Xavier Cedeno returns to struggling Tampa bullpen

September 22, 2015

Tampa Bay Rays – Xavier Cedeno returned to action on Sunday, and pitched again last night against the Red Sox. Cedeno had been nursing a strained oblique muscle since September 5, but with his bullpen brethren Alex Colome and Brandon Gomes both roughed up last night, we like Cedeno to slide right back into his first-in-line spot behind Brad Boxberger for the remainder of the season.

Updated hierarchy: Boxberger | Cedeno | Colome.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Noe Ramirez/Jean Machi, Boston Red Sox – Robbie Ross has now pitched three games in a row.
2. Pat Neshek, Houston Astros – Luke Gregerson has also pitched three straight.

Noe Ramirez gets the 8th inning in Boston

September 21, 2015

Boston Red Sox – Noe Ramirez picked up his second hold of the season on Sunday, pitching the 8th ahead of Robbie Ross. Consider him a candidate for another hold or two in the season’s final weeks.

Updated hierarchy: Ross | Ramirez | Machi.

Kansas City Royals – Danny Duffy picked up a four-inning save in Sunday’s blowout; he does not factor in to the Royals usual late-inning plans.

Hierarchy remains: Holland | Davis | Herrera.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Noe Ramirez/Jean Machi, Boston Red Sox – Robbie Ross has pitched in back to back games.
2. Joakim Soria, Pittsburgh Pirates – Mark Melancon and Tony Watson have pitched in back to back games.

Strop records save, Bruce Rondon keeps giving up runs

September 20, 2015

Chicago Cubs — Pedro Strop recorded the save yesterday after regular closer Hector Rondon got tossed for hitting the first batter in the ninth inning.  Travis Wood ended up getting the start with Joe Maddon only using members of his bullpen for the game.  We expect Wood to see more time in the later innings during normal games, but another guy to keep an eye on is Neil Ramirez, who returned from the DL on Thursday and pitched a scoreless inning.

Hierarchy remains: Rondon | Strop | Wood.

Detroit Tigers — The Tigers went to Bruce Rondon in the eighth inning last night to try and protect a one run lead, and he couldn’t do it.  Rondon gave up a run for the fourth time in his last five appearances, and his ERA is up to 6.00 on the season.  Manager Brad Ausmus said not to “read anything into” Rondon being used in the eighth.  The Tigers aren’t going anywhere this season so they want to try and give Rondon every opportunity to show what he can do over the last part of the season.  However, he is making it tough to keep sending him out there, even in a lost season, and Alex Wilson could see some saves in the future.

Hierarchy remains: Rondon | Wilson | Hardy.

Boston Red Sox – Robbie Ross picked up his third save of the season yesterday.  Ross has now recorded all three of Boston’s save in the month of September and, despite allowing two runs in his most recent outing, he is close to shedding the committee label.

Hierarchy remains: *Ross | Machi | Ogando.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Edwin Jackson, Atlanta Braves – Arodys Vizcaino has pitched in two straight, throwing a total of 46 pitches.
2.  Nate Jones, Chicago White Sox – David Robertson has pitched in two of the last three games, and has thrown 48 pitches and given up five runs during those outings.

Wade Davis could be closing for the Royals very soon

September 19, 2015

Kansas City Royals — It wasn’t long ago that Greg Holland and Jamaal Charles would have welcomed being compared to each other, but sic transit gloria Missouri. Serious concerns over Holland’s velocity and reliability deepened Friday night after an extra-inning blown save that included a bases-loaded walk; although Ned Yost was silent after the game (“I’m done talking about Greg right now. I’m not saying anything more about Greg tonight”), the conventional wisdom is that Wade Davis will be the team’s new closer before they return to Kansas City next week. We’ll let you know if and when Yost decides to announce a move.

Hierarchy remains: Holland | Davis | Herrera.

New York Mets — Tyler Clippard tweaked his back during batting practice, so Addison Reed got the eighth inning against the Yankees on Friday night. After the game, Clippard told the press that he expects to be available Saturday.

Hierarchy remains: Familia | Clippard | Reed.

Oakland A’s — The committee lives in Oakland. After Sean Doolittle threw 26 pitches in a two-inning outing on Thursday, it was impressive rookie Ryan Dull’s chance to lock down the eighth and ninth and earn his first career save.

Updated hierarchy: *Doolittle | Pomeranz | Dull.
* = closer-by-committee

Detroit Tigers — Bruce Rondon got a second straight night off after appearing in three straight games (62 pitches), but Alex Wilson couldn’t lock down the save, giving up a game-tying home run immediately after relieving Justin Verlander.

Hierarchy remains: Rondon | Wilson | Hardy.