June 7, 2018
Chicago White Sox — All of a sudden, Joakim Soria is the man to own in Chicago again. Wednesday night, Soria’s sixth save followed scoreless outings from Bruce Rondon, Jace Fry, and Nate Jones. Since Soria lost the closer job on May 18, he’s made eight appearances and thrown 8.1 innings with 10 strikeouts and no earned runs.
Updated hierarchy: *Soria | Jones | Fry.
* = closer-by-committee
Houston Astros — The resurgence of ex-Cubs closer Hector Rondon has given Houston another late-inning weapon. On Wednesday night, he took over for Joe Smith and got out of a tight spot in the eighth, then stayed on for the ninth to grab his first save since 2016. There’s nothing wrong with what Brad Peacock’s been doing, but there’s room for only three in the hierarchy, and with last night’s save, Rondon has earned a spot.
Updated hierarchy: *Giles | Devenski | Rondon.
* = closer-by-committee
Los Angeles Dodgers — Tony Cingrani has been getting more and more late-inning responsibility for the Dodgers since his return from the disabled list in late May. Over his last nine appearances, Cingrani has pitched eight scoreless innings with 14 Ks and only two hits allowed.
Updated hierarchy: Jansen | Cingrani | Fields.
Philadelphia Phillies — The Phillies tried to get two innings out of Seranthony Dominguez — even letting him draw a walk against Brandon Morrow in his first plate appearance in seven years of professional baseball — but the 23-year-old followed up his first walk as a hitter with his first walk as a pitcher. After a one-out single, Gabe Kapler called on lefty Adam Morgan, who walked the bases loaded, then got the Cubs down to their final strike before Jason Heyward hit a walk-off grand slam.
Hierarchy remains: *Dominguez | Ramos | Neris.
* = closer-by-committee
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Kyle Crick — Felipe Vazquez needed 32 pitches to finish a four-out save in his second straight day of work.
2. Edubray Ramos/Hector Neris — Seranthony Dominguez is unlikely to pitch on Thursday.
Friday:
1. Richard Bleier/Mychal Givens — Bleier and Brad Brach have each gone in two straight.
2. Archie Bradley — Brad Boxberger has gone in three straight, including a 30-pitch blown save on Wednesday. He might get two straight days off.
3. Seung Hwan Oh/Tyler Clippard — Ryan Tepera threw 28 pitches over two innings on Wednesday and probably won’t go in three straight.
4. Nate Jones — Joakim Soria has pitched in two straight and three of four.
5. Jake McGee — Wade Davis might get his third straight day of work on Thursday.
