Benoit swoops in for a cheap save

April 30, 2013

Detroit Tigers — After lefty Drew Smyly retired two lefties to start the ninth, Joaquin Benoit came on to face a righty, collecting the save. Jose Valverde had pitched in two straight games and was unavailable. No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedDET |Valverde |Benoit |Alburquerque|Rondon |4/30/13

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Scott Atchison, New York Mets — Every pitcher in the Mets bullpen got work in last night’s 15-inning slog, but Atchison faced only one batter.
2. Sean Doolittle, Oakland A’s — Grant Balfour pitched two innings last night in his second straight day of work; Doolittle struck out the only man he faced.
3. Sean Marshall, Cincinnati Reds — Aroldis Chapman and Jonathan Broxton have each thrown on back-to-back days.

Al Alburquerque continues racking up strikeouts

April 29, 2013

Detroit Tigers – Al Alburquerque struck out three more hitters on Sunday, and now has 21 Ks in just 11.2 innings to go along with a 1.54 ERA.  It wasn’t a save/hold situation, as the Tigers were up five, but they still used Jose Valverde in the 9th inning, which by extension makes Alburquerque’s 8th inning appearance somewhat more meaningful.  He’s now likely ahead of Phil Coke in the Detroit bullpen hierarchy; the veteran lefty has seen his ERA jump to 8.31 after a bad outing earlier this week.  Hierarchy change: Al Albuerquerque to 2nd in line, replacing Phil Coke.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedDET |Valverde |Benoit |Alburquerque|Rondon |4/29/13

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Luke Gregerson, San Diego Padres – Huston Street has pitched in three straight.
2. David Hernandez, Arizona Diamondbacks – JJ Putz has pitched in two straight and three of the last four.

Kevin Gregg closing, Joba Chamberlain with a save

April 28, 2013

New York Yankees – Mariano Rivera and David Robertson both got the night off after pitching in three of the previous four games.  Joba Chamberlain gave up a couple hits in the 9th but ultimately got the save.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedNYY |Rivera |Robertson |Chamberlain |Robertson |4/28/13

 
Cincinnati Reds – Sean Marshall returned from the DL and pitched a perfect inning with 2 strikeouts last night.  Look for Marshall to slide back into that late inning role for the Reds and could be an option to close when Chapman needs a day off depending on the matchups.   Hierarchy change: Sean Marshall to 2nd in line, replacing Sam LeCure.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Chapman |Broxton |Marshall |Broxton |4/28/13

 
(UPDATED April 27, 2013 10:18 PM EDT) Chicago Cubs – Another 9th inning opportunity for Kevin Gregg, and a perfect inning for his third save of the season.  As we’ve said, Kyuji Fujikawa should take back over when he returns, so much of this is elementary; however, hard as it is to believe, Kevin Gregg appears to be the reliever to own now in Chicago.  Hierarchy change: Kevin Gregg to Closer, Carlos Marmol to Set-up. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Gregg |Marmol |Russell |Fujikawa |4/27/13 |Fujikawa(DL)|

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Darren O’Day, Baltimore Orioles – Jim Johnson has pitched in two straight and five of the last six.
2. Luke Gregerson, San Diego Padres – Huston Street has pitched in two straight and four of the last five.

 

Kevin Gregg now the closer in Chicago. Yes, really.

April 27, 2013

Chicago Cubs – Another 9th inning opportunity for Kevin Gregg, and a perfect inning for his third save of the season.  As we’ve said, Kyuji Fujikawa should take back over when he returns, so much of this is elementary; however, hard as it is to believe, Kevin Gregg appears to be the reliever to own now in Chicago.  Hierarchy change: Kevin Gregg to Closer, Carlos Marmol to Set-up. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Gregg |Marmol |Russell |Fujikawa |4/27/13 |Fujikawa(DL)|

So, Kevin Gregg is apparently a thing now

April 27, 2013

Chicago Cubs – Shouldn’t-be closer Carlos Marmol was unavailable on Friday night, so this was finally a chance for James Russell to award his fantasy owners’ patience and potentially earn his first save of the season.  And then Dale Sveum decided to pitch him in the 7th inning, whereupon he threw two pitches, got one out, and was yanked.  Kevin Gregg, signed off the street a week ago after being cut from two teams in the past 8 months, was the guy who got the call in the 9th.  Sveum still isn’t committing to any one reliever in Kyuji Fujikawa’s absence, so if you’re a crazy person, maybe you want to pick up Kevin Gregg or something.  Hierarchy change: Kevin Gregg to Set-up, James Russell to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Marmol |Gregg |Russell |Fujikawa |4/27/13 |Fujikawa(DL)|

 
Texas Rangers – Tanner Scheppers pitched the 8th inning last night, earning his 5th hold of the season.  The young righty has yet to allow a single run this season through 12.2 innings and has become the most likely candidate for saves on nights when Joe Nathan is unavailable.  Hierarchy change: Tanner Schepper to Set-up, Robbie Ross to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedTEX |Nathan |Scheppers |Ross |Nathan |4/27/13

 
Seattle Mariners – Charlie Furbush is showing his potential this season, racking up strikeouts at an impressive rate (14 in just 8 innings so far), but he’s also been a bit wild, having walked nearly a batter per inning.  He isn’t seeing many high-leverage situations as of late — he pitched in the 7th inning of a game the Mariners were losing last night — while Carter Capps has picked up two 8th inning holds in Stephen Pryor’s absence.  Hierarchy change: Carter Capps to Set-up, Charlie Furbush to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedSEA |Wilhelmsen |Capps |Furbush |Wilhelmsen |4/27/13 |Pryor(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Matt Thornton/Jesse Crain, Chicago White Sox – Addison Reed has pitched in three straight.  Depending on match-ups, Matt Thornton or Jesse Crain could get the call in the 9th tonight.
2. David Robertson, New York Yankees – Mariano Rivera has pitched in two straight and three of the last four, including a 26-pitch outing last night.