September 9, 2019
Arizona Diamondbacks – The surging Diamondbacks activated Yoshihisa Hirano from the IL on Sunday. Hirano could get a high-leverage spot sooner rather than later, as Arizona’s efforts to muddle their way through the late innings with their top two relievers unavailable did not go well yesterday. That said, we’ll wait to see how Torey Lovullo deploys him before adding him back to this hierarchy.
Hierarchy remains: Bradley | Ginkel | Lopez.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Junior Guerra/Matt Albers – Josh Hader has gone back to back.
2. Mike Morin – Hector Neris threw 23 pitches last night and has gone in three of four.
Tomorrow
1. Joakim Soria – If Liam Hendricks goes today, it’ll be back to back and three of four.
2. Andres Munoz – If Kirby Yates goes today, it’ll be three straight.
Seth Lugo in the mix for saves while Ken Giles could go on the IL
August 11, 2019
New York Mets — Seth Lugo started the eighth inning of a tie game yesterday and retired the first two batters he faced to tie the franchise record of 26 consecutive batters retired. Unfortunately, the next batter hit a go-ahead solo home run. After the Mets took a one-run lead in the bottom of the eighth and created what would have been a save chance for Edwin Diaz, Lugo still came back out for the ninth and finished off the Mets’ win. Mickey Callaway mentioned that he would be flexible with the closer’s role. This looks like a committee for now and if Diaz doesn’t start pitching better, Lugo could take the job.
*Updated hierarchy: Diaz | Lugo | Wilson.
* = closer-by-committee
Toronto Blue Jays – With Ken Giles unavailable yesterday, Derek Law got the last four outs for his third save of the season. Law has been great recently, as he has not allowed a run in his last eleven appearances and he has picked up three saves during that time. Giles may need to go on the IL if his arm doesn’t start responding and it looks like Law would make a good speculative add at this point.
Updated hierarchy: Giles | Law | Shafer.
Atlanta Braves – One day after being declared closer, Mark Melancon got the chance to close out a four run game. It didn’t quite go as planned. Melancon struck out the first batter he faced, but then allowed four straight singles. With the bases loaded and one out, Melancon got yanked and on came the Braves’ previous closer, Shane Greene. Greene proceeded to give up a single and a double that tied the game (and would have given the Marlins the lead except the Braves threw out the go-ahead run at home plate). The Braves ended up losing in extras and their bullpen is a mess right now. They have a lot of options for closing games and this could become a fluid situation where the hot hand gets the call. We will throw this into a committee for now while things get sorted out.
Hiearchy remains: *Melancon | Greene | Martin.
* = closer-by-committee
Milwaukee Brewers — After throwing 44 pitches on Friday, his most since 2017, Josh Hader got a much deserved day off on Saturday. That left Matt Albers to pick up his second save in the past week and third of the season. Albers has only allowed one run in his last twelve appearances and manager Craig Counsel praised Albers after the game. We will slide him up to first in line.
Updated hierarchy: Hader | Albers | Peralta.
Cincinnati Reds – Sal Romano has made two appearances in the big leagues this year and of course, he has two saves. Romano pitched the last three innings of a Reds’ blowout victory and if you think you can predict the next Reds’ blowout victory, go ahead and pick up Romano right before that game.
Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Lorenzen | Garrett.
Chicago Cubs – Steve Cishek is the latest Cubs’ bullpen member to go on the IL. Rowan Wick should see more time in the later innings while Cishek is out.
Updated hierarchy: *Phelps | Strop| Wick.
* = closer-by-committee
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Chris Martin – Mark Melancon has pitched in two straight and three of four, while Shane Greene has pitched in two straight.
2. Pedro Baez – Kenley Jansen has pitched in back-to-back games, throwing 37 pitches, while Joe Kelly has pitched in two straight and three of four.
3. Freddy Peralta – Josh Hader may get a second day off after throwing 44 pitches on Friday.
4. Andrew Miller – Carlos Martinez has pitched in two straight and three of four.
5. Justin Shafer – Derek Law has pitched in two straight and Giles may still be unavailable.
Monday
1. Diego Castillo – If Emilio Pagan pitches on Sunday, it will be three straight.
Jose Leclerc to remain as Rangers closer
August 7, 2019
Texas Rangers — Shawn Kelley should be activated from the IL today, but he will not assume the closer’s role. Chris Woodward said that Jose Leclerc has earned that spot and will continue to pitch the ninth inning. Expect Kelley to join Jesse Chavez, Brett Martin and rookie fireballer Emmanuel Clase as the Rangers’ high-leverage options for the remainder of the year.
Updated hierarchy: Leclerc | Kelley | Chavez.
Chicago Cubs – The Cubs placed Brandon Kintzler on the 10-day IL and activated Pedro Strop from the IL. Joe Maddon said that Strop, who returned without having gone on a rehab assignment, will be eased back in and won’t close. He also won’t pitch on back-to-back days. This means guys like David Phelps and Steve Cishek will get a shot at save chances. You may even see Rowan Wick or Kyle Ryan pitching in some high-leverage spots. We’ll continue to monitor what will be a very intriguing week for the Cubs’ bullpen.
Updated hierarchy: *Phelps | Cishek | Strop.
* = closer-by-committee
Milwaukee Brewers — With both Josh Hader (28 pitches) and Freddy Peralta (31 pitches) needing a night off after a busy Monday, the Brewers turned to Matt Albers with a 4-2 lead in the ninth inning. Albers began the inning with a single, wild pitch and a double, but he settled down and converted his second save of the season. Jeremy Jeffress owns a 15.19 ERA over his last five outings. That’s not good.
Updated hierarchy: Hader | Peralta | Albers.
Washington Nationals – Fernando Rodney protected a two-run lead in the eighth inning on Tuesday. This came after he kept the Nationals ahead by three during the eighth inning of Monday’s triumph. Rodney has now earned an eighth-inning hold in each of the last three Nationals victories, which means we’ll slide him ahead of Hunter Strickland in this revamped Washington hierarchy.
Updated hierarchy: Doolittle | Rodney | Strickland.
Miami Marlins — A day after being activated from the IL, Ryne Stanek made his Marlins debut on Tuesday night in his first action since July 19. He allowed one hit and struck out a batter in the eighth inning of a 5-0 loss. Stanek excelled as an opener for the Rays but has a legit chance to close games for the Marlins this season and beyond.
Updated hierarchy: *Garcia | Quijada | Stanek.
* = closer-by-committee
New York Yankees – Aroldis Chapman and Zack Britton had both pitched in three of four and four of six, so Adam Ottavino was the only hierarchy member available on Tuesday. He tossed a five-pitch eighth inning to preserve a 7-4 lead and stayed on for the ninth to close out an 9-4 win for his first save as a Yankee. With Aaron Boone not wanting to exhaust his most important bullpen arms ahead of a postseason run, expect some more vulture saves for guys like Ottavino, Chad Green and Tommy Kahnle down the road depending on usage.
Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Britton | Ottavino.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Chris Martin – Shane Greene has pitched in three of the last four.
2. Evan Marshall – Alex Colome has appeared in two straight, throwing 45 pitches over the pair of games. Aaron Bummer tossed 26 pitches over two frames yesterday. The White Sox do have Thursday off.
Matt the Cat earns his first save of the season
July 1, 2019
Kansas City Royals – Wily Peralta has had a rough go of it lately, recording as many outs (5) as earned runs allowed (5) in his last three outings. So with the Royals protecting a 1-run lead, they went to Kevin McCarthy and Jake Diekman to bridge the gap to Ian Kennedy. We’ll adjust the hierarchy accordingly until Peralta figures things out.
Updated hierarchy: Kennedy | Diekman | Peralta.
Milwaukee Brewers – With Josh Hader unavailable, the Brewers went to Jeremy Jeffress in the 8th and then, somewhat surprisingly, Matt Albers for the 9th. The Cat converted for his first save of the season.
Hierarchy remains: Hader | Jeffress | Guerra.
St. Louis Cardinals – In an 11-inning game, Dominic Leone picked up his first save of the season after the Cardinals took a 2-run lead in the top of the inning. Carlos Martinez, John Gant and Andrew Miller had already pitched.
Hierarchy remains: *Martinez | Gant | Miller.
* = closer-by-committee
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Michael Lorenzen – Raisel Iglesias threw 2 innings last night.
Tomorrow
1. John Gant – Carlos Martinez might get a second day off tomorrow after pitching 2.2 innings on Sunday.
Almost a meaningful Greg Holland sighting, plus Corey Knebel throws a bullpen
April 22, 2018
St. Louis Cardinals — For a minute, it looked like we might finally see a Greg Holland save opportunity. With the Cardinals clinging to a one-run lead in the 9th inning, rookie Jordan Hicks gave up a couple walks and hit a batter to load the bases with one out. Holland was warming in the bullpen, but Hicks got a double play to end the inning. It shouldn’t be too much longer before Greg Holland finally gets a chance to do what he was signed to do.
Hierarchy remains: *Norris | Holland | Lyons.
* = closer-by-committee
Milwaukee Brewers — Corey Knebel threw a bullpen on Saturday, his first time on the mound since injuring his hamstring. There is still no timetable for Knebel’s return, but it would make one Brewers fan extremely happy if they cut Brent Suter to make room for Knebel on the active roster.
Hierarchy remains: *Hader | Albers | Barnes.
* = closer-by-committee
Detroit Tigers – Warwick Saupold picked up his first career save on Saturday. Saupold recorded the last seven outs of a 12-4 Tigers win. Although Saupold has a 0.00 ERA so far this season, he isn’t quite ready to crack the Tigers’ hierarchy
Hierarchy remains: Greene | Jimenez | Wilson.
Chicago White Sox — Danny Farquhar suffered a brain hemorrhage during the game on Friday. Our thought and prayers are with Danny and his family.
Updated hierarchy: *Soria | Jones | Rondon.
* = closer-by-committee
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Juan Nicasio – Edwin Diaz threw 40 pitches yesterday in recording the save and also pitched on Friday so he will almost certainly get Sunday off.
2. Robert Gsellman – Jeurys Familia has pitched in back-to-back games, including a blown save yesterday. AJ Ramos has also pitched in back-to-back games and three of four.
3. Luis Garcia/Adam Morgan – Hector Neris has pitched in two straight, including a four out save yesterday. Garcia and Morgan have also both pitched in two straight but thrown far fewer pitches so they could still be available today.
Monday
1. Cam Bedrosian – Keynan Middleton needed 28 pitches to get the save on Saturday so if he pitches again today, he will likely get Monday off.
2. Juan Nicasio – Diaz might get Monday off also after throwing 59 pitches over the past two games.
