2017 AL East Preview

February 27, 2017

Baltimore Orioles – The Orioles once again project to have one of the best bullpens in baseball thanks to dominant closer Zach Britton, who dealt with oblique soreness last week. You may see the O’s practice a little caution with Darren O’Day, who spent time on the DL last season, but he will once again be a top setup guy. Brad Brach, who is already 1-0 against AL East opponents this year, will handle the seventh. Plenty of reliability, at least on paper, for the Baltimore bullpen entering 2017.

Starting 2017 hierarchy: Britton | O’Day | Brach.
Holds candidates: O’Day, Brach.

Boston Red Sox – The Red Sox will once again lean on Craig Kimbrel in the ninth inning, but the bridge to him will look a little different than last year. Power is the name of the game for the Sox with Koji Uehara and Brad Ziegler gone. Boston acquired Tyler Thornburg from the Brewers, and he will be the likely setup man despite an ugly spring debut. Converted starter Joe Kelly enters his first full season as a reliever and also can reach 100 on the radar gun. Robbie Ross, Jr., will be the first lefty out of the pen, and don’t forget about Carson Smith, due back sometime this summer following Tommy John surgery.

Starting 2017 hierarchy: Kimbrel | Thornburg | Kelly.
Holds candidates: Thornburg, Kelly, Ross Jr.

New York Yankees — Aroldis Chapman is back with the Yankees after winning a World Series with the Cubs. That means that Dellin Betances will slide back to an eighth-inning role. As for the seventh? Tyler Clippard is the frontrunner to start the season.

Starting 2017 hierarchy: Chapman | Betances | Clippard.
Holds candidates: Betances, Clippard.

Tampa Bay Rays — Alex Colome will resume his duties as closer for the Rays, with a crowded group behind him on the depth chart. 2015 closer Brad Boxberger probably has the inside edge for the eighth inning given his experience, but the seventh inning is a different story. Danny Farquhar, lefty Xavier Cedeno and former Rangers closer Shawn Tolleson will all battle for time in the late innings. If everyone remains healthy, Kevin Cash can mix and match in the late innings as he sees fit.

Starting 2017 hierarchy: Colome | Boxberger | Cedeno.
Holds candidates: Boxberger, Cedeno, Farquhar, Tolleson, Tommy Hunter.

Toronto Blue Jays — Roberto Osuna is back for another season as the Jays’ closer, and he should be even stronger this season. Behind him on the depth chart will be 40-year-old Jason Grilli, who will likely have his innings monitored even though he’s not really that tired. Toronto also acquired Joe Smith, who closed a bit last year with the Angels, as well as reliable lefty JP Howell. Those two should fight for holds depending on matchups ahead of Grilli and Osuna.

Starting 2016 hierarchy: Osuna | Grilli | Smith.
Holds candidates: Grilli, Smith, Howell.

Jean Machi picks up a save; Edwin Jackson resurfaces

August 25, 2015

Atlanta Braves – Less than two weeks after signing with the Braves, former Cub Edwin Jackson snagged an 8th inning hold against the Rockies. Jackson was atrocious as a starter with the Cubs over the last few years, but seems to have settled in to his role as a reliever this season, positing a 3.13 ERA. With David Aardsma DFA’d yesterday, Jackson should get more hold chances going forward.

Updated hierarchy: Vizcaino | Jackson | McKirahan.

Boston Red Sox – Jean Machi “earned” his second save of the year by nearly blowing a three run lead to the White Sox. Machi surrendered 2 runs on 3 hits in the 9th, sending his ERA to an astounding 6.75. Junichi Tazawa is still the Red Sox number one choice for saves, but he was unavailable after getting lit up in a 30 pitch outing on Sunday.

Hierarchy remains: Tazawa | Machi | Ogando.
* = closer-by-committee

Los Angeles Dodgers – Yimi Garcia, who closed for a short spell for the Dodgers earlier this year, was sent to AAA yesterday. J.P. Howell slides up to take his spot on the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Jansen | Baez | Howell.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Tony Watson, Pittsburgh Pirates – Mark Melancon has pitched in 3 straight.
2. Drew Pomeranz, Oakland A’s – Sean Doolittle is the best bet for long term saves, but he hasn’t found his footing yet.

Huston Street tweaks groin, may miss weekend series

July 9, 2015

Los Angeles Angels – Huston Street tweaked his groin Wednesday night on his second-to-last pitch of the evening, but doesn’t expect to need a DL stint. He may end up missing the upcoming four-game series with Seattle prior to the All-Star Break, but will be re-evaluated in Seattle. If Street does miss action this weekend, Joe Smith will take over as closer.

Hierarchy remains: Street | Smith | Gott.

Milwaukee Brewers — Jeremy Jeffress has appeared in the 8th inning in four straight games and has not given up a run in his last nine appearances. Although his numbers are still very solid, Will Smith gave up one little run his manager Craig Counsell got scared, so Counsell has sent him to live with his aunty and his uncle in the 7th inning for now.

Updated hierarchy: Rodriguez | Jeffress | Smith.

Los Angeles Dodgers — A day after getting a spot start, Yimi Garcia was optioned to Triple A. Manager Don Mattingly said it was to give Garcia a breather after the young righty has been used in 40 games this year. J.P. Howell has been the most effective reliever behind Jansen and Baez, so look for his role to expand with Garcia out of the mix.

Updated hierarchy: Jansen | Baez | Howell.

New York Yankees — Andrew Miller was activated from the DL and immediately saw his first save opportunity last night. Despite giving up a two-run home run, he fought back to escape a brief jam with two outs and remain perfect in save chances this year.

Hierarchy remains: Miller | Betances | Wilson.

Cleveland Indians — After being held out of a clear save opportunity on Tuesday due to a stiff back, Cody Allen was back in action on Wednesday and pitched a perfect 9th for his 17th save of the year. It looks like he will be fine going forward.

Hierarchy remains: Allen | Shaw | McAllister.

Pittsburgh Pirates — Mark Melancon was given the night off after pitching in three of the last four, which opened the door for…Antonio Bastardo? The one-time Phillies closer picked up his first save of the year after the Pirates scored three runs to break a tie in the bottom of the 8th. Bastardo was already warmed up to face the bottom of the Padres order, and remained in the game to pick up the save. In addition to Melancon pitching in 3 of 4, Tony Watson and Jared Hughes had both thrown back-to-back games. Bastardo doesn’t project to become a part of Clint Hurdle’s late-inning plans.

Hierarchy remains: Melancon | Watson | Hughes.

Chicago Cubs – As predicted in the Vulture (Blown) Save Watch, Pedro Strop was handed the ball to protect a one-run lead in the 9th. But it turns out the Cubs could have used Jason Motte, as Strop gave up the lead and took the loss.

Hierarchy remains: *Motte | Rondon | Strop.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Wade Davis, Kansas City Royals — Greg Holland has thrown 39 pitches over the past two days, and the Royals don’t hesitate to throw Davis save opportunities.
2. Joe Smith, Los Angeles Angels — As mentioned above, Huston Street may take time to rest this weekend after tweaking his groin.
3. Dellin Betances/Justin Wilson, New York Yankees — Andrew Miller needed 30 pitches to close the game last night, and may not be ready to pitch back-to-back games just yet. Betances and Wilson have both pitched in two straight, but Wilson has only thrown 19 pitches over those two days.
4. Brett Cecil, Toronto Blue Jays — Right after kicking the asterisk, Roberto Osuna gave up a walk-off homer last night. He has pitched in two straight, but only threw two pitches last night. If he needs a night off, it may be the well-rested Brett Cecil instead of Steve Delabar, as Delabar worked two innings yesterday while Cecil tossed just one on Wednesday.

J.P. Howell records save, Melancon pitching well

July 5, 2015

Los Angeles Dodgers — J.P. Howell recorded his first save since 2011 last night, as Kenley Jansen was given the night off after pitching in three of the last four days.  Pedro Baez got the last out of the 8th and stayed on to get the first two outs of the 9th, before Howell came on to strike out the only batter he faced.  If Baez had been able to pitch a cleaner 9th inning he would have gotten the save, and since Yimi Garcia was used for one out in the 8th, it looks like Baez could be the go-to righty on days when Jansen is not available.

Updated hierarchy: Jansen | Baez | Garcia.

Pittsburgh Pirates — Remember all the concern over Mark Melancon back in April when his velocity was down?  Well there isn’t any reason for concern now as Melancon recorded his 26th save yesterday, and hasn’t given up any earned runs in last 25 appearances.  Jared Hughes wasn’t needed on Saturday so instead he got to celebrate being the only active player born on the 4th of July with a day off.

Hierarchy remains: Melancon | Watson | Hughes.

Toronto Blue Jays — Steve Delabar had another rough outing on Saturday, giving up 2 runs while only recording 1 out.  Brett Cecil, on the other hand, now has five scoreless appearances since being demoted from the closer’s role.  The Blue Jays bullpen is still unsettled at this point but with Delabar struggling, Roberto Osuna could have a chance to solidify himself as the closer.

Updated hierarchy: *Osuna | Delabar | Cecil.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Justin Wilson, New York Yankees – Dellin Betances has pitched in two straight, and three of the last four.
2. Kevin Siegrist, St. Louis Cardinals – Trevor Rosenthal has appeared in three games in a row.
3. Jake McGee, Tampa Bay Rays – Brad Boxberger took the loss yesterday and has pitched in three straight.