Felix Pena records Thursday’s only save

September 4, 2020

Los Angeles Angels – Felix Pena retired the side on nine pitches for his first save of the season and the only save on Thursday night. Ty Buttrey had pitched in three of four and got the night off. Pena has now pitched in four of five and will need some rest, too.

Hierarchy remains: Buttrey | Pena | Bedrosian.

Arizona Diamondbacks – The Diamondbacks bullpen has been a tough nut to crack since the trade of Archie Bradley, but some things are starting to take shape. This week, Stefan Crichton earned an eighth-inning hold in a 1-0 game and could be starting to gain trust in Arizona. Hector Rondon, meanwhile, hasn’t done much this season (9.00 ERA, 2.17 WHIP) to keep his manager’s trust.

Updated hierarchy: *Guerra | Ginkel | Crichton.
* = closer-by-committee

Los Angeles Dodgers — Two former hierarchy members are on their way back. Joe Kelly will throw to live hitters this weekend; whenever he’s activated, he needs to serve a five-game suspension. Plus, Pedro Baez threw a bullpen session Thursday and will face live hitters early next week. He is nearing a return as well.

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Treinen | Ferguson.

Oakland A’s – A.J. Puk is close to a return and will be joining the bullpen. He has an electric arm and could be a late-inning option for the A’s down the stretch. We’ll monitor things and adjust this hierarchy, if necessary. 

Hierarchy remains: Hendriks | Soria | Diekman.

Houston Astros – Old friend Chris Devenski is traveling with the team this weekend and could be activated soon. We haven’t seen him since July, but he could possibly compete for a setup role if he pitches well upon returning. 

Hierarchy remains: Pressly | Taylor | Scrubb.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Kyle Crick – Richard Rodriguez has pitched in two of three (and four of six). 
2. Zack Britton – Aroldis Chapman has gone in two of three, and threw 19 pitches Thursday. It also could be a good time for him to begin serving his suspension.

Tomorrow
1. Ryan Brasier – A Friday outing would be three straight for Matt Barnes.
2. Blake Taylor – If Ryan Pressly pitches Friday, that will be three of four for him.
3. Blake Treinen – Same as above for Kenley Jansen. 
4. Felix Pena/Cam Bedrosian – If Ty Buttrey goes Friday, that will be four of six for him. If Pena goes again Friday, that will be five of six (!) for him. 
5. Hector Neris – A Friday appearance would be three of five for Brandon Workman.

New closers in Arizona, Seattle, and Baltimore after deadline deals

September 1, 2020

Philadelphia Phillies – The Phillies added David Phelps early Monday, giving them another solid late-inning arm. Look for Phelps to help bridge the gap to Brandon Workman.

Updated hierarchy: Workman | Neris | Phelps.

Milwaukee Brewers – With David Phelps lost to trade, look for lefty Alex Claudio to get a few more hold opportunities in Milwaukee.

Updated hierarchy: Hader | Williams | Claudio.

Baltimore Orioles – Brandon Hyde indicated Monday that he wants to give Cole Sulser some lower-leverage outings after his recent struggles; Hyde said he plans to mix and match in the ninth inning. With Miguel Castro on his way to New York, we’ll look to Hunter Harvey and Tanner Scott to contend for saves.

Updated hierarchy: *Harvey | Scott | Phillips.
* = closer-by-committee

Arizona Diamondbacks – The Diamondbacks traded Archie Bradley to the Reds. We expect some combination of Hector Rondon and Junior Guerra to pick up whatever save chances remain this season.

Updated hierarchy: *Guerra | Rondon | Ginkel.
* = closer-by-committee

Cincinnati Reds – The Reds acquired Archie Bradley from Arizona. Bradley gives Cincinnati another option for the ninth inning in case Raisel Iglesias needs some rest or loses the job outright.

Updated hierarchy: Iglesias | Bradley | Jones.

Seattle Mariners – The Mariners traded Taylor Williams to the Padres, which means Yoshihisa Hirano will slide into the vacated closer’s role, with Yohan Ramirez and Anthony Misiewicz setting up Hirano.

Updated hierarchy: Hirano | Ramirez | Misiewicz.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Shane Greene – Mark Melancon and Will Smith have gone back to back and three of four.
2. Evan Marshall – So has Alex Colome.
3. Justin Wilson – So has Edwin Diaz.
4. Hector Neris – Brandon Workman has gone in three of four, throwing 58 pitches.

Tomorrow
1. Devin Williams – If Josh Hader goes today, it’ll be back to back and three of four.

Archie Bradley traded to Reds

August 31, 2020

Arizona Diamondbacks – The Diamondbacks traded Archie Bradley to the Reds. We expect some combination of Hector Rondon and Junior Guerra to pick up whatever save chances remain this season.

Updated hierarchy: *Guerra | Rondon | Ginkel.
* = closer-by-committee

Cincinnati Reds – The Reds acquired Archie Bradley from Arizona. Bradley gives Cincinnati another option for the ninth inning in case Raisel Iglesias needs some rest or loses the job outright.

Updated hierarchy: Iglesias | Bradley | Jones.

Trevor Gott likely out of a job; Daniel Hudson struggling

August 18, 2020

St. Louis Cardinals – The Cardinals used their top relievers to get through the first game of yesterday’s doubleheader, which meant the second save in last three days by Andrew Miller after a Giovanny Gallegos 8th. We’ll continue to monitor over the next few days to see if the Cards are still taking a committee approach, or if this is now Miller’s job to lose.

Updated hierarchy: *Miller | Gallegos | Gant.
* = closer-by-committee

Washington Nationals – A full fledged meltdown from Daniel Hudson — his second blown-save-loss outing in his last four — has us continuing to stare at the numbers Tanner Rainey is posting thus far. If you have room for a speculative add, consider the young fireballer; in medium-sized leagues, he’s likely good enough to help you even as a middle reliever.

Hierarchy remains: Hudson | Rainey | Harris.

New York Mets – Franklyn Kilome had a mostly forgettable outing on Monday night (3 IP, 4 hits, 5 BBs, 2 ERs), except for the fact that it came in the last three innings of a blowout, meaning he was awarded his first career save. He doesn’t factor in to the Mets usual late inning plans.

Hierarchy remains: Lugo | Diaz | Betances.

Houston Astros – Two straight days of work meant an offday for Ryan Pressly on Monday, allowing Blake Taylor to collect his first save. “VUL, ture, SAVE, watch [clap, clap, clap-clap-clap].”

Hierarchy remains: Pressly | Taylor | Scrubb.

San Francisco Giants – Trevor Gott’s absolutely brutal stretch continued on Monday, as he blew another save and saw his ERA balloon to 14.73. (Tony Watson’s ERA is 1.35.) Gabe Kapler said he has to find a “softer landing spot” for the reliever, which likely means earlier in the game. We’re slapping a committee tag on here and watching to see what happens, but best to add Watson now if he’s available.

Updated hierarchy: *Gott | Watson | Rogers.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Will Harris – Daniel Hudson and Tanner Rainey have gone back to back.
2. Zack Britton – Aroldis Chapman threw 20 pitches last night and might not go back to back right out of the chute.
3. Blake Treinen – Kenley Jansen threw 26 pitches last night and has gone in three of the last four.

Tomorrow
1. Blake Taylor – If Ryan Pressly goes tonight, it’ll be three of the last four.
2. Hector Rondon – If Archie Bradley goes tonight, it’ll be three of the last four.

Kirby Yates held out due to soreness; Ty Buttrey looking solid in closer role

August 11, 2020

Tampa Bay Rays – Last night, holding on to a 1-run lead in the 9th inning, the Rays did what most any team would do — turn to a reliever whose last two outings saw him pitch in the 4th and 5th innings. But as with most Rays-related unorthodoxies, it worked out perfectly well, as Andrew Kittredge nailed down his first career save. Nick Anderson is still the best arm to own here, but look for the Rays to spread their opportunities around widely, with Kittredge, Jose Alvarado, Chaz Roe, and Diego Castillo all potentially getting looks when matchups are right.

Updated hierarchy: *Anderson | Alvarado | Kittredge.
* = closer-by-committee

Detroit Tigers – Buck Farmer was placed on the IL yesterday, so look for Gregory Soto and Jose Cisnero to bridge the gap to Joe Jimenez, MLB’s current saves leader.

Updated hierarchy: Jimenez | Soto | Cisnero.

San Diego Padres – Kirby Yates has struggled mightily this season, but that wasn’t the reason that he was held out of the 9th in favor of Drew Pomeranz yesterday. Rather, it was that he was experiencing soreness before the game and held out as a precaution. Pomeranz, who picked up the save, remains a strong middle relief option and good speculative add.

Hierarchy remains: Yates | Pomeranz | Pagan.

Seattle Mariners – CJ Edwards was placed on the IL and will miss a few weeks with a flexor mass strain in his forearm, giving the Mariners bullpen an even more mysterious air of uncertainty. Seems like a good time to reintroduce veteran Matt Magill to the hierarchy, as the righty hasn’t allowed a run all year and yet inexplicably still hasn’t gotten a save chance.

Updated hierarchy: *Williams | Magill | Altavilla.
* = closer-by-committee

Los Angeles Angels – After Hansel Robles was demoted, we assumed Ty Buttrey would get the bulk of the late inning work. And with that proving true — Buttrey got his second save last night — we’ll remove his asterisk. Keynan Middleton also joins the hierarchy after another solid outing.

Updated hierarchy: Buttrey | Pena | Middleton.

Arizona Diamondbacks – Archie Bradley logged his fourth save of the year on Sunday, and while he’s been fine, we’re shuffling his bridge relievers to include Junior Guerra, who turned in a strong 8th last night and has yet to allow a run this season in 7 appearances.

Updated hierarchy: Bradley | Rondon | Guerra.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Drew Pomeranz – Kirby Yates is hurting a bit (see above).
2. Felix Pena – Ty Buttrey has gone back to back.

Tomorrow
1. Blake Taylor/Andre Scrubb – If Ryan Pressly goes tonight, it’ll be two straight.
2. Hector Rondon – If Archie Bradley goes tonight, it’ll be two straight and three of four.