Josh Staumont secures second straight save

April 20, 2022

Kansas City Royals — Josh Staumont recorded his second save in as many chances on Tuesday, with Scott Barlow pitching a perfect eighth inning. We’ll swap these two at the top of the hierarchy, but don’t be surprised if the Royals continue to mix and match with Staumont and Barlow in the final two innings.

Updated hierarchy: *Staumont | Barlow | Garrett.
* = closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox — Alex Cora said after Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Toronto that he managed like it was a playoff game. That included using Garrett Whitlock in the ninth inning to close out the contest, though Cora did say that it wasn’t the perfect situation to use him. Whitlock is Boston’s best reliever, but is he going to consistently get save chances? It’s hard to say based on Cora’s comments tonight and Whitlock’s previous usage. We’ll put Jake Diekman, who got the final out of the eighth, at the top of this hierarchy for now and see how Cora decides to use Whitlock.

Updated hierarchy: *Diekman | Whitlock | Robles.
* = closer-by-committee

Seattle Mariners — Drew Steckenrider was the first man out of the bullpen on Tuesday, protecting a two-run lead in the seventh. The Mariners added two more runs in the bottom of the frame to rob Paul Sewald of a hold and Diego Castillo of a save chance. Castillo has now pitched the ninth in each of his last two appearances, both of which were lopsided wins. We’ll adjust the hierarchy based on last night’s usage and see if anyone truly separates themselves in this three-man committee.

Updated hierarchy: *Castillo | Sewald | Steckenrider.
* = closer-by-committee

New York Mets – The Mets bullpen came up big against the Giants on Tuesday. Seth Lugo, Edwin Diaz and Adam Ottavino got the eighth, ninth and 10th innings, respectively, in game one of Tuesday’s doubleheader, all throwing scoreless frames in a Mets win. In game two, Drew Smith preserved an eighth-inning lead to allow Trevor May to earn his first save of the season. 

Hierarchy remains: Diaz | May | Smith.

Oakland A’s — We told you yesterday that the A’s will likely take a committee approach in Lou Trivino’s absence, and they sure did yesterday. None of the guys who pitched on Monday appeared in Tuesday’s win. In the ninth inning, the Orioles announced a lefty to start the frame, so the A’s brought in southpaw Sam Moll. Despite the O’s then switching batters, the A’s left Moll in for the first two hitters (the other one being a lefty) and then pulled him for Zach Jackson. Jackson picked up his first MLB save by securing the final out. Ryan Castellani joined Moll in earning a hold on Tuesday, while Zach Logue earned the win in his MLB debut thanks to four outs in the sixth and seventh. It’s pretty clear manager Mark Kotsay will play the matchups right until the very end of the game, which makes this hierarchy a muddy one until Trivino returns.

Updated hierarchy: *Jimenez | Acevedo | Jackson.
* = closer-by-committee.

Washington Nationals – Tanner Rainey has three straight saves for the Nationals, which means we’re saying goodbye to the asterisk.

Updated hierarchy: Rainey | Finnegan | Doolittle.

Texas Rangers — The Rangers designated Greg Holland for assignment, which means we welcome Spencer Patton to the hierarchy for the two-win Rangers.

Updated hierarchy: *Barlow | Bush | Patton.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Thursday
1. Genesis Cabrera – If Giovanny Gallegos pitches today, it’s back to back.
2. Trevor May and Friends – The same is true of Edwin Diaz and the rest of the Mets’ high-leverage options, including Trevor May.
3. Jonathan Loaisiga – It’s also true for Aroldis Chapman.
4. Kyle Finnegan/Sean Doolittle – Both Tanner Rainey and Kyle Finnegan threw over 20 pitches on Tuesday. If either pitches today, Sean Doolittle may get a chance on Thursday.

Rangers shake up their bullpen while the A’s try to find the next Josh Hader

April 6, 2022

Texas Rangers – In a flurry of bullpen roster moves, the Rangers sent Spencer Patton to Triple-A, placed Garrett Richards on the IL, and added Greg Holland to the roster.  Unfortunately, this doesn’t do much to clarify who will be getting saves for the Rangers when the season begins.  We will move veteran Matt Bush to the top of the committee, but we think that Joe Barlow, Greg Holland, and maybe even Josh Sborz will be in the mix for saves.  We will continue to monitor this situation closely to see if anybody emerges as the primary source of saves.

Updated hierarchy: *Bush | Barlow | Holland.
* = closer-by-committee

Oakland A’s — Deolis Guerra will undergo surgery and start the season on the IL.  Manager Mark Kotsay also confirmed that A.J. Puk will open the season in the bullpen and he is hoping Puk could take on a role similar to Josh Hader.  We will add Puk to the hierarchy and he is definitely somebody to keep an eye on as the season progresses.  

Updated hierarchy: Trivino | Acevedo | Puk.

Seattle Mariners — Ken Giles will miss the start of the season due to a tendon issue in his finger.  Giles wasn’t on our hierarchy to start the season but he was a popular sleeper if he could work his way back to pitching like he did a couple of years ago.  This setback will hurt those chances but if you are still looking for a sleeper who is not on the Mariners’ hierarchy currently, Andres Munoz is throwing 101 MPH fastballs and that is always interesting from a reliever. 

Hierarchy remains: *Steckenrider | Sewald | Castillo.
* = closer-by-committee

Cole Sulser and Drew Steckenrider record saves

September 11, 2021

Baltimore Orioles — When manager Brandon Hyde wasn’t picking fights with Robbie Ray, he was cycling his bullpen, giving the ball to Cole Sulser with a 3 run lead in the 8th inning, and letting him stay for the 9th. Sulser converted for his seventh save of the year. After the game, Hyde said that Tyler Wells was not available last night, but he would be available today for a doubleheader, and if you have to own a Baltimore reliever, Wells is still your best bet. 

Hierarchy remains: *Wells | Sulser | Tate.
* = closer-by-committee

Seattle Mariners –  The surging Mariners gave a clear one-run save opportunity to Drew Steckenrider and he responded by striking out the side to earn his 8th save of the year.  Steckenrider has been outstanding recently, riding a 16 game scoreless streak that dates back to August 4th. Paul Sewald has blown a couple save chances in the last week, but his last appearance was nearly a save opportunity, closing out a four-run game.  This will likely continue to be a committee, and we will leave Sewald at the top for now, but Steckenrider is the hotter pitcher and could be a good pickup for the final couple of weeks.

Hierarchy remains: *Sewald | Steckenrider | Castillo.
* = closer-by-committee

Kansas City Royals — After rolling through their hierarchy earlier in the game, the Kansas City Royals called on the recently activated Greg Holland to close when they took a 2 run lead in the 11th inning. Holland looked like his former self, pitching a perfect inning with one strikeout. An extra-inning vulture save isn’t enough to think that Holland is threatening to take over the closer’s role right now, but it does get him back on the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Barlow | Staumont | Brentz.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Richard Rodriguez (ATL) – Will Smith has pitched in back to back and 3 of 4. 
2. Josh Staumont (KC) – Scott Barlow has pitched back-to-back games, throwing 33 pitches. 
3. Blake Treinen (LAD) – Kenley Jansen has pitched in back-to-back games but kept his pitch count low. 
4. Dillon Tate (BAL) – Cole Sulser threw 37 pitches last night and the Orioles have a doubleheader…
5. Adam Cimber (TOR) … Against the Blue Jays. ‘

Sunday:
1. Michael Lorenzen (CIN) – Today would be back to back and 4 of 5 for Mychal Givens

Giovanny Gallegos firmly in control of closer gig for Cardinals

September 10, 2021

St. Louis Cardinals – Giovanny Gallegos earned his sixth save Thursday, tossing a clean ninth with two strikeouts. He has the team’s last four saves overall and has booted the asterisk. 

Updated hierarchy: Gallegos | Cabrera | Reyes.

Oakland A’s – Sergio Romo pitched a spotless eighth inning Thursday to set up Andrew Chafin, who converted in the ninth for his third save of the season. Romo and Chafin figure to be the top two saves options moving forward, but one of them might not pull away with the gig. If you could only roster one, make it Chafin given how well he has performed (1.64 ERA, 0.81 WHIP).

Hierarchy remains: *Romo | Chafin | Diekman.
* = closer-by-committee

Kansas City Royals — Greg Holland (5.79 ERA) was activated from the IL on Thursday, but we still need to see how he’s used before placing back into the hierarchy. Scott Barlow, Josh Staumont and Jake Brentz have pitched well in recent weeks. 

Hierarchy remains: Barlow | Staumont | Brentz.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Daniel Bard (COL) – Carlos Estevez has gone in two straight, throwing 45 pitches over that span.
2. Tyler Duffey (MIN) – Even with a day off on Thursday, Alex Colome has gone in four of six. 

Saturday:
1. Genesis Cabrera (STL) – A Friday outing would be three in a row for Giovanny Gallegos, who tossed 20 pitches combined Wednesday and Thursday.
2. Cole Sulser (BAL) – If he goes Friday, that would be four of six for Tyler Wells.
3. Richard Rodriguez (ATL) – A Friday appearance would be three of four for Will Smith.
4. Adam Cimber (TOR) – Same as above for Jordan Romano.
5. Andres Machado (WAS) – Kyle Finnegan could need rest if he pitches Friday – that would be his third time in five days.
6. Trevor May (NYM) – Same as above for Edwin Diaz.

Rays bullpen soldiers on despite 13 relievers on IL

August 17, 2021

Tampa Bay Rays – Matt Wisler was placed on the injured list yesterday — the 13th Rays reliever on the injured list — and the Rays also sent lefty Ryan Sherriff to AAA. So who’s left? We like Andrew Kittredge as the best bet for a save on any given night, though we’d also expect them to mix in Adam Conley and JT Chargois. And, you know, most of the rest of the bullpen. The Rays win a lot, so depending on your league’s size and categories, one or two of these relievers may still be worth owning; we’ll keep an eye on how they deploy their bullpen going forward.

Updated hierarchy: *Kittredge | Conley | Chargois.
* = closer-by-committee

Kansas City Royals – Greg Holland was placed on the IL, cementing Scott Barlow’s spot at the top of this hierarchy for now. We’ll give Holland’s hierarchy slot to Jake Brentz, who has set up for Barlow each of the last two nights.

Updated hierarchy: Barlow | Brentz | Staumont.

New York Yankees – The Yankees had a much-needed strong showing from their bullpen yesterday, with Chad Green closing out a 2-1 victory for his fourth save. We’ll watch to see if Green gets the next chance with an eye on moving him ahead of Jonathan Loaisiga if he does.

Hierarchy remains: *Loaisiga | Green | Britton.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Zack Littell/Tony Watson – Jake McGee and Tyler Rogers have both gone back to back and three of four.
2. Josh Staumont/Wade Davis – Scott Barlow and Jake Brentz have both gone back to back.

Tomorrow
1. Carlos Estevez – If Daniel Bard goes today, it’s back to back and three of four.