Andrew Miller leaves Monday’s game with injury

August 22, 2017

Cleveland Indians — Andrew Miller left Monday’s game in the seventh inning thanks to re-aggravation of right knee patella tendonitis. We’ll find out on Tuesday whether Miller will require just rest or another DL stint.

Hierarchy remains: Allen | Miller | Smith.

Texas Rangers — Matt Bush was placed on the DL Monday following his collision with Joey Gallo. The Rangers have a couple different options to choose from for the 7th inning, including Jason Grilli and Tony Barnette. You may also see Ricardo Rodriguez get a chance to show his stuff. The 24-year-old was promoted from Double-A earlier this month after converting all 17 of his save chances. We’ll keep an eye on who gets the first crack at getting the ball to Jose Leclerc and Alex Claudio.

Updated hierarchy: *Claudio | Leclerc | Grilli.
* = closer-by-committee

Kansas City Royals — Joakim Soria is on the 10-day DL because of a left oblique injury, which means Brandon Maurer should see the majority of the eighth-inning chances for the Royals. Mike Minor will slide back into his former hierarchy role while Soria gets healthy.

Updated hierarchy: Herrera | Maurer | Minor.

Los Angeles Dodgers – After all the usual suspects had been used, Ross Stripling came on in the 12th inning of Monday’s game to record his second save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Watson | Baez.

Minnesota Twins – Tyler Duffey earned his first career save on Monday by pitching the final three innings in a 10-2 victory over the White Sox in the second game of a doubleheader.

Hierarchy remains: *Belisle | Rogers | Hildenberger.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Aaron Bummer/Gregory Infante — Juan Minaya has pitched in three of the last four days, including game one of yesterday’s doubleheader.
2. Tony Watson — Kenley Jansen has pitched in three of four, including 20 pitches last night.

Wednesday:
1. Archie Bradley — Fernando Rodney threw 27 pitches on Monday and another heavy workload Tuesday could result in rest on Wednesday.
2. Brad Brach/Mychal Givens — If Zach Britton pitches Tuesday, it will be three straight for him. Brad Brach should get rest on Tuesday after two straight outings of 18 and 34 pitches, respectively. If he does go on Tuesday, expect Mychal Givens to get the ball Wednesday.
3. Tony Watson — If Kenley Jansen pitches tonight, that will be two straight and four of five.
4. Jose Leclerc — Both Leclerc and Alex Claudio threw close to 30 pitches on Monday. Whichever pitcher is more well-rested Tuesday should have the best chance at a save on Wednesday.

Jose Leclerc robs Keone Kela of a save chance

July 3, 2017

Texas Rangers — With Alex Claudio unavailable, it was Ernesto Frieri and Matt Bush for the Rangers in the sixth and seventh of a one-run game. When Jeff Banister turned to Jose Leclerc in the eighth, however, he gave up the go-ahead home run, robbing Keone Kela of his first chance to truly seize the job. In other relief news, Texas acquired Jason Grilli and welcomed Tony Barnette back from the disabled list. Neither should challenge Kela.

Hierarchy remains: *Kela | Leclerc | Claudio.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago White Sox — David Robertson — currently ranked #20 in Jon Heyman’s assessment of trade chips — will be off the next three days welcoming his second child. Tommy Kahnle should get any save chances against Oakland.

Hierarchy remains: Robertson | Kahnle | Swarzak.

Atlanta Braves — The Braves took their first shot at an extra-inning save with closer Jim Johnson, but he gave up the tying run. Next inning it was Arodys Vizcaino’s turn, and he converted, for his second save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Johnson | Vizcaino | Ramirez.

Boston Red Sox — Today in three-inning saves, we have Fernando Abad and his 63 MPH changeup. Maybe you could have been a major leaguer after all.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Kelly | Barnes.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Tommy Kahnle — As noted, David Robertson will be out for the next series.
2. Joakim Soria — Kelvin Herrera has gone in two straight (55 pitches). Soria pitched in the same games, but threw less.

Tuesday:
1. Tommy Kahnle/Anthony Swarzak — If he pitches Monday, Kahnle will have gone in two straight.
2. Sean Doolittle — Santiago Casilla has appeared in two games in a row.

Huston Street should be back soon for the embattled Angels

May 27, 2017

Los Angeles Angels — Bud Norris hadn’t pitched since Monday, so Mike Scioscia called on him in the eighth inning of a game the Angels trailed by five. And, naturally, because these are the Angels, he left the game with a right knee injury. The good news for LA is twofold: Norris is supposedly day-to-day, and both Huston Street and Cam Bedrosian are almost ready to return from the disabled list. Street should be back first (eligible Thursday), but if both he and Bedrosian are healthy come mid-June, we’d give the edge to Cam. If Norris does miss any time before June, we expect David Hernandez and Blake Parker to split save chances. Hernandez has been lights-out with the exception of one bad outing on May 16, while Parker strikes out more than 1.5 batters per inning.

Hierarchy remains: Norris | Hernandez | Parker.

Toronto Blue Jays — Jason Grilli has been a major disappointment in Toronto this year. His ERA is an ugly 7.20, he hasn’t been locating his slider, and he’s been relegated to low-leverage situations. Filling in at the back of Toronto’s bullpen has been Ryan Tepera, who has yet to give up a run in May (15 IP, 17 K). Tepera struggled in April, but seems to have found his footing, pitching with a late lead in his last two outings. Look for him to be the long-shot option for saves going forward.

Updated hierarchy: Osuna | Smith | Tepera.

Oakland A’s — Santiago Casilla gave up a run in a non-save situation, bumping his ERA to 4.91 on the year. Meanwhile, Ryan Madson picked up his sixth hold in a perfect eighth inning, lowering his ERA to a tidy 1.86. Casilla hasn’t been terrible, but his K rate is down from the past two years, and he’s walking more batters than normal. With Madson pitching so well behind him, Casilla may be on a shorter leash, making Madson a solid speculative add.

Hierarchy remains: Casilla | Madson | Axford.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. David Hernandez — Bud Norris has a right knee injury.
2. Jacob Barnes — Corey Knebel blew the save Friday and has gone in two straight.

Sunday:
1. Archie Bradley — Fernando Rodney has gone in three of four.
2. Ryan Madson — Santiago Casilla has pitched in two of three (51 pitches).
3. Chris Devenski/Will Harris — Ken Giles has gone back-to-back.
4. Danny Farquhar — Alex Colome got four outs last night and has gone in two of three.

The Orioles might try a committee with Zach Britton out through July

May 11, 2017

Baltimore Orioles — The Orioles are preparing to be without Zach Britton through the All-Star break, but Brad Brach’s hold on the interim job is getting ever more tenuous. Even before last night’s demoralizing blown save, Buck Showalter was talking about using a committee of Brach, Darren O’Day, Mychal Givens, and lefthander Donnie Hart. We’ll believe that when we see it, but Brach owners should be concerned.

Hierarchy remains: Brach | O’Day | Givens.

Washington Nationals — Shawn Kelley threw a successful simulated game on Wednesday; both he and Koda Glover could be back with the Nationals by this weekend. Matt Albers pitched nicely in their stead today, striking out the side and earning the walk-off win.

Hierarchy remains: *Albers | Romero | Treinen.
* = closer-by-committee

San Francisco Giants — The rule of Law has begun for the Giants, but Derek didn’t make it easy, giving back two runs from the team’s three-run lead. He probably won’t pitch on Thursday, so a Hunter Strickland appearance won’t mean anything has changed in the San Fran committee.

Hierarchy remains: *Law | Strickland | Osich.
* = closer-by-committee

Houston Astros – Will Harris relieved Luke Gregerson in a tight eighth inning on Wednesday and appears to be ahead of Gregerson in the Houston hierarchy. Harris earned 12 saves for the Astros last season and has eight strikeouts over his last four appearances.

Updated hierarchy: Giles | Devenski | Harris.

Kansas City Royals — It’s been quite a while since we’ve talked about Kansas City, and Peter Moylan has had two five-run meltdowns to run his ERA to 7.62. The latest came last night in a blowout loss. Former first-round pick Mike Minor has been out of the league with injuries since 2014, but he seems to have hit his stride in relief, and could continue to get higher-leverage opportunities.

Updated hierarchy: Herrera | Soria | Minor.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Darren O’Day — Brad Brach has gone in three of the last four games.
2. Hunter Strickland — Derek Law has pitched in three out of four (71 pitches).
3. Jason Grilli — Both Roberto Osuna and Joe Smith have been used in three out of four.

Friday
1. Joe Smith — If Osuna does go Thursday, he’ll get Friday off.
2. Enny Romero — Matt Albers hasn’t thrown a lot of pitches, but he has thrown in three of four. Another appearance would probably require some rest.

For one day, Miguel Socolovich was everything

May 9, 2017

St. Louis Cardinals – Usually we have something to say about somebody, somewhere, in one of MLB’s 30 bullpens. But the only thing that happened Monday that struck us as out of the ordinary was a save for journeyman Miguel Socolovich, whose baseball career spans the minor league systems of six different MLB teams, as well as the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of NPB. Socolovich, a native of Venezuela, pitched the final three innings of the Cardinals blowout victory to earn his first career save. If you had Socolovich active in your lineup yesterday, send us a screenshot. The first person who does wins Closer Monkey Premium for a year; any subsequent winners will win a free day of email sponsorship.

Hierarchy remains: Oh | Rosenthal | Bowman.

Detroit Tigers – In case you missed it yesterday, the Tigers may announce a closer change today. We will send an instant update if and when it happens; for now, pick up Justin Wilson if he’s available in your leagues.

Hierarchy remains: Rodriguez | J.Wilson | A.Wilson.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Darren O’Day – Brad Brach has pitched in back to back games and four of five.
2. Jason Grilli – Roberto Osuna and Joe Smith have both pitched back to back games and three of four.
3. Ryan Madson – Santiago Casilla has pitched in back to back games and has yet to go three straight this year.

Tomorrow
1/2/3. See above – If any of the three listed closers above do go today, they’ll surely be unavailable tomorrow.