Will Smith picks up another save in the volatile Giants bullpen

July 2, 2018

San Francisco Giants — On Sunday, the Giants used Sam Dyson in the seventh, Tony Watson in the eighth, and then turned to Mark Melancon with a four-run lead in the ninth. Melancon retired the first two guys, but then gave up three straight singles, so it was Will Smith earning his second save in three nights. Lefties Smith (34 K in 24.1 IP, 0.70 WHIP) and Watson (1.64 ERA, 15 straight scoreless appearances) have been awesome this season, as has Reyes Moronta. Melancon could be in the mix, and you can’t necessarily rule out Dyson, so this situation will stay messy, but we’ll move Smith up top and hope he can hang on to the job. For his part, Bruce Bochy says he considers these guys “interchangeable.”

Updated hierarchy: *Smith | Watson | Dyson.
* = closer-by-committee

Atlanta Braves — AJ Minter grabbed his third save of the season on Sunday, but it might be his last for a while — Arodys Vizcaino is expected to be activated from the DL on Monday.

Hierarchy remains: *Minter | Winkler | Carle.
* = closer-by-committee

Philadelphia Phillies — Pat Neshek returned from the disabled list and made his season debut, allowing a single and inducing a groundout in the seventh. Neshek is almost 38, but not many middle relievers can match his success over the past few years, and he should get a chance to re-establish himself in the seventh inning for the Phils.

Updated hierarchy: *Dominguez | Hunter | Neshek.
* = closer-by-committee

Seattle Mariners — Seattle’s 26-11 record in one-run games is due in large part to Edwin Diaz, whose 32 saves are tops in MLB by a whopping eight. Diaz, only 24, is already in the top 200 for career saves (84), and is on pace to threaten K-Rod’s record of 62 saves in a single season. K-Rod, by the way, is 16 months younger than Pat Neshek, and is currently earning saves alongside Jordany Valdespin and Emilio Bonifacio on the independent Long Island Ducks. (Get your QuackerJack wallpapers here.) The point here is that Edwin Diaz is really good.

Hierarchy remains: Diaz | Colome | Pazos.

New York Mets — After two sparkling starts and three more pedestrian ones, the Mets have returned Seth Lugo to the bullpen, where he will bolster Anthony Swarzak and Robert Gsellman in the middle innings.

Hierarchy remains: Familia | Swarzak | Gsellman.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Jose Alvarado — Sergio Romo has pitched in three straight.
2. John Buccigross — Scott Van Pelt tweaked his shoulder patting himself on the back for predicting LeBron’s move to the Lakers, and may not be able to go tomorrow.

Tuesday:
1. Kyle Crick — Felipe Vazquez has gone in two of three.

The Nationals are ever more desperate for a closer

July 15, 2017

Washington Nationals — When Matt Albers loaded the bases in the ninth inning with a five-run lead, it gave Matt Grace a chance to earn his first career save. Albers’s struggles highlight Washington’s continuing weakness in the bullpen, which we expect to be addressed through trade in the next two weeks. K-Rod, it seems, will not be the answer.

Hierarchy remains: *Albers | Romero | Treinen.
* = closer-by-committee

Houston Astros – Will Harris has been placed on the disabled list with inflammation in his throwing shoulder, and will be out until at least next Friday.

Updated hierarchy: Giles | Devenski | Gregerson.

Arizona Diamondbacks — Jake Barrett has made a few successful appearances since his return from a shoulder injury, reclaiming his old role at the back end of the Arizona bullpen.

Updated hierarchy: Rodney | Bradley | Barrett.

Pittsburgh Pirates — Tony Watson pitched a clean seventh inning in a tie game last night. The Pirates may simply be showcasing him for a trade, but Watson has responded by giving up a run in only one of his last twelve appearances, earning a place in the late-inning mix and our hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Rivero | Nicasio | Watson.

Baltimore Orioles — Zach Britton pitched the eighth ahead of Brad Brach on Friday. Speculators should target Brach and his owners should hold him; the floundering Orioles may move Britton either to the Nationals (as a closer) or the Dodgers (as a world-class setup guy, giving Kenley Jansen goose bumps).

Hierarchy remains: Britton | Brach | O’Day.

St. Louis Cardinals — Seung Hwan Oh came on in a tied ninth and gave up a three-run homer for his fifth loss of the year. This season, The Final Boss is less of a Mike Tyson and more of a Birdo.

Hierarchy remains: Oh | Rosenthal | Cecil.

Texas Rangers — With two lefties due up in the ninth, Texas turned to their committee lefty, Alex Claudio, to protect a two-run lead. He pitched a perfect inning for his second save of the season, and will continue to be a major part of the Rangers committee until and unless they bring in some outside help.

Hierarchy remains: *Leclerc | Claudio | Bush.
* = closer-by-committee

Milwaukee Brewers — Rookie Josh Hader picked up his second hold of the season, striking out the last two batters of the seventh inning. Hader is a solid prospect who has transitioned well to the majors since his callup on June 9, sporting a 0.69 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP to go with a solid strikeout rate. While he won’t crack the hierarchy just yet, and he projects as a starter long-term, he’s still a hard-throwing lefty on a contender that should give him plenty of hold chances.

Hierarchy remains: Knebel | Barnes | Hughes.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. David Phelps — AJ Ramos threw 29 pitches in a loss on Friday.

Sunday:
1. Dellin Betances/Chad Green — Aroldis Chapman threw 23 pitches on Friday, making three straight appearances unlikely. Betances was used for 20 pitches himself. Green should get Saturday off after a 30-pitch outing on Friday.
2. Hunter Strickland — Sam Dyson also ran up his pitch count on Friday.

David Hernandez gets most recent 9th for Angels; K-Rod signs with Nats

June 27, 2017

Washington Nationals – The Nationals made a low-risk and potentially high-reward signing on Sunday, adding Francisco Rodriguez on a minor league contract. No word on whether they used the donations they received from this fan’s obituary.

Hierarchy remains: *Albers | Romero | Turner.
* = closer-by-committee

Los Angeles Angels – Cam Bedrosian and Keynan Middleton bridged the gap to David Hernandez last night, though by the time the veteran came on for the 9th, the Angels had tacked on an insurance run to make it a 4-run game. Still, the way they lined this up is enough to move Hernandez up to the top of the league’s most unpredictable bullpen.

Updated hierarchy: *Hernandez | Street | Bedrosian.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Dellin Betances – Aroldis Chapman has gone back to back games and three of four. Betances has also gone in back to back games but hasn’t thrown as many pitches.

Tomorrow
1. Joe Kelly – If Craig Kimbrel goes today, it’ll be three straight.

The Orioles bullpen is slowly getting back to full strength

June 24, 2017

Baltimore Orioles — Darren O’Day returned from the DL with a scoreless eighth inning in a blowout loss. The Orioles need bullpen reinforcements badly, and O’Day should immediately return to his setup role behind Brad Brach. Zach Britton pitched a scoreless inning in a rehab relief assignment and looks to be on track to return in early July.

Updated hierarchy: Brach | O’Day | Givens.

Los Angeles Angels — Huston Street made his return from injury in a low-leverage spot, pitching a scoreless seventh down three. This was likely a scheduled appearance to ease him back into things. Street stays atop the committee for now, but the next few save chances could provide a lot of clarity on how Mike Scioscia will deploy his suddenly healthy bullpen. In other news, Bud Norris’s rehab is progressing well, and he could return after the minimum 10-day stay on the DL.

Hierarchy remains: *Street | Hernandez | Bedrosian.
* = closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox — Joe Kelly pitched the eighth inning of a three-run game on Friday, and has seen the bulk of the highest-leverage spots ahead of Craig Kimbrel. No one is unseating Kimbrel, who is in the middle of a historic season, but Kelly has pitched well enough to earn the first crack when the closer cannot go.

Updated hierarchy: Kimbrel | Kelly | Barnes.

Detroit Tigers — K-Rod is no longer a Detroit Tiger. The active saves leader lost the closer role in May, ripped the coaching staff last week, and gave up a grand slam Thursday night. Bruce Rondon will replace him on the roster, so it’s not like things are going to get any less frustrating for Tigers fans.

Hierarchy remains: J. Wilson | A. Wilson | Greene.

Arizona Diamondbacks — JJ Hoover has shoulder inflammation and could miss some significant time. Jorge de la Rosa should get some extra work in the seventh inning with Hoover on the DL.

Updated hierarchy: Rodney | Bradley | J. de la Rosa.

Atlanta Braves — Jim Johnson got a break after throwing a combined 39 pitches on Wednesday and Thursday, leaving Arodys Vizcaino to protect a one-run lead for the Braves. He shut the door with a clean inning to snag his first save of the year. Johnson should be ready to go tonight.

Hierarchy remains: Johnson | Vizcaino | Ramirez.

Tampa Bay Rays — Austin Pruitt pitched a scoreless three innings in a blowout to earn his first career save. You know the routine: first person to send us a screenshot with him in your fantasy lineup last night earns free Premium!

Hierarchy remains: Colome | Farquhar | Diaz.

Seattle Mariners — Yovani Gallardo also pitched the last three innings of a blowout win to pick up a save in his first relief appearance since July 14, 2007. Come back in another 10 years for his next one.

Hierarchy remains: Diaz | Vincent | Cishek.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Luis Garcia — Hector Neris, Pat Neshek, and Joaquin Benoit have each pitched in three of four.
2. Trevor Rosenthal — Seung Hwan Oh has pitched in three of the last four games.
3. Keone Kela — Matt Bush has struggled lately, including last night’s loss in a 31-pitch outing.

Sunday:
1. Arodys Vizcaino — Jim Johnson got Friday off, but an appearance on Saturday would be three of four.
2. David Phelps — Another appearance for A.J. Ramos will be his third in four games.
3. Jacob Barnes/Carlos Torres — The same is true of Corey Knebel.
4. Dellin Betances — And Aroldis Chapman.
5. Sean Doolittle — And Santiago Casilla.
6. Brad Hand/Phil Maton — And Brandon Maurer.

K-Rod complains about role, gets high-leverage chance, blows it

June 16, 2017

Detroit Tigers – This week, manager Brad Ausmus declared he would try former closer Francisco Rodriguez in high-leverage situations again after he complained a bunch. Ausmus wasn’t lying, as it was 3-2 in the eighth inning when K-Rod came trotting out to the hill. He picked up another blown save (his sixth) after allowing a game-tying home run, leading to a smattering of boos and cursing from the Detroit crowd. Justin Wilson owners were pleased by that development, as the current closer picked up the win with a clean ninth after the Tigers walked off in the bottom half. As for K-Rod, it’s hard to believe he’ll already be in the dog house, but he can’t be trusted until he earns it back.

Hierarchy remains: J. Wilson | A. Wilson | Greene.

Philadelphia Phillies – In a tight 1-0 win Thursday, the Phillies turned to Pat Neshek… in the eighth inning (1 H, 1 K, 0 R, 1 W) and Hector Neris in the ninth (1 BB, 2 Ks, 0 R, 1 SV). Don’t sound the alarm, but it’s starting to look like it’s Neris’s job again — and perhaps he never lost it. The Phillies are auditioning Neshek to boost his trade value, but if Neris gets the next save or two for Philly, we’ll remove the asterisk.

Hierarchy remains: *Neris | Neshek | Gomez.
* = closer-by-committee

Milwaukee Brewers – Oliver Drake picked up his first career save with a scoreless ninth inning for Milwaukee. Corey Knebel and Jacob Barnes were apparently unavailable after each pitched in two straight games, and Carlos Torres was called upon to get crucial outs with the game tied in the eighth inning. If we listed a third-in-line, it would likely be Drake, and definitely not former closer Neftali Feliz, who recently got DFA’d.

Hierarchy remains: Knebel | Barnes | Torres.

New York Yankees – Injured closer Aroldis Chapman is set to start for Double-A Trenton and if all goes well, he’ll rejoin the Yankees this weekend and reclaim his job, though Dellin Betances has been Fernando Rodney 2012-like in his absence, posting 41 K in 21.2 IP, a 0.42 ERA and 6 saves. (Yes, we’re testing to see if this works again.)

Hierarchy remains: Betances | Clippard | Warren.

Los Angeles Angels – Former closer Cam Bedrosian appears ready to rejoin the big club this weekend, but we’ll wait to see how he fits in given that Bud Norris has pitched pretty well in his absence.

Hierarchy remains: Norris | Hernandez | Parker

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Jake McGee – Greg Holland has pitched in two straight. He hasn’t gone in three straight days yet this season.
2. Tyler Clippard – Dellin Betances threw 39 pitches over 1.2 IP Thursday, but he had rest prior to that appearance and could conceivably be available Friday.

Tomorrow
1. Alex Wilson – Justin Wison has pitched in three of the last five games, including Thursday. If he goes again Friday, that’d be 3 out of 4 and 4 out of 6 for him.