Joe Kelly gets first post-Hendriks save chance; Josh Hader is back

June 21, 2022

New York Mets – A day after one of Seth Lugo’s worst outings of the season, Drew Smith was tasked with the 8th of a four-run game, pitching a scoreless inning. Lugo has been serviceable this season (3.81 ERA), but he isn’t the lockdown reliever he was a few years ago, while Smith (2.03 ERA, 0.97 WHIP) has been a revelation. These two will probably continue to be used interchangeably, but Smith has inched ahead in terms of who is more likely to get a 9th inning should Edwin Diaz need a night off.

Updated hierarchy: Diaz | Smith | Lugo.

Chicago White Sox – After Kendall Graveman was brought in to face the 3-4-5 hitters in the 8th inning, Joe Kelly came on for the 9th. He made it interesting, allowing a two-run homer to Cavan Biggio, but then settled down to record the final two outs, netting his first save. It’s probable this was a matchup play — Graveman is clearly the best arm in this pen right now — but we’ll slap a committee tag on here in case they use him in his traditional fireman role rather than as an exclusive closer.

Updated hierarchy: *Graveman | Kelly | Ruiz.
* = closer-by-committee

Milwaukee Brewers – Josh Hader looked fine after what was presumably several days of minimal sleep, returning from the paternity list to log a scoreless 9th inning.

Updated hierarchy: Hader | Williams | Boxberger.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Will Smith – Kenley Jansen has gone back to back.
2. Matt Strahm/Hansel Robles – Tanner Houck and John Schreiber have both gone back to back.

Tomorrow
1. Jake McGee – If Camilo Doval goes today, it’s back to back and four of five.
2. Josh Staumont – If Scott Barlow goes today, it’s back to back and three of four.
3. Michael King – If Clay Holmes (RIP scoreless streak; great run, Clay) goes today, it’s back to back and three of four.

Marlins bullpen coughs up another lead

May 9, 2022

Chicago White Sox – With an assured day of rest for Liam Hendriks, it was assumed that Kendall Graveman would get the save chance on Sunday if one arose. But instead, Tony La Russa gave the highly-used Graveman the day off as well, and Jose Ruiz and Bennett Sousa combined for a scoreless 9th, with Sousa nabbing the one-out save.

Updated hierarchy: Hendriks | Graveman | Ruiz.

Kansas City Royals – Scott Barlow got the save in the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader. Josh Staumont warmed up (but didn’t appear) in the nightcap, so he’s fine; this remains a committee.

Hierarchy remains: *Staumont | S.Barlow | Garrett.
* = closer-by-committee

Miami Marlins – After his second blown save on Wednesday, Anthony Bender started the 8th inning of a losing effort on Thursday, whereupon he recorded two outs but also allowed two baserunners before being lifted. On Sunday, he got another lower leverage spot, pitching the 6th inning in a game the Marlins led by 2. This was a better outing for Bender (1.0 IP, 2 Ks, no baserunners), and his fantasy owners were probably pleased to see Cole Sulser blow the game via a walkoff 3-run-HR to Jose Alfaro in the 9th, but regardless, Dylan Floro is very close to returning, having pitched 2 innings in a rehab outing on Friday. With no other reliever establishing themselves, Floro seems likely to return to the job in relatively short order.

Hierarchy remains: *Bender | Sulser | Scott.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Jake McGee – Camilo Doval pitched Friday and Sunday, so it’s probably McGee’s turn if there’s a save chance today; he got the weekend off.

Tomorrow
1. Dillon Tate/Bryan Baker – If Jorge Lopez and Dillon Tate go today, it’s back to back.
2. Jose Alvarado/Brad Hand – If Corey Knebel and Jose Alvarado go today, it’s back to back.
3. Matt Bush/Brett Martin – If Joe Barlow and Matt Bush go today, it’s back to back.

Giants continue to mix and match; Giovanny Gallegos has a rough night

April 26, 2022

San Francisco Giants – The Giants put together an admirable bullpen game against Corbin Burnes on Monday, as six pitchers combined to allow just one unearned run over seven innings. After the Giants took the lead in the top of the 8th, Jake McGee blew the save in the bottom half but ultimately earning the win after Camilo Doval pitched a perfect 9th. Doval remains the leader in what, so far, has been a matchup- and usage-based committee. Should Gabe Kapler continue to employ Doval and McGee in this fashion, look for the righty to continue to get about 2/3rds of the opportunities.

Hierarchy remains: *Doval | McGee | Rogers.
* = closer-by-committee

St. Louis Cardinals – Giovanny Gallegos had a forgettable night on Monday, retiring two of the first three hitters he faced, but then ultimately allowing four earned runs, with the game’s deciding play coming when he was late covering first. He’s been very good so far, and this single outing won’t threaten his spot atop the hierarchy yet, but should he have another bad inning or two, the Cardinals have several options, with Genesis Cabrera and an unhittable-thus-far Ryan Helsley (5.1 IP, 0 ER, 0.19 WHIP, 11 Ks) also performing well.

Hierarchy remains: Gallegos | Cabrera | Helsley.

Texas Rangers – Spencer Patton went on the IL over the weekend; look for Brett Martin to get a few more holds opportunities as a result.

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

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Kendall Graveman – Liam Hendriks threw a combined 46 pitches on Saturday and Sunday (30 on Sunday) and might get an extra day off.

Tomorrow
1. Ryan Tepera/Aaron Loup – If Raisel Iglesias or Ryan Tepera go today, it’ll be two straight; check usage to see who might be available tomorrow.
2. Genesis Cabrera/Ryan Helsley – Likewise for Giovanny Gallegos and Genesis Cabrera.
3. Jake McGee/Tyler Rogers – Likewise for Camilo Doval and Jake McGee.
4. Trevor May – If Edwin Diaz goes today, it’s two straight. Trevor May likely won’t pitch today after a 28 pitch outing Sunday, but should be available Wednesday.

Dany Jimenez to see save chances after Lou Trivino’s COVID diagnosis

April 19, 2022

Oakland A’s — Lou Trivino was been placed on the COVID IL before Monday’s game, and Dany Jimenez had an eventful, but ultimately scoreless 9th inning in his stead. He was preceded by Justin Grimm in the 8th and Domingo Acevedo in the 7th — and that’s how we’ll line them up while Trivino is out, with the understanding (and, perhaps, expectation) that the A’s could take a committee approach in Trivino’s absence.

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

Chicago Cubs – With saves on back to back days, the resurgent David Robertson has shaken his asterisk and is now the full-time stopper for the Cubs. Just note that, given his age and recent injury history, the Cubs might protect his usage more than most teams (he almost certainly will be unavailable today, for example).

Updated hierarchy: Robertson | Givens | Wick.

Colorado Rockies – Alex Colome picked up his first save of the season on Monday, and through 10 games, the surprising Rockies have the best bullpen ERA (1.88) in baseball. Daniel Bard’s absence was curious, but given his early success and the lack of any postgame notes, we’re assuming for now that the Rockies wanted to give the 36-year-old righty two consecutive days off after pitching him in 5 of their first 8 games. If Colome (or Carlos Estevez) picks up another save, however, the committee tag will return.

Hierarchy remains: Bard | Colome | Estevez.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Mychal Givens – David Robertson has gone back to back.
2. Robert Suarez – Taylor Rogers has gone back to back.
3-6. Ian Kennedy/Kyle Finnegan/Jake McGee/Trevor May – The Diamondbacks, Nats, Giants, and Mets all have doubleheaders today.

Tomorrow
1. Ryne Stanek – If Hector Neris goes today, it’s back to back and three of four.
2. Blake Treinen – If Craig Kimbrel goes today, it’s back to back.
3. Jose Alvarado – If Corey Knebel goes today, it’s back to back.

Josh Staumont and Jake McGee record saves

April 17, 2022

Kansas City Royals — The Royals picked up their first save of the season and it was Josh Staumont who ended up getting the call.  Staumont struck out a pair in a perfect 9th inning, but it’s worth noting that Scott Barlow got the 8th inning with the 3-4-5 hitters due up.   Barlow has pitched well to start the season and we don’t think this one save is enough to switch up the hierarchy, but it shows that Staumont is still very much in the mix for saves.

Hierarchy remains: *Barlow | Staumont | Garrett.
* = closer-by-committee

San Francisco Giants — Jake McGee pitched a scoreless 9th inning to pick up his first save of the season.  Camilo Doval got the night off after pitching in two of the last three games, and three of five.  Tyler Rogers picked up the 8th inning hold ahead of McGee.  Fantasy owners will be happy to see McGee get on the board with a save but he is still likely behind Doval on nights when both are available.

Updated Hierarchy: *Doval | McGee | Rogers

Colorado Rockies – Daniel Bard pitched a scoreless 9th last night for his 4th save of the season.  Neither Alex Colome nor Carlos Estevez has any saves so far and that’s enough to kick the committee tag here.  A fun note about the Rockies so far is that all eight of their games have resulted in saves.  

Hierarchy remains: Bard | Colome | Estevez.

Oakland A’s — Lou Trivino struck out the side for his second save of the season.  Meanwhile, Dany Jimenez struck out the side in the 8th inning of a tie game and ended up with the win just a few days after recording his first save.  Domingo Acevedo struggled a bit in the 6th inning and given Jimenez’s success early in the season, it looks like Jimenez is the better handcuff to Trivino right now.

Updated hierarchy: Trivino | Jimenez | Acevedo.

Los Angeles Dodgers — After Mitch White turned a 5 run lead into a save situation, Daniel Hudson came on to record the last two outs and pick up his first save of the season.  Craig Kimbrel was unavailable as the Dodgers do want to use him on consecutive games yet.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Treinen | Hudson.

New York Yankees — Clay Holmes recorded the last four outs in a 5-2 victory to pick up his first career save.  The Yankees’ bullpen had been busy recently as Aroldis Chapman and Jonathan Loaisiga had both pitched in three of the last four games and Chad Green had pitched in two of the last three.  That left Michael King and Clay Holmes to finish off yesterday’s win.

Hierarchy Remains: Chapman | Loaisiga | Green. 

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Kendall Graveman/Aaron Bummer (CHW) – Liam Hendriks has pitched in two straight and four of five.
2. Amir Garrett (KC) – Scott Barlow and Josh Staumont have both pitched in two straight
3. Will Smith/Tyler Matzek (ATL) – Kenley Jansen has pitched in two straight while Will Smith threw 21 pitches yesterday
4. Alex Colome (COL) – Daniel Bard has pitched in two straight

Monday
1. Ryne Stanek (HOU) – If Hector Neris pitches on Sunday, it will be two straight
2. Ian Kennedy/Noe Ramirez (ARI) – If Mark Melancon pitches Sunday, it will be two straight. Same for Ian Kennedy