Blake Parker grabs another save for the Angels

August 31, 2017

Los Angeles Angels — Another save for Blake Parker — this one coming after Cam Bedrosian had pitched the seventh with the team down three — means he’s the new committee leader. Meanwhile, Bud Norris went back to the disabled list on Tuesday with a recurrence of his knee inflammation. Yusmeiro Petit (1.88 ERA and 11.3 K/9 in August) and Keynan Middleton could get some looks as a result.

Updated hierarchy: *Parker | Bedrosian | Petit.
* = closer-by-committee

Tampa Bay Rays — Steve Cishek pitched two scoreless innings in middle relief last night, his fifteenth appearance since being acquired from Seattle. He hasn’t given up a run yet, and he’s rung up 16 strikeouts against only six hits and four walks.

Updated hierarchy: Colome | Hunter | Cishek.

Milwaukee Brewers — Josh Hader got the call in the seventh and picked up his sixth hold of the year. Hader is a lefty, but not a one-out guy, and he’s missing bats with a .144 BAA and 11.8 K/9. He replaces Jacob Barnes, who is second in the league with 24 holds, but has only three over the last 25 days.

Updated hierarchy: Knebel | Swarzak | Hader.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. David Hernandez — Fernando Rodney (42 pitches) and Archie Bradley (35 pitches) have each pitched in two straight games.

Friday:
1. Brad Brach — Zach Britton has gone in two of three.

Will Harris officially returns for Astros

August 30, 2017

Houston Astros – Will Harris looked sharp on Tuesday in his first appearance since July 5. He retired the side in the sixth inning on just eight pitches, including a strikeout.

Hierarchy remains: Giles | Devenski | Harris.

Los Angeles Angels – The Angels won, 7-2, on Tuesday night, and normally that wouldn’t elicit a report from us, barring a three-inning save. However, Cam Bedrosian was the only main reliever used in the victory, coming into the eighth inning with the Angels in the midst of a two-on, two-out jam. Bedrosian needed just five pitches to get the required out, and perhaps Mike Scioscia was just being extra cautious. What will be interesting is who gets Wednesday’s save chance. Bedrosian seemingly should be available for a rare second straight day given he threw just five pitches Tuesday, but if the Angels are keeping with their strict regimen for Bedrosian, expect Blake Parker to get the ball in the ninth inning.

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

Chicago Cubs — Justin Wilson has struggled since coming to Chicago at the trade deadline, posting a 4.00 ERA in his month with the Cubs. CJ Edwards, Pedro Strop and Koji Uehara are Joe Maddon’s preferred late-inning arms right now when the Cubs have a lead. Wilson may get back into the mix as the playoff race hits the final couple weeks, but for now he’s seeing time in low-leverage situations.

Updated hierarchy: Davis | Edwards | Strop.

New York Mets — Jeurys Familia’s second post-DL appearance went a lot smoother than his first one, as he struck out three, walked one and did not allow a hit in 1.2 innings of work with the Mets trailing by four. While it was low-leverage work, it was a promising sign for Terry Collins and the Mets that Familia appears to be shaking off any rust from his long layoff.

Hierarchy remains: Ramos | Blevins | Familia.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Joe Kelly – Both Craig Kimbrel and Addison Reed have pitched in three straight games.

Tomorrow
1. Archie Bradley – Fernando Rodney threw 31 pitches on Tuesday night, meaning he could see a day off Thursday if he has another lengthy outing today.
2. CJ Edwards – If Wade Davis pitches today it will be his third straight appearance.

Blake Parker finally getting looks in the 9th

August 29, 2017

Los Angeles Angels – The Angels are still on an every-other-day diet in regards to Cam Bedrosian, and the last two save opportunities (yesterday and Saturday) have come when their hard-throwing righty had been used the day before. Both times, Blake Parker converted the save, a decision that has been lauded by many Angels fans who have been clamoring for Parker to get the 9th inning for months now. We don’t anticipate that the Angels move away from a committee any time soon, but to us, the loose gameplan appears to be that Bedrosian gets the toughest assignment — 9th inning or otherwise — on nights when he is available, and when he’s not, that toughest assignment goes to Parker. Any of two or three additional Angels relievers (Keynan Middleton, Yusmeiro Petit, Bud Norris) could get a save on any given night, but Bedrosian and Parker remain the two most valuable.

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

Tampa Bay Rays – Matt Andriese, a former starter who was activated earlier in the day, picked up the save last night, pitching the final three innings of a blowout and extending the Royals’ scoreless streak to a stunning 43 consecutive innings. Andriese should return to the rotation shortly and, obviously, won’t factor into the Tampa bullpen going forward.

Hierarchy remains: Colome | Hunter | Boxberger.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Brad Brach – Zach Britton got the save yesterday, but it’s uncertain if he’d go two days in a row, given his recent knee discomfort.

Tomorrow
1. Addison Reed/Joe Kelly – If Craig Kimbrel and/or Addison Reed go tonight, it’ll be three straight. Monitor usage tonight to see who will be available tomorrow.
2. Joe Smith – If Cody Allen goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and four of five.

Jake McGee could supplant Greg Holland soon

August 28, 2017

Baltimore Orioles – Zach Britton’s knee felt OK on Sunday morning, but the Orioles are still being cautious with their closer, and gave him another day off to ensure he’s back to normal. Brad Brach closed out Sunday’s game in his absence.

Hierarchy remains: Britton | Brach | Givens.

Colorado Rockies – With Greg Holland unavailable due to a scheduled rest day, the Rockies went with Jake McGee in the 9th inning to close out a 3-0 victory over the Braves. If Holland is unable to make his slider great again, McGee seems like the guy to replace him at this point. He has closing experience, of course, and while Pat Neshek is having a better year, the 36-year-old seems more content to stay in a set-up role — as he did when a similar situation arose with the Phillies earlier this season. Since Holland was not going to pitch yesterday, we can’t yet say for certain that he’s no longer the lead option for saves, but this situation remains very fluid, with the next few outings key to how things shake out.

Hierarchy remains: *Holland | McGee | Neshek.
* = closer-by-committee

Houston Astros – The Astros activated Will Harris from the disabled list on Sunday; he should immediately become a good source of holds again, bridging the gap to closer Ken Giles.

Updated hierarchy: Giles | Devenski | Harris.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Brad Brach – It’s hard to know when Zach Britton will be available again; if he can’t go tonight, look to Brach for another save opp.

Tomorrow
1. Juan Nicasio – If Felipe Rivero goes today, it’ll be three straight.
2. Santiago Casilla – Blake Treinen threw 1.2 IP last night; if he goes today, it’ll be back to back and three of four.

 

Greg Holland’s struggles continue, Blake Parker records save

August 27, 2017

Colorado Rockies — Greg Holland entered the ninth inning last night trying to protect a three run lead.  He recorded only one out, while giving up a two runs on three hits.  Jake McGee replaced Holland and got a double play to end the game.  Holland’s month of August has been atrocious. His ERA for the month is 15.12, and he has three blown saves (plus he was on his way to a fourth blown save last night).  Bud Black said after the game that they would talk about replacing Holland in the closer’s role, but no changes have been confirmed yet.  Given how bad he has been this month, we figure the Rockies have to back off Holland, at least temporarily.  We will slap the committee on there for now, and slide McGee up to first in line with the thought that the Rockies might keep Neshek in his eighth inning role like the Phillies did earlier this season.  If anything more definitive is announced today, we will be sure to let you know.

Updated hierarchy: *Holland | McGee | Neshek.
* = closer-by-committee

Los Angeles Angels — After the Angels scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth, it was Blake Parker who got the call in the ninth inning.  Parker pitched a perfect ninth inning for the save.  Although it was his second save of the season, it was the first time that he had a traditional save by starting the ninth inning in a save situation.  Parker has been arguably the Angels best reliever all season, yet he continued to get passed up on save chances until last night.  Cam Bedrosian pitched on Friday, and has only pitched in back-to-back games once in August, so we won’t remove him from the top of the hierarchy, but we will slide Parker to first in line.

Updated hierarchy: *Bedrosian | Parker | Norris.
* = closer-by-committee

Oakland A’s — Chris Hatcher has been busy since making his debut for the A’s on August 16th.  Since then, he has made six appearances, including three holds immediately ahead of closer Blake Treinan.  The A’s clearly trust their new bullpen arm, and Hatcher could move ahead of Santiago Casilla as first in line if he keeps pitching well.

Updated hierarchy: Treinen | Casilla | Hatcher.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Archie Bradley – Fernando Rodney has pitched in three straight, and five of six.
2. David Robertson – Dellin Betances has pitched in three games in a row.
3. Jake McGee/Pat Neshek – Greg Holland has pitched in three of four so even if he isn’t removed from the closer’s role yet, he could get Sunday off.
4. Joe Jimenez/Daniel Stumpf – Shane Greene has recorded two five out saves over the past three days, and Alex Wilson has pitched in three in a row.

Monday
1. Jose Ramirez – if Arodys Vizcaino pitches on Sunday, that will be three in a row.
2. Joe Smith – Cody Allen has gone in two straight.
3. Kirby Yates/Phil Maton – If Brad Hand pitches on Sunday, that will be two in a row and three of four, including a two inning outing on Saturday.  Yates and Maton have both been busy themselves so whoever doesn’t pitch on Sunday could have the best chance at a save on Monday.