backups could grab another save against Oakland.
2. Hunter Harvey (WAS) — Kyle Finnegan has pitched a lot recently.

Andres Munoz dealing with nagging injury

September 11, 2023

Chicago Cubs – As expected, Adbert Alzolay got the day off after pitching in two straight, and the Cubs used Jose Cuas, Mark Leiter Jr., Hayden Wesneski, and Julian Merryweather (in that order) to get the game’s final 10 outs. It was Merryweather’s first save of the season, and he’ll likely share 8th inning chances with Leiter going forward, with occasional save opportunities mixed in.

Hierarchy remains: Alzolay | Leiter Jr. | Merryweather.

San Diego Padres – Robert Suarez returns today from his 10-game suspension and should slot back in to his previous high-leverage role.

Updated hierarchy: Hader | Suarez | Barlow.

Seattle Mariners – Andres Munoz is dealing with some hip discomfort and might not pitch for a day or two. Look for Matt Brash to get opportunities in the mean time; we’ll send an alert if Munoz is going to miss significant time.

Hierarchy remains: Munoz | Brash | Topa.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Matt Brash – See above.
2. Jordan Hicks – Jordan Romano has gone in two of three, racking up 57 pitches in the process.
3. Jason Foley – Alex Lange has gone back to back.
4. Jose Soriano – Same for Carlos Estevez.
5. AJ Minter – The Braves have a doubleheader…
6. Jose Alvarado – …against the Phillies.
7. AJ Puk – Tanner Scott and Andrew Nardi have both seen heavy workloads of late and might be down today.

Tomorrow
1. Colin Poche – If Pete Fairbanks goes today, it’s back to back and three of four.
2. Tyler Rogers – Same for Camilo Doval.
3. Tommy Kahnle – If Clay Holmes goes today, it’s back to back.
4. Aaron Bummer – Same for Gregory Santos…
5. Brooks Raley/Drew Smith – …and Adam Ottavino and Brooks Raley…
6. Lucas Sims – …and Alexis Diaz…
7. Joel Payamps – …and Devin Williams.

A pair of first career saves

August 21, 2023

Seattle Mariners – The Mariners were forced to go to their bullpen early, and with only Andres Munoz and Gabriel Speier left as high leverage arms they gave Munoz the 8th inning. This left the 9th for Speier, who converted for his first career save. This was almost certainly a matchup based decision, with Munoz facing 3 righties, and with the rest of the hierarchy having worked to bridge the gap earlier in the game, we aren’t reshuffling the hierarchy just yet. 

Hierarchy remains: Munoz | Brash | Topa.

Detroit Tigers – Jason Foley needed a night off, and it was Alex Lange who got the call in the 9th inning. Lange had been struggling with his command all month, but didn’t walk a single batter and closed the game out for his 18th save on the year. If this had been closer its possible we would’ve seen a different arm coming out for Detroit, but with a clean save here we will slot Lange back into the hierarchy for now. 

Updated hierarchy: *Foley | Brieske | Lange.
* = closer-by-committee

Toronto Blue Jays – With a 7 run lead the Blue Jays gave the ball to Bowen Francis in the 7th inning. He stuck around for 8 and 9 as well to earn his first career save. Francis has put together a solid season for Toronto, but has mostly been used in long relief. 

Hierarchy remains: Romano | Hicks | Swanson.

Vulture Save Watch:

  1. Mark Leiter Jr. (CHC) — Adbert Alzolay has pitched back to back, throwing 40 pitches.

For Tuesday:

  1. Matt Brash (SEA) — Today would be back to back and 3 of 4 for Andres Munoz.
  2. Tyler Rogers (SF) — Camilo Doval threw 29 pitches last night, so any appearance tonight could earn him a day off.

Two days, two saves for Matt Brash

August 18, 2023

New York Mets – With Adam Ottavino and Brooks Raley getting the day off, the Mets used Drew Smith to get out of a tight spot in the 7th inning. That left the save chance to Trevor Gott, who converted for his first of the season.

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

Seattle Mariners – As we suspected, Andres Munoz got another night off, allowing Matt Brash to collect his second save in as many nights. Munoz should slot back in to the highest-leverage role going forward.

Hierarchy remains: Munoz | Brash | Topa.

Arizona Diamondbacks – We figured that almost every relevant reliever would get the night off here, but we didn’t think that Justin Martinez, who prior to last night had a 13.50 ERA across 4.2 innings, would be the one getting the 9th inning. But good on you, Justin, who struck out three in his 1.1 innings of work to pick up his first career save.

Hierarchy remains: Sewald | Ginkel | McGough.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Hunter Harvey – Kyle Finnegan has gone back to back.
2. Kevin Ginkel – Paul Sewald pitched in four out of five from Saturday to Wednesday and might need a second day off.

Tomorrow
1. Brooks Raley/Drew Smith – Adam Ottavino and Brooks Raley have seen heavy workloads lately; if either goes today they’re probably off tomorrow.
2. Brusdar Graterol – If Evan Phillips goes today, it’s back to back.
3. Austin Cox – Same for Carlos Hernandez.

Gregory Santos has forgettable outing

August 17, 2023

Seattle Mariners – Matt Brash picked up his third save of the year, with Andres Munoz getting the day off. Ring the bell for the VSW.

Hierarchy remains: Munoz | Brash | Topa.

San Diego Padres – Scott Barlow has had a rough start to his Padres career, allowing 9 runs across his first four appearances, and while he’s settled down since (three scoreless innings this week), the Padres are still using Robert Suarez as their primary setup man. Barlow could ascend there if he gets himself sorted, but for now, we’ll bump him down a few notches until he sees some higher-leverage work.

Updated hierarchy: Hader | Suarez | Wilson.

Chicago White Sox – Gregory Santos entered the 9th inning with a 2-run lead and ended up taking the loss without recording a single out (double, walk, home run). With a dearth of options for this bullpen, Santos is still committee leader for the time being, but maybe the White Sox shake things up next time.

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

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Justin Topa/Tayler Saucedo – Andres Munoz might need another day off after 42 pitches on Tuesday, while Matt Brash has gone in three of four.
2. Drew Smith – Adam Ottavino and Brooks Raley have gone three of four.
3. Scott McGough – Paul Sewald and Kevin Ginkel have both gone back to back and four of five.

Tomorrow
1. Hunter Harvey – If Kyle Finnegan goes today, it’s back to back.
2. Robert Suarez/Steven Wilson – Same for Josh Hader and Robert Suarez.