Shawn Kelley still likely to get next Washington save opportunity

April 20, 2017

Washington Nationals — A 10-run win means the new Nationals closer committee will have to wait for its big debut. Expect Shawn Kelley to get the first shot, but because he probably won’t be used in back-to-back games, Koda Glover could see a fair amount of chances too.

Updated hierarchy: *Kelley | Glover | Treinen.
* = closer-by-committee

Detroit Tigers — The active leader in saves and goose eggs would have added another of each — and a Houdini! — Wednesday night, but second base sacked Jose Iglesias and the Rays walked off on a two-run throwing error. K-Rod should be looking over his shoulder at Justin Wilson, who has struck out 11 and allowed no hits over his first 7.1 innings.

Hierarchy remains: Rodriguez | J. Wilson | A. Wilson.

St. Louis Cardinals — As foretold by the Vulture Save Watch Wednesday morning, Seung Hwan Oh got the day off and Trevor Rosenthal earned his first save since his demotion last June. Rosenthal is throwing harder than ever, with a fastball averaging 98.8 MPH this season. If Oh continues to have problems, Rosenthal (who is only 26) could recapture the closer role.

Hierarchy remains: Oh | Rosenthal | Siegrist.

Baltimore Orioles — It took only nine pitches for Brad Brach to lock down the first Orioles save chance since Zach Britton’s injury. Britton will have an MRI on Friday.

Hierarchy remains:  Brach | O’Day | Givens.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Jacob Barnes — Neftali Feliz blew his first save of the season in dramatic style, with a walk-off three-run homer. Feliz threw 33 pitches Wednesday and has gone in three of four — as has Corey Knebel, who threw 30 himself. Barnes has pitched in those same three games, but with a lower workload. We’ll see if he gets a shot at his second career save.
2. Jeurys Familia/Fernando Salas — Familia returns from his 15-game suspension on Thursday, although he may be eased back into the closing role. Either way, Addison Reed probably gets the game off after his third appearance in four days.
3. Joakim Soria — Kelvin Herrera hasn’t thrown a ton of pitches, but he has appeared in two straight, four of five, and five of seven.

Friday
1. Ryan Buchter — Brandon Maurer should be available Thursday, but an appearance would be his third in four games.

Shawn Kelley, Koda Glover to share closing duties for Nationals

April 19, 2017

Washington Nationals – As expected, Dusty Baker announced that Blake Treinen will no longer be his closer. Slightly less expected was a committee, as Shawn Kelley and Koda Glover will share duties. The reasoning for this to not pitch Kelley every day due to injury concern, so do expect Glover to see some save opportunities. Treinen will return to the fireman role he had last year.

Updated hierarchy: *Kelley | Glover | Treinen.
* = closer-by-committee

Shawn Kelley likely to close for Nationals

April 19, 2017

Washington Nationals – Blake Treinen and his 7.11 ERA struggled again on Tuesday, recording only one out while walking two and giving up two hits. One of those walks brought in a run and led to Dusty Baker calling on Shawn Kelley to get the save. After the game, Baker said he is considering a change at closer, with Kelley the likely replacement. We should find out Wednesday who will be the new Washington closer.

Updated hierarchy: Treinen | Kelley | Glover.

Chicago Cubs — So much for writing off Hector Rondon. He began the eighth inning with a one-run lead and retired the side in order thanks to a pair of strikeouts. Rondon has not allowed an earned run over his last four appearances, striking out five over 3.2 IP. In fact, he’s only allowed two hits in 23 at-bats en route to a 1.42 ERA. We’ll reward him and his new delivery with a spot back in the hierarchy, for now at least.

Updated hierarchy: Davis | Uehara | Rondon.

Los Angeles Angels – Bud Norris – yes, the Bud Norris that was the Astros’ opening-day starter in 2013 – has pitched well over his last four appearances, including a seventh-inning hold against his former club on Tuesday. During that four-game stretch (5.2 IP), Norris has struck out six and allowed just three hits. Expect him to keep getting high-leverage work ahead of Cam Bedrosian in a beleaguered Angels’ bullpen.

Hierarchy remains: Bedrosian | Parker | Norris.

Tampa Bay Rays – Danny Farquhar got the seventh inning on Tuesday in a Rays win, and with Erasmo Ramirez expected to start on Thursday, Farquhar has entered the late-innings conversation in Tampa.

Updated hierarchy: Colome | Cedeno | Farquhar.

Oakland A’s — Santiago Casilla picked up his second save of the season on Tuesday. It was just the third save total for the A’s this season, with Sean Doolittle having picked up the other one. That’s not a lot of saves.

Hierarchy remains: *Doolittle | Casilla | Madson.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Blake Parker – Cam Bedrosian threw 26 pitches in a six-out save on Tuesday, so he may get a night off, though the Angels do have Thursday off.
2. Trevor Rosenthal – Seung Hwan Oh has pitched in two straight games, tossing 46 pitches in the process.

Thursday
1. Jeurys Familia/Fernando Salas – Familia’s 15-day suspension for domestic abuse ends on Thursday. It remains to be seen if he’ll get a save chance right away, but with the chance for the Mets’ bullpen to get another heavy day of work on Wednesday, Terry Collins may want to throw Familia right into the fire.
2. Hector Neris – Joaquin Benoit will have pitched in two straight and four of five if he makes an appearance on Wednesday.
3. Trevor Rosenthal – If for some reason Oh gets the call on Wednesday, there is no way he’d pitch in a fourth straight contest.