Ken Giles taking his talents to Chukchansi Park

July 12, 2018

Houston Astros — A few hours after Ken Giles met his manager on the mound with a less-than-friendly salutation, GM Jeff Luhnow greeted Giles with his own F-word: Fresno. Yes, the once-dominant closer will be punching his ticket in the minors for the first time since his breakout rookie year in 2014. You really can’t go wrong with anyone else in the Astros’ stable of middle relievers: Will Harris has good K numbers and an ERA inflated by a high BABIP; Joe Smith has fashioned four scoreless outings since his return from the DL; Tony Sipp is an effective lefty; and even Brad Peacock’s recent struggles haven’t wrecked a very good season. But for second in line, we’ll bet on converted starter Collin McHugh, whose ERA has hovered around 1.00 all season, while he’s struck out 57 in 44 innings.

Updated hierarchy: Rondon | Devenski | McHugh.

Detroit Tigers — Shane Greene will be activated on Thursday and should immediately resume his role as the Tigers’ closer. If Greene can prove that he’s healthy, he could wind up moving to a contender in need of bullpen help.

Updated hierarchy: Greene | Jimenez | Wilson. 

Minnesota Twins — An MRI on Wednesday revealed inflammation and swelling around Addison Reed’s triceps, so he’ll rest on the DL through the All-Star break. Ryan Pressly (13.08 K/9) — in Rochester exile no longer — should get more looks in the seventh inning; he picked up a sixth-inning hold last night.

Updated hierarchy: Rodney | Hildenberger | Pressly.

Tampa Bay Rays — Jose Alvarado was unfortunately placed on family medical emergency leave and will be out through the All-Star break. Stepping up in his place in the eighth inning on Wednesday was Diego Castillo, who could also be in line for a vulture save on Thursday. In Alvarado’s absence, Ryne Stanek (1.99 ERA; 39 K in 31.2 IP) could be called upon occasionally in the late innings when he’s not serving as a lights-out “opener.”

Updated hierarchy: *Romo | Castillo | Stanek.
* = closer-by-committee

Cleveland Indians — The only pitcher from either team in Cleveland’s 19-4 victory to leave without allowing a run was knuckleballing Reds third baseman Alex Blandino. Far less effective was Adam Plutko, who entered with a 16-run lead, gave up three runs and eight baserunners, and yet came away with a save because Jerome Holtzman said so.

Hierarchy remains: Allen | Ramirez | Perez.

Colorado Rockies — Bryan Shaw is back from the disabled list and predicting a return to form commensurate with his large contract.

Hierarchy remains: Davis | Ottavino | McGee.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Diego Castillo — Romo has pitched in three straight and four of five.
2. Kyle Crick — Felipe Vazquez has also pitched in four of five.

Friday:
1. Victor Arano — If Seranthony Dominguez pitches Thursday, he’ll have gone in three of four.
2. Anthony Swarzak — Same is true of Jeurys Familia.
3. Josh Hader — And Corey Knebel.
4. Brad Brach — And Zach Britton.
5. Lou Trivino — And Blake Treinen.

The Angels return to a closer-by-committee

September 11, 2017

Los Angeles Angels – Sporting a three-run lead, the Angels went Bedrosian-Parker-Petit to get through the final three innings. So the committee is back — maybe it never really left — though we still think Parker is the best bet at this point to get a save on any given night.

Updated hierarchy: *Parker | Bedrosian | Petit.
* = closer-by-committee

Arizona Diamondbacks – A day after Fernando Rodney got smacked around, Archie Bradley got the 9th inning and picked up his first save of the season. However, after the game, Torey Lovullo was quick to say there was no closer controversy — Rodney was just getting the day off. Still, given how dynamite Bradley has been all season, we think that the would-be controversy may be on if Rodney has another bad outing or two.

Hierarchy remains: Rodney | Bradley | Hernandez.

Toronto Blue Jays – Luis Santos got his first career save on Sunday afternoon, pitching the final three innings of a Blue Jays blowout win. Through three big league outings, Santos has been rock solid (8.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 7 Ks, 1 BB), and given that the Blue Jays bullpen isn’t exactly a model of consistency, they might be willing to give him a look in some higher leverage spots down the stretch.

Hierarchy remains: Osuna | Tepera | Leone.

Washington Nationals – Sean Doolittle got a second consecutive day off after pitching four of the previous five, so the Nationals instead clinched the NL East on the back of an extremely shaky Ryan Madson save. But the fact that Madson converted — and the fact that Brandon Kintzler was ostensibly available and stayed on the bench — suggests that Madson will get future chances when Doolittle is unavailable.

Updated hierarchy: Doolittle | Madson | Kintzler. 

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Joe Smith – The Indians are probably invested in keeping their record-long win streak alive, but since they have a 13-game lead in the division, they might give Cody Allen a day off after his back to back outings on Saturday and Sunday.

Tomorrow
1. Joe Smith – See above. If Cody Allen goes tonight, it’ll be three straight.
2. Anthony Swarzak – If Corey Knebel goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and three of four.

David Phelps done for the year; Brandon Maurer gets torched

September 5, 2017

Kansas City Royals – Just when it seemed like Brandon Maurer was settling in, the righty got banged around to the tune of 5 hits (1 HR) and 3 earned runs on Monday before giving way to Scott Alexander, who got the game’s last out and picked up his third save of the season. In Maurer’s defense, this was his fifth appearance in the last seven days, and he was mostly sharp. His fastball touched 98 mph, and he got to two strikes on five of the seven hitters he faced. But with Kelvin Herrera likely out another day or two, look for Alexander and/or Mike Minor to share closing duties with Maurer for the next couple days.

Hierarchy remains: Herrera | Maurer | Minor.

Los Angeles Angels – After a blown save from Blake Parker, the Angels game stretched into the 11th inning, where their 12th(!) pitcher of the game, Keynan Middleton, finally picked up the save. We don’t figure that this slip up will be enough to push Parker back into a committee, but with Mike Scioscia at the reins — and the Angels just 0.5 games out of a Wild Card spot — you never know.

Hierarchy remains: Parker | Bedrosian | Petit.

Seattle Mariners – David Phelps was moved to the 60-day DL, ending his season. Obviously, he can safely be loose in holds leagues.

Hierarchy remains: Diaz | Vincent | Rzepczynski.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Mike Minor/Scott Alexander – Brandon Maurer is probably out today having pitched back to back and five of seven, and Kelvin Herrera’s availability is still questionable.

Tomorrow
1. Jeurys Familia – If AJ Ramos goes today, it’ll be three straight.
2. Joe Smith – If Cody Allen goes today, it’ll be back to back and four of five.

Kelvin Herrera yanked again; day-to-day with forearm tightness

September 2, 2017

Kansas City Royals — For the second time in 10 days, Kelvin Herrera was pulled from a game in a save situation with forearm tightness. Both times it’s been Scott Alexander converting the unorthodox save, giving him two more than Herrera in that time period. Alexander has been solid this year and has now gone 11 straight appearances without a run, but he hasn’t seen consistent high-leverage use, and Mike Minor and Brandon Maurer had already pitched last night. We’ll keep an eye on Herrera’s “day-to-day” status — the last time he was pulled, he was held out for five days. We expect Brandon Maurer to be first in line for any save chances in the meantime.

Hierarchy remains: Herrera | Maurer | Minor.

Washington Nationals — Ryan Madson has been activated from the DL and figures to return to a late-inning role immediately. Dusty Baker is excited, and with good reason: Madson hasn’t given up a run in a Nationals uniform. Madson should fight for the eighth-inning role, but he’ll have to prove he’s ready first. Dusty Baker is also known for letting his players chase milestones, so he may try to get Brandon Kintzler two more saves to reach 30 on the year.

Updated hierarchy: Doolittle | Kintzler | Madson.

Cleveland Indians —  In the first game of a doubleheader, Cody Allen came on to bail out Bryan Shaw in the eighth inning. He escaped with the lead, but when he loaded the bases in the ninth with two outs, Terry Francona went to Joe Smith to pitch to Miguel Cabrera. Cabrera lined out to earn Smith his first save of the season. Smith is an important part of the Cleveland bullpen, and will continue to see high-leverage work, but there is no reason to think this was anything but a matchup play after Allen had thrown 28 pitches.

Hierarchy remains: Allen | Smith | Shaw.

Seattle Mariners — David Phelps is headed right back to the disabled list with the same right elbow impingement. Marc Rzepczynski returns to second in line.

Updated hierarchy: Diaz | Vincent | Rzepczynski.

Boston Red Sox — Matt Barnes was activated from the DL after spending the minimum amount of time there. He joins a crowded Boston bullpen, with Craig Kimbrel and Addison Reed locks in the last two innings. Expect Barnes to challenge for the seventh immediately, as Joe Kelly has struggled a bit after returning from the DL himself.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Reed | Kelly.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Anthony Swarzak — It’s been three in a row for Corey Knebel.
2. Brandon Maurer — We told you about Herrera’s issues above.
3. Mychal Givens/Darren O’Day — Both Zach Britton and Brad Brach went two innings yesterday and have pitched in two out of three.
4. Tony Barnette — Alex Claudio got five outs Friday in his second straight day of work.
5. Archie Bradley/David Hernandez — Fernando Rodney has pitched in three of four (57 pitches). So has Bradley, but he threw only seven last night.

Sunday:
1. Joe Smith — Cody Allen has gone in two of three (48 pitches).
2. Alex Wilson — Shane Greene has too (32 pitches).
3. Tommy Hunter — And Alex Colome.
4. Kyle Barraclough/Drew Steckenrider — Both Brad Ziegler and Barraclough have gone in two in a row.
5. Luis Garcia — And so has Hector Neris.

Blake Parker finally getting looks in the 9th

August 29, 2017

Los Angeles Angels – The Angels are still on an every-other-day diet in regards to Cam Bedrosian, and the last two save opportunities (yesterday and Saturday) have come when their hard-throwing righty had been used the day before. Both times, Blake Parker converted the save, a decision that has been lauded by many Angels fans who have been clamoring for Parker to get the 9th inning for months now. We don’t anticipate that the Angels move away from a committee any time soon, but to us, the loose gameplan appears to be that Bedrosian gets the toughest assignment — 9th inning or otherwise — on nights when he is available, and when he’s not, that toughest assignment goes to Parker. Any of two or three additional Angels relievers (Keynan Middleton, Yusmeiro Petit, Bud Norris) could get a save on any given night, but Bedrosian and Parker remain the two most valuable.

Hierarchy remains: *Bedrosian | Parker | Norris.
* = closer-by-committee

Tampa Bay Rays – Matt Andriese, a former starter who was activated earlier in the day, picked up the save last night, pitching the final three innings of a blowout and extending the Royals’ scoreless streak to a stunning 43 consecutive innings. Andriese should return to the rotation shortly and, obviously, won’t factor into the Tampa bullpen going forward.

Hierarchy remains: Colome | Hunter | Boxberger.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Brad Brach – Zach Britton got the save yesterday, but it’s uncertain if he’d go two days in a row, given his recent knee discomfort.

Tomorrow
1. Addison Reed/Joe Kelly – If Craig Kimbrel and/or Addison Reed go tonight, it’ll be three straight. Monitor usage tonight to see who will be available tomorrow.
2. Joe Smith – If Cody Allen goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and four of five.