Joaquin Benoit’s season is finished

September 28, 2016

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Toronto Blue Jays – Joaquin Benoit’s season is over after he injured his calf in Monday’s “brawl” with the Yankees. Expect Joe Biagini to see an expanded role in Benoit’s absence as the Jays fight for a playoff berth.

Updated hierarchy: Osuna | Grilli | Biagini.

New York Yankees – Dellin Betances had pitched in two straight games, so Tyler Clippard collected the save on Tuesday to snap the Red Sox’ 11-game win streak.

Hierarchy remains: Betances | Clippard | Warren.

Chicago Cubs — The Cubs took a 6-1 lead into the ninth inning on Tuesday, but when Justin Grimm got just one out and allowed three runs, Joe Maddon turned to Felix Pena to close the door on the Pirates and pick up his first career save. Aroldis Chapman had appeared in two straight games, and with the Cubs having already clinched the best record in baseball, don’t expect Chapman to be overworked entering the postseason.

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Rondon | Strop.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Hector Rondon/Pedro Strop, Chicago Cubs – Just in case Aroldis Chapman continues to be rested for October, you may see the Cubs turn to Hector Rondon or Pedro Strop in the ninth. With a plethora of solid options, Joe Maddon could turn to anybody over the final couple days of the season.

 

Blue Jays bullpen in shambles as playoffs approach

September 27, 2016

Seattle Mariners – In a game with significant playoff implications, Edwin Diaz got torched by the Astros in the 9th inning, blowing his third save of the season. Luckily for Diaz, his team was able to bail him out by scratching out a run in the 11th to take the lead. In the bottom of the 11th, Nick Vincent kept Mariners fans on edge as he wobbled his way through the last three outs, earning his third save of the season. Down the stretch, we expect the Mariners to stick with Diaz, who has been solid lately, boasting a sub-1.00 WHIP in his last 30 appearances.

Hierarchy remains: Diaz | Cishek | Vincent.

Toronto Blue Jays – Thirty-nine year old Jason Grilli was tapped to finish off the Yankees in the ninth innings with the Jays up one run. He was only able to record one out before being replaced, but in the meantime he had surrendered 2 home runs and the lead. His outing last night was Grilli’s 65th appearance of the season, a career high, and John Gibbons may be hesitant to use ol’ Grilled Cheese in big spots down the stretch. But if he wants to look elsewhere, he may not have the services of Joaquin Benoit, who didn’t even pitch yesterday but still managed to get injured in one of the bench-clearing incidents during the game. If Benoit can’t serve as Roberto Osuna’s handcuff as a result, perhaps Grilli will get another chance, or Gibbons could look to platoon Joe Biagini and (gulp) Brett Cecil in the 8th.

Updated hierarchy: Osuna | Benoit | Grilli.

New York Yankees – Following Grilli’s “melt-down” *ducks*, Tommy Layne nabbed his first save of the season. He is not expected to be among the Yankee’s late inning plans for the end of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Betances | Clippard | Warren.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Luke Gregerson, Houston Astros – Ken Giles has pitched in two straight and three of four. He has thrown 96 pitches over his last four appearances.

Raisel Iglesias likely to get any remaining Reds saves

September 26, 2016

Cincinnati Reds – Save opportunities are few and far between in Cincinnati, but if there are any to be had in the season’s final week, it’s a good bet that Raisel Iglesias will be the recipient. Iglesias has converted the last two Cincinnati saves (yesterday and Sept. 12 — told you they were pretty infrequent) and has pitched much better than Tony Cingrani, who has struggled down the stretch.

Updated hierarchy: *Iglesias | Cingrani | Lorenzen.
* = closer-by-committee

San Diego Padres – Brad Hand finished the 8th inning for the Padres and then stayed on for the 9th, presumably to pitch to Brandon Belt, who was due up second. But Hand was cruising, so after retiring Belt, he also got the game’s final out, picking up his first save of the season. Outside of San Diego, it’s likely that few people have heard about the job that the lefty is doing, but the bullpen certainly seems to suit him, as he’s now struck out 105 hitters on the season in just 85.2 innings.

Updated hierarchy: Maurer | Hand | Buchter.

Romo looks like Giants’ closer again while Mariot gets save for Phillies

September 25, 2016

San Francisco Giants – Sergio Romo converted his second straight save opportunity for the Giants.  Romo pitched a scoreless tenth inning, and was left in by Bruce Boche to face two lefty batters.  Boche had been playing match-ups in the later innings so the fact that Boche left him in there is enough for us to remove the asterisk.

Hierarchy remains: Romo | Law | Smith.

Houston Astros — Things keep getting worse for Ken Giles.  A day after one of his worst outings of the season, he was hit by a line drive during batting practice on Saturday.  X-rays came back negative and he has been diagnosed with a contusion.  However, manager A.J. Hinch said it wasn’t good.  If Giles is unable to go the rest of the season, Luke Gregerson would likely fill in as closer.

Hierarchy remains: Giles | Gregerson | Harris.

Philadelphia Phillies — With Jeanmar Gomez getting a break from closing, Michael Mariot got the call in the ninth inning on Saturday.  He gave up a lead-off homer to the first batter he faced, and walked a couple batters, but was still able to convert the save chance.  Hector Neris pitched the eighth inning ahead of Mariot and gave up a run on a hit and two walks.  Neither pitcher was particularly impressive, so we will move Mariot ahead of Neris for now based on how manager Pete Mackanin used them yesterday.  Cue the bad Mariot jokes on twitter.

Updated hierarchy: *Gomez | Mariot | Neris.
* = closer-by-committee

Kansas City Royals — Kelvin Herrera picked up his twelfth save of the season on Saturday.  Wade Davis hadn’t pitched in a week so the Royals sent him out there in the eighth inning when they were down two and it didn’t look like there would be a need for the bottom of the ninth.  The Royals ended up scoring five runs in the top of the ninth and that left Herrera to pitch the bottom of the ninth.  Although Herrera has been great, Wade Davis is still the closer in Kansas City.

Hierarchy remains: Davis | Herrera | Soria.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Will Harris, Houston Astros – Ken Giles could be unavailable due to injury and Luke Gregerson has pitched in two straight and three of four.
2. Hector Neris, Philadelphia Phillies – Michael Mariot got the save yesterday but Neris could also get a shot at the end of this season.

Jeanmar Gomez and the Phillies’ ninth are going to see other people

September 24, 2016

Philadelphia Phillies — The Phillies made the confusing announcement that although Jeanmar Gomez will be the closer for the rest of the season, he will get a “break” for the next few save chances — in favor of Hector Neris, Edubray Ramos, or even lefthander Joely Rodriguez. For now, we’ll call this a committee with Gomez as the head, but Neris is a strong candidate for what few saves remain for Philadelphia.

Updated hierarchy: *Gomez | Neris | Ramos.
* = closer-by-committee

Houston Astros — Ken Giles had a disastrous outing, blowing a save and dealing a blow to the Astros playoff hopes in the process. He entered with a two-run lead, but gave up a tying home run before loading the bases and getting yanked. After Michael Feliz gave up a three-run double, Giles was charged with six earned runs and the loss. Giles will hold onto his job, but with the Astros needing every win they can get, his leash will be shorter going forward.

Hierarchy remains: Giles | Gregerson | Harris.

Chicago Cubs — Pedro Strop was activated from the DL on Friday, and pitched a scoreless eighth with the Cubs up five. Joe Maddon indicated that he wants Strop, Rondon, and Chapman to man the late innings heading into the playoffs and, given his solid work last night, Strop will immediately crack the Cubs hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Chapman | Rondon | Strop.

Boston Red Sox — Brad Ziegler got a save opportunity for the surging Red Sox yesterday with both Craig Kimbrel and Koji Uehara unavailable. Uehara has not given up a run since returning from the DL, but hasn’t pitched on back-to-back days over that time either. With the Red Sox solidifying a playoff spot, we don’t expect to see anyone overworked in the season’s last week, so Ziegler may get another sneaky save opp.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Uehara | Ziegler. 

New York Mets — Hansel Robles came in with two on and one out in the seventh, up two runs. He induced a double play, the Mets scored three more runs, and Robles finished out the last two innings to earn his first career save.

Hierarchy remains: Familia | Reed | Salas.

Washington Nationals — Koda Glover has struggled over the last two weeks, posting a 10.13 ERA and 1.88 WHIP. Meanwhile, Blake Treinen has put up 12 straight scoreless outings (six holds, one blown save) since his five-run debacle on August 24.

Updated hierarchy: Melancon | Kelley | Treinen.

Milwaukee Brewers — After struggling for two weeks, Corey Knebel has six straight scoreless appearances, including two consecutive eighth-inning holds.

Updated hierarchy: Thornburg | Knebel | Torres.

Atlanta Braves — Mauricio Cabrera got another save yesterday with Jim Johnson taking a second day off after pitching in three straight. Cabrera has been excellent in the save opportunities he has seen, but Brian Snitker has stuck with the veteran Johnson, who should be available to close today.

Hierarchy remains: Johnson | Cabrera | Simmons.

Pittsburgh Pirates — The Pirates used newly-acquired lefty Phil Coke in the seventh inning of a one-run game yesterday. The 34-year-old journeyman was acquired for cash considerations on Thursday, and this was his first action since the deal. Coke won’t crack Pittsurgh’s hierarchy, but could be a sneaky add for the playoffs in holds leagues, as he will probably be used both as a LOOGY, and to spell Felipe Rivero with the Pirates nearly out of contention.

Hierarchy remains: Watson | Rivero | Bastardo.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Hector Neris, Philadelphia Phillies — Jeanmar Gomez is getting a break from closing.
2. Luke Gregerson, Houston Astros — Ken Giles threw 30 pitches in Friday night’s meltdown.
3. Shawn Kelley, Washington Nationals — Mark Melancon has pitched in two of three (44 pitches).