Kendall Graveman could return soon

June 4, 2021

Seattle Mariners — Kendall Graveman is out of his COVID-19 quarantine and back in Seattle, though he will likely pitch in a couple of sim games or go on a rehab assignment before being activated. 

Hierarchy remains: *Montero | Middleton | Misiewicz.
* = closer-by-committee

Kansas City Royals — Scott Barlow was excellent Thursday, throwing two hitless innings to pick up his second save (his first came on April 15). He’s the league’s only pitcher with two six-out saves this season, and his season line is great — 1.86 ERA, 43 K in just 29 IP. Greg Holland hasn’t pitched since Monday, so perhaps it was no accident Barlow was out there with the game on the line Thursday. To be fair to Holland, though, Monday’s appearance was his third in three days, so perhaps extra rest was warranted. Mike Matheny will probably mix and match until his top option Josh Staumont makes his return (which could come soon). 

Hierarchy remains: *Holland | Barlow | Zimmer.
* = closer-by-committee

Cincinnati Reds — The Reds got length from two of their committee members on Thursday, as Tejay Antone tossed scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh before Lucas Sims spinned scoreless frames in the eighth and ninth for his fourth save. This bullpen remains very fluid, as Antone will likely be called upon whenever manager David Bell likes the matchups and not necessarily at the end of every close game. Things could get even more fluid when Michael Lorenzen, who hasn’t played yet this season, returns. He was hoping to secure a rotation spot but will pitch out of the ‘pen when he gets back, Bell said.

Hierarchy remains: *Antone | Sims | Hembree.
* = closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox — The Red Sox activated old friend Brandon Workman, who exercised his opt-out clause and forced Boston’s hand. Workman got action in the ninth inning with a 5-0 lead on Thursday and allowed a solo shot to Yuli Gurriel but also recorded two strikeouts. Workman, who excelled as Boston’s closer in 2019, could become a regular in the late innings if he pitches well, but that remains to be seen. 

Hierarchy remains: Barnes | Ottavino | Hernandez.

St. Louis Cardinals — Andrew Miller has returned to the active roster, but he’ll have to pitch well for weeks to factor into the late-inning mix. He has an 8.59 ERA in nine appearances so far this season.

Hierarchy remains: Reyes | Gallegos | Ponce de Leon.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
None, though any closer listed below has pitched in two of three and could conceivably get Friday off. 

Tomorrow
1. Miguel Castro (NYM) – A Friday appearance would be three of four for Edwin Diaz.
2. Carlos Estevez (COL) – Same as above for Daniel Bard.
3. Chad Green (NYY) – Ditto for Aroldis Chapman.
4. Daniel Hudson (WAS) – You get the idea (re: Brad Hand).

Tiered List of Top Relievers for Holds Leagues

March 12, 2021

The addition of the 3 batter rule made holds a little harder to come by last season and took a lot of value out of one-out specialists. Unsurprisingly, this left the top holds list filled with high leverage setup men stuck behind a high-end closer. There also is some value to be found in managers who turn the keys of a close game over to the bullpen early. One final note, this list is about holds, so players who have a good chance of ascending to the closer’s role take a bit of a hit here.

Tier 1.    
1. Devin Williams – MIL

Devin Williams is on his own level as a holds candidate. Elite stuff, but stuck behind perhaps the best closer in the game. Nobody else has that combination this year, so if your league values holds highly, Williams should be a priority target.

Tier 2
2.       Aaron Bummer – CHW
3.       Dellin Betances – NYM
4.       Tanner Rainey — WAS
5.       Adam Ottavino – BOS
6.       Andrew Miller – STL
7.       Chad Green – NYY
8.       Jordan Hicks – STL
9.       Tyler Duffey – MIN
10.   Nick Wittgren – CLE
11.   Blake Treinen – LAD
12.   Jake Diekman – OAK

Tier 2 has a mix of solid pitchers who aren’t likely to close (Rainey, Bummer, Duffy) and elite pitchers who may find eventually find themselves closing (Ottavino, Treinen, Betances). This tier has plenty of opportunity for value in leagues that combine saves and holds into a single category, as these pitchers have a good chance to rack up some of both.

Tier 3
13.   Pete Fairbanks – TB
14.   Taylor Rogers – MIN
15.   Tyler Rogers – SF
16.   Sean Doolittle – CIN
17.   Diego Castillo – TB
18.   Daniel Hudson – WAS
19.   Reyes Maronta – SF
20.   Keone Kela – SD
21.   Matt Wisler – SF

Tier 3 is a lot of pitchers who are reliable inning eaters, but who may not have the stuff or the job stability to move further up this list. Here you’ll find veterans who still have something left in the tank (Tony Watson, Sean Doolittle, Daniel Hudson) and players who are on teams that hand out a lot of hold opportunities (Tampa Bay, San Francisco).

Tier 4
22.   Pedro Baez – HOU
23.   Dan Winkler – CHC
24.   Rafael Dolis -TOR
25.   Tony Watson – PHI
26.   Hansel Robles – MIN
27.   Scott Barlow – KC
28.   Drew Pomeranz – SD
29.   Chris Martin – ATL
30.   Hector Neris – PHI

Tier 4 is home to players who don’t have a lot of upside, but who should turn in reliable enough performances to get holds when they are available. While most of these players don’t have much of a chance to close, they should be in the late-inning mix for the entirety of the season. 

Giovanny Gallegos leaves game with groin injury

September 11, 2020

St. Louis Cardinals – Giovanny Gallegos did not record an out before leaving Thursday’s game with a groin injury and will undergo some imaging to determine the extent of the injury. He was charged with three runs on two hits and a walk and was hit with the loss. This warrants monitoring. Andrew Miller, John Gant and/or the recently returning Ryan Helsley could factor into the saves mix if Gallegos is sidelined. 

Hierarchy remains: *Gallegos | Miller | Gant.
* = closer-by-committee

Detroit Tigers – It appears there’s a new saves option in Detroit. Bryan Garcia earned his second save Thursday, just days after closing out Sunday’s win. In between, Garcia got the final out Tuesday in an 8-3 victory after coming into the game with two men on and two outs. Asked about Garcia after the game, manager Ron Gardenhire said, “We think he’s got the moxie to be able to do it.” We’ll slide Garcia to the top of this committee, and it looks like he might shake the asterisk by early next week if he keeps pitching well.

Updated hierarchy: *Garcia | Soto | Cisnero.
* = closer-by-committee

San Diego Padres – Emilio Pagan is back from the injured list and should be in the mix in the late innings behind Trevor Rosenthal. Taylor Williams, who was acquired from the Mariners before the deadline, was sent down to the team’s alternate training site in a corresponding move.

Updated hierarchy: Rosenthal | Pomeranz | Pagan.

Arizona Diamondbacks — Travis Bergen picked up his first career save by getting the final two outs Thursday in a 5-2 win. Anytime someone earns a save for Arizona it’s noteworthy, as this bullpen situation has been pretty muddy since the departure of Archie Bradley. We’ll add him to the hierarchy as we continue to track this situation. It’s worth noting that Kevin Ginkel and Stefan Crichton had pitched in back-to-back days, so they might have needed rest. 

Updated hierarchy: *Ginkel | Crichton | Bergen.
* = closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox — Austin Brice was placed on the 10-day IL Thursday. Expect Phillips Valdez to be among the options to slot in behind Ryan Brasier and Matt Barnes as the Red Sox play out the string.

Updated hierarchy: Barnes | Brasier | Valdez.

Los Angeles Dodgers — Joe Kelly was activated from the injured list on Thursday, but must now begin serving his five-game suspension.

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Treinen | Ferguson.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Joakim Soria – Liam Hendriks has pitched in three straight.

Tomorrow
1. Ryan Brasier – A Friday appearance would be three of four for Matt Barnes.
2. Rowan Wick – Same as above for Jeremy Jeffress. 
3. Andre Scrubb – Ditto for Ryan Pressly.
4. Scott Barlow – And also for Greg Holland!
5. Stefan Crichton/Travis Bergen – You get the idea! (re: Kevin Ginkel)

MLB to celebrate Jackie Robinson as teams return to play Friday

August 28, 2020

Major League Baseball – Seven games were postponed Thursday as players did not play to redirect attention toward racial justice after the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin over the weekend. It’s expected that many, if not all, teams will resume play Friday, which is also the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s meeting with Branch Rickey. Many Black players will be donating their Thursday and Friday game checks to The Players Alliance, a group of current and former Black baseball players whose mission is to increase opportunities for the Black community in and out of baseball.

Seattle Mariners —  The late innings were rough for the Mariners in game one of Thursday’s doubleheader, as they squandered 3-1 and 7-3 leads to fall, 10-7. Matt Magill did the honors in blowing the first lead, allowing two runs in two-thirds of an inning. Taylor Williams then pitched the seventh (remember, it’s a doubleheader) with a four-run lead and retired the first two batters before he lost control, literally. Here’s the sequence: HBP, BB, BB, two-run single, passed ball, run-scoring wild pitch, game-tying single. Dan Altavilla tried to stop the bleeding, but had no such luck, allowing a single and a walk-off home run. In the nightcap, Yoshihisa Hirano finished off an 8-3 game and has yet to allow a run since returning from the IL. We’re going to move him into the hierarchy, with the understanding that he could be closing games in a week if the others continue to flounder. Meanwhile, Carl Edwards Jr., won’t be back anytime soon, as he was moved to the 45-day IL and is out until at least late September. 

Updated hierarchy: Williams | Magill | Hirano.

Pittsburgh Pirates — Keone Kela was moved to the IL with right forearm tightness. Richard Rodriguez continues to be the best bet for saves in his absence, but he did allow two runs (one earned) in getting the save in game one of a doubleheader Thursday. In game two, Nik Turley earned his first save (and only the team’s fourth this season). He pitched in a high-leverage spot on Sunday, too, so perhaps he’s beginning to make his move toward the back end of the bullpen. For now, we’ll slot him behind Rodriguez and Chris Stratton. 

Updated hierarchy: *Rodriguez | Stratton | Turley.
* = closer-by-committee

St. Louis Cardinals – Andrew Miller was placed on the IL Thursday for left shoulder fatigue. This clears more space for Giovanny Gallegos to establish himself as the primary closer.

Updated hierarchy: *Gallegos | Gant | Cabrera.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
* With all of the recent postponements, expect a lot of doubleheaders moving forward. This will probably lead to a significant number of unforeseen vulture saves.

Today
1. Matt Magill/Yoshihisa Hirano – Taylor Williams had a disastrous outing Thursday (29 pitches) and might need a day to clear his head. 

Tomorrow
1. Gregory Soto – A Friday appearance would be three of four for Buck Farmer.
2. Blake Treinen – Same as above for Kenley Jansen.
3. David Phelps – An outing Friday would be three of five for Josh Hader. 

Giovanny Gallegos records save while former and current Red Sox relievers struggle

August 23, 2020

St. Louis Cardinals – Giovanny Gallegos relieved Andrew Miller in the 8th inning with two men on and struck out Nick Castellanos to end the threat. Gallegos came back out for a perfect 9th to record his first save of the season. He has made five appearances so far this season and only allowed one hit and no walks.  We think this is still a committee for now but we will move Gallegos to the top based on his excellent numbers.

Updated hierarchy: *Gallegos | Miller | Gant.
* = closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox — The Red Sox got their first save chance after dealing away their closer Brandon Workman and as expected, Matt Barnes got the call.  Unfortunately for Red Sox fans and fantasy owners, he could not get the job done.  Ryan Brasier pitched 1.1 scoreless innings yesterday and could work his way into the closer conversation if Barnes falters again.

Hierarchy remains: Barnes | Brasier | Weber.

Philadelphia Phillies — We got our first look at the Phillies’ new bullpen yesterday and Hector Neris came out for the 8th with the Phillies up two.  Neris struggled as he gave up a walk and two hits before getting pulled for Brandon Workman.  Workman immediately allowed a two-run double to give up the lead.  After the Phillies tied the game in the top of 9th, Workman came back out for the bottom of the 9th and gave up another run to take the loss.  This was not exactly what the Phillies were looking for but they will hope Workman can bounce back in his next outing.

Hierarchy remains: Workman | Neris | Morgan.

Pittsburgh Pirates — Keone Kela is day-to-day and will be re-assessed next week.  If the Pirates happen to stumble into a 9th inning lead over the next several days, Richard Rodriguez would likely fill the closer’s role.

Hierarchy remains: *Rodriguez | Stratton | Hartlieb.
* = closer-by-committee

Tampa Bay Rays – Chaz Roe has been placed on the IL with elbow soreness.  Jalen Beeks could see more time in the later innings while Roe is out.

Updated hierarchy: *Anderson | Castillo | Beeks.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Blake Treinen – Kenley Jansen has pitched in two straight.
2. Ryan Weber/Austin Brice – Matt Barnes has gone in two straight and three of four. Ryan Brasier has gone in two of three, including a 21 pitch outing yesterday.
3. Nick Vincent – Brandon Kintzler has pitched in two straight and three of four. Brad Boxberger has also pitched in two straight.
4. Joakim Soria – Liam Hendriks got yesterday off but may get another day off after pitching three in a row.
5. Rafael Dolis – Anthony Bass has pitched in two straight
6. Miguel Castro – Cole Sulser threw 33 pitches yesterday

Monday
1. Nate Jones – If Raisel Iglesias pitches on Sunday, it will be three of the last four games.
2. Felix Pena – Ty Buttrey recorded a two-inning save yesterday and will likely get Monday off if he pitches again on Sunday.
3. Tanner Rainey – If Daniel Hudson pitches on Sunday, it will be two straight