Aroldis Chapman to undergo MRI on his knee today

August 22, 2018

New York Yankees — Aroldis Chapman left Tuesday’s tilt after throwing just six pitches, which left Tommy Kahnle to convert the 12th-inning save. After the game, Aaron Boone said that Chapman called for the trainer because he felt pain in his left knee. Chapman, who will undergo an MRI today, said it’s worrisome and Boone is calling this a huge concern. If Dellin Betances is still available in your league, now is the time to get him, as he is likely to get a bulk of the save chances should Chapman need a stint on the DL. Meanwhile, David Robertson was unavailable on Tuesday because of a sore shoulder, but Boone is not overly concerned about it and Robertson said he should be available today if needed.

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Betances | Britton.

Houston Astros — AJ Hinch announced on MLB Network Radio yesterday that he’ll start using Hector Rondon in the seventh and eighth innings while relying on Roberto Osuna as the team’s primary closer. Hinch holds no regard for your fantasy team, however, as Rondon picked up the save on Tuesday while Osuna pitched the eighth. After the game, Hinch said that he had Osuna warming for the seventh in case he was needed to bail the Astros out of a jam. He also said that Osuna might have pitched the ninth as well had he not thrown 28 pitches in the previous inning. We think Hinch will stick to his word and keep Osuna as his primary closer, but be prepared for situations like tonight to arise where Rondon gets a save chance after Osuna is forced into a high-leverage spot in the seventh or eighth.

Updated hierarchy: Osuna | Rondon | McHugh.

Washington Nationals — Kelvin Herrera returned from the DL on Tuesday and finished off a 10-4 win with a 1-2-3 ninth inning. With Sean Doolittle still not close to returning from his injury, Herrera has a strong chance to finish the season as the Nationals’ closer.

Updated hierarchy: Herrera | Glover | Miller.

Minnesota Twins — In our last Twins update, we said that Taylor Rogers may snag a couple more save opportunities if the matchups were right. Well, with the Twins breaking a 2-2 tie in the top half of ninth and a pair of lefties due up for the White Sox, Rogers got the call again and recorded two strikeouts en route to his second save of the season. Trevor May preserved the tie against the top of the White Sox order in the eighth. Rogers is more likely to earn a save when a team has a couple of lefties due up. He is also more likely to earn a save than Addison Reed, who hasn’t recorded a hold since August 10.

Updated hierarchy: *Hildenberger | May | Rogers.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Dellin Betances – Even if Aroldis Chapman doesn’t head to the DL, he may get Wednesday night off anyway.
2. Jordan Hicks – Bud Norris has thrown 39 pitches over the last two days. Hicks had Tuesday off after a 33-pitch effort on Monday.
3. Jared Hughes – Raisel Iglesias threw 29 pitches to record five outs last night. Hughes had Tuesday off following a tough outing on Monday.
4. Hector Rondon – Roberto Osuna hurled 28 pitches last night while Rondon threw only nine. Even with the Astros off on Thursday, AJ Hinch may choose to rest Osuna.

Tomorrow
1. Adam Conley – Drew Steckenrider threw 20 pitches on Tuesday, so a lengthy outing on Wednesday may earn him an off day on Thursday.
2. Craig Stammen/Matt Strahm – An appearance today for Kirby Yates will be his third in four days. Stammen enters today having pitched in three of four.

Trevor Hildenberger with his third straight save, but the job isn’t all his yet

August 16, 2018

Minnesota Twins — Trevor Hildenberger may be getting the hang of this, picking up his third save in as many chances since Fernando Rodney’s departure. Paul Molitor insists that the closer role is still fluid, and although Hildenberger was asked to pick a closer entrance song on Wednesday, so were four other guys with a shot to close (Addison Reed, Trevor May, Taylor Rogers, and Tyler Duffey). Reed has been passed over for those other guys lately in the middle innings, but if Molitor is telling the truth, Reed could still get the next chance.

Hierarchy remains: *Hildenberger | Reed | May.
* = closer-by-committee

Oakland A’s — Oakland is consistently using Fernando Rodney later than Lou Trivino, and we have to believe that Rodney would be the team’s third choice for saves at this point.

Updated hierarchy: Treinen | Familia | Rodney.

Toronto Blue Jays — Ken Giles gave up a one-out home run in the ninth on Wednesday, but he still converted his third save in four days — enough to pull the committee asterisk from the Blue Jays.

Hierarchy remains: Giles | Tepera | Clippard.

Chicago White Sox — Ugh, these guys again. Wednesday it was Jeanmar Gomez to start the ninth with a walk, a single, and a strikeout. Lefty Luis Avilan hadn’t pitched with a lead in two weeks, so of course Rick Renteria called his number. Avilan wasn’t particularly effective, allowing Gomez’s two baserunners to score on two hits, but he managed to secure a third out for his second save. STAY AWAY.

Hierarchy remains: *Cedeno | Vieira | Minaya. 
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Brad Brach — AJ Minter has appeared in three of four.
2. Addison Reed — Two straight nights for Hildenberger and a manager who’s talking matchups.
3. Ryan Tepera — Ken Giles has gone in three of four.
4. Jordan Hicks — So has Bud Norris.
5. Justin Anderson — And Blake Parker.

Friday:
1. Craig Stammen — Kirby Yates has pitched in two of three.

Trevor Hildenberger records save for Twins

August 12, 2018

Minnesota Twins — Trevor Hildenberger received the first post-Fernando Rodney save chance and it got off to a rocky start.  Hildenberger walked the leadoff batter in the ninth, gave up a homer to the next batter to make it a one-run game, and then gave up a single.  He was able to recover by getting the next three batters out, including two strikeouts, to lock down his first save of the season.  It wasn’t pretty, and Hildenberg has given up the most home runs of any Twins’ reliever this season, but it says a lot that Hildenberger got the first chance and converted it.  He thinks he might be tipping his off-speed pitches and we will see if he can figure that out. Trevor May pitched a scoreless eighth inning ahead of Hildenberger and has now recorded holds in three of his five appearances this season.

Updated hierarchy: *Hildenberger | Reed | May.
* = closer-by-committee

Milwaukee Brewers — Josh Hader pitched two perfect innings on Saturday to record his ninth save of the season.  Corbin Burnes pitched a scoreless seventh inning to pick up the win and could continue to see time in the later innings after manager Craig Counsell said he won’t be using Corey Knebel in those situations for a while.

Updated hierarchy: *Hader | Jeffress | Burnes.
* = closer-by-committee

St. Louis Cardinals — Jordan Hicks came on to get the last out of the eighth inning with the Cardinals up 3.  After the Cardinals added two more runs to make it a 5 run lead, Hicks came back out for the ninth to get his third save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Norris | Hicks | Hudson.

Cleveland Indians — Brad Hand got 5 outs between the 7th and 8th innings and that left Cody Allen for the save opportunity in the ninth.  Allen worked around a leadoff hit to pitch a scoreless inning and convert his 22nd save of the season.  The Indians will likely continue to mix and match with Hand and Allen.

Hierarchy remains: *Hand | Allen | Miller.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Dellin Betances – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in two of three, throwing a total of 53 pitches.
2. James Pazos – Edwin Diaz and Alex Colome have both pitched in three straight
3. Jeremy Jeffress – Josh Hader recorded a two-inning save yesterday.

Monday
1. Jared Hughes – If Raisel Iglesias pitches on Sunday, it will be three straight.
2. Adam Conley – The Marlins have a doubleheader on Monday…
3. Brad Brach – …Against the Braves

Kenley Jansen out for a month with heart trouble

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August 10, 2018

Los Angeles Dodgers — Kenley Jansen will miss at least a month with a recurrence of an irregular heartbeat — the same problem that sidelined him in 2011 and 2012, eventually leading to offseason surgery. With Jansen out, Scott Alexander should see the bulk of any save chances, including the one he converted Thursday night.

Updated hierarchy: Alexander | Floro | Chargois. 

Minnesota Twins — Like we told you in last night’s alert, the Twins traded closer Fernando Rodney to the A’s, leaving a committee situation in his wake. We expect Trevor Hildenberger and Addison Reed to lead that committee to start, though both have pitched poorly as of late, leaving things wide open for some of the Twins’ younger arms (subscription). For what it’s worth, Reed got the ninth in a tie game Thursday night, and picked up the loss. Taylor Rogers may get a shot down the stretch — he’s been impressive lately, allowing no runs or walks (and just two hits) over his last seven appearances. Trevor May and Gabriel Moya also have legitimate chances.

Hierarchy remains: *Hildenberger | Reed | Rogers.
* = closer-by-committee

Milwaukee Brewers — Corey Knebel melted down again on Thursday, failing to record an out, putting four guys on base, and inciting more angry tweets from pseudocelebrities. In relief of Knebel, Joakim Soria gave up a grand slam before leaving with a mild groin strain. After the game, Craig Counsell promised to give Knebel a lower-leverage outing next time, although he added that he expected Knebel to reclaim the ninth before long. For now, we’ll slide him behind Josh Hader and Jeremy Jeffress, each of whom have been phenomenal this season.

Updated hierarchy: *Hader | Jeffress | Knebel.
* = closer-by-committee

Colorado Rockies — Wade Davis’s days as Rockies closer are numbered — or they should be, after Thursday night’s loss sent his ERA soaring to 5.51 and turned the Rockies’ official Twitter account into a group therapy session. Adam Ottavino has been dynamite this year and would likely have the job all to his lonesome if Davis is removed from the role.

Hierarchy remains: Davis | Ottavino | Oh. 

Oakland A’s — The A’s acquired Fernando Rodney from Minnesota, but he doesn’t break into their late-inning hierarchy at this point. Consider him fourth or fifth in line in this strong bullpen.

Hierarchy remains: Treinen | Familia | Trivino.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Josh Hader — Corey Knebel needs some time off and Jeremy Jeffress has gone in two straight.
2. Jose Alvarado/Ryne Stanek — Sergio Romo has pitched in three straight, and Alvarado has gone in two in a row. Although Stanek has been the team’s designated “opener” lately, he might get a shot at the ninth again.
3. Ryan Tepera — Ken Giles has gone in two of three, and has given up runs in five of his last six outings.
4. Cody Allen — Brad Hand has pitched in two straight and these two are splitting opportunities.

Saturday:
1. Justin Miller — Ryan Madson has gone in two of three.

Twins trade Rodney; Hildenberger and Reed could close

August 9, 2018

Minnesota Twins — Fernando Rodney was traded to Oakland on Thursday night, leaving a question mark at the back of the Twins’ bullpen. A few weeks ago, we would have guessed Trevor Hildenberger could claim the job, but he’s coming off three consecutive awful outings (7 ER, 2.2 IP). Addison Reed has the most closing experience, but he too has struggled (4.74 ERA, 1.44 WHIP). The best reliever for Minnesota right now might be Taylor Rogers, who’s got a streak of seven scoreless outings going (three holds). Gabriel Moya is another option, a 23-year-old lefty who has closed for Rochester — and don’t sleep on Trevor May, a former prospect who has come back from an injury strong (7 K in 3.2 IP). For now, we predict an ugly committee headlined by Hildenberger and Reed.

Updated hierarchy: *Hildenberger | Reed | Rogers.
* = closer-by-committee