Garrett Whitlock picks up a save; La Tortuga unhittable

July 26, 2022

Philadelphia Phillies – While the Phillies are continuing to look for bullpen help — including someone that could potentially supplant Seranthony Dominguez as closer — the righty has been making a case that, well, maybe he should stick in the role after all. Since mid-July, Dominguez has allowed just two runs in 12 innings and has picked up all five of his saves in the process, including a perfect 9th inning against the Braves last night.

Hierarchy remains: *Dominguez | Hand | Knebel.
* = closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox – Garrett Whitlock picked up a two-inning save last night, retiring all six hitters he faced. It’s likely that the Red Sox will continue to use him in a multi-inning role, so Tanner Houck is still the best bet for saves on any given night. However, if Whitlock nabs another save or two, we might slap a committee tag on here. Stay tuned.

Updated hierarchy: Houck | Whitlock | Schreiber.

Chicago Cubs – The Cubs gave David Robertson the night off on Monday after he’d pitched in two straight games, allowing Scott Effross and his funky delivery to collect his first career save. Effross has posted an impressive 2.72 ERA and 1.02 WHIP across his league-leading 46 appearances.

Updated hierarchy: Robertson | Wick | Effross.

Seattle Mariners – Closer Paul Sewald was used in the 8th inning to face the Rangers’ 2-3-4 hitters, and after Diego Castillo made things interesting in the 9th, Erik Swanson was summoned to get out of the jam. Swanson got the game’s final two outs on just three pitches, earning his second save while lowering his ERA to 0.98 for the season.

Updated hierarchy: Sewald | Castillo | Swanson.

Miami Marlins – He might have his control problems (9 BBs/9 IP), but bolstered by his league best .000 BABIP, “ground ball pitcher” Willians Astudillo now just needs seven more hitless innings to throw the equivalent of a no-hitter. The legend of La Tortuga continued last night with his second scoreless, hitless inning of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Scott | Bass | Floro.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Steve Cishek – Kyle Finnegan and Carl Edwards Jr have both gone back to back.

Tomorrow
1. Brad Hand – If Seranthony Dominguez goes tonight, it’s back to back and three of four.
2. Zach Jackson – If Lou Trivino goes today, it’s back to back.
3. Alex Colome – If Daniel Bard goes today, it’s back to back.
4. Adam Ottavino – Edwin Diaz pitched Saturday and Sunday, so if he has a long outing today, he could get tomorrow off.

A.J. Puk, Zach Jackson the frontrunners for saves in Oakland

June 22, 2022

Oakland A’s – The A’s placed Dany Jimenez on the IL yesterday with a shoulder injury, though an MRI showed no structural damage. Manager Mark Kotsay mentioned A.J. Puk and Zach Jackson as options to fill in for Jimenez.

Updated hierarchy: *Puk | Jackson | Acevedo.
* = closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox – Both Tanner Houck and John Schreiber had pitched in two straight games and faithful readers of the Vulture Save Watch were nearly rewarded when Matt Strahm entered the ninth to protect a 5-3 lead. However, Strahm gave up a leadoff homer, and after the lefty retired the next two hitters, manager Alex Cora wisely went to Schreiber for a third straight game to face Javier Baez. Baez singled, but Schreiber got Miguel Cabrera to ground out to end the game. Houck and Schreiber have cemented themselves as the top two relievers for the Red Sox.

Hierarchy remains: Houck | Schreiber | Strahm.

Seattle Mariners — For the first time since Sept. 15, 2020, Ken Giles pitched in an MLB game. Giles, who missed all of last season due to Tommy John surgery and all of this season thanks to a tendon strain in his middle finger, tossed a perfect ninth inning on Tuesday in an 8-2 win. Scott Servais doesn’t plan to immediately use Giles in high-leverage situations, so we’ll keep Giles off this hierarchy for now.

Hierarchy remains: *Sewald | Castillo | Muñoz.
* = closer-by-committee

San Francisco Giants — Dominic Leone earned his fifth hold of June (and ninth overall) with a scoreless eighth inning on Tuesday night, while Tyler Rogers earned the win last night after entering in the fifth inning.

Updated hierarchy: Doval | McGee | Leone.

Tampa Bay Rays – Colin Poche gave up a two-run homer but still managed to pick up his fifth save of the season on Tuesday, with Jason Adam getting the final two outs of the eighth in relief of Brooks Raley, which is exactly how we have them ordered on our hierarchy. The Rays have only recorded four saves this month, with Poche earning three of them, including each of the last two.

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

Washington Nationals – Since he vultured a save on June 6, Steve Cishek has just one hold, and that came on June 10. Carl Edwards Jr., meanwhile, hasn’t allowed a hit over his last four appearances, picking up a pair of holds in the process. That includes a scoreless eighth inning in Tuesday’s 3-0 win.

Updated hierarchy: Rainey | Finnegan | Edwards Jr.

Kansas City Royals – Scott Barlow allowed a game-tying three-run homer to Shohei Ohtani in the ninth, which paved the way for Daniel Mengden to earn the save in the 12th, his first save since 2019.

Updated hierarchy: Barlow | Staumont | Clarke.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Jake McGee (SF) – Camilo Doval has pitched in two straight and four of five.
2. Josh Staumont/Taylor Clarke (KC) – Scott Barlow has gone back-to-back and three of four, while Staumont has also pitched in two straight.
3. Genesis Cabrera (STL) – Ryan Helsely (31 pitches) and Giovanny Gallegos (22 pitches) both threw two innings on Tuesday.
4. Nabil Crismatt (SD) – Both Taylor Rogers and Luis Garcia have pitched in two straight.
5. Joe Kelly (CHW) – The same is true of Kendall Graveman.

Tomorrow
1. Eli Morgan/Trevor Stephan (CLE) – If Emmanuel Clase and Morgan pitch today that will be two straight and three of four. A Wednesday appearance for Stephan would be two in a row for him as well.
2. Anthony Bass/Steven Okert (MIA) – If Tanner Scott pitches today, that will be two straight and three of four, while Anthony Bass will have gone in three straight if he appears today.

Eli Morgan earning more high-leverage opportunities

June 6, 2022

Cleveland Guardians – With the Guardians protecting a 1-run lead, Eli Morgan came on with two runners on and one out in the 7th inning of Sunday’s game and successfully escaped the jam. He stayed on for the 8th and picked up his fourth hold of the season. Given Trevor Stephan’s struggles over the past few weeks, we’re elevating Morgan on this hierarchy.

Updated hierachy: Clase | Morgan | Stephan.

Minnesota Twins – Initially leading by 5 runs in the 9th inning, Tyler Duffey made things interesting, allowing three earned runs while only recording two outs. Fortunately for the Twins, Jovani Moran was able to shut the door. (Jhoan Duran had already pitched and Emilio Pagan wasn’t with the team in Canada because he’s not vaccinated.) Moran hasn’t been in the bigs for long, but he’s posted impressive numbers across his first six outings (6.2 IP, 0 ER, 12 Ks).

Hierarchy remains: *Pagan | Duran | Duffey.
* = closer-by-committee

Washington Nationals – With Tanner Rainey and Kyle Finnegan both getting Sunday off, the Nats turned to veteran Steve Cishek for the save chance. Cishek converted for his first save of the season.

Updated hierarchy: Rainey | Finnegan | Cishek.

Houston Astros – After recording two outs in the 9th inning, Ryan Pressly went and got himself ejected after he appeared to throw two pitches at Michael Taylor and then complained about being warned by the umpires. Phil Maton couldn’t close the door, allowing all three runners he faced to reach base, but Rafael Montero was able to get the final out.

Hierarchy remains: Pressly | Montero | Stanek.

New York Mets – Buck Showalter flipped Edwin Diaz and Seth Lugo in the 8th and 9th innings of Sunday’s game, allowing Diaz to face the top of the Dodgers order, but the move backfired when Lugo allowed the tying runs to score in the 9th. Low on options for the 10th, the Mets sent out Adonis Medina for what was only his 6th appearance of the season, but the righty did an admirable job, stranding the inherited runner on 3rd (and the game-winning run on 2nd) for his first save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Diaz | Lugo | Smith.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Ryan Tepera – Raisel Iglesias will probably be down today after a rough, 27-pitch outing yesterday.

Tomorrow
1. Rafael Montero/Ryne Stanek – If Ryan Pressly or Rafael Montero go today, it’s back to back.
2. Seth Lugo – If Edwin Diaz goes today, it’s back to back.

Giovanny Gallegos, Joe Barlow could be earning more save chances

August 31, 2021

St. Louis Cardinals – A day after saying they were evaluating their 9th inning options, the Cardinals gave the save opportunity to Giovanny Gallegos, who converted. We’ll slide him to the top of the hierarchy for the time being, and think he’s the best bet to fully take over the job, should the Cardinals decide to commit to one guy.

Updated hierarchy: *Gallegos | Cabrera | Reyes.
* = closer-by-committee

Philadelphia Phillies – Jose Alvarado picked up his 5th save of the season on Monday, as the Phillies rested Ian Kennedy after he’d pitched two of three.

Hierarchy remains: Kennedy | Alvarado | Bradley.

Texas Rangers – Joe Barlow came off the IL and immediately picked up his third save of the season, lowering his ERA to 1.02 in the process. While his peripherals suggest he’s been a bit fortunate thus far, he’s getting results, and might continue getting save chances, too. We’ll put him right back in front of this committee.

Updated hierarchy: *Barlow | Patton | Sborz.
* = closer-by-committee

Los Angeles Dodgers – With Kenley Jansen resting after pitching two straight, Blake Treinen picked up the save. Just like the Vulture Save Watch said he would.

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Treinen | Kelly.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Brent Suter – Josh Hader, Devin Williams, and Brad Boxberger have all gone back to back.

Tomorrow
1. Steve Cishek – If Raisel Iglesias goes tonight, it’s back to back and three of four.

Yimi Garcia, Joely Rodriguez on the move

July 29, 2021

Texas Rangers – The Rangers sent Joely Rodriguez to the Yankees as part of yesterday’s Joey Gallo trade, leaving Spencer Patton and Josh Sborz (the latter of whom figures to be on paternity leave for another couple days) as the top two arms behind Ian Kennedy.

Updated hierarchy: Kennedy | Patton | Sborz.

Arizona Diamondbacks – Holding a 1-run lead, Arizona went to closer Joakim Soria for the 8th inning. Soria faced 9-1-2-3, allowing a single while collecting two strikeouts, and then gave way to Tyler Clippard for the 9th, who locked down the save. Clippard has all of 3 innings under his belt in 2021, but perhaps the DBacks are still trying to see if a contender is willing to pay something for his services down the stretch.

Updated hierarchy: Soria | Clippard | Ramirez.

Miami Marlins — The Marlins have traded closer Yimi Garcia to the Astros.  Anthony Bender and Dylan Floro should lead a committee for Miami and we will see if either one can establish themselves as the primary closer the rest of the season.  

Updated hierarchy remains: *Bender | Floro | Bass.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Ryan Burr/Aaron Bummer – Liam Hendriks and Michael Kopech have gone back to back and three of four.
2. Jose Cisnero – Gregory Soto figures to be down after throwing 24 pitches yesterday (66 total over the last three days).
3. Steve Cishek – Raisel Iglesias went 1.2 innings last night and has seen a ton of work this past week (five appearances).

Tomorrow
1. Devin Williams – If Josh Hader goes tonight, it’s back to back.
2. Trevor May – If Edwin Diaz goes tonight, it’s back to back and four of five.
3. Chad Green/Jonathan Loaisiga – If Aroldis Chapman or Chad Green go today, it’s three straight.