Alex Colome experiences back spasms

September 23, 2020

Chicago White Sox — Alex Colome needed just six pitches to get through a tied ninth inning, but he was unable to return for the 10th inning to protect a 3-1 lead after experiencing back spasms in the dugout. Manager Rick Renteria didn’t seem overly concerned after the game, but we’ll likely know more today. Even though the White Sox are in a tight battle for the AL Central crown, they have a postseason spot locked up and can afford to be careful with Colome prior to the playoffs. Codi Heuer, Jimmy Cordero and Garrett Crochet could all have a chance to record a save over the final five games.

Hierarchy remains: Colome | Heuer | Cordero.

San Francisco Giants – Sam Coonrod collected his third save of the season on Tuesday night, facing the Rockies’ 8-9-1 hitters in the ninth. Tony Watson pitched the eighth inning, which lefty cleanup hitter Charlie Blackmon led off. The Giants are battling for one of the last playoff spots in the National League, so their top arms should see plenty of work this week, though their order of appearance will remain a mystery. Best of luck to anyone turning to a Gabe Kapler bullpen with a fantasy title on the line.

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

St. Louis Cardinals — Giovanny Gallegos struggled in his first game back from the IL on Monday, but with the Cardinals still in a committee and playing five games in six days as they fight for a playoff spot, Gallegos has a good chance to notch at least one more save this season.

Updated hierarchy: *Miller | Reyes | Gallegos.
* = closer-by-committee

Cincinnati Reds – The Reds designated Nate Jones for assignment. Amir Garrett should factor in the late innings as the Reds contend for a playoff spot.

Updated hierarchy: Iglesias | Bradley | Garrett.

Los Angeles Angels – Mike Mayers secured his second save in as many days on Tuesday thanks to 1.2 scoreless innings. He’s looking like the Angels’ best ninth-inning option for the remainder of the year.

Hierarchy remains: *Mayers | Buttrey | Pena.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Jimmy Cordero/Garrett Crochet – Alex Colome’s status for tonight is up in the air. Codi Heuer threw 35 pitches last night.
2. Ty Buttrey – Mike Mayers has appeared in three of the last four games, including back-to-back 20-pitch outings. Felix Pena threw 25 pitches last night.
3. Justin Wilson – Edwin Diaz has pitched in two straight games.
4. Will Harris – Same goes for Daniel Hudson.
5. David Phelps – Hector Neris (26 pitches) and Tommy Hunter (35 pitches) both went two innings yesterday. Brandon Workman had a chance to work himself back into this conversation, but he blew a 10th-inning save yesterday.
6. Nik Turley – Richard Rodriguez has pitched in three of four.

Tomorrow
1. James Karinchak – If Brad Hand pitches today that will be three of four.
2. Scott Barlow – Same goes for Greg Holland.
3. Justin Wilson – If Edwin Diaz goes today, that will be his third straight contest.
4. Will Harris – Same goes for Daniel Hudson.

Mike Mayers continues to dazzle

September 22, 2020

Los Angeles Angels – Mike Mayers continued his sparkling run, collecting his first save of the year with two perfect innings against the Rangers. Mayers has now allowed just 1 earned run in his last 24 innings (including his most recent stretch, when he’s retired 42 of the last 45 hitters faced), and with Ty Buttrey struggling again in his last outing on Sunday, the Angels might do well to let Mayers close the rest of the way.

Updated hierarchy: *Mayers | Buttrey | Pena.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. James Karinchak – Brad Hand has gone back to back and three of four.
2. Scott Barlow – Greg Holland has gone back to back.
3. Archie Bradley – Raisel Iglesias has gone back to back.

Tomorrow
1. Will Harris – If Daniel Hudson goes today, it’s back to back.
2. Justin Wilson – If Edwin Diaz goes today, it’s back to back.

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.

Obviously another Rays’ reliever records a save

September 20, 2020

Tampa Bay Rays — The Rays have already clinched a playoff spot so maybe now they are trying to see if they can get each one of their relievers a save?  It was Ryan Thompson’s turn on Saturday as he got the last two outs for the save.  Thompson became the 12th Rays’ reliever to pick up a save this season.  Aaron Loup and Sean Gilmartin are the only active relievers who haven’t recorded a save yet this season, but there is a week left to change that.

Hierarchy remains: *Anderson | Castillo | Drake.
* = closer-by-committee

Philadelphia Phillies — Tommy Hunter picked up his first save of the season by striking out two in a perfect ninth inning.  The Phillies bullpen had a great day yesterday as Blake Parker and David Phelps combined with Hunter to throw three hitless innings.  Neris had the day off due to rest, but it’s notable that Brandon Workman was nowhere to be found.  Given Workman’s struggles since joining the Phillies, we think that will likely continue.

Updated hierarchy: *Neris | Hunter | Phelps.
* = closer-by-committee

Detroit Tigers – After the Tigers rallied for four runs in the bottom of the 8th, Bryan Garcia came out for the 9th and converted his third save of the season.  Garcia has now made eleven straight scoreless appearances.  This does not appear to be a committee anymore as Garcia has solidified himself as the primary closer.

Hierarchy remains: Garcia | Soto | Cisnero.

St. Louis Cardinals — With Andrew Miller getting the day off after appearing in two straight, fellow lefty Genesis Cabrera did his best Miller impression by recording the final five outs (including three by strikeout) for his first save.  Ryan Helsley recorded four outs ahead of Cabrera.  The Cardinals will likely continue to mix and match in the late innings.

Hierarchy remains: *Miller | Reyes | Helsley.
* = closer-by-committee

Houston Astros — Brooks Raley, who has been great since being traded to the Astros, struck out a pair in an 8th inning hold ahead of a Ryan Pressly save yesterday. Raley has now picked up two holds and a save in his last three appearances and should continue to be used in the late innings.

Updated hierarchy: Pressly | Scrubb | Raley.

Chicago Cubs – The Cubs bullpen suffered a big blow as Rowan Wick has been placed on the IL.  Wick has been the most versatile member of the Cubs’ bullpen this season.  Jason Adam, who hasn’t allowed an earned run yet in September, should see more time at the back-end of the Cubs’ bullpen.

Updated hierarchy: Jeffress | Kimbrel | Adam.

Toronto Blue Jays —  Rafael Dolis avoided a major injury and could be available out of the Blue Jays bullpen soon.

Updated hierarchy: Bass | Dolis | Cole.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Gregory Soto – Bryan Garcia has pitched in two straight
2. Nick Vincent – Marlins have a doubleheader today and Kintzler and Boxberger both pitched yesterday.
3. Will Harris – The Nationals have a doubleheader today
4. Sean Gilmartin – Aaron Loup has appeared in two straight so in the Rays’ quest to get every reliever a save, Gilmartin could be the next man up.

Monday
1. Brad Boxberger – If Brandon Kintzler appears in either game of the doubleheader today he will likely get Monday off.

Rafael Dolis leaves with a potential knee injury

September 19, 2020

Toronto Blue Jays —  Rafael Dolis was pulled from Friday night’s game after stepping awkwardly on first base and injuring his knee. Whether or not Dolis misses an extended amount of time — which wasn’t yet clear postgame — this likely gives Anthony Bass the inside track at saves for now. This Sportsnet article takes a deep dive into Toronto’s other late-innings options, including Ryan Borucki.

Updated hierarchy: Bass | Cole | Borucki.

Philadelphia Phillies — As we expected, Hector Neris got the save chance on Friday after a brutal performance from Brandon Workman the night before. Neris walked two, but got the job done. At this point, we think Neris has the best chance at a save even when everyone’s rested.

Updated hierarchy: *Neris  | Workman | Phelps.
* = closer-by-committee

New York Mets — Trade deadline acquisition and World Series-winning reliever Todd Frazier came through, again, with a spotless ninth inning for the Mets Friday night, including this filthy strikeout of Adam Duvall. 

Hierarchy remains: Diaz | Wilson | Familia.

Colorado Rockies — With four runs allowed in two-thirds of an inning on Friday, Wade Davis saw his ERA balloon to 20.77. At this rate, we can’t see Davis getting a save chance anytime soon.

Updated hierarchy: Bard | Givens | Almonte.

Houston Astros — Brad Peacock didn’t last long in Houston this season, returning to the IL after only two weeks and three appearances. With Chris Devenski similarly sidelined, we welcome Josh James to the hierarchy for the first time.

Updated hierarchy: Pressly | Scrubb | James.

Chicago White Sox — Evan Marshall has been placed on the injured list with shoulder inflammation. Although GM Rick Hahn expects him back after only the minimum 10-day stay, for the meantime, Codi Heuer and Jimmy Cordero will hold down the middle innings. Also keep an eye on 2020 first-round draft pick Garrett Crochet, a future starter who’ll pitch out of the bullpen this season — and hit 101 MPH in his debut Friday night.

Updated hierarchy: Colome | Heuer | Cordero.

St. Louis Cardinals — With John Gant continuing to battle a groin injury, it was Alex Reyes and Ryan Helsley called on to finish game one of Friday’s doubleheader. Helsley loaded the bases on two walks and an error, but managed to escape with his first career save.

Updated hierarchy: *Miller | Reyes | Helsley.
* = closer-by-committee

Tampa Bay Rays — If you somehow started Ryan Sherriff on your fantasy team yesterday — perhaps because your league makes you start four lefty relievers and also counts pitcher strikeouts against you — you’re a winner in Rays Save Roulette! The lefty Sherriff had the platoon advantage over two hitters, both of whom were pinch-hit for. 

Hierarchy remains: *Anderson | Castillo | Drake.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Rowan Wick/Craig Kimbrel — Jeremy Jeffress has pitched in three out of four (64 total pitches).
2. Phillips Valdez — Ryan Brasier and Matt Barnes have each gone in four of six.
3. Hector Rondon/Travis Bergen — Stefan Crichton and Junior Guerra haven’t thrown a lot of pitches, but they’ve each appeared in three of four. The choice between Rondon and Bergen will likely hinge on whether righties or lefties are due up.
4, Zack Britton — Aroldis Chapman won’t pitch in three straight.
5. Brandon Workman — Hector Neris has appeared in four of five games.
6. Diego Castillo — Nick Anderson has pitched in three of four.

Sunday:
1. Alex Reyes/Ryan Helsley — Andrew Miller has pitched in two straight (30 total pitches) and Reyes threw 39 on Friday and might get some extra rest.
2. Justin Wilson/Jeurys Familia — An appearance for Edwin Diaz will make four out of five.