September 10, 2018
St. Louis Cardinals — As we speculated a few days ago, Mike Shildt has elected to leave Jordan Hicks in the eighth inning and use opening-day starter Carlos Martinez as the Cardinals’ new closer. Martinez pitched a perfect ninth on Sunday for his second save of the season. Bud Norris’s role has been “reshuffled” and we think he’ll find himself behind Dakota Hudson at second in line.
Updated hierarchy: Martinez | Hicks | Hudson.
Arizona Diamondbacks — We fully expect Brad Boxberger to lose his job today. Handed a two-run lead to start the ninth, Boxberger gave up two singles and a three-run homer, good for his seventh blown save and third bad outing of the month. With Archie Bradley also struggling, Boxberger is probably most likely to be replaced with a committee of Jake Diekman, Brad Ziegler, and Yoshihisa Hirano — whom we like in that order.
Updated hierarchy: Boxberger | Diekman | Ziegler.
Milwaukee Brewers — Corey Knebel has been really good since his return from the minor leagues last week, and he got the nod for a vulture save while Jeremy Jeffress and Josh Hader got the night off. If Knebel keeps this up, he could have his old job back in time for the playoffs.
Updated hierarchy: *Jeffress | Hader | Knebel.
* = closer-by-committee
Los Angeles Dodgers — Scott Alexander got the save chance on Sunday in Kenley Jansen’s absence, and he converted, picking up his third save this year. Now that the Dodgers have left the high altitude of Colorado, which poses a danger to those with atrial fibrillation, Jansen will be back with the team.
Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Maeda | Alexander.
New York Mets — Seth Lugo grabbed a two-inning vulture save on Sunday, striking out five Phillies and giving up a solo home run. Anthony Swarzak was activated from the disabled list over the weekend and will rejoin Lugo and Robert Gsellman in the late innings.
Updated hierarchy: Gsellman | Lugo | Swarzak.
Los Angeles Angels — After Blake Parker put the go-ahead runs on base in the ninth, Jose Alvarez came on to strike out a fellow lefty and pick up his first save of the year.
Hierarchy remains: Parker | Buttrey | Anderson.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Jake Diekman/Brad Ziegler — Arizona ain’t going back to Boxberger tonight.
2. David Robertson — Dellin Betances has gone in two straight and has a finger injury.
Tuesday:
1. Jeurys Familia — The A’s have today off, but Blake Treinen has gone in three straight and might get two days off.
2. Hector Rondon — An appearance today for Roberto Osuna will be three out of four.
