May 19, 2019

Los Angeles Angels – Ty Buttrey recorded the last five outs yesterday for this second save of the season.  Despite a pretty bad entrance video based on his last name, Buttrey has been fantastic this year as yesterday’s outing lowered his ERA to 0.76.  He also struck out three to raise his total to 31 on the season in just 23.2 innings.  Unfortunately for fantasy owners, Hansel Robles will probably still see more save opportunities for now.  Robles recorded the last three saves for the Angels before last night and Buttrey likely got the save yesterday so that Robles would be available on Sunday.

Hierarchy remains: *Robles | Buttrey | Anderson.
* = closer-by-committee

Miami Marlins — Adam Conley closed out the Marlins 2-0 victory yesterday to pick up his second save of the season.  Sergio Romo went two innings for the save the day before so the Marlins likely wanted to give him a day off.  Tayron Guerrero recorded his first hold of the season ahead of Conley.  Nick Anderson struggled his last time out in a high leverage situation so we will monitor who settles into that seventh inning role.  

Hierarchy remains: Romo | Conley | Anderson.

Washington Nationals — Justin Miller has been placed on the IL with a strained right rotator cuff.  Wander Suero has a couple holds in his last two appearances, including an eighth-inning hold ahead of a Sean Doolittle save so he should continue to see time in the later innings with Miller out.  Speaking of Doolittle, the Cubs filed a formal protest after yesterday’s game alleging that Doolittle used an illegal delivery.  We will see if anything comes out of this.

Updated hierarchy: Doolittle | Barraclough | Suero.

Tampa Bay Rays — Jose Alvarado bounced back after blowing the save on Friday and pitched a scoreless ninth for his fifth save of the season.  This ties Alvarado with Castillo for the team lead, but it was his first save since April 7th.  Castillo meanwhile recorded four saves in between Alvarado’s fourth and fifth save and was likely unavailable yesterday after pitching in three of the previous four games.  We will leave Alvarado on top of the committee for now but Castillo is close to taking over the top spot.

Hierarchy remains: *Alvarado | Castillo | Pagan. 
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Dan Winkler – Luke Jackson has pitched in two straight and three of four.
2. Jared Hughes – Raisel Iglesias has pitched in three of four, throwing a total of 59 pitches.
3. Ryan Pressly – Roberto Osuna has pitched in two straight and three of four.
4. Pat Neshek – Hector Neris recorded a two-inning save yesterday and has pitched in two straight and three of four.
5. Kyle Barraclough – Sean Doolittle has pitched in three of four, throwing a total of 52 pitches.

Monday
1. Reyes Moronta – Will Smith threw 20 pitches yesterday so if he pitches again on Sunday, he would likely get Monday off.