2018 NL West Preview

February 28, 2018

Arizona Diamondbacks – Fernando Rodney somehow recorded 39 saves for the Diamondbacks last year, but he’ll be shooting arrows in Minnesota this year. That leaves the ninth inning in limbo, with three arms in line for the closer’s role. Archie Bradley was the team’s best reliever last season, but Arizona may want the flexibility to use him in any key situation, regardless of inning. Two newcomers will battle Bradley for the job. Newly acquired Brad Boxberger has experience closing in the majors, while Yoshihisa Hirano is a veteran closer from Japan who has saved 156 games since 2010. We think Bradley is the best bet for the job, but be prepared for the dreaded asterisk to remain as the season gets going.

Starting 2018 hierarchy: Bradley | Boxberger | Hirano.
Holds candidates: Boxberger, Hirano, Neftali Feliz.

Colorado Rockies – The Rockies have the most expensive bullpen in baseball after they signed Wade Davis to a three-year, $52 million contract. They also snagged righty Bryan Shaw in the offseason and re-signed lefty Jake McGee to hefty contracts, and we’ll see if the Rockies get the bang for their buck that they expect. Those three guys are the key arms, but Adam Ottavino and Mike Dunn will also be in the mix for some holds during the season.

Starting 2018 hierarchy: Davis | Shaw | McGee.
Holds candidates: Shaw, McGee, Ottavino, Dunn.

Los Angeles Dodgers – The reigning National League champions will enter 2018 with perhaps the game’s most dominant closer in Kenley Jansen. The Dodgers did lose a valuable setup man, however, as Brandon Morrow moved on to close for the Cubs. That means the Dodgers will look to an assortment of options to get the ball to Jansen. Josh Fields is back and figures to be one of the top contenders to pitch the eighth along with Pedro Baez, who is hoping to rebound after a disastrous end to 2017. Don’t sleep on lefty Scott Alexander, acquired via trade from the Royals, who posted an impressive ground ball rate of 73.8% last year. Lefty Tony Cingrani will also be in the mix for holds after joining the Dodgers for last year’s postseason push.

Starting 2018 hierarchy: Jansen | Fields | Alexander.
Holds candidates: Fields, Alexander, Baez, Cingrani.

San Diego Padres – The Padres are set at closer with All-Star lefty Brad Hand, though he may not be exclusively deployed in the ninth. Behind Hand, the Padres have plenty of options, with Kirby Yates and Craig Stammen the guys to likely start as the key setup men for manager Andy Green. Keep an eye on Japanese submariner Kazuhisa Makita, whose unique delivery and 80 MPH fastball will be debuting in the majors this year.

Starting 2018 hierarchy: Hand | Yates | Stammen.
Holds candidates: Yates, Stammen, Makita, Phil Maton.

San Francisco Giants — The Giants bullpen, plagued by injuries last year, hopes it can remain healthy in 2018. Mark Melancon will start the season as closer, with Sam Dyson and lefty Tony Watson serving as the primary setup men. Watson is more reliable than Dyson, though Dyson somehow converted 14 of 17 save chances with the Giants last year. Will Smith is also expected to be ready for Opening Day after missing 2017 due to Tommy John surgery, and his return will give Bruce Bochy some flexibility in the late innings with how he deploys his top lefties.

Starting 2018 hierarchy: Melancon | Watson | Dyson.
Holds candidates: Watson, Dyson, Smith, Hunter Strickland.

 

Amidst trade deadline chaos, Blake Treinen quietly taking over in Oakland

August 1, 2017

[EDITOR’S NOTE: We’re running our Donation Drive this week. As always, we are extremely grateful for your support!]

Oakland A’s – Blake Treinen picked up his first Oakland save last night, putting him firmly at the front of the team’s closer-by-committee. He’s allowed only one earned run and seven total baserunners (4 H, 3 BB) in 9.1 IP since joining the team, and is clearly the best reliever in the bullpen right now. If he converts his next opportunity, that might be enough for us to shed him of his asterisk.

Hierarchy remains: *Treinen | Casilla | Dull.
* = closer-by-committee

Texas Rangers – We thought Alex Claudio had seized control of the closer role in Texas, but last night he was summoned in a tie game in the 7th inning, which isn’t exactly the place you’d use your full-time closer. Claudio ended up pitching 2.2 innings and taking the loss after a balk-filled 9th. We’re slapping the committee tag back on here and will watch to see how Texas proceeds the next few days.

Updated hierarchy: *Claudio | Kela | Leclerc.

Cleveland Indians – Joe Smith is returning to the place where he enjoyed five years of success, as Cleveland reacquired him late Monday afternoon. Smith joins Bryan Shaw behind Cody Allen and Andrew Miller, giving the Indians an enviable group of late game relievers for their stretch run.

Hierarchy remains: Allen | Miller | Shaw.

Toronto Blue Jays – With Joe Smith gone, Roberto Osuna’s new handcuff is Ryan Tepera. Look for Joe Biagini to get a few more chances in the late innings as well.

Updated hierarchy: Osuna | Tepera | Biagini.

Los Angeles Dodgers – The Dodgers picked up Tony Watson and Tony Cingrani at the deadline, giving them plenty of flexibility in the late innings. Watson is the more likely of the two to get late inning work, though we won’t bump Pedro Baez or Brandon Morrow out of their hierarchy positions yet.

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Baez | Morrow.

Cincinnati Reds – With Tony Cingrani gone, Drew Storen returns to the Cincinnati hierarchy. Storen hasn’t been great lately (4.82 ERA in July), but the Reds aren’t exactly swimming in late-inning options right now.

Updated hierarchy: Iglesias | Lorenzen | Storen.

Pittsburgh Pirates – Despite moving on from Tony Watson, the Pirates weren’t selling by any stretch, as they also moved to acquire Joaquin Benoit from the Phillies. Benoit will take over Watson’s 7th inning role.

Updated hierarchy: Rivero | Nicasio | Benoit.

Philadelphia Phillies – With Joaquin Benoit gone, the Phillies don’t really have any major league caliber relievers left other than Hector Neris and Luis Garcia, so we’ll take our best guess and give Jesen Therrien the 7th inning job for now. The righty has only been in the bigs for a few days, but he had 9 saves in the minors.

Updated hierarchy: Neris | Garcia | Therrien. 

Arizona Diamondbacks – Longtime fan favorite David Hernandez returned to the Diamondbacks on Monday, where he will likely serve as a late-inning option along with Archie Bradley. Hernandez has enjoyed a fine year with the Angels to this point, sporting a 2.23 ERA over 38 appearances.

Updated hierarchy: Rodney | Bradley | Hernandez.

Los Angeles Angels – David Hernandez is now a Diamondback, meaning in the rare instances that the rebuilding Angels have a lead, they’ll probably look to Blake Parker more often.

Updated hierarchy: Norris | Bedrosian | Parker.

Milwaukee Brewers – In one of the more minor moves of the day, the Brewers reacquired Jeremy Jeffress prior to the trade deadline. Jeffress doesn’t figure to supplant Jacob Barnes as the primary set-up man, but he’ll join Anthony Swarzak in bridging the gap in the 6th and 7th innings.

Hierarchy remains: Knebel | Barnes | Swarzak.

Houston Astros – For a time, the Astros seemed like the leaders in the Zach Britton sweepstakes, but they ended up standing pat. They did, however, have to put Will Harris back on the DL before he’d even made an appearance in the big leagues, meaning we welcome Luke Gregerson back to the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Giles | Devenski | Gregerson.

Colorado Rockies – The Rockies already made their bullpen-bolstering move, adding Pat Neshek a few days ago, and as it turned out, the move couldn’t have come at a better time, as Jake McGee felt his back tighten up over the weekend and will need a short DL stint. Lefty Mike Dunn has settled in as of late (only 1 ER in 10 July appearances) and might get some matchup-based looks in the 7th and 8th in McGee’s absence.

Updated hierarchy: Holland | Neshek | Dunn.

Minnesota Twins – The Twins shipped Brandon Kintzler off, leaving the cupboard pretty bare when it comes to 9th inning options. The team hasn’t said much, and beat writers don’t have a good guess, so we’ll make split our bets on veteran Matt Belisle and 26-year-old righty Trevor Hildenberger. Belisle has been pitching the best as of late, with 13 straight scoreless outings, but durability is an issue, while Hildenberger had a strong outing Sunday and averages more than a strikeout per inning. Taylor Rogers seemed the best option as recently as a week ago, but he’s been hit around as of late (his last five appearances: 3 IP, 9 ER) and is probably in third place at the moment; however, if the Twins do employ a full committee, he could get the 9th when a lefty-heavy part of the lineup is due.

Updated hierarchy: *Belisle | Hildenberger | Rogers.
* = closer-by-committee

Washington Nationals – Brandon Kintzler adds to a cadre of veterans the Nationals have assembled over the last few weeks. Sean Doolittle has done a great job so far — nabbing another save last night before Kintzler got to town — but GM Mike Rizzo wouldn’t name a full-time closer after the trade. We think Doolittle keeps the job and Kintzler is first in line for chances if the lefty falters, but will leave the committee tag on until things are certain.

Updated hierarchy: *Doolittle | Kintzler | Madson.
* = closer-by-committee

New York Mets – Addison Reed  is headed to the Red Sox in exchange for three minor leaguers. AJ Ramos takes over as closer for the Mets, while Jerry Blevins and Paul Sewald continue to be the team’s main source of holds.

Updated hierarchy: Ramos | Blevins | Sewald.

Boston Red Sox – Addison Reed fills a big need for the Red Sox, who have struggled to bridge the gap to Craig Kimbrel on several occasions this year (including their last game). Reed still retains a good deal of value in Holds leagues, as he’s likely to rack up 8th inning chances in Boston.

Updated hierarchy: Kimbrel | Reed | Barnes.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Brad Brach – Zach Britton, who is still an Oriole, has gone three straight.
2. Brandon Kintzler – Sean Doolittle has gone in back to back games and has yet to pitch in three straight all season.
3. Jesen Therrien – Hector Neris and Luis Garcia have gone three straight. Buy us a coke if we actually get this one right.

Tomorrow
1. Brandon Kintzler – See above. If Doolittle does go today, he’ll be off tomorrow.
2. Santiago Casilla – If Blake Treinen gets a save today, we’ll probably give him the full time job, but it’ll be three straight appearances.

Brad Hand, Edwin Diaz taking over in the ninth

May 26, 2017

San Diego Padres — For the second straight night, Padres manager Andy Green gave a save opportunity to Brad Hand Thursday, electing to use the lefty in the ninth and previously established closer Brandon Maurer in the eighth. Both pitchers allowed one run, but Maurer was able to preserve the lead and Hand was able to save it. There was no indication after the game that Green offered clarity on the situation, though one beat writer mused that Hand — who has interested several other teams and may be the first Padre dealt this season — is the “Padres closer-but-not-really-but-actually-he-probably-is,” for now. Great assessment.

Updated hierarchy: *Hand | Maurer | Buchter.
* = closer-by-committee

Seattle Mariners — Edwin Diaz picked up a save Thursday, his first since May 9. He told reporters after the game that manager Scott Servais told him he would have been called upon earlier had Anthony Rendon come to the plate in the eighth inning. That situation would have been critical, because Bryce Harper was already on base and it would have meant that Ryan Zimmerman and/or Daniel Murphy would have reached as well. Servais said after the game that he likes Diaz in the ninth inning. It’s his job to lose at this point.

Updated hierarchy: *Diaz | Vincent | Pazos.
* = closer-by-committee

Washington Nationals – Dusty Baker made it official late Wednesday night, naming Koda Glover his full-time closer. We’ll remove the asterisk to make it officially official.

Updated hierarchy: Glover | Kelley | Albers.

Colorado Rockies — The Rockies lost Thursday, but the team got a chance to put on display its stable of solid relievers in a tight game. Lately, lefty Mike Dunn (5.79 ERA, 1.57 WHIP) is not one of those pitchers, despite his 10 holds this season. In fact, in his last outing on Wednesday, Dunn allowed two earned runs on a walk and two hits while facing just four batters. We like Chris Rusin, who after another scoreless outing Thursday, has a 2.00 ERA and a 0.85 WHIP. He has recorded a few holds lately, too.

Updated hierarchy: Holland | Ottavino | Rusin.

Philadelphia Phillies – In his first season with the Phillies, Pat Neshek has impressed. After another scoreless outing Thursday, he’s got a 1.04 ERA and 0.87 WHIP with five holds. He has seemed to occupy the seventh inning pretty often lately, unlike Edubray Ramos (3.66 ERA, 1.63 WHIP), who, before Thursday’s extra-inning win, hadn’t pitched in a win since May 1. He also doesn’t have a hold since April 3.

Updated hierarchy: *Neris | Benoit | Neshek.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago Cubs — In one of the vulturiest vulture saves you’ll see, Mike Montgomery tossed the final four innings and allowed just one hit Thursday for his first career (regular-season) save. We’re offering free Closer Monkey Premium for the first person to prove they started Montgomery Thursday (EDIT: SO MANY OF YOU STARTED MONTGOMERY, CONGRATULATIONS, NOW PLEASE STOP EMAILING US).

Hierarchy remains: Davis | Edwards | Rondon.

Los Angeles Dodgers — In his first major-league relief appearance, Hyun-Jin Ryu tossed the final four innings of the Dodgers’ 7-4 win to pick up a sneaky vulture save. It’s his first save since he was a 19-year-old playing rookie ball in South Korea. There’s no room for Ryu in the rotation, so he may get more opportunities like this in the near future, especially when starter Kenta Maeda pitches, manager Dave Roberts said. Oh, and we bet it’s likely some of you had Ryu left over on your roster from his days as a starter. If so, be the first to snap a photo of him starting for you on Thursday and you’ll get a year of Closer Monkey Premium (EDIT: We’ve got this winner too. Not as many emails as Montgomery, but dang, you people own a lot of weird pitchers).

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Baez | Fields.

Los Angeles Angels — Former closer Huston Street pitched a perfect inning in Triple-A this week and may be back with the big club as soon as next week.

Hierarchy remains: Norris | Hernandez | Parker.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Brandon Maurer — Brad Hand has pitched in three straight games.

Saturday:
1. Nick Vincent –Edwin Diaz has pitched in two straight games and a Friday appearance would make three in a row.
2. Joaquin Benoit/Pat Neshek — If Hector Neris pitches Friday, that’s three out of four for him. Joaquin Benoit, meanwhile, has already pitched in two straight, so a chance for him Saturday is contingent on a day off for him Friday. If both are unavailable, we’ll get a clearer look if Pat Neshek really is second-in-line.

Sean Doolittle is back on the DL

May 4, 2017

Oakland A’s — Tough news for the A’s, who announced that Sean Doolittle has yet another shoulder strain, his third in three years. The early speculation is that Doolittle could be out for a while. As a result, Ryan Dull moves into the hierarchy, Santiago Casilla kicks his asterisk, and potential future closer Bobby Wahl joins the big club — although Wahl’s first major league appearance on Wednesday was shaky, with two hits and a hit batsman.

Updated hierarchy: Casilla | Madson | Dull.

Washington Nationals — Shawn Kelley has been unavailable the last two games with an illness, so the Nationals let Jacob Turner finish a 2-1 win with his fourth strong inning in relief. Kelley has made only one appearance since Koda Glover went on the DL last week, and with Glover returning this weekend, we foresee a return of the committee asterisk.

Hierarchy remains: Kelley | Treinen | Albers.

Colorado Rockies — Mike Dunn is back with the Rockies and should return to his seventh-inning role.

Updated hierarchy: Holland | Ottavino | Dunn.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Heath Hembree/Joe Kelly — Craig Kimbrel has gone in two straight and three of four, and Matt Barnes threw 35 pitches last night.

Friday
1. Matt Barnes — Kimbrel hasn’t thrown that many pitches, so he might go again Thursday; if he does, he’ll likely be off on Friday.
2. Hector Rondon — Wade Davis has gone in two straight.
3. Nick Vincent — So has Edwin Diaz.
4. Matt Belisle — Brandon Kintzler threw 29 pitches on Wednesday and probably wouldn’t be able to go in three straight.

Shawn Kelley finally gets the Nationals’ closer role all to himself

April 27, 2017

Washington Nationals — Shawn Kelley will have the chance to run with the Nationals’ closer job now that Koda Glover is headed to the DL with pain in his left hip, the same one that troubled him at the end of last season. Matt Albers and Joe Blanton will rise in Glover’s absence, and Blanton’s early struggles (10.13 ERA) give Albers the edge.

Updated hierarchy: Kelley | Treinen | Albers.

Arizona Diamondbacks — One bright spot for Arizona is that only a record-low 12,215 fans saw Fernando Rodney blow Wednesday’s night save (5 runs, 6 hits). Another has been the work of young Archie Bradley, whose three-inning, five-strikeout outing appeared to be an effort to stretch him out for the rotation with Shelby Miller hurt. If Bradley does stay in the bullpen, he could be ideal in the Andrew Miller stopper role.

Hierarchy remains: Rodney | de la Rosa | Hoover.

Colorado Rockies — Back spasms sent Mike Dunn to the 10-day DL, backdated to Sunday. Chad Qualls was activated to replace him, but it looks like Jake McGee will slide into his role, with Qualls and Carlos Estevez also late-inning hold options.

Updated hierarchy: Holland | Ottavino | McGee.

Texas Rangers — When Sam Dyson returns from the disabled list (as early as Friday), he won’t be anywhere near the ninth inning. It’s Matt Bush’s job now.

Hierarchy remains: Bush | Jeffress | LeClerc.

Boston Red Sox — Matt Barnes will be out of vulture save contention through Saturday; he dropped his appeal of a four-game suspension for throwing a 90 MPH fastball behind Manny Machado’s head.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Barnes | Hembree.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Dellin Betances — Aroldis Chapman struggled through a 33-pitch save on Wednesday and could get Thursday off.
2. Jorge de la Rosa — Rodney’s rough Wednesday could earn him a day off.

Friday:
1. Dellin Betances/Tyler Clippard — If Chapman does go Thursday, he’ll be off Friday. If Betances pitches Thursday, the Friday save should go to Clippard.
2. Danny Farquhar — Although the Rays have Thursday off, Alex Colome still will have pitched on two of the last three days, and four of the last six (87 pitches).
3. Blake Parker — Bud Norris is close to losing the committee asterisk, but if he pitches again on Thursday, he’ll probably get Friday off.
4. Hunter Strickland/Derek Law — Another outing for Mark Melancon would be his third in four days. Both Strickland and Law have been busy too, so this is contingent on a day off for them.