J.B. Wendelken earns another save

September 24, 2021

Arizona Diamondbacks — J.B. Wendelken needed just 10 pitches to get through a perfect ninth inning for his second save of the season. Tyler Clippard threw 22 pitches in the ninth inning of a 6-2 loss on Wednesday. It is becoming more evident that Wendelken is the reliever to own heading into the final week of the season.

Hierarchy remains: *Wendelken | Clippard | Ramirez.
* = closer-by-committee

Seattle Mariners – You read the Vulture Save Watch every day, so you knew Paul Sewald would allow a solo homer but retire the other three hitters he faced to earn his 10th save of the year.

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

Los Angeles Dodgers — Blake Treinen earned a 10th-inning save after Kenley Jansen pitched a scoreless ninth to send the game to extras.

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Treinen | Kelly.

Washington Nationals — The Nationals went to Kyle Finnegan to close out Thursday’s win and he converted his 11th save of the season. Tanner Rainey, who snagged an unlikely save yesterday, walked one but struck out two in a relatively clean eighth inning to set up Finnegan. 

Hierarchy remains: Finnegan | Machado | Rainey.

Minnesota Twins –When the Blue Jays loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth inning, the Twins turned to Ralph Garza Jr. to protect a 7-2 lead. He retired George Springer to get out of the jam and then stayed on in the ninth to secure his first MLB save.

Hierarchy remains: Colome | Duffey | Thielbar.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Archie Bradley (PHI) — Ian Kennedy should probably get a second day off after back-to-back 30-pitch outings. Jose Alvarado has gone in three straight.
2. Blake Parker (CLE) — Both Emmanuel Clase and Bryan Shaw have gone in three of four and Cleveland has nothing to play for.
3. Steve Cishek (LAA) — Raisel Iglesias has pitched in two straight.
4. Genesis Cabrera (STL) — There are two doubleheaders on Friday, involving the Cardinals…
5. Emilio Pagan (SD) — …Padres…
6. Codi Heuer (CHC) — …Cubs…
7. Richard Rodriguez/Luke Jackson (ATL) — …and Braves.

Saturday:
1. Tyler Clippard (ARI) — If J.B. Wendelken pitches today, that’ll be two straight and three of four.
2. Jhoulys Chacin/Tyler Kinley (COL) — Same for Carlos Estevez as well as Chacin.
3. Blake Treinen/Joe Kelly (LAD) — Ditto for Kenley Jansen (and Treinen and Kelly).
4. Craig Kimbrel/Michael Kopech (CHW) — And for Liam Hendriks. Yesterday, Kimbrel threw 28 pitches and Kopech opened for two innings, so there could be an off-the-board save on Saturday.
5. Cole Sulser/Dillon Tate (BAL) — If Tyler Wells goes today that’ll be two straight and four of five. Sulser threw 22 pitches last night, so he may be unavailable Saturday as well if he throws Friday.

Michael Fulmer and Dominic Leone could be a source of saves for the rest of the season

September 19, 2021

Detroit Tigers — Michael Fulmer pitched a scoreless 9th inning to pick up his 10th save of the season.  With Gregory Soto being placed on the IL today, Fulmer should continue to see save chances for the remainder of the season.  

Updated hierarchy: Fulmer | Funkhouser | Lange.

San Francisco Giants – After struggling in a save situation on Friday, Tyler Rogers got the call in the 8th inning last night.  That left the 9th inning for Dominic Leone, and he responded with a scoreless inning for his second save of the season.  It looks like the Giants may continue to employ a committee even with McGee out instead of primarily using Tyler Rogers as closer.

Hierarchy remains: *Rogers | Leone | Watson.
* = closer-by-committee

Oakland A’s — Andrew Chafin returned to the 9th inning last night and needed a snow cone catch from Josh Harrison with the bases loaded to close out his third save of the season.  Chafin and Sergio Romo should continue to split save chances.

Hierarchy remains: *Chafin | Romo | Diekman.
* = closer-by-committee

Arizona Diamondbacks — J.B. Wendelken pitched a scoreless 9th inning in a tie game and after the Diamondbacks took the lead in the top of the 10th, Tyler Clippard came on and picked up his sixth save of the season.  We will leave Wendelken at the top of this committee for now, but we will see if the Diamondbacks decide to turn to the veteran Tyler Clippard more frequently.

Hierarchy remains: *Wendelken | Clippard | Ramirez.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Noe Ramirez (ARI) – J.B. Wendelken and Tyler Clippard have both pitched in two straight.
2. Kyle Funkhouser/Bryan Garcia (DET) – Michael Fulmer has pitched in two straight and three of four. Funkhouser has also pitched in two straight but has only thrown 27 pitches so he could be available today.
3. Kendall Graveman (HOU) – Ryan Pressly has pitched in two straight.
4. Devin Williams (MIL) – Josh Hader has pitched in two straight.
5. Archie Bradley (PHI) – Ian Kennedy and Jose Alvarado have pitched in two straight and three of four.
6. Tony Watson (SF) – Tyler Rogers and Dominic Leone have both pitched in two straight
7. Josh Sborz (TEX) – Joe Barlow and Spencer Patton have both pitched in two straight

Monday
1. Bryan Shaw (CLE) – Cleveland has a doubleheader on Monday…
2. Josh Staumont (KC) – …against Kansas City

Chris Stratton to take over for the injured David Bednar

September 15, 2021

Pittsburgh Pirates – David Bednar hit the IL tonight with a right oblique strain and is unlikely to pitch again this season. Chris Stratton, who notched his fifth save of the season on Tuesday, should get the bulk of the save chances for the remainder of the season.

Updated hierarchy: Stratton | Shreve | Kuhl.

Arizona Diamondbacks — Tyler Clippard is back from the IL and pitched a scoreless ninth inning in an 8-4 loss to the Dodgers on Tuesday. Torey Lovullo was not sure if he’d thrust Clippard back into the closer’s role, however. We’ll leave J.B. Wendelken at the top of this committee for now.

Updated hierarchy: *Wendelken | Clippard | Ramirez.
* = closer-by-committee

Detroit Tigers — Jose Cisnero slipped on some stairs and split open the the outside of his elbow; eight stitches later, he’s on the IL. Kyle Funkhouser, whose family has a history of injuring their elbow at home, replaces Cisnero in the Detroit hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Soto | Fulmer | Funkhouser.

St. Louis Cardinals – Kwang Hyun Kim, who earned his first career save last year during his four-second tenure as the Cardinals’ closer, is back in the bullpen and was back in the late innings on Tuesday. Pitching the 11th inning with a 7-4 lead, he gave up two runs on a walk and a base hit but was able to secure his second career save. 

Hierarchy remains: Gallegos | Cabrera | Reyes.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today

1. Michael Fulmer (DET) – Gregory Soto has gone in two of the last three, pitching two innings in each of those outings.
2. Devin Williams (MIL) – Josh Hader threw 32 pitches last night.
3. Tyler Duffey (MIN) – Alex Colome has made two straight appearances.
4. Paul Sewald (SEA) – As has Drew Steckenrider.
5. Chad Green (NYY) – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in two straight and three of four.

Tomorrow
1. Adam Morgan/Codi Heuer (CHC) – If Rowan Wick pitches tonight, that will be two straight and three of four. Adam Morgan is still on the bereavement list, so he may not be available either.
2. Daniel Bard (COL) – A Wednesday appearance would be two in a row and three of four for Carlos Estevez.
3. Josh Staumont/Greg Holland (KC) The same is true of both Scott Barlow and Staumont.

Tyler Clippard lands on the COVID-19 list

September 8, 2021

Arizona Diamondbacks — The Diamondbacks have placed Tyler Clippard on the COVID-19 list and sent Taylor Clarke down to Triple-A. We expect Noe Ramirez, who pitched the ninth in a losing effort yesterday, to take over as closer while Clippard is out.

Updated hierarchy: Ramirez | Wendelken | Mantiply.

Pittsburgh Pirates – David Bednar faced the heart of the Tigers’ order in the eighth inning and maintained his team’s one-run lead, setting the stage for Chris Stratton to earn the save in the ninth.

Hierarchy remains: *Bednar | Stratton | Shreve.
*=closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today

1. Tyler Duffey (MIN) – Alex Colome has pitched in four straight.
2. Chasen Shreve (PIT) – Both David Bednar and Chris Stratton have gone back-to-back days, with Stratton having worked in three of four.
3. Drew Steckenrider (SEA) – Paul Sewald has gone in two of three, including a 25-pitch blown save last night, though the Mariners do have Thursday off.
4. Austin Voth (WAS) – The Nationals might give Kyle Finnegan a second straight day off after he threw 30 pitches on Monday. Andres Machado has gone in three of four.

Tomorrow
1. Cole Sulser (BAL) – If Tyler Wells goes today, it’ll be two straight and three of four.
2. Adam Cimber (TOR) – If Jordan Romano appears today, that will be two in a row.