Joakim Soria earns his second save in two days; Hector Rondon moving up

June 7, 2018

Chicago White Sox — All of a sudden, Joakim Soria is the man to own in Chicago again. Wednesday night, Soria’s sixth save followed scoreless outings from Bruce Rondon, Jace Fry, and Nate Jones. Since Soria lost the closer job on May 18, he’s made eight appearances and thrown 8.1 innings with 10 strikeouts and no earned runs.

Updated hierarchy: *Soria | Jones | Fry.
* = closer-by-committee

Houston Astros — The resurgence of ex-Cubs closer Hector Rondon has given Houston another late-inning weapon. On Wednesday night, he took over for Joe Smith and got out of a tight spot in the eighth, then stayed on for the ninth to grab his first save since 2016. There’s nothing wrong with what Brad Peacock’s been doing, but there’s room for only three in the hierarchy, and with last night’s save, Rondon has earned a spot.

Updated hierarchy: *Giles | Devenski | Rondon.
* = closer-by-committee

Los Angeles Dodgers — Tony Cingrani has been getting more and more late-inning responsibility for the Dodgers since his return from the disabled list in late May. Over his last nine appearances, Cingrani has pitched eight scoreless innings with 14 Ks and only two hits allowed.

Updated hierarchy: Jansen | Cingrani | Fields. 

Philadelphia Phillies — The Phillies tried to get two innings out of Seranthony Dominguez — even letting him draw a walk against Brandon Morrow in his first plate appearance in seven years of professional baseball — but the 23-year-old followed up his first walk as a hitter with his first walk as a pitcher. After a one-out single, Gabe Kapler called on lefty Adam Morgan, who walked the bases loaded, then got the Cubs down to their final strike before Jason Heyward hit a walk-off grand slam.

Hierarchy remains: *Dominguez | Ramos | Neris.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Kyle Crick — Felipe Vazquez needed 32 pitches to finish a four-out save in his second straight day of work.
2. Edubray Ramos/Hector Neris — Seranthony Dominguez is unlikely to pitch on Thursday.

Friday:
1. Richard Bleier/Mychal Givens — Bleier and Brad Brach have each gone in two straight.
2. Archie Bradley — Brad Boxberger has gone in three straight, including a 30-pitch blown save on Wednesday. He might get two straight days off.
3. Seung Hwan Oh/Tyler Clippard — Ryan Tepera threw 28 pitches over two innings on Wednesday and probably won’t go in three straight.
4. Nate Jones — Joakim Soria has pitched in two straight and three of four.
5. Jake McGee — Wade Davis might get his third straight day of work on Thursday.

Jared Hughes first in line for saves with Raisel Iglesias out

May 24, 2018

Cincinnati Reds — After Raisel Iglesias was placed on the DL with a biceps strain, Jim Riggleman said he would be comfortable using Jared Hughes, Amir Garrett, Michael Lorenzen, or Wandy Peralta in the closer’s role. We told you we think Hughes will win the job, and we’ll note that he got the bottom of the ninth in a tied game at home, classically a spot for the closer. Another guy worth watching is David Hernandez, who has some closing experience and has been pitching effectively.

Hierarchy remains: Hughes | Garrett | Lorenzen.

Los Angeles Angels — The Angels used Jim Johnson, Justin Anderson, and Blake Parker in that order against the Blue Jays on Wednesday. Parker’s ninth inning wasn’t a thing of beauty — he escaped only thanks to a perfect Kole Calhoun throw to nail Curtis Granderson on a would-be sac fly — but he got the job done. As promised, he gets the promotion to the top chair.

Updated hierarchy: *Parker | Anderson | Johnson.
* = closer-by-committee

Toronto Blue Jays — Just when we thought it might be safe to pull Tyler Clippard’s asterisk, he gave up a grand slam to blow a save a few days back. Then tonight he laid a three-walk, two-hit, four-run egg against the Angels. Maybe the Jays should try this committee thing they’ve talked about.

Hierarchy remains: *Clippard | Tepera | Oh.
* = closer-by-committee

Pittsburgh Pirates — The Pirates used Felipe Vazquez to try to protect a lead in the eighth, leaving the save opportunity in the 12th to one of the guys we told you about last week: Kyle Crick. Crick loaded the bases, but managed to get out of trouble in the end. We would have gone with strikeout king Richard Rodriguez, but apparently Clint Hurdle trusts Crick (and Edgar Santana, who keeps getting the seventh) more. Ugh.

Updated hierarchy: Vazquez | Feliz | Santana. 

VULTURE START WATCH
Friday-Sunday:
1. Sergio Romo — Kevin Cash says he’s considering using Romo as his “opener” in all three of this weekend’s games against the Orioles. If Cash keeps up this fascinating strategy, we may have to move the righty out of the hierarchy.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Joe Kelly/Matt Barnes — Craig Kimbrel has gone back-to-back and threw 32 pitches on Tuesday. Kelly has also gone in two straight, so Barnes might get the chance.
2. Robert Gsellman/AJ Ramos — Jeurys Familia blew Wednesday’s save and has pitched in four of six.
3. Juan Nicasio — Edwin Diaz has pitched in three of four.

Friday:
1. Brad Keller — Kelvin Herrera has pitched in two straight.
2. Chris Martin — Same with Keone Kela.

Tyler Clippard gets the first chance to close in the new Toronto bullpen

May 10, 2018

Toronto Blue Jays — Tyler Clippard got the first shot at a Toronto save in the absence of Roberto Osuna. Clippard doesn’t have the job locked down, though; all indications are that it’s a true committee. Seung Hwan Oh, the favorite of many to lead the committee, pitched the sixth in Wednesday’s game, followed by John Axford and Ryan Tepera — all with the team behind. All four of those guys are pitching well this season, and all but Tepera have at least two seasons of full-time closer experience. Clippard believes any of them can handle the ninth, and we’ll all have to wait and see who gets the next opportunity.

Updated hierarchy: *Clippard | Tepera | Oh.
* = closer-by-committee

Milwaukee Brewers — Corey Knebel’s first appearance after his injury started with a long home run, but quieted down with three consecutive groundouts. Knebel was used in a low-leverage spot with the team down four, and Craig Counsell says he’s not going to rush his closer back into the ninth. For his part, Knebel is willing to sacrifice his role for the team, saying he doesn’t expect to return to closing right away and that it “doesn’t matter” where he’s used, given the talent in the bullpen. We’ll see whether the Brewers stay in the committee mindset going forward.

Hierarchy remains: Knebel | Hader | Jeffress.

Atlanta Braves — It’s been all Arodys Vizcaino ever since Brian Snitker talked about sometimes playing matchups with AJ Minter. We’re no longer buying the committee tag here.

Updated hierarchy: Vizcaino | Minter | Carle.

Boston Red Sox — Seeking to protect a narrow lead over the rival Yankees in the game and the division, Alex Cora called on Craig Kimbrel to do something he’d never done before: collect a five-out save. He failed. With a triple and a home run, the Yankees captured both leads, picking up their 17th win in 18 games.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Kelly | Barnes.

Baltimore Orioles — With Darren O’Day on the DL with a hyperextended elbow, Brad Brach returned to the role of closer/trade bait. A desire to showcase the perennial trade chip to possible suitors is a major reason Brach might have the job to himself in O’Day’s absence.

Updated hierarchy: *Brach | Givens | Bleier.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago White Sox — The White Sox haven’t been earning many save opportunities, and when one arises, their putrid 5.68 ninth-inning ERA hasn’t led to many conversions. Wednesday they called on Nate Jones with a three-run lead in the ninth, and he gave up four runs on four hits to take the loss and run his own ninth-inning ERA to 8.44. Joakim Soria (6.14 ninth-inning ERA) should get the next save chance, in a week or so.

Hierarchy remains: *Soria | Jones | Rondon.
* = closer-by-committee

Houston Astros — Two straight days, two straight uneventful saves for Ken Giles, but AJ Hinch’s love of matchups compels us to keep the committee tag, for now at least.

Hierarchy remains: *Giles | Devenski | Peacock.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. AJ Minter — Even if the Atlanta situation isn’t a committee anymore, Vizcaino has gone in three of four.
2. David Robertson — Aroldis Chapman has gone in two straight games and Robertson got Wednesday off.

Friday:
1. Jared Hughes — Raisel Iglesias pitched two innings on Wednesday. He needed only 19 pitches, so he might be good for Thursday — but if so, don’t expect him to go in three straight.
2. Joe Kelly — Another tough outing for Kimbrel and he’ll need a day off.

Corey Knebel to be activated from DL today

May 9, 2018

Milwaukee Brewers — Corey Knebel will be activated from the disabled list today and will return to one of the best bullpens in baseball. Josh Hader – who picked up his fifth multi-inning save of the season on Tuesday – was outstanding during Knebel’s absence and will continue to be a huge part of the Brewers’ late-inning dominance.

Updated hierarchy: Knebel | Hader | Jeffress.

Toronto Blue Jays – Major League Baseball placed Roberto Osuna on administrative leave following an arrest Tuesday morning for domestic violence. Manager John Gibbons did not commit to one guy as his closer, mentioning such names as Ryan Tepera, Tyler Clippard and John Axford as possibilities for the ninth inning. Not specifically mentioned was Seung Hwan Oh, but that does not mean he is out of the running. James Paxton’s no-hitter prevented us from getting a look at how the late innings might unfold with Toronto in the lead, so we’ll have to wait until at least tonight to see who gets the first save chance for the Blue Jays.

Updated hierarchy: *Tepera | Oh | Clippard.
* = closer-by-committee

Detroit Tigers – Alex Wilson is on the disabled list with a a left plantar fascia strain, an injury that has been described as “week-to-week.” Buck Farmer, who tossed a perfect 1.1 innings on Tuesday to earn his second hold in as many outings, has struck out seven and not allowed a run over his last five appearances.

Updated hierarchy: Greene | Jimenez | Farmer. 

Los Angeles Angels — Keynan Middleton pitched a scoreless inning Tuesday during a rehab outing in Triple-A. He is expected back later this week.

Hierarchy remains: *Bedrosian | Anderson | Parker.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
None.

Thursday:
1. Archie Bradley/Yoshihisa Hirano – All three of Arizona’s main bullpen arms have pitched in three of four, so Wednesday’s usage will dictate availability on Thursday.
2. AJ Minter – If Arodys Vizcaino pitches today it will be two straight and three of four for him.
3. Josh Fields – Kenley Jansen threw 19 pitches over two innings on Tuesday. If he has a taxing outing on Wednesday, he may get a rest on Thursday.
4. Luis Garcia – Hector Neris will have pitched in two straight and four of five if he gets the ball on Wednesday.

Ottavino, Clippard having resurgent seasons

May 7, 2018

Colorado Rockies – With Wade Davis getting the afternoon off, Adam Ottavino picked up his first save of the season. Ottavino has quietly been maybe the single best reliever in all of baseball thus far, with 35 Ks in 19 innings and only 1 earned run allowed all season, and should be owned in virtually every format.

Hierarchy remains: Davis | Ottavino | McGee.

Toronto Blue Jays – It was quite a week for Tyler Clippard, who picked up a win and three holds over five clean appearances. After a couple of down years for the veteran, Clippard has been part of a strong Toronto bullpen, as the Jays have been able to use any of three relievers — Ryan Tepera (2.70 ERA), Seung-Hwan Oh (1.76 ERA), and Clippard (1.47 ERA) — to comfortably bridge the gap to Roberto Osuna.

Hierarchy remains: Osuna | Tepera | Oh. 

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Luis Garcia – Hector Neris has pitched in back to back games, including a blown save yesterday. He might get the day off today.

Tomorrow
1. Kirby Yates/Craig Stammen – Brad Hand, Yates, and Stammen, have all gone two straight. Tonight’s usage will dictate who is available tomorrow.
2. Kyle Barraclough/Drew Steckenrider – Brad Ziegler and Kyle Barraclough have gone in two straight. Tonight’s usage will dictate who is available tomorrow.
3. Santiago Casilla – If Blake Treinen goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and three of four.
4. Addison Reed – If Fernando Rodney goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and three of four.