Cesar Valdez might be closing, and he’s probably available in your league

September 21, 2020

Baltimore Orioles – Cesar Valdez picked up his second save of the season on Sunday, pitching after Hunter Harvey threw a scoreless 1.1 innings. With only six Orioles games remaining, they could spread whatever remaining opportunities they have around, or they could run with Valdez, a 35-year-old who throws absolute junk and, prior to his August callup, was last seen in the majors in one of the Astros’ cheatiest games in 2017. Whether he gets another save chance or not, Valdez is one of the feel-good stories of the season, and has become Baltimore’s “highest leverage reliever”, having tallied the team’s only two saves since Aug. 24.

Updated hierarchy: *Valdez | Harvey | Scott.
* = closer-by-committee

Colorado Rockies – The Rockies asked Daniel Bard to get the last four outs of the game on Sunday, but a few hits and walks pushed his pitch count up, and so Mychal Givens came on for the final hitter, needing just one pitch to notch his first save of the year. Bard should still be the closer for the season’s final week.

Hierarchy remains: Bard | Givens | Almonte.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today

1. Mychal Givens – Daniel Bard has gone back to back, including 35 pitches last night. Givens has, too, but only threw 1 pitch last night.
2. Brooks Raley – Ryan Pressly has gone back to back.
3. Nik Turley – Richard Rodriguez has gone back to back.
4. Yohan Ramirez – Yoshihisa Hirano has gone back to back.

Tomorrow
1. Shane Greene – If Mark Melancon goes today, it’ll be two straight.
2. James Karinchak – If Brad Hand goes today, it’s back to back and three of four.