May 13, 2018

Baltimore Orioles — The Orioles gave Brad Brach the day off yesterday after he recorded a multi-inning save the night before.  Mychal Givens got the call instead and recorded the last five outs for his first career save. Brach will likely get the bulk of the save chances in this committee, but Givens has only allowed one run in his last nine appearances and proved he could also handle the job yesterday.

Hierarchy remains: *Brach | Givens | Bleier.
* = closer-by-committee

Cincinnati Reds – As predicted in yesterday’s Vulture Save Watch, Jared Hughes got the save chance after regular closer Raisel Iglesias had pitched in three straight.  Hughes threw 1.2 perfect innings for his first save of the season.  Iglesias is locked in as the closer, but Hughes has been brilliant recently as he has not allowed a hit or walk in his last three appearances spanning 4.2 innings.

Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Hughes | Garrett.

Washington Nationals – Ryan Madson pitched a perfect ninth on Saturday to pick up his third save of the season.  Sean Doolittle was unavailable yesterday, and Madson should continue to see save chances when Doolittle cannot go.

Hierarchy remains: Doolittle | Madson | Kintzler.

Atlanta Braves — Dan Winkler picked up his sixth hold of the season by pitching a clean eighth inning ahead of closer Arodys Vizcaino.  Winkler and Shane Carle have both been great for the Braves this year, but Winkler has consistently been working later in games than Carle recently so we will swap them on the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Vizcaino | Minter | Winkler.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Jake McGee – Wade Davis and Adam Ottavino have both pitched in back-to-back games and neither has gone in three straight yet this season.
2. Jim Johnson – Keynan Middleton has pitched in two of three and the Angels may be cautious with him since he just returned from injury.

Monday
1. CJ Edwards – If Brandon Morrow pitches on Sunday, it will be two in a row and he has yet to pitch in three in a row this season
2. Addison Reed – It will be three straight for Fernando Rodney if he pitches on Sunday
3. Santiago Casilla – Same for Blake Treinen