Addison Reed getting important work for the surging Mets

September 12, 2015

New York Mets — With Hansel Robles in the Dominican Republic for his grandfather’s funeral, the Mets turned to former Diamondbacks closer Addison Reed in the seventh inning of a one-run game. Reed, who has a 0.00 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in seven appearances as a Met, struck out the side. Robles has been excellent, but Reed has experience that the team might value even more down the stretch.

Updated hierarchy: Familia | Clippard | Reed.

Kansas City Royals — Kelvin Herrera is pitching again, and he got a key strikeout to close out the seventh inning with a one-run lead on Friday. Although he later got touched for three earned runs in a ten-run eighth, it was due to an error and an infield single that set up a grand slam — and when Franklin Morales relieved Herrera, Morales pitched even worse. We think Herrera keeps the seventh inning role going forward.

Updated hierarchy: Holland | Davis | Herrera.

Colorado Rockies — Justin Miller, who spent July and much of August getting high-leverage work for Colorado, has been moved back into that role since returning from Albuquerque. Miller pitched the seventh after Scott Oberg on Thursday, and entered a tight eighth on Friday night to strike out Nelson Cruz.

Updated hierarchy: Axford | Diaz | Miller.

Los Angeles Dodgers — Jim Johnson pitched the fourth down 10, which is enough to elevate Chris Hatcher past him in the Dodger pecking order.

Updated hierarchy: Jansen | Hatcher | Johnson.

Toronto Blue Jays — Brett Cecil set a Blue Jays record with his 26th consecutive scoreless appearance on Friday night.

Hierarchy remains: Osuna | Sanchez | Cecil.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Mike Dunn, Miami Marlins — A.J. Ramos has pitched in three of four (50 pitches).
2. Antonio Bastardo, Pittsburgh Pirates — Stay with us here. Mark Melancon has gone in three of four (57 pitches). Joakim Soria has pitched in three straight and Tony Watson has thrown 60 pitches in three days. Arquimedes Caminero has been used in four of five, and he gave up two hits in his brief Friday appearance. Bastardo got a vulture save back in July, so don’t be surprised to see him ring up another.
3. Tyler Clippard/Addison Reed, New York Mets — Terry Collins is riding Jeurys Familia hard in the playoff push, using him on four of five days (55 pitches). If Hansel Robles is back, he might get this chance, since both Clippard and Reed have been used a lot too.
4. Jairo Diaz, Colorado Rockies — John Axford has gone in two straight and threw 27 pitches yesterday.

Kelvin Herrera has chickenpox

September 2, 2015

Kansas City Royals — It was reported on Tuesday that Kelvin Herrera and Alex Rios both have chickenpox and will miss at least two weeks, which is bad news for the Royals and bad news for Herrera owners who were hoping for some late-season holds. Franklin Morales had two holds in Tampa last weekend, and more importantly, escaped virus-free. We’ll slide him into Herrera’s spot for now.

Updated hierarchy: Holland | Davis | Morales.

Arizona Diamondbacks – With Brad Ziegler nursing a sore ankle and needing a day off after back-to-back poor outings, two different Diamondbacks earned a save as Arizona swept a doubleheader. Not surprisingly, Daniel Hudson closed out the first game. However, Josh Collmenter, who earned his first hold of the year in the opening tilt, pitched the final two innings of the nightcap for his second career save. David Hernandez had pitched in three of the last four days prior to Tuesday, but perhaps the 7th inning has become more crowded in Arizona, especially with the September call-up of Enrique Burgos.

Hierarchy remains: Ziegler | Hudson | Hernandez.

Detroit Tigers – Bruce Rondon hadn’t seen a save opportunity since Aug. 15, but he made the most of his chance on Tuesday, throwing a scoreless ninth to preserve a 6-5 win. It was his third save in four chances, and it came at a good time considering his last outing was a disaster during a game the Tigers were already losing. Despite Rondon’s recent struggles, it appears as if the closer’s job is still his for the time being.

Hierarchy remains: *Rondon | Wilson | Hardy.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Daniel Hudson, Arizona Diamondbacks – Brad Ziegler may get an extra day of rest, as manager Chip Hale was concerned about his fatigue following 52 pitches over a two-day span.
2. Aaron Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays – Roberto Osuna may get a breather after a 27-pitch blown save on Tuesday.

Greg Holland to close in KC; deadline moves affect hierarchies for Reds, Cardinals

August 1, 2012

Cincinnati Reds – The Reds acquired Royals closer Jonathan Broxton on Tuesday.  Aroldis Chapman will remain the closer, while Broxton will share the 8th inning role with Sean Marshall.  Hierarchy change: Jonathan Broxton to 2nd in line, replacing Logan Ondrusek.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Chapman |Marshall |Broxton |Madson |8/1/12

 
St. Louis Cardinals – The Cardinals acquired Edward Mujica from the Miami Marlins on Tuesday.  Mujica will likely pitch the 7th inning for the Cardinals, which is a role they’ve been trying to fill all season.  Hierarchy change: Edward Mujica to 2nd in line, replacing Victor Marte.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSTL |Motte |Boggs |Marte |Motte |8/1/12

 
Los Angeles Angels – Scott Downs was placed on the DL prior to Tuesday’s game.  With a 4-run lead, Kevin Jepsen got out of a jam in the 7th inning before giving way to Jason Isringhausen for the 8th.  Ernesto Frieri pitched the 9th in a non-save situation.  Hierarchy change: Kevin Jepsen to Set-up, Jason Isringhausen to 2nd in line, Scott Downs to DL.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Frieri |Jepsen |Isringhausen|Walden |8/1/12 |Downs(DL) |

 
Boston Red Sox – Franklin Morales got a 1-out save in the 6th inning on Tuesday, retiring a hitter before the tarp came out.  The game was never resumed, and Morales was awarded one of the more bogus saves of the season.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Aceves |Padilla |Miller |Bailey |8/1/12 |Bailey(DL) |

 
San Francisco Giants – After pitching three of the last four games, including a blown save on Monday, Santiago Casilla was given the night off.  In a 3-run game, Jeremy Affeldt pitched the last two innings for his second save of the year.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Casilla |Romo |Affeldt |Wilson |8/1/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
Kansas City Royals – The Royals have traded closer Jonathan Broxton to the Cincinnati Reds, where he will serve as a set-up man.  Greg Holland will inherit the closer job in Kansas City, said Royals manager Ned Yost, though Aaron Crow will be nipping at Holland’s heels if he struggles.  Hierarchy change: Greg Holland to Closer, Aaron Crow to Set-up, Kelvin Herrera to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedKC |Holland |Crow |Herrera |Holland |7/31/12 |Soria(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever the Twins are facing a righty-heavy lineup.

Andrew Miller settling nicely into relief role

Boston Red Sox – Franklin Morales pitched with the Sox trailing on Thursday, surrendering a run.  After pitching some key innings for Boston early in the season, he’s fallen out of favor with Bobby Valentine.  Andrew Miller (2.38 ERA) was summoned for the 8th ahead of Alfredo Aceves on Wednesday and has pitched well of late.  Hierarchy change: Andrew Miller to 2nd in line, replacing Franklin Morales.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Aceves |Padilla |Miller |Bailey |6/1/12 |Bailey(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Scott Downs, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri will get the majority of opportunities, but Mike Scioscia is still using a closer-by-committee.
2. Sean Burnett, Washington Nationals – Tyler Clippard has gotten all three save opportunities since Henry Rodriguez was demoted, but Davey Johnson has said that Sean Burnett could still get opportunities based on match-ups.

Sean Burnett, Tyler Clippard could enter closer-by-committee in Washington

May 22, 2012

Washington Nationals – Henry Rodriguez had to be bailed out again on Monday, as Sean Burnett came in for the 9th inning and got the final two outs for the save.  The young righty, already on the Hot Seat, may be placed in to a committee, or worse.  ”I’m going to sleep on it, but I’m looking at other alternatives,” Davey Johnson told the Washington Post.  Johnson mentioned a possible closer-by-committee, which would likely involve Rodriguez, Burnett and Tyler Clippard.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Rodriguez |Clippard |Burnett |Storen |5/22/12 |Storen(DL) |Lidge (DL) |

 
Cincinnati Reds – Sean Marshall got a one-out save on Monday.  As noted in yesterday’s Vulture Save Watch, Aroldis Chapman had pitched in four of the last five, and had the night off.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Chapman |Marshall |Ondrusek |Madson |5/22/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Franklin Morales, Boston Red Sox – Alfredo Aceves and Vicente Padilla have both pitched three games in a row, and four of the last five.