May 14, 2019
Philadelphia Phillies – Despite appearing just once in the past 10 games, Hector Neris stayed in the bullpen with the Phillies up three in the 9th inning; instead, Pat Neshek got his second save of the year. We’ll watch this one closely to see if any news about Neris emerges in the coming days.
Hierarchy remains: *Neris | Neshek | Dominguez.
* = closer-by-committee
Los Angeles Angels – The Angels placed Luis Garcia on the IL with back spasms. Justin Anderson got a 6th inning hold in his place yesterday; look for Anderson to get a few more hold opportunities while Garcia is out.
Updated hierarchy: *Robles | Buttrey | Anderson.
* = closer-by-committee
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Tomorrow
1. Kelvin Herrera – If Alex Colome goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and three of four.
AJ Minter, Will Smith looking over their shoulders
April 29, 2019
Tampa Bay Rays – Diego Castillo pitched a scoreless ninth for the Rays on Sunday, notching his 3rd save of the year. Jose Alvarado pitched the 8th and looks like he will be continually deployed when the opposing lineup is most threatening. This appears to be a full-fledged committee, with Alvarado, Castillo, and Pagan sharing 10 saves between them so far.
Updated hierarchy: *Alvarado | Castillo | Pagan.
* = closer-by-committee
Atlanta Braves – AJ Minter, who is currently sporting a 9.35 ERA, allowed two runners to reach in the 9th inning before getting yanked for Luke Jackson, who retired both hitters he faced to earn his first save. Minter is on thin ice as the Braves continue to assess their post-Vizcaino bullpen.
Hierarchy remains: Minter | Jackson | Winkler.
Chicago White Sox – The White Sox put Nate Jones on the IL with inflammation in his pitching elbow. Jace Fry will likely see a few more hold chances going forward.
Updated hierarchy: Colome | Herrera | Fry.
St. Louis Cardinals – Protecting a 2-run lead, Jordan Hicks was summoned to put out a fire with two outs in the 8th inning. When the Cardinals scored three runs in the bottom half, they decided to give Hicks the rest of the night off, but then Dominic Leone got in trouble, forcing John Gant to come in and close out the game. It was Gant’s second save of the season.
Hierarchy remains: Hicks | Miller | Gant.
San Francisco Giants – Will Smith gave up three runs in a non-save situation, pushing his ERA to 3.72. The Giants apparently intend to give Mark Melancon the closer job back at some point, and performances like this might make that day come sooner rather than later.
Hierarchy remains: Smith | Watson | Melancon.
Chicago Cubs – The Cubs won a 15-inning marathon in Arizona on Sunday, and their 9th pitcher of the day, something named Allen Webster, picked up the save.
Hierarchy remains: *Strop | Cishek | Kintzler.
* = closer-by-committee
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Jeurys Familia/Seth Lugo – Edwin Diaz has gone in back to back games, and it’s unclear whether the Mets would let him go three straight.
2. Joe Kelly – Kenley Jansen has gone in back to back and three of four.
Tomorrow
1. Andrew Miller – If Jordan Hicks goes today, it’ll be three straight.
2. Kelvin Herrera – If Alex Colome goes today, it’ll be back to back and three of four.
David Robertson injured; Raisel Iglesias struggling
April 16, 2019
Toronto Blue Jays – Ken Giles wasn’t feeling well, so it was Joe Biagini on for the 9th inning to protect a 2-run lead for the Blue Jays. Biagini converted and remains the handcuff in Toronto.
Hierarchy remains: Giles | Biagini | Mayza.
Cincinnati Reds – Staked to a 1-run lead in the 9th, Raisel Iglesias walked David Freese on 5 pitches and then gave up a walkoff 2-run homer to Joc Pederson. Iglesias has now surrendered runs in four of his six outings to start the season and should be monitored closely going forward.
Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Hughes | Garrett.
Philadelphia Phillies — David Robertson was placed on the injured list Monday afternoon with right elbow soreness. The Phillies’ ninth-inning situation will become even more unsettled, with Hector Neris, Seranthony Dominguez, and possibly the revitalized Victor Arano contending for saves.
Updated hierarchy: *Neris | Dominguez | Arano.
* = closer-by-committee
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Jared Hughes – If Raisel Iglesias needs a day to clear his head, Hughes is probably the best bet for a save chance.
2. Joe Biagini – If Ken Giles still isn’t feeling well, look for Biagini to get another chance.
Tomorrow
1. Kelvin Herrera – If Alex Colome goes tonight, it’ll be three straight.
2. Adam Cimber – If Brad Hand goes tonight, it’ll be three straight.
3. Chris Martin – If Jose Leclerc goes tonight, it’ll be three straight.
Chasen Bradford nabs a save for volatile Seattle pen
April 1, 2019
Baltimore Orioles – Mychal Givens worked in and out of trouble in the 8th, and seemed headed toward a two-inning save after retiring the first two hitters in the 9th. But after a walk and two singles, Paul Fry was summoned to get the game’s final out. Brandon Hyde said before the game that he wouldn’t be using a traditional closer, though it seems Givens will get the ball in big spots most of the time. We’ll leave him at the top of the hierarchy, but are going to take Hyde at his word for the time being — this one’s a committee now.
Updated hierarchy: *Givens | Bleier | Fry.
* = closer-by-committee
Miami Marlins – The first save chance of the Marlins’ season went to Wei-Yin Chen, but the lefty immediately put two runners on base before giving way to Sergio Romo, who locked down the save. This one seemed matchup based, as Chen faced two lefties to start the inning, and there’s still no odds-on favorite for a save in Miami on any given night.
Hierarchy remains: *Romo | Steckenrider | Conley.
* = closer-by-committee
Tampa Bay Rays – Jose Alvarado got the afternoon off after pitching two days in a row, allowing Diego Castillo to nab his first save of the season. We still expect Alvarado to get most of the save chances here.
Hierarchy remains: Alvarado | Roe | Castillo.
Chicago White Sox – Alex Colome got his first save of the season, and for the second day in a row, it was Kelvin Herrera pitching ahead of him. Herrera seems to be the favorite for the set-up role here, as Nate Jones has been used earlier in games thus far.
Updated hierarchy: Colome | Herrera | Jones.
Seattle Mariners – With Hunter Strickland on the IL, we figured Cory Gearrin would get a save chance or two for the Mariners, and he was indeed summoned for the 9th inning last night, but he responded by walking the bases loaded before getting yanked for Chasen Bradford. Bradford, pitching for the first time all season, managed to record the final two outs and picked up the save. By virtue of success, he enters the hierarchy, though we’d also again remind readers that Anthony Swarzak may be an option when he returns from the IL.
Updated hierarchy: *Gearrin | Bradford | Rosscup.
* = closer-by-committee
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Joakim Soria – Blake Treinen has pitched in back to back and three of four.
2. Tim Mayza/Daniel Hudson – Ken Giles and Joe Biagini have both pitched back to back and three of four.
3. Chris Martin – Jose Leclerc has pitched 2.1 innings over the past two days.
Tomorrow
1. Craig Stammen – If Kirby Yates goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and four of five.
2. Joe Kelly – If Kenley Jansen goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and three of four.
Justin Miller is the Washington closer-du-jour
August 28, 2018
Chicago Cubs – After Steve Cishek and Carl Edwards Jr. handled the 7th and 8th, things got interesting for Pedro Strop in the 9th. Strop allowed two base runners while recording only one out, after which he was promptly removed. Justin Wilson gave up a hit to the only batter he faced, but then Jesse Chavez managed to finish off the game to pick up the save. There has been no indication of injury and Joe Maddon is the type of manager who would pull his closer in favor of a better matchup, so there is probably nothing to see here, but we’ll monitor to make sure the quick hook isn’t indicative of something more. Edwards and Cishek, for their parts, seem to be preferred options to Brandon Kintzler right now, who has given up 7 ERs in his last 3.2 IP.
Updated hierarchy: Strop | Edwards | Cishek.
Washington Nationals – Kelvin Herrera was placed on the DL yesterday, and the Nationals had several options to replace him. To fill his roster spot, they activating another guy who served as their closer for a spell, Ryan Madson. Koda Glover had also recently served as stopper, while Greg Holland is finally finding his stuff (9 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 11 Ks with Washington). So who did the save chance go to last night? Why, obviously that would be Justin Miller, who closed out the Phillies with a clean inning. Despite the surprise usage, Miller has been perfectly decent this season, pitching to a tune of a 3.71 ERA and a 10.5 K/IP ratio, and when it comes closing, success begets further opportunity. Look for Miller to, at worst, share chances with Madson going forward until the Nats get their top arms back from the DL.
Updated hierarchy: *Miller | Madson | Glover.
* = closer-by-committee
San Francisco Giants – Just when Hunter Strickland seemed like the odd man out in this bullpen, the righty got the call with 2 outs in the 9th last night, walking a batter before finishing off the game to notch the save. Will Smith apparently needed a second night off after pitching three straight over the weekend, so Tony Watson started the inning and recorded two outs around a walk, then got the hook. Strickland was doing a fine job of closing before the injury and if the Giants give him another chance or two, there’s the possibility that he could return to sharing chances with Smith down the stretch.
Hierarchy remains: Smith | Melancon | Strickland.
Los Angeles Angels – Several Angels relievers, including set-up man Justin Anderson, combined to cough up an 8th inning lead, but the team would grab the lead again in the bottom half of the inning, and in the 9th, Noe Ramirez was sent to the mound to record the final three outs. Ramirez pitched a clean inning for his first save of the year. Blake Parker had pitched in two straight, though his pitch count wasn’t especially high, so it was a little surprising not to see him used here. But we’ll assume everything is fine unless we hear otherwise.
Hierarchy remains: Parker | Anderson | Bedrosian.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today/tomorrow
1. Koda Glover – Justin Miller has gone in two straight, and it’s unclear whether the Nats would use him in a third straight. Ryan Madson just came off the DL and the Nats might not want to go back-to-back yet either.
