The Cubs submit to bullpen chaos

May 9, 2019

Chicago Cubs — Before Wednesday’s game, Joe Maddon played to type by announcing that “anyone and everyone” could close in Pedro Strop’s absence. When the ninth inning came around with a one-run lead, Maddon sent out lefty Kyle Ryan, then pulled him for Steve Cishek after a single. That runner wound up scoring and the Cubs pulled out the win two innings later. Taking Maddon at his word, we give Cishek a slight edge over Brandon Kintzler, Brad Brach, Carl Edwards, Jr., Mitch Williams, Ronald Kaplan, Esq., and your cousin who played travel ball and hit 75 once at the Speed Pitch booth.

Updated hierarchy: *Cishek | Kintzler | Brach.
* = closer-by-committee

Oakland A’s — In his first appearance since April 28, Blake Treinen overcame his elbow soreness and threw a reassuringly clean two innings. 

Hierarchy remains: Treinen | Trivino | Soria.

Miami Marlins — Drew Steckenrider has right elbow inflammation and will get some time on the injured list to recover. Aside from a nightmare outing last Saturday, Nick Anderson has been very impressive (29 K in 15.2 IP). He and Tayron Guerrero should pick up the slack.

Updated hierarchy: Romo | Conley | Anderson.

Texas Rangers — Chris Martin got his turn to close for the Rangers and converted. Martin and Shawn Kelley will continue to split chances until Jose Leclerc gets the job back.

Hierarchy remains: *Kelley | Martin | Leclerc.
* = closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox — The top three Boston relievers pitched earlier in a tie game, so Heath Hembree was able to earn his first career save in the twelfth.

Hierarchy remains: *Barnes | Brasier | Workman.
* = closer-by-committee

Arizona Diamondbacks — After Arizona got three scoreless extra innings out of Archie Bradley, it was sometimes-starter Zack Godley left to pick up the save in the thirteenth inning. Meanwhile, rookie Yoan Lopez is pitching very well and has moved past struggling Yoshihisa Hirano into second in line.

Updated hierarchy: Holland | Bradley | Lopez.

Pittsburgh Pirates – Keone Kela went to the IL on Wednesday with right shoulder inflammation, and Francisco Liriano (1.08 ERA in 16 games; 10.8 K/9) should get more high-leverage looks as a result.

Updated hierarchy: Vazquez | Crick | Liriano.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Brandon Kintzler/Brad Brach — Cishek has gone in four of five, so he won’t get a second straight shot.

Friday:
1. Paul Fry — If you want to bet that Baltimore will (a) win on Friday and (b) sit Mychal Givens for a second straight day after a 32-pitch outing on Wednesday, well, stranger things have happened.

Ryan Brasier, Anthony Swarzak struggle again

May 8, 2019

Boston Red Sox – Ryan Brasier’s run of bad form continued on Tuesday when he allowed two runs on three hits in the eighth inning, turning a 6-3 lead into a 6-5 advantage. Matt Barnes got the last out of the eighth inning and stayed on in the ninth for his third save of the year. Brasier’s ERA has jumped from 1.32 to 3.68 over his last two appearances, and while he hasn’t been truly terrible in 2019, this recent rough patch is worth noticing. Barnes has been used as the team’s relief ace this season, but don’t be surprised if he gets a few more save chances with the Sox chasing wins and Brasier struggling. Also of note, Brandon Workman has not given up a run or a hit over his last nine innings of work.

Updated hierarchy: *Barnes | Brasier | Workman.
* = closer-by-committee

Seattle Mariners — Anthony Swarzak has been bad of late, having allowed an earned run in five of his last six appearances. That includes blowing his third save chance in four tries last night against the Yankees. Brandon Brennan wasn’t perfect on Tuesday either, but he only allowed one run while facing the top of the Yankees’ order, which appears to be by design. We’ll slot Brennan into the hierarchy based on last night’s usage and keep a close eye on whether Swarzak gets the next save chance for Seattle, as he should be on extremely thin ice.

Updated hierarchy: *Swarzak | Elias | Brennan.
* = closer-by-committee

Minnesota Twins – Taylor Rogers picked up his fourth save of the season on Tuesday, and this time it wasn’t because Blake Parker had already been used. Trevor Hildenberger and Trevor May combined to complete the eighth inning before Rogers finished the game. This continues to be a committee, with Rogers now closer to taking the top spot from Parker.

Hierarchy remains: *Parker | Rogers | Hildenberger.
* = closer-by-committee

Oakland A’s – Blake Treinen was available to pitch on Tuesday and did warm up in case the A’s needed him in the ninth, but Mike Fiers finished a 131-pitch no-hitter.

Hierarchy remains: Treinen | Trivino | Soria.

Los Angeles Angels — Hansel Robles collected his third save of the year after Ty Buttrey completed a 1-2-3 eighth inning. In other news, the Angels activated Cody Allen from the IL.

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

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Robert Gsellman – Edwin Diaz needed 30 pitches to convert Tuesday’s save, while Seth Lugo tossed 26 pitches over two innings to get to Diaz. The Mets are off on Thursday, but they may not push either Diaz or Lugo on Wednesday.
2. Keone Kela – Both Felipe Vazquez and Kyle Crick have pitched in three of the last four while Kela is fresh.

Tomorrow
1. Kelvin Herrera – Alex Colome through 22 pitches over 1.1 IP last night and may get Thursday off depending on Wednesday’s usage.
2. Drew Steckenrider/Adam Conley – If Sergio Romo pitches on Wednesday that will be three of four. Same goes for Steckenrider.
3. Kyle Crick/Keone Kela – If Felipe Vazquez does make his fourth appearance in five days today, then expect Crick or Kela to get the nod on Thursday.

Junior Guerra keeps racking up saves and holds

May 7, 2019

Milwaukee Brewers – We figured Josh Hader would get the night off, but it was Junior Guerra who picked up the save in his absence, while Jeremy Jeffress got the 8th. Jeffress has been solid since his return, but it appears Guerra (2 saves, 6 holds) is Hader’s handcuff for now.

Updated hierarchy: Hader | Guerra | Jeffress.

Los Angeles Dodgers – Kenley Jansen had pitched three straight, so he got the night off, and former starter Julio Urias earned the save. This appeared to be matchup based, but we’ll watch to see if Urias gets additional high-leverage spots going forward.

Updated hierarchy: Jansen | Baez | Urias.

San Diego Padres – Craig Stammen got the last out of the 8th inning in a 2-run game, then stayed on to pitch the 9th after the Padres extended their lead. It was his first save of the season. Stammen remains the clear handcuff here, but beyond him things are murky, as 7th inning man Trey Wingenter just hit the IL.

Updated hierarchy: Yates | Stammen | Warren.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Adam Conley – Sergio Romo has gone back to back, throwing 42 pitches. Conley is also off back to back games, but has only thrown 17.

Tomorrow
1. Ryan Pressly – If Roberto Osuna goes tonight, it’ll be three straight.
2. Paul Fry – If Mychal Givens goes tonight, it’ll be back to back and three of four.

Luke Jackson eyeing closer job; Blake Treinen hurting

May 6, 2019

Atlanta Braves – Luke Jackson picked up his second save in his last three appearances, closing the door on the Marlins in the 10th inning in a game where AJ Minter was also available. The Braves are in committee mode now, and Jackson is worth adding in all formats, as he may climb to the top quickly given Minter’s recent struggles.

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

Oakland A’s – Blake Treinen was held out of action this weekend as he was dealing with a sore arm, but he felt much better on Sunday and will likely return early this week. He’s getting an MRI today just to be safe, though; Lou Trivino would be the likely beneficiary if he misses any time.

Hierarchy remains: Treinen | Trivino | Soria.

Pittsburgh Pirates – For the third straight appearance, Kyle Crick got the 8th inning ahead of Felipe Vazquez. Keone Kela is starting to turn himself around, but right now, usage indicates that Crick would get save chances on nights that Vazquez is unavailable.

Updated hierarchy: Vazquez | Crick | Kela.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Joe Kelly – Kenley Jansen has gone in three straight.
2. Jeremy Jeffress – Josh Hader has pitched in two of the last three, throwing 3 innings total.

Tomorrow
1. Reyes Moronta – If Will Smith pitches tonight, it’ll be back to back and three of four.
2. Zack Britton – If Aroldis Chapman pitches tonight, it’ll be back to back and three of four.