June 26, 2018
Kansas City Royals — The Royals bullpen remains unstable, as Wily Peralta picked up his first career save on Monday in a 2-0 victory. After the game, Ned Yost said his plan all along was to use Peralta in the ninth, with Kevin McCarthy and Brandon Maurer slated for the seventh and eighth. Peralta doesn’t have the greatest MLB track record and wasn’t exactly lighting it up in the minors this season either (35.0 IP, 4.37 ERA, 39 K) prior to his arrival in Kansas City, but after Monday’s outing he’s moved himself to the top of this committee. We’ll see how long he stays there.
Updated hierarchy: *Peralta | McCarthy | Maurer.
* = closer-by-committee
Philadelphia Phillies — Edubray Ramos was placed on the 10-day DL because of a right shoulder impingement. Gabe Kapler said the move is very much precautionary and that Ramos should spend the minimum amount of time on the DL. That makes room for Hector Neris to make his return to the majors after a pair of outings in Triple-A. He allowed one hit, walked one and struck out two over two innings with Lehigh Valley. If Gabe Kapler is desperate over the next 10 days, don’t be surprised if Neris gets a save chance. In other news, Pat Neshek is close to returning, though there’s no specific timetable in place.
Updated hierarchy: *Dominguez | Hunter | Neris.
* = closer-by-committee
Seattle Mariners — Juan Nicasio picked up a hold in his first appearance off the DL, but his second outing on June 22 was a disaster in which he allowed four hits, one walk and five earned runs in 0.1 IP to move his ERA to 6.60. James Pazos picked up a seventh-inning hold on Monday and has been solid all year. Nick Vincent is also off the DL, and while he too got rocked on June 22, he’s probably ahead of Nicasio as well.
Updated hierarchy: Diaz | Colome | Pazos.
Oakland A’s — Ryan Buchter, activated from the DL on Monday, made sure not to waste any energy getting to the mound in his first appearance since April 25. He didn’t exert much energy once he got to the mound, either, as the only batter he faced hit a ground rule double and eventually scored. Before the game, Bob Melvin was excited about Buchter’s return. Despite Monday’s tough start, we expect Buchter to once again be a part of Oakland’s late-inning plans.
Updated hierarchy: Treinen | Trivino | Buchter.
Toronto Blue Jays – Seung Hwan Oh was the only reliever on yesterday’s Vulture Save Watch and he came through with his second save of the season, though Randal Grichuk deserves most of the credit. Ryan Tepera had thrown 33 pitches over 2.1 IP on Saturday and Sunday.
Hierarchy remains: Tepera | Oh | Clippard.
Washington Nationals — Brandon Kintzler was activated from the DL on Monday and joins a crowded Nationals bullpen. Dave Martinez likes that Kintzler gets ground balls, and will look for the righty to generate those ground balls in either the sixth inning or seventh inning. If there was a fourth spot in our hierarchy, Kintzler would be there.
Hierarchy remains: Doolittle | Herrera | Madson.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Josh Fields – Kenley Jansen has gone in two straight and three of the last four. Jansen has only pitched three straight days once this year.
2. Dan Winkler – There was no save chance for the Braves last night, but AJ Minter still pitched the ninth in a tie game. That was his second straight appearance and third outing in the last four games, so Winkler may get Tuesday’s save chance for that committee.
Tomorrow
1. Josh Fields – If Jansen pitches tonight, he’ll almost certainly be unavailable on Wednesday.
2. Brad Brach/Darren O’Day – Zach Britton has pitched in three of the last four. Brach has as well, and Tuesday would be a third straight appearance for him. O’Day is the most well-rested of the bunch entering Tuesday.
3. Joe Jimenez/Alex Wilson – Both Shane Greene (25 pitches) and Joe Jimenez (33) had rough outings on Monday. If either of them have a second straight lengthy appearance on Tuesday, Alex Wilson could be in line for a save.
4. Jordan Hicks/Sam Tuivailala – If Bud Norris pitches tonight, it will be two straight and four of five. Same goes for Hicks.
