Steve Delabar could be closing soon for the Blue Jays

May 29, 2013

Toronto Blue Jays — With Darren Oliver on the disabled list with a strained shoulder, Steve Delabar has ascended to the setup role in the threadbare Jays bullpen. Right behind him is an equally overworked Brett Cecil, who has struck out eight of the last fourteen batters he’s faced. As Casey Janssen was held out of Tuesday’s game with a “tender” shoulder, Delabar may see ninth-inning action very soon. Hierarchy change: Steve Delabar to Set-up, Brett Cecil to 2nd in line, Darren Oliver to DL.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
TORCasey JanssenSteve DelabarBrett CecilSergio Santos5/29/13
Sergio Santos (DL)Darren Oliver (DL)

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Miami Marlins – Mike Dunn entered in the eighth with a one-run lead and gave up three singles to tie the game; sent back out for the bottom of the ninth, he allowed two more singles and took the loss after Chad Qualls surrendered a game-ending hit. Those looking for clarity from this bullpen should prepare to wait two more weeks for the next save situation. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
MIASteve CishekMike DunnChad QuallsSteve Cishek5/29/13

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New York Yankees — Joba Chamberlain was reactivated from the disabled list before Tuesday’s game. Although the Yankees’ pen has grown somewhat crowded in his absence, he should get a chance to regain his seventh-inning role. Hierarchy change: Joba Chamberlain to 2nd in line, replacing Boone Logan.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
NYYMariano RiveraDavid RobertsonJoba ChamberlainDavid Robertson5/29/13

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Cleveland Indians — Chris Perez had an MRI on Tuesday, which revealed tendinitis in his right rotator cuff. The injury is not expected to be serious, and Perez should return from the disabled list on or around June 11. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
CLEVinnie PestanoJoe SmithCody AllenChris Perez5/29/13
 Chris Perez (DL)

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Minnesota Twins — Brian Duensing got his first save of the season on Tuesday by pitching a scoreless fourteenth inning. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
MINGlen PerkinsJared BurtonCasey FienGlen Perkins5/29/13

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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Trevor Rosenthal, St. Louis Cardinals — Edward Mujica has pitched in three straight.
2. Jake McGee, Tampa Bay Rays — Fernando Rodney and Joel Peralta have each had two straight lengthy outings.
3. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins — Glen Perkins blew a save last night in a 29-pitch outing, and Burton is slightly better rested.
4. Sean Doolittle/Ryan Cook, Oakland A’s — Grant Balfour has had two somewhat strenuous outings back-to-back.
5. Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers — Jansen has at least a putative shot at a save every night under the current Dodgers bullpen setup.

Sergio Romo and Javier Lopez splitting chances in San Francisco

August 31, 2012

Kansas City Royals – With Greg Holland getting the night off after two high-leverage saves in a row, the Royals went to flamethrower Kelvin Herrera for the save.  Herrera allowed two runners to reach, but got the job done and lowered his ERA to 2.49 on the year.  He’ll likely be the man the Royals turn to if Holland needs any time off in the future.  Hierarchy change: Kelvin Herrera to Set-up, Aaron Crow to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedKC |Holland |Herrera |Crow |Holland |8/31/12 |Soria(DL) |

 
San Francisco Giants – After Santiago Casilla was demoted, Jeremy Affeldt received the first two save opportunities.  With the ability to pitch to both lefties and righties (as opposed to Javier Lopez) and with the ability to pitch in multiple games in a row without injury concerns (as opposed to Sergio Romo), Affeldt looked like the best bet to seize the majority of the San Francisco committee’s saves.  But since blowing his second save chance, he hasn’t gotten another look.  Meanwhile, Lopez has nabbed four saves and Sergio Romo has picked up three, including one last night.  While Lopez is leading the committee in saves since Casilla’s demotion, most of them have been a bit fluky, as he’s induced several double plays to end games while other relievers were warming.  Romo will likely get the most chances from here on out.  Hierarchy change: Sergio Romo to Closer, Javier Lopez to Set-up, Jeremy Affeldt to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Romo |Lopez |Affeldt |Wilson |8/31/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Darren Oliver, Toronto Blue Jays – Casey Janssen has pitched in two straight, and three of the last four.
2. Luke Gregerson, San Diego Padres – It appears that the Padres will be splitting opportunities between Dale Thayer and Luke Gregerson until Huston Street returns.
3. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves overall, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever match-ups are right.
4. Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – With the Giants in full committee mode, Sergio Romo or Javier Lopez could get a save on any night.

Bobby Parnell likely to earn a few more save chances; Alexi Ogando rising

August 5, 2012

Oakland A’s – Ryan Cook on Saturday blew his second save in a row and his fourth in his last six chances.  He’s now got 7 blown saves on the year, which leads the league, and could be in danger of losing his job to former closer Grant Balfour.  On the other end of the bullpen, Pat Neshek, called up two days ago, has not allowed a hit in 3 innings while striking out 4, and earned his first hold of the season last night.  Hierarchy change: Pat Neshek to 2nd in line, replacing Sean Doolittle.  Ryan Cook to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedOAK |Cook |Balfour |Neshek |Cook |8/5/12

 
Texas Rangers – A little over a week ago, reports emerged that the Rangers were trying to stretch Alexi Ogando out, and they seemed validated when Ogando was used for 2.2 innings nine days ago.  But since then, he’s gone back to pitching 1 inning at a time, including last night, when he picked up his second save in a row (Joe Nathan needed a second day off after two marathon outings on Thursday and Friday).  While Mike Adams will stick as the 8th inning guy regardless, Ogando appears to be the man the Rangers will use when Nathan is unavailable.  Hierarchy change: Alexi Ogando to Set-up, Mike Adams to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTEX |Nathan |Ogando |Adams |Nathan |8/5/12

 
Toronto Blue Jays – Darren Oliver picked up an 11th inning save on Saturday.  Casey Janssen had already pitched earlier in the night.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTOR |Janssen |Oliver |Lyon |Santos |8/5/12

 
Houston Astros – The Astros placed Francisco Cordero on the DL earlier this weekend, and last night, Fernando Rodriguez pitched the 7th inning ahead of Wesley Wright and Wilton Lopez.  Lopez earned his first save.  Hierarchy change: Fernando Rodriguez to 2nd in line, Francisco Cordero to DL.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedHOU |Lopez |Wright |Rodriguez |Lopez |8/5/12

 
Minnesota Twins – Jared Burton picked up his second save in as many days on Saturday.  Glen Perkins had pitched the 8th inning in a game that had been tied at the time.  The Twins are continuing to use Perkins and Burton in a platoon– Perkins now has 6 saves and Burton has 5– though Perkins still has a slight edge due to his durability and strikeout rate.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIN |Perkins |Burton |Burnett |Perkins |8/5/12 |Capps(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Bobby Parnell, New York Mets – Frank Francisco earned his first save Saturday since coming off the DL.  But his ability to pitch on back-to-back days is in question, and the Mets said that Bobby Parnell will get any save opps when Francisco can’t go.
2. Jonathan Broxton, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in two consecutive games.  He’s only pitched three in a row once all season, so Broxton will likely get the save chance today.
3. Grant Balfour, Oakland A’s – Ryan Cook has pitched in three straight.
4. Sean Burnett, Washington Nationals – Tyler Clippard has pitched in three straight.
5. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves overall, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever match-ups are right.

Mark Melancon rising; random saves for Darren Oliver, Kevin Jepsen

July 16, 2012

Toronto Blue Jays – Darren Oliver pitched the last two innings in a three-run game for the Jays last night, earning his first save of the season.  Casey Janssen remains the team’s regular closer, and will maintain that role for the foreseeable future, as the Jays also announced Sunday that Sergio Santos would undergo season-ending surgery.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTOR |Janssen |Oliver |Frasor |Santos |7/16/12

 
Los Angeles Angels – Both Ernesto Frieri and Scott Downs were unable to close the game out in the 9th inning against the Yankees on Sunday.  After they combined to allow three runs and six baserunners, Kevin Jepsen got the game’s final out, retiring Alex Rodriguez to earn his first save of the season.  Jepsen does not figure in to the Angels usual late-inning hierarchy.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Frieri |Downs |Hawkins |Walden |7/16/12

 
Boston Red Sox – The Red Sox placed Scott Atchison on the DL on Sunday.  After finishing the 7th and 8th innings on Sunday, Mark Melancon has given up just 1 run in 13.2 innings since returning from the minors.  He has struck out 12 and walked only 2 in that span, and moves up in Atchison’s absence.  Hierarchy change: Mark Melancon to 2nd in line, replacing Scott Atchison. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Aceves |Padilla |Melancon |Bailey |7/16/12 |Bailey(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Sean Marshall, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in three straight.

Tanner Scheppers earns first save; Darren Oliver setting up in Toronto

June 30, 2012

Toronto Blue Jays – Darren Oliver pitched the 8th inning ahead of Casey Janssen on Friday, his fourth consecutive 8th inning hold.  The ageless lefty is having the best season of his career, sporting a 1.59 ERA and 0.92 WHIP.  Hierarchy change: Darren Oliver to Set-up, Francisco Cordero to 2nd in line.  

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTOR |Janssen |Oliver |Cordero |Santos |6/30/12 |Santos (DL) |

 
Texas Rangers – With both Joe Nathan and Mike Adams unavailable, the Rangers called on young Tanner Scheppers in the 9th inning yesterday.  Scheppers was an unexpected choice, as he’d struggled so far this season since being called up in early June.  But the righty is a former first round pick, and despite some early road bumps (his current ERA is 9.31), he’s been pitching in some high-leverage spots.  Hierarchy change: Tanner Scheppers to 2nd in line, replacing Robbie Ross.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTEX |Nathan |Adams |Scheppers |Nathan |6/30/12 |Uehara(DL) |

 
Baltimore Orioles – Matt Lindstrom got the final out of the 7th inning on Friday, and eventually earned the win in his second appearance since returning from the DL.  The hard-throwing righty has a 1.80 ERA on the season, and given his past closer experience, he’d likely be the guy the Orioles went to if Jim Johnson and Pedro Strop were unavailable.  Hierarchy change: Matt Lindstrom to 2nd in line, replacing Darren O’Day.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBAL |Johnson |Strop |Lindstrom |Johnson |6/30/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – With with the Twins employing a true platoon, Jared Burton could get the save opp if there’s a righty-heavy ninth inning due up.