Josh Staumont records save but Greg Holland is reinstated

April 25, 2021

Kansas City Royals — There has still been no reason given for Greg Holland’s IL stint but it was short-lived as Holland has been reinstated.  Holland did not pitch yesterday and instead, the Royals used Scott Barlow in the 8th and Josh Staumont in the 9th to protect a one-run lead.  Staumont struck out a pair to pick up his first save of the season.  We will move Holland back to the top of this committee as he leads the team in saves and has been most consistently used in the 8th inning or later.  However, Staumont is probably worth hanging onto if you can as he is pitching the best of any Royals’ reliever right now and could continue to see some save chances.

Updated Hierarchy: *Holland | Staumont | Barlow.
* = closer-by-committee

Toronto Blue Jays — The Blue Jays activated Jordan Romano from the IL and immediately threw him into a high-leverage situation.  Romano came on for the bottom of the 8th of a tie game, but ended up with the loss after allowing a couple of walks and only getting one out.  Even with the rough first outing back, we will move Romano back to the head of the committee and he and Rafael Dolis should see the majority of save chances for the Blue Jays.

Updated hierarchy: *Romano | Dolis | Mayza.
* = closer-by-committee

St. Louis Cardinals – Giovanny Gallegos only needed 23 pitches to record the final six outs of the Cardinals 2-0 win and pick up his first save of the season.  Alex Reyes threw the same amount of pitches to get the save on Friday and the Cardinals felt comfortable just letting Gallegos finish out yesterday’s win.  Reyes is still the closer but Gallegos has been pitching well and could allow the Cardinals to more cautious with Reyes’ usage if necessary.

Hierarchy remains: Reyes | Gallegos | Hicks.

Tampa Bay Rays — Diego Castillo is back from the IL but he did not pitch yesterday.  Instead, the Rays went back to their old bag of tricks using Andrew Kittredge, who was used as an opener two outings ago, to close out yesterday’s win.  We are hoping that things will calm down again and Castillo will settle back into the closer’s role but if the Rays keep up with their usual bullpen shenanigans, we will be forced to give in and bring back the asterisk.

Hierarchy remains: Castillo | Springs | Thompson.

New York Yankees — The Yankees did indeed rest Aroldis Chapman and Chad Green yesterday as the Vulture Save Watch predicted, but it was Jonathan Loaisiga who got the save in their absence.  Loaisiga has been good to start the season but so has the rest of the Yankees’ hierarchy so we aren’t ready to move him on there just yet.

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Green | O’Day.

Houston Astros – Although we focus primarily on saves, we are still a website dedicated to bullpens and for that reason, we feel like we should at least mention Kent Emanuel’s relief outing yesterday. In his major league debut, Emanuel threw 8.2 innings out of the bullpen. We expect the Rays were taking note and will probably start to deploy their pitchers in a similar fashion moving forward.

Hierarchy remains: Pressly | Smith | Stanek.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Evan Marshall/Garrett Crochet (CHW) – Liam Hendriks and Aaron Bummer have both pitched in two straight.
2. Sam Coonrad (PHI) – Hector Neris has pitched in two straight and three of four and Jose Alvarado is on the COVID IL list.
3. Kyle Crick (PIT) – Richard Rodriguez has pitched in three of the last four games.
4. Blake Treinen (LAD) – Kenley Jansen picked up a four-out save yesterday and the Dodgers have been very cautious with his usage so far so he may get the day off today.
5. Joe Smith (HOU) – Ryan Pressly could get another day off after working 3 innings and throwing 42 pitches over his previous two outings.

Monday
1. Richard Bleier/Anthony Bass (MIA) – If Yimi Garcia pitches today, it will be two straight.
2. Devin Williams (MIL) – same for Josh Hader.
3. Chad Green/Darren O’Day (NYY) – If Aroldis Chapman pitches today, it will be three of four. Same for Chad Green if he pitches today.

Josh Staumont looks like the guy for as long as Greg Holland is out

April 24, 2021

Kansas City Royals — Greg Holland went on the IL yesterday, and the reasons are still undisclosed, although there’s some speculation that it’s a COVID placement and he could be back soon. Last night the Royals had a four-run lead and used Josh Staumont in the ninth inning. This wasn’t a save situation, but it was close, and Staumont now has a 0.90 ERA and appears to be the committee leader.

Hierarchy remains: *Staumont | Zimmer | Barlow.
* = closer-by-committee

Minnesota Twins — After J.A. Happ turned in a gem of a performance, the Twins used Tyler Duffey to finish the eighth, and Taylor Rogers to get the last two outs of the ninth.  Alex Colome has struggled to start the year — including a 49-pitch outing on Wednesday — and his underlying stats are not pretty. This is still a committee, especially with Rogers’ use in a matchup role, but we’re ready to speculate that Rogers is narrowly the save favorite going forward.

Updated hierarchy: *Rogers | Colome | Robles.
*closer-by-committee

Tampa Bay Rays — Never regret thy fall O Icarus! The asterisk in Tampa was seemingly the only thing keeping the bullpen gods at bay, and the Rays placed Diego Castillo on the COVID IL yesterday with side effects from vaccination. He is only projected to miss Friday’s game, but keep an eye out for his activation today just to be safe.

Hierarchy remains: Castillo | Springs | Thompson.

Oakland A’s — As foretold by the Vulture Save Watch, Lou Trivino got the night off after throwing 34 pitches. Jake Diekman got the save chance, protecting a two-run lead. He pitched a clean inning for his second save of the year. 

Hierarchy remains: Trivino | Diekman | Petit.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Kevin Ginkel (ARI) — Stefan Crichton may need an extra day after being hit with a comebacker.
2. Joe Smith (HOU) — Ryan Pressly has gone back to back, including a 29-pitch, two-inning outing yesterday. 
3. Darwinzon Hernandez (BOS) — Both Matt Barnes and Adam Ottavino have pitched in back to back and three of four. 
4. Aaron Bummer (CHW) — Liam Hendriks threw 32 pitches over 1.2 innings last night and will probably get today off. 
5. Darren O’Day (NYY) — Aroldis Chapman and Chad Green have both pitched in back to back and three of four.
6. Wandy Peralta (SF) — Jake McGee and Tyler Rogers have pitched in back to back and three of four. 
7. Jeffrey Springs (TB) — Diego Castillo should be back today, but in case he needs another day off, Springs is well rested.

Sunday:
1. AJ Minter (ATL) — Today would be back to back and three out of four for Will Smith.
2. Jose Alvarado (PHI) — Same for Hector Neris.
3. Giovanny Gallegos (STL) — And Alex Reyes. 
4. Tim Mayza/Trent Thornton (TOR) — And Rafael Dolis and Tim Mayza.

Greg Holland to IL

April 23, 2021

Kansas City Royals — Greg Holland was placed on the injured list Friday for undisclosed reasons. The Royals, who lead the AL Central with 10 wins, have already had five pitchers get saves, with Holland leading with two. There’s no clear candidate to take over, but we like Josh Staumont, who has a 1.00 ERA in seven appearances. Other options are Kyle Zimmer, Scott Barlow, and old friend Wade Davis.

Hierarchy remains: *Staumont | Zimmer | Barlow.
* = closer-by-committee

X-rays come back negative for Stefan Crichton

April 23, 2021

Arizona Diamondbacks — Stefan Crichton was hit by a comebacker during his appearance Thursday in a 14-11 win by the Diamondbacks. X-rays came back negative, so he can be considered day to day, for now. Before departing, he allowed two hits and three runs (two earned) while recording just one out. Kevin Ginkel could get the next shot for a save if Crichton is unable to pitch on Friday, but also keep an eye on J.B. Bukauskas, a top pitching prospect who recently made his major league debut and has yet to allow a hit.

Hierarchy remains: *Crichton | Ginkel | Clarke.
* = closer-by-committee

Cincinnati Reds — On the other side of a wild game, Lucas Sims and Sean Doolittle did not have good showings. Doolitte was tagged for two runs on two hits and three walks, while Sims was hit with the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) on two hits and a walk. It should be noted that Sims preserved the tie game in the ninth inning and only allowed the extra innings runner to score on a single in the 10th.  However, after Sims put a couple more runners on with a single and a walk, he departed with a 9-8 deficit in favor of Cionel Perez.  Perez did not do Sims any favors as he let everyone in and then some after allowing a triple and home run.  Amir Garrett did not pitch, but he hasn’t been so hot either this season (16.20 ERA, 3.20 WHIP). We think when he’s rested, Sims might get the next save chance, but after a 26-pitch outing Thursday, perhaps Garrett gets another crack on Friday.

Hierarchy remains: *Sims | Doolittle | Garrett.
* = closer-by-committee

Toronto Blue Jays — Jordan Romano could be activated from the injured list as soon as Saturday, according to general manager Ross Adkins. The news isn’t as good for Julian Merryweather, who has been shut down for “a couple of weeks.”

Hierarchy remains: *Dolis | Mayza | Thornton.
* = closer-by-committee

Pittsburgh Pirates – Richard Rodriguez nailed down his third save Thursday with a clean ninth inning. He has all of the team’s saves this year and has yet to allow a run. Goodbye, asterisk!

Hierarchy remains: Rodriguez | Crick | Stratton.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Kevin Ginkel (ARI) – Stefan Crichton was struck by a comebacker Thursday. X-rays were negative, but he should be considered day to day and could get a breather Friday.
2. Amir Garrett (CIN) – Roster him at your own risk. But Garrett might get a shot Friday if Lucas Sims can’t go after throwing 26 pitches Thursday, his second game in three days. Sean Doolittle has also pitched in two of three and tossed 30 pitches Thursday. 
3. Kyle Crick (PIT) – Richard Rodriguez has pitched in two straight. 
4. Taylor Rogers (MIN) – Alex Colome threw 49 pitches Wednesday and could need an additional day of rest. 
5. Jake Diekman (OAK) — Lou Trivino has pitched in three of five, throwing 65 pitches.

Saturday:
1. Kyle Crick (PIT) – If he goes Friday, it would be three in a row for Richard Rodriguez.
2. Jake Diekman (OAK) – If he pitches Friday, that would be four of six for Lou Trivino.
3. Chad Green (NYY) – An outing Friday would be three of four for Aroldis Chapman.
4. Adam Ottavino (BOS) – If he goes Friday, that would be three of four for Matt Barnes.
5. Andrew Chafin (CHC) – Same as the previous two for Craig Kimbrel.
6. Tyler Rogers (SF) – Same as the previous three for Jake McGee.

If you own Amir Garrett right now, we’re very sorry

April 22, 2021

Cincinnati Reds — As of Wednesday afternoon, Amir Garrett still had David Bell’s confidence — but that was before a three-run meltdown to blow a Reds victory and run his ERA to 16.20. After the game, Bell doubled down — but we still don’t think there’s any way he can justify giving Garrett the next save chance, not with Lucas Sims and Sean Doolittle pitching effectively.

Updated hierarchy: *Sims | Doolittle | Garrett.
* = closer-by-committee

Tampa Bay Rays — The baseball gods continue their revenge for the hubris of removing the Rays’ eternal asterisk. This time, Diego Castillo actually got the save chance, but the Royals small-balled him to death, in a game both bullpens were evidently desperate to lose. Our only prediction going forward? Pain.

Hierarchy remains: Castillo | Springs | Thompson.

Milwaukee Brewers – We’ve been watching the Brewers pretty closely after Craig Counsell announced that Devin Williams wasn’t necessarily their top setup guy anymore. Brent Suter has had some rough outings as well, while J.P. Feyereisen (0 ER, 9 K in 9.2 IP) and Brad Boxberger have looked good. Wednesday, Counsell used Suter in the fifth and sixth, Williams in the seventh, and started Boxberger in the eighth before calling on Feyereisen to save his bases-loaded bacon. Feyereisen is coming on strong, but we’re going to wait at least one more game to shake up this hierarchy.

Hierarchy remains: Hader | Williams | Suter.

Toronto Blue Jays — The Jays used Rafael Dolis to protect a two-run lead against the heart of the Boston order in the eighth inning on Wednesday, leaving Tim Mayza to pitch the ninth. To make things weird, though, Charlie Montoyo pulled Mayza for the last out and gave Anthony Castro his first save since April 2019 against the Bowie Baysox. The committee is going strong in Toronto.

Hierarchy remains: *Dolis | Mayza | Thornton.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
None.

Friday:
1. Taylor Rogers (MIN) — Alex Colome threw 49 pitches in Wednesday’s loss, so even with Thursday off, we think the Twins will opt for column B.
2. Jake Diekman (OAK) — Similarly, even with Thursday off, Lou Trivino will still be coming off three games in five days (65 pitches).