Strickland hits the IL while Parker and Kennedy move to the top of their committees

March 31, 2019

Seattle Mariners — Hunter Strickland went on the IL yesterday and manager Scott Servais said that it could be a number of guys who get the ninth in his absence.  Zak Rosscup started the ninth yesterday with the Mariners up four but couldn’t finish off the win.  That left Nick Rumbelow to come on and get the final out for the save.  We think Cory Gearrin is still the best bet for saves, but this certainly looks like a committee for now.  Anthony Swarzak should return from the IL early next week and could also factor into save chances.

Updated hierarchy: Gearrin | Rosscup | Festa.
* = closer-by-committee

Kansas City Royals — One game after recording the first save of the season, Brad Boxberger entered in the seventh inning with the Royals up four and promptly gave three runs back.  That left converted started Ian Kennedy for the ninth and he converted his first career save.  The Royals have had success converting starters into relievers (see Wade Davis), and Kennedy could be the latest example.  After the game, manager Ned Yost said that he likes both Kennedy and Peralta in the ninth (no mention of Boxberger).  This looks to be a committee until somebody can establish himself as the man, but it seems Boxberger is already behind Kennedy and Peralta, and maybe even Jake Diekman.

Updated hierarchy: * Kennedy | Peralta | Boxberger.
* = closer-by-committee

Minnesota Twins — Game two of the season offered some insight into the Twins’ bullpen plans, and then it became complicated again.  Trevor May started the seventh inning of a tie game and got removed for a lefty reliever after getting one out and giving up a hit.  That doesn’t seem like the usage for your closer.  Taylor Rogers pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Blake Parker came on for the ninth with the game still tied.  Top of the ninth of a tie game at home is a common time to use your closer and given that Parker was warming while Rogers got the save in the first game, it appeared that Parker might be the guy.  Then Parker actually pitched and it wasn’t very pretty.  Parker got the first man out, but then gave up a hit, uncorked two wild pitches while walking the next man and gave up a sac fly for the go-ahead run.  We will move Parker to the top of the committee even while taking the loss in a poor outing, but this bullpen appears to be wide open right now. 

Updated hierarchy: *Parker | Rogers | May.
* = closer-by-committee

San Francisco Giants – A few days after being announced the closer, Will Smith recorded his first save of the season by striking out a pair in a perfect inning.  However, it was Reyes Moronta who might have been the most impressive reliever for the Giants.  Moronta struck out five batters in two innings and could be a guy to watch.

Updated hierarchy: Smith | Dyson | Moronta.

Texas Rangers – Jose Leclerc picked up right where he left off last season with a scoreless ninth for his first save of the season.  Shawn Kelly got the last out of the seventh inning and then pitched a perfect eighth ahead of Leclerc while picking up the win.

Updated hierarchy: LeClerc | Martin | Kelley.

Baltimore Orioles — With the Orioles protecting a two-run lead and 4-5-6 of the Yankees order due up in the eighth inning, Mychal Givens was summoned from the bullpen.  Givens gave up a hit but struck out the side in a perfect inning.  Some people thought he might come back out for the ninth, but after the Orioles added two more runs, the Orioles went with Richard Bleier to start the ninth.  Bleier struggled, and Mike Wright ended up coming on to record the save.   Givens is clearly the best pitcher in the Orioles bullpen and still should see the bulk of the saves, but it looks like the Orioles could also use him before the ninth if the situation calls for it.

Updated hierarchy: Givens | Bleier | Wright.

Los Angeles Dodgers – It took a couple games, but we finally got our first position player pitching appearance of 2019.  Russell Martin pitched a perfect ninth inning with the Dodgers up by 13 and manager Dave Roberts acknowledged after the game that Martin has been their most efficient pitcher so far.  Although Martin seems to be as good at pitching as he is at hitting at this point in his career, he doesn’t quite factor into the Dodgers’ late inning bullpen plans yet.

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Kelly | Baez.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Chaz Roe – Jose Alvarado has pitched in two straight. Roe has as well but neither time was a full inning and he has only thrown 15 pitches.
2. Joakim Soria – Blake Treinen has also pitched in two of three, including a five out, 26 pitch save yesterday.
3. Seranthony Dominguez – David Robertson has thrown 52 pitches over the past three days.
4. Jacob Barnes – Josh Hader has pitched in two of three, including an immaculate inning yesterday and a two-inning save on opening day.

Monday:
1. Craig Stammen – If Kirby Yates pitches today, it will be three out of four.
2. Jeurys Familia – If Edwin Diaz pitches today, it will back-to-back games and three of four.
3. Adam Cimber – If Brad Hand pitches today, it will be back-to-back games and three of four.

Corey Knebel will miss the 2019 season

March 30, 2019

Milwaukee Brewers – Corey Knebel will have Tommy John surgery and miss the entire 2019 season. Knebel was in line to be a major piece of the Brewers bullpen after an excellent postseason in 2018, but a UCL tear in spring training caused him to choose surgery and rehab. Josh Hader remains the best arm to own here, especially with Jacob Barnes having a rough outing last night. With Jeremy Jeffress also starting the year on the IL, the Brewers have renewed their interest in Craig Kimbrel. If you have the space and patience in a shallow league, now may be the time to stash him. 

Hierarchy remains: Hader | Barnes | Albers.

Boston Red Sox — As predicted, the first Boston save chance went to Matt Barnes, who struck out two in a perfect inning. Despite the strong outing, Alex Cora is not yet ready to name Barnes the full-time closer. We see Ryan Brasier as next in line, but Brian Johnson — who struck out the side with the Sox down two in the eighth — has looked very good in his first two outings. With Cora looking to play matchups, Johnson may be a viable option when facing a lefty-heavy lineup. 

Hierarchy remains: Barnes | Brasier | Hembree.

Seattle Mariners — Hunter Strickland blew his first save of the year, giving up a three-run homer to take the loss. Strickland looked out of sorts from the start, and there is some concern that he is carrying an injury, although he claimed he was fine after the game. If Strickland does need time on the IL, look for Cory Gearrin to get the first crack at closing, as he picked up his second hold of the year in a clean eighth inning last night. 

Hierarchy remains: Strickland | Gearrin | Rosscup.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Craig Stammen — Kirby Yates threw 28 pitches last night and will probably not pitch in three straight.

Taylor Rogers records first save for volatile Twins bullpen

March 29, 2019

Minnesota Twins — We begin with perhaps the most volatile bullpen situation in the big leagues. Game one of 162 proved just that, with lefty Taylor Rogers nailing down the final four outs for the first Twins save. We expected Rogers to content for some late-inning holds, but speculatively, we have to add him to the hierarchy to see if he ascends to the chief role in the 9th. First-year manager Rocco Baldelli remained vague after the game, which means this bullpen remains up in the air heading into tomorrow.

Updated hierarchy: *May | Parker | Rogers.
* = closer-by-committee

Philadelphia Phillies – Last year, the Phillies seemingly had no assigned roles for any of their relievers, and the offseason signing of David Robertson was expected to solidify things a bit. Nope! Robertson began warming before the eighth inning with Philadelphia hanging onto a 6-3 lead and the heart of the Braves order due up. By the time Robertson entered, though, his team had a 7-run lead. Still, in came Robertson, who allowed a couple of hits but was able to escape the eighth inning unscathed. Based on this “relief ace” usage alone, we have to institute an asterisk for this closing situation. For those of you with roster space, and if he’s still available, maybe consider adding Seranthony Dominguez.

Hierarchy remains: *Robertson | Dominguez | Neris.
* = closer-by-committee

Cincinnati Reds – New manager David Bell did promise to use his best reliever (Raisel Iglesias) in the most pivotal situations of the game, even if they come before the ninth inning. That approach can make the closer tough to predict on any given night. Sure enough, Iglesias opened the eighth inning. He allowed a homer but was held in for the ninth, so perhaps a save was in order after all? Not today. After allowing two walks, Iglesias (1.1 IP, 1 ER) was pulled in favor of Amir Garrett and finally David Hernandez, who picked up the one-out save. Jared Hughes, who figured to be first in line behind Iglesias for saves, got the last out of the sixth inning. Because Iglesias appeared to be headed toward a save, we’ll keep him at the top, but this situation is also pretty fluid and bears some watching.

Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Hughes | Hernandez.

Kansas City Royals — The Royals held a 5-0 lead in the ninth inning, but they sure made things interesting. Wily Peralta got the first shot in a non-save situation, allowing a single and a walk before inducing a pop-up and getting pulled. Jake Diekman set up a save chance for someone else by allowing a walk, a hit-by-pitch and a fielder’s choice groundout to make it 5-2. Kevin McCarthy made it 5-3, leaving Brad Boxberger to record the game’s final out for his first save as a Royal. Boxberger should be in line for a chunk of save chances moving forward, but Peralta and others promise to lurk until Boxberger can run away with the job.

Hierarchy remains: *Boxberger | Peralta | Diekman.
* = closer-by-committee

New York Mets – Opening Day went just about as well as any Mets fan could imagine after a big offseason. Robinson Cano homered. The newly re-signed Jake DeGrom was lights-out in six innings. And new acquisition Edwin Diaz closed things out in the ninth for his first save. As expected, he was set up by old friend Jeurys Familia. Seth Lugo pitched a clean seventh, so we’ll slide him into the second-in-line role for now.

Updated hierarchy: Diaz | Familia | Lugo.

Milwaukee Brewers – As expected, Josh Hader was given the first save chance out of the beleaguered Brewers bullpen, and he converted, looking dynamite in the process (2 IP, 4 Ks, 0 ER). Converted starter Junior Guerra made a tight game tighter, allowing a run in the seventh, much to the chagrin of a famous former houseguest. Former closer Corey Knebel, who was originally expected to compete for saves this year, began the season on the shelf and may be considering surgery. A decision about how to handle his partially torn UCL is expected Friday. Stay tuned.

Hierarchy remains: Hader | Barnes | Albers.

Atlanta Braves – As expected, AJ Minter was placed on the injured list to begin the year, and the Braves appeared to have missed him on Opening Day. The bullpen allowed seven runs after the fifth inning in a 10-4 loss to the Phillies. Some expect Minter to compete for saves when he returns, but Arodys Vizcaino could secure his hold on the job while Minter is sidelined. 

Hierarchy remains: Vizcaino | Venters | Sobotka.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH

Today
N/A

Saturday:
1. Jacob Barnes — Josh Hader threw two innings on Opening Day, and if he pitches again on Friday, the Brewers may not want to use all of his bullets so early in the year, especially with their bullpen in such disarray.

Greg Holland tabbed as D’Backs closer

March 25, 2019

Arizona Diamondbacks – Despite a 12.27 spring ERA, Greg Holland has won the closer job for Arizona. Archie Bradley will be used in the relief ace role, while Yoshihisa Hirano will set up. Depending on the depth of your league, we’d probably recommend holding on to Bradley if you have the space, as Holland will likely be on a short leash.

Updated hierarchy: Holland | Bradley | Hirano.

St. Louis Cardinals – Jordan Hicks will likely see the lion’s share — but not all — of the save chances in St. Louis, Mike Shildt said this weekend. This was largely expected throughout the spring, and now we have confirmation, and if Hicks pitches well in the early going, look for him to ascend to the full time role.

Updated hierarchy: Hicks | Miller | Brebbia.

Chicago Cubs – Pedro Strop is progressing from a hamstring injury, and looks to be ready for opening day. Though Joe Maddon went out of his way to say that he hasn’t declared that “Stropie” will be the closer out of the gate, we think he’s got a clear leg up on his competition.

Hierarchy remains: *Strop | Cishek | Edwards.
* = closer-by-committee