Archie Bradley traded to Reds

August 31, 2020

Arizona Diamondbacks – The Diamondbacks traded Archie Bradley to the Reds. We expect some combination of Hector Rondon and Junior Guerra to pick up whatever save chances remain this season.

Updated hierarchy: *Guerra | Rondon | Ginkel.
* = closer-by-committee

Cincinnati Reds – The Reds acquired Archie Bradley from Arizona. Bradley gives Cincinnati another option for the ninth inning in case Raisel Iglesias needs some rest or loses the job outright.

Updated hierarchy: Iglesias | Bradley | Jones.

Gregory Soto, Sam Coonrod worth watching in committee races

August 31, 2020

New York Yankees – With Aroldis Chapman getting the day off and many other relievers having been used earlier in the doubleheader, Luis Cessa got a one-out save in extra innings. He doesn’t factor in to the Yankees usual late inning plans.

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Ottavino | Green.

New York Mets – Dellin Betances was just placed on the IL (and wasn’t pitching great anyway) meaning Edwin Diaz despite another brutal outing Sunday, in large part due to a lack of significant competition. Look for Justin Wilson to get more of the late innings.

Updated hierarchy: Diaz | Wilson | Familia.

Detroit Tigers – That’s two saves in two days for Gregory Soto, with Buck Farmer getting the 8th in this one. One more and we’ll remove the asterisk.

Hierarchy remains: *Soto | Farmer | Cisnero.
* = closer-by-committee

Baltimore Orioles – Cole Sulser blew the save and took the loss on Sunday, marking his third loss in his last four outings. With Mychal Givens having been dealt to the Rockies, there aren’t many standout arms you’d want to own here, but if you’re desperate for saves, this might want to watch this bullpen.

Updated hierarchy: Sulser | Castro | Harvey.

Colorado Rockies – Jairo Diaz’s struggles continued, as he allowed 3 runs in a lopsided loss to the Padres. The recently-acquired Mychal Givens should see some action in the late innings here.

Updated hierarchy: *Bard | Estevez | Givens.
* = closer-by-committee

Seattle Mariners – Taylor Williams had a nice bounceback outing, pitching a scoreless 9th and earning the win when the Mariners took the lead in the 10th. Yohan Ramirez pitched the bottom of the 10th for his first save, and slots into the hierarchy in place of Dan Altavilla, who is headed to San Diego.

Updated hierarchy: Williams | Hirano | Ramirez.

San Francisco Giants – We thought Tyler Rogers had taken the lead in this bullpen, so of course, he pitched the 8th last night, leaving the 9th inning to Sam Coonrod, who picked up his first career save. Coonrod has decent numbers, but we have to admit he wasn’t on our radar for saves here. We’ll keep watching to see if he keeps getting these opportunities.

Updated hierarchy: *Rogers | Coonrod | Watson.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Felix Pena – Ty Buttrey has pitched three of four (3.2 innings) and might get the day off; if not, he’ll definitely be off tomorrow.

Tomorrow
1. Tanner Rainey – If Daniel Hudson goes tonight, it’ll be two straight.
2. Evan Marshall – If Alex Colome goes today, it’ll be two straight and three of four.
3. Shane Greene/Will Smith – If Mark Melancon, Shane Greene, or Will Smith go today, it’ll be back to back and three of four; watch usage to see who’s available tomorrow.

A bunch of teams find themselves with a new closer leading their committees

August 30, 2020

Kansas City Royals — As we alerted yesterday, the Royals have traded their closer, Trevor Rosenthal, to the Padres.  Although Josh Staumont throws a baseball really fast (and has been pretty good at pitching too), manager Mike Matheny hinted that he might go with the veteran Greg Holland. Jesse Hahn, who Matheny also mentioned, got the first save in the post-Rosenthal era but it wasn’t very conventional. The Royals started the ninth with a six-run lead, but after Ian Kennedy made a mess of things, Hahn came on to record the last two outs and pick up the save. We will move Holland to the top of the committee based on Matheny’s comments

Updated hierarchy: *Holland | Staumont | Hahn.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago Cubs – Jeremy Jeffress threw a scoreless seventh inning in the first game of the doubleheader to pick up his fourth save of the season.  In the second game, Rowan Wick worked a scoreless sixth and Craig Kimbrel got the call in the seventh to try and close it out.  Unfortunately for Cubs fans (and fantasy owners), Kimbrel struggled and took the loss.  Jeffress has now recorded the Cubs’ last two saves and seems to have moved to the head of the committee.

Updated hierarchy: *Jeffress | Wick | Kimbrel.
* = closer-by-committee

Detroit Tigers – In game two of their doubleheader yesterday, the Tigers called on Gregory Soto to close out the game and he successfully navigated a couple of base runners to record his first career save. Jose Cisnero recorded the hold ahead of Soto. A converted save is good enough to move Soto to the top of the committee for now.

Updated hierarchy: * Soto | Farmer | Cisnero.
* = closer-by-committee

San Francisco Giants – Tyler Rogers pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save of the season. Tony Watson worked the eighth inning ahead of Rogers. Jarlin Garcia picked up the win, but came on in the fourth inning to do so. As has been the theme today, if you convert a save in an unsettled bullpen situation, you get to move to the front of the line.

Updated hierarchy: *Rogers | Watson | Garcia.
* = closer-by-committee

San Diego Padres – In addition to acquiring Trevor Rosenthal yesterday, the Padres also activated Drew Pomeranz from the IL. Pomeranz immediately resumed some late-inning work, throwing a scoreless eighth inning in a tie game.  We think Rosenthal was acquired to be their closer, but Pomeranz has been pretty darn good so far this season and could challenge for the job if Rosenthal falters at all.

Updated hierarchy: Rosenthal | Pomeranz | Pagan.

Pittsburgh Pirates — The Pirates have activated Kyle Crick from the 10-day IL. Crick did not pitch yesterday, but the Pirates may wish they had used him. Chris Stratton, Nik Turley, and Richard Rodriguez all gave up at least one run, with Rodriguez ultimately blowing the save in the ninth and taking the loss. Crick has been a big part of the Pirates’ bullpen for the past couple years and could challenge for save opportunities while Kela is out if he can round into form quickly.

Updated hierarchy: *Rodriguez | Crick | Turley.
* = closer-by-committee

Toronto Blue Jays – Jordan Romano has been a great story for the Blue Jays’ bullpen so far this year, but unfortunately he was placed on the IL yesterday with a finger injury. Romano is expected to miss 2-4 weeks and Anthony Bass should head the committee while he is out.  

Updated hierarchy: * Bass | Dolis | Cole.
* = closer-by-committee

Baltimore Orioles – Hunter Harvey is close to returning from the IL, but the Orioles don’t plan to immediately throw him into the closer’s role. Once he does return, this will turn into a committee, as even when Harvey does get the ninth inning, he won’t be pitching on consecutive days.

Hierarchy remains: Sulser | Givens | Castro.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Blake Treinen – Kenley Jansen has pitched in two of three, throwing over 20 pitches in both outings.
2. David Phelps – Josh Hader walked five people yesterday on 32 pitches.
3. Adam Ottavino/Chad Green – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in back-to-back games, as has Ottavino, and the Yankees have a doubleheader today.
4. Hector Neris/Tommy Hunter – Brandon Workman has gone in two straight and three of four, while Neris has also pitched in two straight.

Monday
1. Ryan Brasier – Matt Barnes threw 21 pitches yesterday and could get Monday off if he has another lengthy outing today.