Chris Martin closing for Boston this week

September 14, 2023

Boston Red Sox — As we alerted you yesterday, Kenley Jansen has COVID-19 and will be out at least seven days on that specialized IL. Chris Martin should be in line for whatever saves come in Jansen’s absence, with Josh Winckowski, Garrett Whitlock, and John Schreiber in the middle-innings mix.

Updated hierarchy: Martin | Winckowski | Whitlock.

St. Louis Cardinals — Ryan Helsley is pitching back-to-back again already and has three straight saves; let’s axe his asterisk.

Hierarchy remains: Helsley | Gallegos | King.

Pittsburgh Pirates — Carmen Mlodzinski’s second hold in two days officially makes him the third-best reliever on the fourth-best team in the fifth-best division in baseball. Get that on his surprisingly comprehensive Wikipedia page!

Updated hierarchy: Bednar | Holderman | Mlodzinski.

Atlanta Braves — Good show for the Vulture Save Watch, correctly tabbing Kirby Yates for Wednesday’s save with Raisel Iglesias and A.J. Minter each resting after three straight days of use.

Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Minter | Yates.

Miami Marlins — David Robertson isn’t closing for Miami anymore, but he’s found a pretty comfortable home in the seventh inning. Robertson is the only righthander in the Marlins’ top five relievers.

Updated hierarchy: Scott | Nardi | Robertson.

Tampa Bay Rays — Just when we thought the Rays had foresaken their eternal quest to spread out saves, Robert Stephenson earned his first of the season on Wednesday. We’ll keep an eye on it.

Updated hierarchy: Fairbanks | Poche | Stephenson.

Washington Nationals — Mason Thompson was optioned to Rochester on Wednesday, reopening the seventh inning for Jordan Weems.

Updated hierarchy: Finnegan | Harvey | Weems.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Garrett Whitlock (BOS) — The Red Sox play two against . . .
2. Tommy Kahnle (NYY) — . . . the Yankees.
3. Lucas Sims (CIN) — Alexis Diaz has pitched in two straight and three of four.
4. Justin Lawrence (COL) — Tyler Kinley has pitched in three of four.
5. Taylor Rogers (SF) — So have Camilo Doval and Tyler Rogers.

Friday:
1. Colin Holderman (PIT) — David Bednar threw 30 pitches Wednesday and won’t go in three straight.

Felix Bautista leaves game with arm discomfort

August 26, 2023

Baltimore Orioles – Felix Bautista got the first two outs of the 9th inning but then left the game with arm discomfort.  Manager Brandon Hyde hopes he will be ok today but we will keep an eye on this and alert you if Bautista will miss an extended period of time.  Danny Coulombe recorded the one out save yesterday, but Yennier Cano would likely see the bulk of the save chances if Bautista is forced to go on the IL.

Hierarchy remains: Bautista | Cano | Fujinami.

Washington Nationals — Kylie Finnegan got the day off after pitching in two of three, including a 31 pitch save on Thursday.  Hunter Harvey filled in and picked up his 10th save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Finnegan | Harvey | Thompson.

Arizona Diamondbacks – The Diamondbacks had a six run lead heading into the 9th inning but Justin Martinez made a mess of things by giving up a grand slam to cut the lead to two.  Paul Sewald had the night off so Kevin Ginkel got the call and he struck out both batters that he faced for his 4th save of the season.  Score another one for the Vulture Save Watch. 

Hierarchy remains: Sewald | Ginkel | McGough.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Yennier Cano (BAL) – Felix Bautista could be unavailable about leaving yesterday’s game
2. Chris Martin (BOS) – Boston is going to try and stay away from Kenley Jansen for a few days while he recovers from a hamstring injury.
3. Matt Brash (SEA) – Andres Munoz has pitched in three of four, including a 26 pitch outing yesterday.
4. Colin Holderman (PIT) – David Bednar has pitched in two straight and three of four.
5. Caleb Ferguson (LAD) – Evan Phillips has pitched in two straight while Brusdar Graterol threw 31 pitches yesterday.

Sunday
1. Kevin Ginkel (ARI) – If Paul Sewald pitches today, it will be two of three and four of six, including two 28 pitch outings.
2. Mark Leiter Jr. (CHC) – If Adbert Alzolay pitches today, it will be three of four.
3. Reynaldo Lopez/Matt Moore (LAA) – If Carlos Estevez pitches today, it will be two straight and three of four. Same for Reynaldo Lopez.
4. Bryan Abreu/Hector Neris (HOU) – If Ryan Pressly pitches today, it will be two straight and three of four. Same for Bryan Abreu.

Detroit returns to Alex Lange

August 23, 2023

Detroit Tigers — Just when we thought it might be time to anoint Jason Foley Tigers closer, Alex Lange stepped back up to earn two straight saves. There’s been no official word from the team, but if Lange can overcome his struggle with wildness, we expect him to have the edge in a closer rotation.

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

Washington Nationals — Mason Thompson is back from the IL and pitching the seventh again, including in last night’s narrow win over the Yankees.

Updated hierarchy: Finnegan | Harvey | Thompson.

Cincinnati Reds — Ian Gibaut picked up a one-out eighth-inning hold on Tuesday and has moved ahead of Buck Farmer in the Reds’ bullpen.

Updated hierarchy: Diaz | Sims | Gibaut.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Jason Foley (DET) — It’s probably Foley’s turn in the Detroit merry-go-round, as Alex Lange has pitched in three of four.
2. Lucas Erceg (OAK) — Trevor May has pitched back-to-back.
3. Scott McGough (ARI) — Paul Sewald and Kevin Ginkel have each pitched in three of four.
4. Tyler Rogers (SF) — Camilo Doval has great numbers overall, but he has blown two straight saves while pitching in two of three. Maybe he’ll rest tonight.

Wednesday:
1. Bryan Abreu/Hector Neris (HOU) — A Ryan Pressly appearance would be three of four.
2. Aroldis Chapman (TEX) — Same for Will Smith.
3. Hunter Harvey (WAS) — And Kyle Finnegan.

Hunter Harvey, Jordan Romano return from the IL

August 16, 2023

Washington Nationals – Hunter Harvey returned from the IL on Tuesday, pitching a perfect ninth inning with the Nationals trailing by a run. Manager Davey Martinez said that Kyle Finnegan will remain as the team’s closer while Harvey slots into a setup role.

Updated hierarchy: Finnegan | Harvey | Weems.

Toronto Blue Jays – Jordan Romano was also activated from the IL on Tuesday and immediately returned to the closer’s role, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning to seal a 2-1 victory.

Updated hierarchy: Romano | Hicks | Swanson.

Seattle Mariners – The Mariners called upon Andres Muñoz to record the final five outs on Tuesday, but after a clean eighth inning, he promptly blew a three-run lead in the ninth. When Seattle went back on top in the 10th, Tayler Saucedo needed just six pitches to earn his first MLB save. Muñoz has allowed a run in each of his last three appearances, but only one of those runs has been earned. 

Hierarchy remains: Muñoz | Brash | Topa.

Los Angeles Dodgers – Ryan Yarbrough entered the seventh inning with a 6-1 lead and gave up a home run to the first batter he faced. That was his only blemish, however, as he retired the next nine hitters in a row to earn his first MLB save.

Hierarchy remains: Phillips | Graterol | Ferguson.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today

1. Matt Brash (SEA) – Andres Muñoz threw 42 pitches on Tuesday while Brash had the night off.
2. Daniel Bard (COL) – Justin Lawrence has gone back-to-back, including last night’s 21-pitch blown save.
3. Scott McGough (ARI) – Both Paul Sewald and Kevin Ginkel have gone in three of four.

Tomorrow
1. Chris Martin/Josh Winckowski (BOS) – If Martin or closer Kenley Jansen pitch today, that’s two straight and three of four.
2. Trevor Stephan/Enyel De Los Santos (CLE) – If Emmanuel Clase goes today that will be two in a row, which is also true of both Stephan and De Los Santos.
3. Matt Brash (SEA) – Andres Muñoz may need two days off after Tuesday’s 42-pitch outing.
4. Kevin Ginkel/Scott McGough (ARI) – If Paul Sewald does pitch today, that will be two straight and four of five. Same will be true of Ginkel.

Erik Swanson and Will Smith record saves

August 6, 2023

Toronto Blue Jays – A day after Jordan Hicks picked up his first save as a Blue Jay, Toronto went back to Erik Swanson.  Swanson gave up a run but benefited from the Red Sox getting doubled up off second base on a fly out to end the game.   It appears to be a true committee while Jordan Romano is out but we will see if Hicks or Swanson can get a leg up.

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

Texas Rangers – Will Smith was a little shaky yesterday, giving up a two-run homer, but luckily he was staked with a three run lead and was able to close out the win for his 20th save of the season.  Smith has three saves already in August and has five saves since Aroldis Chapman’s save on July 15th. 

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

Chicago White Sox — Gregory Santos has been placed on the bereavement list.  Aaron Bummer and Bryan Shaw combined to finish off the White Sox victory and should continue to fill in for Santos while he is out.

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

Detroit Tigers — For the second straight appearance, Alex Lange really struggled with his control.  Lange walked the first two batters he faced but was able to get a double play from the next batter.  However, after Lange walked Wander Franco, the Tigers pulled him and brought on Beau Brieske.  Brieske retired the only batter he faced for his first save.  If Lange’s control issues continue, we could see Jason Foley and Tyler Holton, who got the 8th inning hold last night, in the mix for saves.

Updated hierarchy: Lange | Foley | Holton

Oakland A’s — The A’s have activated Dany Jimenez from the IL and we expect him to work his way to the back end of their bullpen.

Updated hierarchy: May | Jimenez | Long.

Washington Nationals – Mason Thompson has been placed on the IL.  Andres Machado should see more time in the later innings while Thompson is out.

Updated hierarchy: Finnegan | Weems | Machado.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Wandy Peralta (NYY) – Clay Holmes and Tommy Kahnle have both pitched in three of four while Michael King has pitched in two of three, throwing a total of 39 pitches.
2. Justin Topa (SEA) – Andres Munoz and Matt Brash have both pitched in three of four.
3. Andres Machado/Jose Ferrer (WAS) – Kyle Finnegan and Jordan Weems have both gone in two straight and three of four. Andres Machado has also pitched in two straight.
4. Colin Holderman (PIT) – David Bednar has pitched in two straight, including a blown save yesterday.
5. Bryan Shaw/Insert Reliever Here (CHW) – Gregory Santos is on the bereavement list while Aaron Bummer threw 33 pitches yesterday and Bryan Shaw has gone in two straight. If Bryan Shaw is unavailable, the White Sox will need to dig deep after trading most of their bullpen arms at the deadline.

Monday
1. Griffin Jax (MIN) – If Jhoan Duran pitches on Sunday, it will be three of four and four of six.
2. Aroldis Chapman/Josh Sborz (TEX) – If Will Smith pitches on Sunday, it will be two straight and three of four. Same for Aroldis Chapman.