Shawn Kelley records first save since Leclerc’s demotion, Blake Treinen battling elbow soreness.

May 5, 2019

Texas Rangers — Shawn Kelley recorded the first save for the Rangers since Jose Leclerc was removed as closer.  Chris Martin pitched a scoreless 8th inning ahead of Kelley.   The Rangers did not commit to Kelley after the game and at least one beat writer thinks Kelley and Martin will still share the job.  However, the most significant news might be that Leclerc pitched a perfect seventh inning with two strikeouts.  This was perhaps his best outing of the season, and the Rangers would love to get Leclerc back in the closer’s role sooner rather than later so there might not be many save chances for Kelley or Martin.

Updated hierarchy: *Kelley | Martin | Leclerc.
* = closer-by-committee

Oakland A’s — Blake Treinen is battling elbow soreness and was unavailable yesterday.  Treinen thinks it is elbow tendinitis, but he will be checked out further on Monday.   Lou Trivino would have been the closer yesterday and appears to be the speculative add if Treinen’s injury turns out to be anything serious.

Updated hierarchy: Treinen | Trivino | Soria.

Baltimore Orioles — After not recording any of the first four saves for the Orioles, Mychal Givens has now picked up the last three, including closing out yesterday’s 3-0 victory.  Newly acquired Shawn Armstrong bridged the gap from the starter to Givens yesterday and given the lack of interesting arms at the back end of the Orioles’ bullpen, he could continue to see work in that role.

Updated hierarchy: Givens | Fry | Armstrong.

Minnesota Twins – Blake Parker had recorded the last two saves for the Twins and appeared ready to lose the committee asterisk, but yesterday proved Taylor Rogers could still be in line for the occasional save. Parker came on in the seventh inning and that left Rogers for the ninth. It didn’t end up being a save since the Twins made it a four-run lead in the top of the ninth, but Rogers should continue to see the ninth if Parker is used before then.

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

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Craig Stammen – Kirby Yates has pitched in two straight, throwing a total of 48 pitches.
2. Lou Trivino – Blake Treinen will be unavailable today due to elbow discomfort

Monday
1. Nick Wittgren – if Brad Hand pitches on Sunday, it will be three in a row.
2. Joe Kelly – same with Kenley Jansen.

Hector Neris a clearer choice in Philadelphia

May 4, 2019

Philadelphia Phillies — Hector Neris closed out a two-run game to pick up his fifth save. Neris is the only Phillies pitcher to record a save since Jared Eickhoff’s four scoreless innings on April 16, and has been the clear choice for Gabe Kapler when available. Pat Neshek pitched the eighth, and has found the late innings more often than Seranthony Dominguez recently, so he’ll take over at first in line. Neris might still fall prey to the “relief ace” role a bit, but until somebody else gets a clear save chance, it’s time to kick the asterisk.

Updated hierarchy: Neris | Neshek | Dominguez.

Texas Rangers — Those tracking the Rangers’ committee situation should know that in a scoreless game, Chris Martin got the ninth and struck out the side around two singles. Shawn Kelley followed in the tenth and worked around a leadoff walk. Nothing clear yet. Texas ultimately fell in the twelfth with Ariel Jurado on the mound.

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

Detroit Tigers — For the second straight game, Joe Jimenez pitched a perfect eighth inning ahead of Shane Greene; a rested Victor Alcantara did not pitch last night. Jimenez has been better over the past couple weeks, and seems to have returned to the primary setup role for the Tigers. 

Updated hierarchy: Greene | Jimenez | Alcantara.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Archie Bradley/Yoshihisa Hirano — Greg Holland has pitched in three of four and four of six; Bradley has also gone in two of three.
2. Ian Kennedy — Wily Peralta has pitched in back-to-back games and hasn’t been terribly effective.
3. Jeremy Jeffress — Josh Hader threw 36 pitches over two innings last night, while Jeffress was rested. 
4. Joe Biagini — Ken Giles has pitched back-to-back games, but he’s managed to keep his pitch count low. If he needs a rest today, Biagini would likely get the call. 

Sunday:
1. Pat Neshek — If Hector Neris pitches Saturday, that will be four out of five.
2. Reyes Moronta/Mark Melancon — Today would be back to back and three out of four for Will Smith and Moronta. Mark Melancon threw 31 pitches last night, and will probably get today off, so if both Smith and Moronta go today, Melancon will be the best-rested option on Sunday. 

Rays’ closer carousel spins again with Castillo save

May 3, 2019

Tampa Bay Rays – The Rays have been one of the best teams in baseball, but their closing situation is certainly one of the game’s most volatile. On Thursday, Diego Castillo came in to convert his fourth save. Three righties were due in the ninth, so manager Kevin Cash opted to go with his righty, Castillo. Lefty Jose Alvarado, who also has four saves this year, did not pitch and hasn’t gone since Sunday. Emilio Pagan (three saves) pitched earlier in the game, getting the last out of the seventh and the first out of the eighth. Save chances should continue to be plentiful, but who earns them will remain a bit of a wildcard.

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

Kansas City Royals — After Ian Kennedy earned the first Royals save since April 13 on Wednesday, Wily Peralta was on the mound in a tie game in the ninth inning Thursday against the Rays. He allowed two runs for the second straight appearance, ballooning his ERA to 7.07 and WHIP to 1.71. Ugly. As recently as Monday, Ned Yost appeared to “remove the asterisk” for Peralta, essentially naming him closer, with Kennedy and Jake Diekman serving as setup men. Of course, this was before Peralta’s not-so-great week. Because those are the most recent comments from Yost about the situation, we’ll keep Peralta at the top, but Kennedy (1.15 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 21 Ks in 15.2 IP) is probably more rosterable at this juncture.

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

Boston Red Sox – The Red Sox have not fared so well out of the gate, earning ESPN’s only F- on the March/April report card. The team’s bullpen, even after losing Craig Kimbrel and Joe Kelly, has been a not-so-dim spot for the team, though. After scoreless innings by Brandon Workman and fireman Matt Barnes, all appeared to be well heading into last night’s ninth inning, with the Red Sox holding a 4-3 lead over the White Sox. Unfortunately, Ryan Brasier turned into a bit of a pumpkin as the clock neared midnight Thursday evening. After a runner reached base via an error with one out, Brasier allowed a single and then a three-run blast to earn his second blown save and first loss of the season.

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

Chicago Cubs – In a procedural move to make room for Addison Russell on the 40-man roster, Brandon Morrow has been transferred to the 60-day injured list. Morrow suffered a recent setback. As of Tuesday, he wasn’t set to throw for another 2-3 weeks. He’s likely out for the entire first half, and maybe longer.

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

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Seth Lugo — Even though Edwin Diaz was off Thursday, he has still pitched in four of six. 

Saturday:
1. Jared Hughes — A Friday appearance for Raisel Iglesias would be his third in five days.
2. Kyle Barraclough — After a 30-pitch save Thursday, another taxing outing Friday could lead to a day off for Sean Doolittle on Saturday. 

Jose Leclerc is out for now

May 2, 2019

Texas Rangers — As we alerted you Wednesday afternoon, Jose Leclerc is getting a breather from the closer role, and either Chris Martin or Shawn Kelley should see the next chance. Martin has been pitching after Kelley all year, while Kelley has better numbers and some closing experience. Whichever direction the Rangers go, Leclerc’s recent contract extension gives the team a few million reasons to put him back in the ninth before long.

Updated hierarchy: *Martin | Kelley | Leclerc.
* = closer-by-committee

New York Mets — A recurrent bone spur in Jeurys Familia’s shoulder has sent him to the injured list. Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman will split setup duties in his absence, with Luis Avilan and Drew Gagnon backing them up when necessary.

Updated hierarchy: Diaz | Lugo | Gsellman.

Cincinnati Reds — Raisel Iglesias got an expected night off, but Jared Hughes was used in the seventh and eighth, which left Michael Lorenzen to pick up his second save with a clean ninth. Lorenzen is now third on the Reds’ depth chart at both relief pitcher and center field.

Updated hierarchy: Iglesias | Hughes | Lorenzen.

Los Angeles Angels — Ty Buttrey kept the committee alive in LA, grabbing a two-inning save, his first of the year.

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

Miami Marlins — Miami’s closer committee, like so many, has gone out with a whimper. Sergio Romo has converted all four save chances in the last 12 days.

Updated hierarchy: Romo | Steckenrider | Conley.

Baltimore Orioles — Mychal Givens pitched well in Wednesday’s opener and picked up his second save of the year. Unfortunately for the Orioles, the rest of the bullpen is a revolving door of Quad-A arms and Miguel Castro, who at least loves his mom. Givens got the nightcap off and Evan Phillips — who pitched a perfect eighth — put two runners on to start the ninth. After one out from Paul Fry, in came Castro, followed quickly by a loss. At second in line, we’ll slot Phillips (12.3 K/9) over Branden Kline, Castro, and Shawn Armstrong (recently claimed on waivers), but this is strictly bookkeeping. None of these guys are rosterable.

Updated hierarchy: Givens | Fry | Phillips.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Seth Lugo/Robert Gsellman — Edwin Diaz has pitched in four of five. Although Lugo was used on Wednesday, he threw only four pitches, and is probably slightly better rested than Gsellman, who threw 30 pitches on Tuesday.

Friday:
1. Luke Jackson — A.J. Minter is on thin ice, and an appearance on Thursday will be two straight and four in six days.
2. Jared Hughes — If Raisel Iglesias pitches, he’ll have gone in three of four.

Jose Leclerc out as Rangers closer

May 1, 2019

Texas Rangers – Chris Woodward said this afternoon that he was removing Jose Leclerc from the closer role. Leclerc was one of the most promising young arms in baseball coming into the year, but for now, it looks like Chris Martin and Shawn Kelley will be the top choices for saves in Texas.

Updated hierarchy: *Martin | Kelley | Leclerc.
* = closer-by-committee