August 6, 2020
Pittsburgh Pirates – To add to the Pirates’ bullpen injury woes, Nick Burdi was placed on the 45-day IL and will miss the rest of the season with an elbow injury. Keone Kela is progressing towards a return and will immediately step into the closers role when he’s fit to pitch. If the Pirates get a save opportunity before then (a big if) we expect Richard Rodriguez to be their first choice, although this bullpen may be better left alone.
Updated hierarchy: *Rodriguez | Stratton | Rios.
* = closer-by-committee
St. Louis Cardinals – As we altered yesterday, the Cardinals have put Kwang Hyun Kim into the rotation, leaving a committee to handle the closing duties in St. Louis. We think Ryan Helsley will lead the way based on comments from manager Mike Shildt, but expect several others to be in the mix for the Cards.
Updated hierarchy: *Helsley | Gallegos | Miller.
* = closer-by-committee
Seattle Mariners — After Taylor Williams gave up a three-run bomb to Mike Trout, the Mariners were left with a one-run lead going into the ninth. They tapped Carl Edwards Jr., who turned in a perfect inning to snag his first save of the year. Edwards pitched in the fifth inning on Tuesday, so its not clear that he is a top option for the Mariners just yet, but it’s hard to ignore Edwards converting a clear save chance in a one-run game. We haven’t seen Dan Altavilla since Saturday, where he took the hard-luck loss in extra innings after allowing the free runner on second to score. Edwards could make for a good speculative add at this point, as nobody has run away with the job in Seattle just yet.
Updated hierarchy: *Altavilla | Edwards Jr. | Williams.
* = closer-by-committee
Oakland A’s – As noted in the Vulture Save Watch, Liam Hendriks had pitched in three of the last four games and got the night off. Oakland used Joakim Soria to get the last two outs of the eighth before letting him stick around for the ninth to pick up his second save of the year. Soria has been lights out in the early going, and having just pitched the eighth ahead of Hendriks on Tuesday, we think he is the top choice to pick up vulture saves when Hendriks needs a break.
Updated hierarchy: Hendriks | Soria | Diekman.
New York Mets – As predicted in the Vulture Save Watch, Seth Lugo was tapped to protect a two-run lead for the Mets. He did it in style, allowing no baserunners over two innings while tacking on a couple strikeouts. Diaz had a pair of clean outings in a row before last night’s rest, but Lugo is certainly lurking in the background of this bullpen.
Hierarchy remains: Diaz | Lugo | Betances.
New York Yankees — Arolids Chapman is progressing towards a return from COVID, throwing a bullpen session yesterday, but Aaron Boone doesn’t want to rush him back. They don’t need to push it, as Zack Britton continued to be unhittable yesterday, pitching a perfect inning for the save in a shortened game.
Hierarchy remains: Britton | Ottavino | Green.
Miami Marlins – In the second game of a doubleheader, the Marlins gave the ball to Stephen Tarpley for the last out of the eighth inning. He allowed an inherited runner to score, but stuck around for the ninth to earn his first save of the year. Despite the clean save, this doesn’t change our hierarchy as Kintzler had earned a save earlier in the day, with Richard Bleier setting him up. Brad Boxberger was coming off a 23-pitch outing the night before.
Hierarchy remains: Kintzler | Boxberger | Bleier.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Nick Wittgren – Brad Hand and James Karinchak have both pitched back-to-back days (although Karinchak has only thrown 14 pitches total), leaving Wittgren the best-rested of the bunch.
2. Greg Holland – Ian Kennedy has pitched in two of the last three, but has thrown 48 pitches and could be in line for a break.
3. Brad Boxberger – Brandon Kintzler has pitched back-to-back days, while Boxberger is well-rested.
4. Adam Ottavino – Zach Britton has pitched in three of the last four.
Tomorrow
1. Aaron Bummer – Alex Colome got the night off, but today would still make three of four.
