The Dodgers bullpen gets another two late-inning options

September 29, 2022

Los Angeles Dodgers — Tommy Kahnle threw his hat into the Dodgers’ closer committee ring, grabbing a tenth-inning save and allowing LA to join the Yankees with 12 pitchers with saves entering the final week of the season. Kahnle’s last save was with New York in August 2018, but both he and the freshly returned David Price could have important bullpen roles to play this postseason for Los Angeles.

Updated hierarchy: *Phillips | Vesia | Kahnle.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago Cubs — For the second straight game, Manuel Rodriguez relieved Brandon Hughes in the ninth inning and retired J.T. Realmuto and Alec Bohm to pick up a Cubs save. Rodriguez and Hughes should probably be considered co-closers at this point, with matchups determining who gets used when.

Updated hierarchy: *Hughes | Rodriguez | Leiter Jr.
* = closer-by-committee

New York Yankees — Zack Britton made his second appearance back from Tommy John surgery and again struggled with control. So far this season, Britton has faced eight batters and walked five of them. A brighter spot for the Yankees (aside from, you know, the 61 thing) was Aroldis Chapman hitting 101 and striking out two Blue Jays in a clean ninth. An effective Chapman in any bullpen role would be a huge bonus heading into the playoffs.

Hierarchy remains: *Holmes | Effross | Loaisiga.
* = closer-by-committee

Arizona Diamondbacks — Reyes Moronta got through a rocky ninth with the score tied, leaving Mark Melancon to come on and pick up the 10th-inning save once Arizona took the lead. 

Updated hierarchy: *Moronta | Melancon | Mantiply.
* = closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox — Matt Barnes got the call on the second straight day of work and closed out a 3-1 win over Baltimore.

Hierarchy remains: *Schreiber | Barnes | Strahm.
* = closer-by-committee

Pittsburgh Pirates — Resting David Bednar as we expected, the Pirates gave Chase de Jong a chance to close out a game with a three-run lead, but he gave up two home runs. De Jong looks to still be fourth in the Pirates’ pecking order.

Hierarchy remains: Bednar | Crowe | Underwood.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Shawn Armstrong/J.T. Chargois (TB) — All the members of the Rays hierarchy have gone back-to-back. Armstrong is the best-rested reliever, while Chargois is the team’s only high-leverage arm without a save this year. (Note that he has zero career saves, so maybe he’s not such a great bet here.)
2. Trevor Stephan (CLE) — Emmanuel Clase and James Karinchak have gone in two straight, and the Guardians are locked into the three seed in the playoffs.
3. Ryan Tepera/Jose Quijada (LAA) — Jimmy Herget has the front seat in this committee, but he is likely to get some rest Thursday.
4. Tanner Scott (MIA) — Dylan Floro has gone in two straight and four of six.
5. Manuel Rodriguez (CHC) — Brandon Hughes has gone in three of four. Although Rodriguez has pitched back-to-back, he’s needed only a total of seven pitches.
6. Alex Vesia (LAD) — Both Evan Phillips and Tommy Kahnle have pitched in two consecutive games.
7. Robert Suarez/Pierce Johnson (SD) — Josh Hader, Nick Martinez, and Luis Garcia each got heavy work the last two days. Suarez threw 32 pitches on Tuesday, so if the Padres go off the board, they could do worse than Johnson, who’s been solid for years and has a 35.4 K% this season.

Friday:
1. Andrew Chafin (DET) — An appearance Thursday would be two straight and four in seven for Gregory Soto.
2. Jonathan Hernandez (TEX) — Jose Leclerc threw 29 pitches on Tuesday and probably won’t go on three of four.
3. Taylor Rogers/Matt Bush (MIL) — If Devin Williams pitches on Thursday, he won’t go in three straight.
4. Scott Alexander (SF) — Camilo Doval might get Friday off if he goes tonight.

Clay Holmes appears to continue to lead Yankees’ closer committee

September 23, 2022

New York Yankees — The Yankees activated Scott Effross and Zack Britton on Thursday. A corresponding move led them to place Wandy Peralta on the IL. So what does the back end look like now? Well, manager Aaron Boone essentially said this week the Yankees will use a closer-by-committee approach, so we’ll keep the committee tag and insert Effross and Aroldis Chapman, who has been up and down of late. Other late-inning options include Jonathan Loaisiga, Lou Trivino and Britton. Holmes earned the extra-inning win Thursday, pitching the game’s final two innings, so he will continue to lead this ‘pen.

Updated hierarchy: *Holmes | Effross | Chapman.
* = closer-by-committee

Arizona Diamondbacks — In a tight game on Thursday, the Diamondbacks turned to Reyes Moronta for the save chance, but he could not close out the Dodgers, loading the bases with one out. Arizona turned Joe Mantiply to save things, but he allowed a game-tying infield single and a walk-off single. While Moronta didn’t finish the job, we probably need to reshuffle this Diamondbacks hierarchy given Thursday’s usage. Ian Kennedy had a scoreless eighth inning in a five-run game Wednesday, but he has been terrible as of late, allowing 11 earned runs over his past six appearances (4.1 IP), to balloon his ERA to 4.91.

Updated hierarchy: *Melancon | Moronta | Mantiply.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago Cubs — Mark Leiter Jr. pitched the final 2.1 innings Thursday to earn his third save. It was his second save in three appearances, and that’s enough to enter him into the hierarchy for the Cubs. Brandon Hughes leads this committee, but he was shaky on Thursday, getting just one out in the seventh while allowing a hit and two walks, to make way for Leiter Jr. Hughes is still the best bet for Cubs saves down the stretch.

Updated hierarchy: *Hughes | Wick | Leiter Jr..
* = closer-by-committee

San Francisco Giants – Three of John Brebbia’s past four appearances have been opener-type “starts,” and if he’s starting games, he can’t earn saves. With this recent usage we’ll move Tyler Rogers back into the hierarchy behind Scott Alexander and Camilo Doval, who pitched the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, on Thursday. Brebbia could be in the mix, too, so we’ll keep an eye on things.

Updated hierarchy remains: Doval | Alexander | Rogers.

Pittsburgh Pirates — David Bednar was activated from the injured list Thursday and will likely resume his role as Pirates closer down the stretch.

Updated hierarchy: Bednar | Crowe | Underwood.

Philadelphia Phillies — Jose Alvarado got the last out of the eighth and was left in to finish things off in the ninth Thursday for his second save. David Robertson, Seranthony Dominguez and Alvarado all pitched the day before, but the Phillies stuck with Alvarado, who came into the game against a tough lefty (Matt Olson) and retired him on just one pitch. After the game, interim manager Rob Thomson explained the decision to stick with Alvarado in the ninth, saying, “We wanted to see by the end of the year if Alvarado could pitch the ninth and more than one inning and he did that tonight.”  

Hierarchy remains: *Robertson | Dominguez | Alvarado.
* = closer-by-committee

St. Louis Cardinals – Ryan Helsley pitched the eighth inning on Thursday, allowing a solo shot but earning a hold ahead of Giovanny Gallegos, who tallied his 13th save with a clean ninth. Helsley had the team’s previous six saves so he’s the clear closer, but there are times when St. Louis will use Helsely in the game’s tightest spots before the final inning, like on Thursday when he was called in to face the 3-4-5 hitters.

Hierarchy remains: Helsley | Gallegos | Pallante.

Kansas City Royals — Brad Keller earned his first career save on Thursday, notching two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning against the Twins. Scott Barlow, Dylan Coleman and Amir Garrett had all pitched in back-to-back games and all were given the night off Thursday, so Keller won’t normally factor into the team’s late-inning plans.

Hierarchy remains: Barlow | Coleman | Garrett.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Jonathan Hernandez (TEX) – Jose Leclerc has pitched in two straight games.
2. Scott Effross (NYY) – Clay Holmes threw two innings Thursday and has gone in two of three.

Saturday:
1. Scott Alexander (SF) – If Camilo Doval pitches Friday, it would be two straight and four of six.
2. Rafael Montero (HOU) – An outing Friday would be four of six for Ryan Pressly.
3. James Karinchak (CLE) – A Friday outing would be three of four for Emmanuel Clase.
4. Dylan Coleman (KC) – If he goes Friday, it’d be three of four for Scott Barlow.
5. Anthony Bass (TOR) – Jordan Romano recorded four outs Wednesday and if he has a taxing outing Friday, he’d likely need Saturday off.
6. Raisel Iglesias (ATL) – If he goes Friday, it’d be three of five for Kenley Jansen.

Jose Leclerc picks up another save

September 7, 2022

Texas Rangers – With Jonathan Hernandez presumably available after pitching Sunday, the Rangers turned to Jose Leclerc in the ninth inning to protect a one-run lead, which he did for his third save of the year. Leclerc actually has the Rangers’ last two saves, albeit with the last one coming on August 26. Meanwhile, Hernandez was terrible in his last ninth-inning appearance, giving up four runs to blow a save against the Red Sox last Thursday. Leclerc’s save last night bumps him up in this committee, one he may lead if the Rangers continue to avoid using Hernandez, who should definitely be available tonight.

Updated hierarchy: *Hernandez | Leclerc | Moore.
* = closer-by-committee

Arizona Diamondbacks — Ian Kennedy has blown back-to-back save opportunities, including last night against the Padres when he gave up two runs in the ninth. Mark Melancon hasn’t really pushed Kennedy much since the Diamondbacks went to a committee, but we’ll see if he gets the next save chance after Kennedy’s recent struggles.

Hierarchy remains: *Kennedy | Melancon | Mantiply.
* = closer-by-committee

Houston Astros – Ryan Pressly was expected to be activated from the IL on Tuesday, but he still doesn’t feel right, so his return has been postponed. Rafael Montero will continue to close for a few more days until Pressly is ready to go.

Hierarchy remains: Montero | Neris | Abreu.

Cleveland Guardians – As predicted in yesterday’s Vulture Save Watch, James Karinchak picked up his first save of the season while Emmanuel Clase rested following three straight days of work.

Hierarchy remains: Clase | Karinchak | Stephan.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Mark Melancon (ARI) – Ian Kennedy threw 22 pitches last night and may need a breather after another blown save.
2. Cionel Perez (BAL) – Felix Bautista threw 25 pitches in a two-inning save while Dillon Tate had a 30-pitch outing.
3. Luis Garcia (SD) – Nick Martinez has appeared in two straight games, throwing 33 pitches in the process.
4. Carlos Estevez (COL) – Daniel Bard has gone in two of three, including a 23-pitch effort on Tuesday.
5. Wandy Peralta (NYY) – The Yankees play a doubleheader…
6. Jhoan Duran (MIN) – …against the Twins…
7. Adam Ottavino (NYM) – …while the Mets play two…
8. Duane Underwood (PIT) – …against the Pirates.

Tomorrow
1. Giovanny Gallegos (STL) – If Ryan Helsley pitches today that will be two straight and three of four.
2. John Brebbia (SF) – If Camilo Doval pitches Wednesday that will be four of five, but even if he doesn’t, the Giants still play a doubleheader…
3. Taylor Rogers/Brad Boxberger (MIL) – …against the Brewers.

Ryan Helsley, Gregory Soto have forgettable outings

August 29, 2022

St. Louis Cardinals – In his second appearance since returning from the paternity/restricted list, Ryan Helsley came on in the 7th inning with the tying runs on base and promptly gave up a go-ahead 3-run homer to Dansby Swanson. It was the only blemish (albeit a quite large one) on his outing, as he retired the next four hitters and earned the win after the Cardinals rallied; the 9th went to Giovanny Gallegos, who earned his 13th save. Helsley remains pretty safe here, as this was clearly the high-leverage play by Oliver Marmol. In an unrelated move, we’ll slide Jordan Hicks up to the second in line spot, as the mercurial Genesis Cabrera was optioned over the weekend after a couple of rough outings.

Updated hierarchy: Helsley | Gallegos | Hicks.

Detroit Tigers – Gregory Soto made a mess of the 9th inning in what was initially a non-save situation, allowing a walk and three hits (including a home run) while only recording one out. Joe Jimenez bailed him out by getting the game’s final two outs, earning his second save in the process.

Hierarchy remains: Soto | Jimenez | Chafin.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Giovanny Gallegos – Ryan Helsley has gone back to back.

Tomorrow
1. Brad Boxberger – If Devin Williams goes today, it’s back to back and three of four.
2. Mark Melancon – If Ian Kennedy goes today, it’s back to back.

Alexis Diaz separating himself from the field in Cincinnati

August 15, 2022

Cincinnati Reds – Alexis Diaz got the final five outs of Sunday afternoon’s victory, earning his fifth save and cementing himself atop the Cincinnati committee — if it even is one, that is. (If he strings together another save or two, he’ll kick this asterisk.) Also of note was how bad Hunter Strickland was again, allowing three baserunners while only recording a single out, leading to Diaz’s extended usage. We figure it’s unlikely that the veteran righty enters the conversation for saves again this season.

Hierarchy remains: *Diaz | Kuhnel | Sanmartin.
* = closer-by-committee

Tampa Bay Rays – Jason Adam got the 2-out save on Sunday after Drew Rasmussen’s perfect game (and no hitter and shutout) bid ended in the 9th. In “news that only stat nerds care about,” Adam’s outing helped him maintain the WHIP lead (0.64) among pitchers with at least 30 innings, though a recent Syracuse callup named Jacob deGrom (0.42 WHIP in 16.2 IP) could potentially surpass him if he keeps this up across a few more starts.

Hierarchy remains: *Poche | Adam | Fairbanks.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago White Sox – Kendall Graveman sat atop the VSW charts yesterday morning, and sure enough, he earned the save for the White Sox, spelling Liam Hendriks.

Hierarchy remains: Hendriks | Graveman | Diekman.

Texas Rangers – Speaking of the VSW, we told you yesterday that due to a heavily-taxed Rangers bullpen, Jose Leclerc could get a save on Sunday, even though he wasn’t even listed on Closer Monkey’s hierarchy yet. BUT DID YOU LISTEN?!?! NOOOOOOOO. Direct all apologies to [email protected]. (PS. Matt Moore is on the paternity list for a couple days, so Leclerc ascends for the time being.)

Updated hierarchy: Hernandez | Burke | Leclerc.

Los Angeles Angels – Jose Quijada, king of the four-seamer [subscription], got his third save of the year on Sunday, closing out a 2-run game. As the only reliever with multiple saves since the trade of Raisel Iglesias, the lefty moves to the top of this committee.

Updated hierarchy: *Quijada | Tepera | Chavez.
* = closer-by-committee

Arizona Diamondbacks – Ian Kennedy picked up his 8th save of the season on Sunday, posting a scoreless 9th in Colorado. He’s the clear committee leader here, though Mark Melancon (two saves since his demotion on Aug. 8) will likely continue getting chances when Kennedy isn’t fresh.

Hierarchy remains: *Kennedy | Melancon | Mantiply.
* = closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox – Garrett Whitlock pitched a perfect 9th inning on Sunday night for his fourth save. He remains the favorite for saves with Tanner Houck on the IL.

Hierarchy remains: *Whitlock | Schreiber | Sawamura.
* = closer-by-committee

Miami Marlins – Anthony Bender was placed on the IL with a right elbow strain. Look for Steven Okert and Dylan Floro to pick up a few more hold opportunities as a result.

Updated hierarchy: Scott | Floro | Okert.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Raisel Iglesias – Kenley Jansen has gone three straight.
2. Dominic Leone – Camilo Doval has gone three straight.
3. Dylan Floro – Tanner Scott threw 36 pitches on Sunday.
4. Ryan Tepera – Jose Quijada has gone back to back.
5. Mark Melancon – Ian Kennedy has gone back to back.
6. Joe Jimenez – The Tigers have a doubleheader…
7. Trevor Stephan – …against the Guardians.

Tomorrow
1. Joel Kuhnel – If Alexis Diaz goes tonight after throwing 29 pitches Sunday, he’ll likely be off tomorrow.
2. Jhoan Duran/Emilio Pagan – If Jorge Lopez or Jhoan Duran go tonight, it’ll be three of four.