Jose Leclerc now the reliever to own in Texas after Jake Diekman traded

July 31, 2018

Texas Rangers – The Rangers aren’t done dealing away relievers, as they sent Jake Diekman to Arizona. If Jose Leclerc is still available, now’s the time to pick him up as he should take over the ninth inning. Alex Claudio and Cory Gearrin will be the Rangers’ other late-inning options. Don’t forget about Chris Martin as well, who may challenge for the ninth inning once he returns from the DL.

Updated hierarchy: Leclerc | Claudio | Gearrin.

Arizona Diamondbacks – The Diamondbacks have been busy today, as they not only acquired Diekman but brought back a familiar face in Brad Ziegler from the Marlins. Arizona now has an extremely deep bullpen, as Ziegler and Diekman will nicely complement Yoshihisa Hirano, Archie Bradley and closer Brad Boxberger.

Updated hierarchy: Boxberger | Bradley | Ziegler.

 

Jake Diekman logs first post-Kela 9th; Ken Giles and Roberto Osuna swapped

July 31, 2018

Houston Astros – The Astros traded one headache for another, acquiring Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna in exchange for Ken Giles. Osuna, eligible to return on Sunday, probably won’t close for the Astros, as Hector Rondon has been nails since taking over the job, but he’ll likely get the first bite at the apple should Rondon falter.

Hierarchy remains: Rondon | McHugh | Pressly.

Toronto Blue Jays – John Gibbons said that Ken Giles will get the chance to close at some point for the Blue Jays. We’re guessing there will be a feeling out process first and that he won’t move into the role immediately, but we’re still starting him out just behind Ryan Tepera, and he could climb to the top quickly.

Updated hierarchy: *Tepera | Giles | Clippard.
* = closer-by-committee

Atlanta Braves – Brad Brach got his first action for Atlanta last night, pitching a scoreless 8th inning ahead of AJ Minter. We were close to removing Minter’s asterisk before the Brach trade, and we’ll plan to do so should the Braves continue to deploy them in this fashion.

Hierarchy remains: *Minter | Brach | Winkler.
* = closer-by-committee

Minnesota Twins – The Twins traded Zach Duke to Seattle last night. They also got Addison Reed back from the DL. We’ll make the requisite hierarchy change, but hopefully you owned neither of these guys and this doesn’t matter to you.

Updated hierarchy: Rodney | Hildenberger | Reed.

Seattle Mariners – Edwin Diaz became the first player to reach 40 saves and we aren’t even in August yet. Pat yourself on the back if you drafted him, as he’s now on pace for a 60-save season, which would put him just short of the MLB record (62) set by Francisco Rodriguez. Also, look for the newly-acquired Zach Duke to share 7th inning duties with James Pazos, Nick Vincent and others.

Hierarchy remains: Diaz | Colome | Pazos.

St. Louis Cardinals – The Cardinals placed Luke Gregerson on the DL yesterday, and the righty appears unlikely to pitch again this season. We’ll give his spot on the hierarchy to the recently-acquired Chasen Shreve.

Updated hierarchy: Norris | Hicks | Shreve. 

Texas Rangers – After the trade of Keone Kela to the Pirates, the Rangers turned to Jake Diekman in the 9th inning. It didn’t end up being a save since the Rangers added a run in the 9th to make it a four-run lead, but it seems likely Diekman will, at least, share the closer role with Jose LeClerc, if not more. However, Diekman could also potentially be traded later today, so LeClerc should probably be added either way.

Updated hierarchy: Diekman | LeClerc | Claudio.

Pittsburgh Pirates – The Pirates have acquired former Rangers’ closer Keone Kela. Felipe Vazquez should hang on to the closer’s job with Kela sliding into a set-up role alongside Kyle Crick.

Updated hierarchy: Vazquez | Kela | Crick.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Craig Stammen – Kirby Yates threw 2 innings last night.
2. Tony Watson – Will Smith has pitched in back to back games, including 1.1 innings last night.
3-9. Jose LeClerc, Jose Alvarado, Jordan Hicks, Trevor Hildenberger, Justin Anderson, Jared Hughes, Drew Steckenrider – These guys are all sitting right behind closers who could conceivably be moved today. (Craig Stammen would be here too, but he’s already listed above.) If you’re looking to speculate on who might be closing by this afternoon, consider this order to be our confidence index — start at the beginning of this list and work your way down.

Tomorrow
1. Alex Colome/James Pazos – If Edwin Diaz or Alex Colome go tonight, it’ll be three straight.
2. Jordan Hicks – If Bud Norris goes today, it’ll be back to back and three of four.

Keone Kela traded to Pirates

July 31, 2018

Texas Rangers — After the trade of Keone Kela to the Pirates, the Rangers turned to Jake Diekman in the 9th inning.  It didn’t end up being a save since the Rangers added a run in the 9th to make it a four-run lead, but it seems likely Diekman would be the guy to replace Kela as closer.  The only problem is that Diekman is also likely on his way out the door before Tuesday’s trade deadline.  We will put Diekman at the top for now, but Jose LeClerc could be a good speculative add as well in case Diekman gets traded.

Updated hierarchy: Diekman | Leclerc | Claudio.

Pittsburgh Pirates – The Pirates have acquired former Rangers’ closer Keone Kela.  Felipe Vazquez should hang out to the closer’s job with Kela sliding into a set-up role alongside Kyle Crick.

Updated hierarchy: Vazquez | Kela | Crick.

Anthony Swarzak nabs another save; Brad Brach traded to Braves

July 30, 2018

Cincinnati Reds – Veteran David Hernandez has been quietly putting together his best season ever, and could potentially be on the move today or tomorrow. Yesterday, he struck out three hitters in a scoreless inning, and while we can’t picture him closing for any contenders, a better squad could mean more holds or vulture save opportunities.

Updated hierarchy: Iglesias | Hughes | Hernandez.

New York Mets – Anthony Swarzak picked up his second save in five days on Sunday afternoon with a perfect, two-strikeout inning. Look for the Mets to continue to spread chances around, but Swarzak looks like the guy who is most likely to get one on any given night.

Updated hierarchy: *Swarzak | Gsellman | Lugo.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago White Sox – On Saturday, Jace Fry got the final three outs of a 4-run victory, but Sunday went far worse for Chicago’s new probably-closer. After allowing a leadoff home run to tie it, Fry hit a batter on a 1-2 pitch, then gave up a double before being lifted for Jeanmar Gomez, who made things much worse by giving up three more hits. Our guess is that he gets another shot before the White Sox start looking elsewhere, but given how well Xavier Cedeno is pitching, Fry probably can’t afford another outing like this one.

Hierarchy remains: *Fry | Cedeno | Gomez. 
* = closer-by-committee

San Francisco Giants – Will Smith picked up his 5th save of the season yesterday, and is the only Giant to have logged a save in the past month. Thanks to his cardio rating of infinity, Smith should be the only guy in this bullpen getting save chances; we’re kicking his asterisk.

Updated hierarchy: Smith | Watson | Melancon. 

Baltimore Orioles – The Orioles traded Brad Brach to the Braves on Sunday. Mychal Givens is the most likely choice to close for the Orioles, but we’ll monitor how Buck Showalter manages the late innings with Brach gone.

Updated hierarchy: Givens | Fry | Wright Jr.

Atlanta Braves – A.J. Minter has pitched well for Atlanta, but Brach gives Brian Snitker an intriguing option for the ninth. We’ll keep Minter at the top of the hierarchy but label this as a committee for now until we hear how Snitker plans to deploy his new arm.

Updated hierarchy: *Minter | Brach | Winkler.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today/tomorrow
1. Matt Barnes – Craig Kimbrel threw 33 pitches on Friday and 11 more yesterday. He’s probably good to go today, but if it’s a lower-leverage chance, the Red Sox could give him the night off. If he does pitch, look for Matt Barnes to get the save chance tomorrow.

Tomorrow
1. Adam Ottavino – If Wade Davis goes tonight, it’ll be three straight.

Brad Brach traded to Braves

July 29, 2018

Baltimore Orioles — The Orioles traded Brad Brach to the Braves on Sunday. Mychal Givens is the most likely choice to close for the Orioles, but we’ll monitor how Buck Showalter manages the late innings with Brach gone.

Updated hierarchy: Givens | Fry | Wright Jr.

Atlanta Braves – A.J. Minter has pitched well for Atlanta, but Brach gives Brian Snitker an intriguing option for the ninth. We’ll keep Minter at the top of the hierarchy but label this as a committee for now until we hear how Snitker plans to deploy his new arm.

Updated hierarchy: *Minter | Brach | Winkler.
* = closer-by-committee