Emilio Pagan hits the IL and an old friend hits free agency

September 3, 2020

San Diego Padres – Emilio Pagan was placed on the IL with a biceps injury yesterday. He had picked up a few saves as the interim closer, but with the acquisition of Trevor Rosenthal and the activation of Drew Pomeranz, Pagan was bumped down in the hierarchy. We think based on recent usage Pierce Johnson, who is riding a seven-game scoreless streak, would be the long shot for vulture saves at this point. 

Updated hierarchy: Rosenthal | Pomeranz | Johnson.

New York Yankees – Aroldis Chapman was issued a three-game suspension after MLB determined he intentionally threw at the head of Mike Brosseau. Chapman plans to appeal, but if he misses any games, expect Zack Britton to get a couple save chances.

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Britton | Ottavino.

Los Angeles Angels – Cam Bedrosian was activated from the IL after missing nearly all of August, and pitched a clean inning last night (although on the wrong side of a blowout). We think he jumps back into the hierarchy with Hoby Milner out with back spasms. 

Updated hierarchy: Buttrey | Pena | Bedrosian.

Free Agents – The Free Agents got a boost when they acquired the legendary Fernando Rodney yesterday. La Flecha had been training with the Houston Astros, but had yet to appear in a major league game this year. Rodney started his Closer Monkey journey in the site’s first full year, opening 2012 as second in line for the Tampa Bay Rays behind Kyle Farnsworth and Joel Peralta. Rodney took less than a week to get closer’s job on April 9, 2012. Eight years, 10 teams and many supportive tweets later, Rodney takes over for Sam Dyson and Luke Gregerson at the top of the Free Agent hierarchy. There is still time for the 43-year-old to find a major league home for the last month of the season, and expect an alert when that happens. 

Updated hierarchy: Rodney | Dyson | Gregerson.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Blake Taylor – Ryan Pressly has thrown back-to-back games. 
2. Hector Neris – Brandon Workman has pitched in two of three, including a 19-pitch outing last night. 
3. Zack Britton – If Aroldis Chapman begins his suspension, Britton will get any save chances. 
4. Cam Bedrosian – Both Ty Buttrey and Felix Pena have pitched in three of four. Bedrosian pitched last night, but is the best rested out of this group. 
5. Rafael Dolis – Anthony Bass has pitched in three of four. Dolis has also gone in two of three, but only threw eight pitches last night.
6. Blake Treinen – Kenley Jansen has pitched back to back including 25 pitches last night, and will likely get today off. 

Tomorrow
1. Hector Rondon – Junior Guerra threw 13 pitches last night, so another outing for him today would likely keep him out Friday. 

Craig Kimbrel stinks again

September 22, 2019

Chicago Cubs — Two days after he came of the IL and gave up a go-ahead homer in the 10th inning, Craig Kimbrel had a chance to redeem himself and close out a one-run victory. Instead, the Cardinals homered on his first two pitches of the inning en route to a 9-8 loss. Joe Maddon was surprised at the result, and now he’s worried about Kimbrel’s confidence. Maddon also said he wants to continue to turn to Kimbrel in save situations. We won’t blame you if your team doesn’t as you play for a fantasy title.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Wick | Kintzler.

Cleveland Indians – Brad Hand finally made his first appearance since Sept. 8, striking out the side in a perfect sixth inning. Hand looked sharp in his return, which is a good sign for a Cleveland team fighting for a wild card spot. We’ll continue to monitor Hand’s usage, but there’s a good chance he quickly returns to the ninth inning based on last night’s performance.

Hierarchy remains: Hand | Goody | Clippard.

Seattle Mariners — For the second time in three days, the Mariners won in extra innings. That meant for the second time in three days, rookie Erik Swanson picked up a save. Of more interest to fantasy owners, Matt Magill pitched in the sixth inning with the Mariners trailing by a run. Anthony Bass pitched the ninth inning and kept the score tied, meaning he was going to get the save chance should Sam Tuivailala not blown it in the eighth. Magill, who has battled back troubles recently, is the last non-Swanson reliever to pick up a save for the Mariners, doing so on Wednesday. Today may be the last chance for a Seattle save anyway, as the Mariners close their schedule with Houston and Oakland. Good luck.

Hierarchy remains: *Magill | Bass | Tuivailala.
* = closer-by-committee

Washington Nationals – After Fernando Rodney blew a 4-0 eighth-inning lead, current good person and former closer Sean Doolittle was finally in line for a save chance in the 10th inning, but the Nationals scored too many runs and took a 10-4 lead, which rendered Doolittle’s services unnecessary. There’s reason to think that Doolittle still isn’t right, but the Nationals may have to turn to him for some high-leverage spots in the final week as they look to clinch a wild card spot.

Hierarchy remains: *Hudson | Strickland | Rodney.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Andrew Miller/Giovanny Gallegos – Carlos Martinez has pitched in four straight games. Miller got yesterday off after three straight appearances. Gallegos has gone in three of four.
2. Nick Goody – Brad Hand may not be ready for back-to-back days.
3. Ryne Stanek– Jose Urena threw 43 pitches yesterday.
4. Oliver Drake – Emilio Pagan has gone in three of four (50 pitches) and Nick Anderson has appeared in two of three (56 pitches) and four of five. Drake has worked two in a row and three of four as well, but his pitch count is far lower (24 pitches).

Monday:
1. Kevin Ginkel – Archie Bradley needed 16 pitches to get the final four outs yesterday. A lengthy outing today may lead to an off day on Monday.
2. Matt Barnes/Josh Taylor – Brandon Workman has pitched in two of three, throwing 48 pitches in that span. Barnes and Taylor have also been busy, so keep an eye on today’s usage.
3. Andrew Miller/Giovanny Gallegos – Carlos Martinez may get a second straight day off after his recent workload.

Sean Doolittle placed on the IL

August 18, 2019

Washington Nationals – The Nationals placed Sean Doolittle on the IL on Sunday with right knee tendinitis. Daniel Hudson has been the most effective arm in the bullpen lately and is likely the best bet for saves in the near future. Hunter Strickland could also get a look.

Updated hierarchy: *Hudson | Strickland | Rodney.
* = closer-by-committee

Sam Dyson, Jose Alvarado return from the IL

August 14, 2019

Minnesota Twins – The Twins activated Sam Dyson from the IL on Tuesday and immediately sent him into a high-leverage spot. Dyson responded with a perfect eighth inning ahead of Sergio Romo, who closed out a 7-5 win since Taylor Rogers was unavailable. Rogers has struggled when pitching a second consecutive day, so it’s likely that Romo sees some more frequent save chances going forward as the Twins try and manage Rogers’ workload.

Updated hierarchy: *Rogers | Romo | Dyson.
* = closer-by-committee

Tampa Bay Rays – Jose Alvarado returned from the IL on Tuesday and immediately saw some high-leverage work, getting the ball in the eighth inning with his team ahead by three. It wasn’t the easiest inning for Alvarado, who committed one of two Rays errors in the frame and allowed one run. He did get two outs, however, and had good velocity on his fastball. Kevin Cash said before the game that he will likely slot Alvarado into high-leverage situations, and that’s exactly what happened. We’ll update our hierarchy accordingly, with Diego Castillo, Nick Anderson, Chaz Roe and Colin Poche also expected to be in the mix for holds and save chances at any given moment.

Updated hierarchy: *Pagan | Alvarado | Castillo.
* = closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox — Prior to Tuesday’s game, Alex Cora said that Nathan Eovaldi was likely to start Wednesday’s game and that he will build up to eventually rejoin the starting rotation. Of course, that was only if Eovaldi didn’t pitch in relief on Tuesday, and sure enough it was Eovaldi who pitched the Sox out of an eighth-inning jam (on just six pitches) to preserve a one-run lead that Brandon Workman blew in the following frame. That led to Andrew Cashner, whose terrible pitching is the reason Eovaldi is moving back to the rotation in the first place, to pick up his first career save in the 10th inning. Cashner’s save opportunity was by chance – he was going to pitch the 10th anyway – but the bigger story is Eovaldi’s usage. He will be available out of the bullpen today, but his time on our hierarchy is done for now.

Updated hierarchy: Workman | Barnes | Taylor.

Washington Nationals – We predicted that Sean Doolittle would get a night off on Tuesday, but it was Daniel Hudson who picked up a four-out save, not Fernando Rodney. In fact, Rodney didn’t even pitch in last night’s 3-1 win; it was Hunter Strickland and Wander Suero who got the ball to Hudson. We’ll move Hudson into Rodney’s spot in the hierarchy based on last night, but with all the new relievers pitching well since arriving in Washington, Dave Martinez can be flexible on when to deploy his top arms in the late innings. Don’t be too surprised to see Rodney back in a high-leverage spot soon.

Updated hierarchy: Doolittle | Hudson | Strickland.

Atlanta Braves – Mark Melancon locked down his second save of the season, pitching the first 1-2-3 inning by a Braves reliever in a save situation since July 15. Luke Jackson completed a clean seventh inning to maintain a 5-1 lead, but Shane Greene’s struggles continued and he gave up two more runs in the eighth to create the save situation. Greene has allowed 13 hits and seven earned runs in 4.1 innings with the Braves. We’ll see how much longer Brian Snitker keeps running him out there with a lead.

Hierarchy remains: *Melancon | Jackson | Greene.
* = closer-by-committee

San Diego Padres — Craig Stammen has struggled lately, having allowed a run in each of his last three appearances. That includes one run in the sixth inning last night, which was unearned because of a throwing error Stammen himself committed. If Kirby Yates is unavailable, it makes sense to let potential future closer Andres Munoz have a crack at the ninth inning over Stammen.

Updated hierarchy: Yates | Munoz | Stammen.

Toronto Blue Jays – Ken Giles looks like he will avoid another IL stint after he walked one and struck out another to record a save yesterday. The Jays should continue to be careful with Giles’ workload, but it’s a good sign that he was able to pitch without any issue last night.

Hierarchy remains: Giles | Law | Shafer.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Tony Watson – Will Smith threw 37 pitches last night and has appeared in three of the last four days.
2. Jose Quijada – Don’t rely on Marlins’ relievers for saves. Now that we got that out of the way, Jarlin Garcia has pitched in three of the last four days.
3. Derek Law – The Jays may not want to throw Ken Giles out there on consecutive days.

Jose Alvarado set to rejoin the Rays

August 13, 2018

New York Yankees – After Aroldis Chapman and Zack Britton both appeared in the first game of Monday’s doubleheader with the Orioles, Adam Ottavino was tasked with the 9th inning in the nightcap. Ottavino converted for his second save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Britton | Ottavino.

Tampa Bay Rays – Jose Alvarado is close to rejoining the Rays and could do so as soon as today. As long as Alvarado is sharp, he could quickly rejoin the closer committee in Tampa.

Hierarchy remains: *Pagan | Castillo | Poche.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Nick Wittgren – Brad Hand has pitched on back to back days, blowing saves (and then earning wins) on both occasions. He threw 45 pitches total and could get today off.
2. Fernando Rodney – Sean Doolittle has gone back to back and three of four.
3. Zack Britton – Aroldis Chapman has gone back to back; with the Yankees resting comfortably atop the AL East, they won’t make Chapman pitch three straight.

Today/tomorrow
1. Ryan Pressly/Aaron Bummer – The Astros and White Sox have a doubleheader today, which could mean unorthodox pen usage.