Miguel Castro blows save, Wade Davis replaces Holland as closer

April 19, 2015

Toronto Blue Jays – Miguel Castro blew his first save of the season yesterday.  This was the first earned run given up by Castro, who has gotten off to a good start to the season much to the delight of the scout who signed him.   Brett Cecil pitched a scoreless 10th and picked up the win after Josh Donaldson hit a walk-off homer in the bottom of the inning.  This all comes just one night after Cecil had a terrible outing, and it looked like Castro had the chance to solidify himself as the closer.  With Castro and Cecil pitching on back-to-back days, Osuna could get the call on Sunday if there is a save opportunity and further complicate things in the Blue Jays bullpen.

Hierarchy remains: *Castro | Osuna | Cecil.
*closer-by-committee

Kansas City Royals — Greg Holland has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right pectoral strain.  The injury does not appear to be serious, but Holland will be rested for about a week.  Wade Davis will take over closing duties in his absence, with Kelvin Herrera handling the 8th inning.

Updated hierarchy: Davis | Herrera | Frasor.

Los Angeles Dodgers – Joel Peralta recorded his third save of the season last night.  Chris Hatcher got the last out of the 7th and J.P. Howell pitched the 8th.  Peralta has not given up a hit in his last four appearances and looks to be asserting himself as the primary closer until Kenley Jansen returns.

Hierarchy remains: *Peralta | Hatcher | Baez.
*closer-by-committee

New York Mets — Alex Torres came on to get the last out of the 9th inning and record his first career save.  With Jeurys Familia and Jerry Blevins getting the night off, Carlos Torres made a mess of a 4 run lead to start the 9th.  He gave up three runs and had the tying run on first base, before A. Torres struck out Christian Yelich to end the game.

Hierarchy Remains: Familia | C.Torres | Blevins.

Oakland A’s — Jesse Chavez recorded a save yesterday by pitching the last 3.2 innings after starter Jesse Hahn left with an injury.  Chavez does not factor into the A’s late inning plans but Sean Doolittle will when he returns and he is making progress.

Hierarchy remains: Clippard | O’Flaherty | Otero.

Tampa Bay Rays — Grant Balfour gave up 3 runs last night, and the Rays decided they have seen enough.  Balfour was designated for assignment after the game.

Updated hierarchy: Boxberger | Jepsen | Frieri.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Roberto Osuna, Toronto Blue Jays – Miguel Castro and Brett Cecil have both pitched in two straight
2. Joaquin Benoit, San Diego Padres – Craig Kimbrel has pitched on back-to-back days and three of the last four.
3. Pedro Strop/Jason Motte, Chicago Cubs – Hector Rondon blew the save yesterday and has appeared in two straight games, throwing a total of 48 pitches.  Pedro Strop has also pitched in two straight so the Cubs could go to Motte if they want to give Strop the day off as well.

Brad Boxberger tightens his hold in Tampa; Andrew Miller on the rise for the Yankees

April 11, 2015

Tampa Bay Rays — Grant Balfour entered in the fifth inning of Friday’s game with the Rays down seven, a solid indication that he’s not the first choice for high-leverage setup work in Tampa. Kevin Cash has also shown no indication that he’s using a closer committee, with Brad Boxberger getting enough endgame opportunities to shed his asterisk. Boxberger should have another three weeks in the role before Jake McGee returns.

Updated hierarchy: Boxberger | Jepsen | Balfour.

Kansas City Royals — After initially saying that Greg Holland would be available, Ned Yost changed his mind and said that “common sense” dictated that Holland not pitch on three straight days so early in the season. Pitching coach Dave Eiland was apparently behind the decision. In Holland’s absence, Wade Davis struck out the side to earn an early vulture save.

Hierarchy remains: Holland | Davis | Herrera.

Miami Marlins — It’s been a rough start to the season for Steve Cishek; the sidearmer gave up four runs in a Tuesday blowout, then blew Friday’s save in an outing that nonetheless brought his ERA back under 100. After the game, Cishek speculated that the team’s struggles may have been the result of “Zombie Night,” although the last time we checked, Kevin Gregg was pitching for Cincinnati.

Hierarchy remains: Cishek | Dunn | Ramos.

Minnesota Twins — Lefty Brian Duensing came on to face a lefty to close the eighth, with Minnesota up three runs. When the Twins scored three more in the top half of the ninth, he stayed on to finish the game, earning an unusual save.

Hierarchy remains: Perkins | Fien | Duensing.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jumbo Diaz, Cincinnati Reds — Aroldis Chapman has pitched on three straight days, and four of the last five.
2. Kevin Jepsen, Tampa Bay Rays — Brad Boxberger has pitched on three of the last four days.
3. Andrew Miller, New York Yankees — This is a committee anyway — one that seems to be leaning in Miller’s direction — and Dellin Betances threw 25 pitches Friday and 32 on Wednesday.

Jason Grilli best choice for saves in Atlanta

April 6, 2015

San Diego Padres — Craig Kimbrel has moved to San Diego in a blockbuster trade and will immediately step into the closer’s role. With Kevin Quackenbush possibly going to AAA, Shawn Kelley may move into his job.

Updated hierarchy: Kimbrel | Benoit | Kelley.

Atlanta Braves — With the Opening Day salary dump of All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel, the Braves will turn to one of their closer retread insurance policies: Jason Grilli and Jim Johnson. Grilli has the edge, if you want any piece of this action. With Josh Outman starting the year on the DL, Luis Avilan will complete the relief dream team. Long-term, Shae Simmons could be the answer if he can return from Tommy John surgery. Braves GM John Hart also mentioned Juan Jaime as an option down the line.

Updated hierarchy: Grilli | Johnson | Avilan.

Colorado Rockies – In a surprising bit of news, Walt Weiss named Boone Logan the team’s primary 8th inning reliever. Logan is no LOOGY — he’s shown his whole career that he can get both lefties and righties out — and he had an excellent spring, posting a 1.04 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 8.2 IPs. The odd thing is that righty Adam Ottavino has been even MORE dominant (0.00 ERA, 15 Ks, 8.1 IPs), and just a few weeks ago, Weiss said that Ottavino would be the guy when closer LaTroy Hawkins is unavailable. Both things can be true, of course — this might be one of those situations where the 8th inning guy isn’t the one to get the call on nights when the closer is unavailable. But it certainly bears watching, as Hawkins, already no one’s pick to keep his job all year, had a pretty rough spring. In other Rockies bullpen news, John Axford’s son was bitten by a rattlesnake, and the righty is likely to miss a few games to start the season.

Updated hierarchy: Hawkins | Ottavino | Logan.

Texas Rangers – Tanner Scheppers will start the season on the DL, elevating Shawn Tolleson into the set-up role. Roman Mendez slides up to take the 7th inning. Scheppers should be back in a week or two.

Updated hierarchy: Feliz | Tolleson | Mendez.

Washington Nationals – With no timetable on Casey Janssen’s return, the Nationals are expected to use a trio of relievers — Aaron Barrett, Matt Thornton, and Blake Treinen — to get the big outs ahead of Drew Storen. Thornton is more of a LOOGY at this point, and while he could get matchup-based holds here and there, it’s more likely that Barrett or Treinen is elevated into a save spot on when Storen is unavailable. Matt Williams hasn’t given any indication of his favorite so far.

Updated hierarchy: Storen | Barrett | Treinen.

New York Mets – Vic Black, still fighting off a sore shoulder, will open the season on the disabled list. Black is expected to rejoin the team after the first road trip of the season, but in the meantime, Carlos Torres will pick up the slack.

Updated hierarchy: Mejia | Familia | Torres.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Grant Balfour, Tampa Bay Rays – With every bullpen well rested and ready for the season, the Vulture Save Watch opens 2015 populated with relievers who are in the mix for 9th inning chances, but not their team’s projected first option. In Tampa, that’s Grant Balfour…
2. Andrew Miller, New York Yankees – …in New York, that’s Andrew Miller…
3. Chris Hatcher/JP Howell, Los Angeles Dodgers – …and in Los Angeles, that’s Chris Hatcher and JP Howell. We think, anyway.

Boxberger and Mujica expected to see save chances to start season

March 30, 2015

Tampa Bay Rays — The Rays have several options to close while Jake McGee is out.  Grant Balfour should be ready for the start of the season after missing a couple weeks due to the passing away of his father.  However, it looks like Brad Boxberger will see the most save chances.  Boxberger had over 100 strikeouts last year and could thrive in the closer’s role to start the season.

Updated hierarchy:  Boxberger* | Balfour | Jepsen.
* – closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox — It looks like closer Koji Uehara will not be ready to close at the beginning of the season for the Red Sox.  Manager John Farrell has said that Edward Mujica will close if Uehara is unavailable.

Updated hierarchy: Mujica | Ogando | Tazawa.

Oakland A’s — Manager Bob Melvin confirmed that Tyler Clippard will begin the season as their closer.  Sean Doolittle is still working his way back from a shoulder injury and felt good after his first throwing session on Friday.

Hierarchy remains: Clippard | O’Flaherty | Otero.

New York Mets — Bobby Parnell could be back for the Mets sooner than the original May 1st target date.  Parnell’s velocity has been down so far but he is not concerned by the radar gun readings as he works his way back.  Parnell could challenge Mejia for the closer’s job when he returns.

Hierarchy remains: Mejia | Familia | Black.

Joel Peralta nudges his way to the front in Los Angeles

March 26, 2015

Los Angeles Dodgers — Chris Hatcher and his Wilsonesque beard have endured some rough outings lately, pushing his spring ERA over 10. Although Hatcher is a virtual lock to make the team because he’s out of minor league options, Joel Peralta may have edged in front of him in the race to lead what appears to be a confirmed committee situation that could also include Sergio Santos, Juan Nicasio, and lefties J.P. Howell and Paco Rodriguez. As expected, Brandon League will join Kenley Jansen on the DL to start the season, and some in LA are looking Rafael Soriano’s way.

Updated hierarchy: Peralta* | Hatcher | Santos.
*closer-by-committee

Oakland A’s — A struggling Ryan Cook was sent to the minors on Tuesday to fix his mechanics. Eric O’Flaherty and Dan Otero will back up Tyler Clippard during Sean Doolittle’s absence, and young R.J. Alvarez is another intriguing option. Doolittle, meanwhile, is staying busy teaching his coaches about social media.

Updated hierarchy: Clippard | O’Flaherty | Otero.

Boston Red Sox — Koji Uehara, who turns 40 next week, might miss Opening Day with a hamstring strain. Edward Mujica would likely take the closer’s role until Uehara can get healthy, with Alexi Ogando moving ahead of Junichi Tazawa as a backup option.

Updated hierarchy: Uehara | Mujica | Ogando.

Tampa Bay Rays — Grant Balfour made his first appearance of the spring on Monday and expects to be ready for Opening Day. All three of Tampa’s current top relievers allowed a run in the game. Jake McGee is throwing curveballs again and should be back to closing in late April or early May.

Hierarchy remains: Balfour | Boxberger | Jepsen.

Toronto Blue Jays — As expected, Brett Cecil was officially named Toronto’s closer; Aaron Loup will set him up, with Steve Delabar and Miguel Castro behind them.

Hierarchy remains: Cecil | Loup | Delabar.

Colorado Rockies — Walt Weiss told reporters that Adam Ottavino will be the club’s top vulture save option when 42-year-old closer LaTroy Hawkins is fatigued, or watching Matlock reruns.

Updated hierarchy: Hawkins | Ottavino | Axford.

Cincinnati Reds — The eighth inning is wide open for the Reds, according to manager Bryan Price, who named no fewer than five possibilities for set-up work. We’ll leave things the way they are until the situation clears up, but one intriguing option Price didn’t mention is lefty Tony Cingrani, who may find a welcoming home in the bullpen.

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Diaz | LeCure.