Jake Diekman earns his first save of the year

April 21, 2021

Oakland A’s — The A’s closed out the second game of Tuesday’s doubleheader by going to Lou Trivino in the sixth and Jake Diekman in the seventh to preserve a 1-0 win. Trivino worked around a passed ball and a wild pitch to strike out the top two hitters in the Twins’ order and strand an inherited runner at third. Diekman hit the first batter he faced but recorded two strikeouts and a long fly out en route to his first save of the season. After the game, Bob Melvin said that he felt more comfortable with Trivino facing the top of the order and wanted Diekman to start his own inning. Additionally, he mentioned that Trivino’s ability to induce ground balls influenced his decision, as there was a runner on first.

Hierarchy remains: Trivino | Diekman | Petit.

Tampa Bay Rays – Look, we’re sorry we jinxed it. Rays relievers have recorded two saves since we removed the asterisk next to Diego Castillo’s name and neither of them were Diego Castillo. After Jeffrey Springs notched his first career save on Sunday, Trevor Richards pitched the final three innings of Tampa’s 14-7 win to earn his first career save. Richards doesn’t normally factor into the Rays’ late-inning plans. In other news, Cody Reed landed on the 10-day IL due to left thumb weakness.

Updated hierarchy: Castillo | Springs | Thompson.

Baltimore Orioles — Cesar Valdez fittingly recorded the final four outs of Tuesday’s win for his fourth save of the year, which means we say goodbye to the asterisk. It’s also time to say goodbye to Shawn Armstrong and his 18.00 ERA. Paul Fry recorded the first two outs of the eighth on Tuesday and sports a 1.23 ERA, having not allowed a run since his first appearance of the season on April 5.

Updated hierarchy: Valdez | Scott | Fry.

San Francisco Giants – Jake McGee returned to the mound on Tuesday and gave up just one hit, a solo home run, to close out a 10-7 victory.

Hierarchy remains: McGee | Rogers | Peralta.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Kevin Ginkel/Taylor Clarke (ARI) – The Diamondbacks took the lead in the top of the eighth before their game was suspended. It will resume tonight before their originally scheduled contest. Stefan Crichton may not get to work both games, so Ginkel or Clarke may vulture a chance later in the evening.
2. Josh Staumont (KC)– This is a committee and anything can happen, especially with the Royals off tomorrow, but Greg Holland has gone in three of four and threw 24 pitches last night, while Kyle Zimmer had a 29-pitch outing on Tuesday. Staumont had yesterday off.
3. Kyle Crick (PIT)/Gregory Soto (DET) – The Pirates and Tigers play a doubleheader today.

Tomorrow
1. Andrew Chafin/Brandon Workman (CHC) – Craig Kimbrel needed 26 pitches to earn yesterday’s save and has now thrown 53 pitches over the last three days. An appearance today could mean a day off tomorrow.

Jose Alvarado to miss a few games

April 20, 2021

Texas Rangers – The recently activated Joely Rodriguez got the 8th inning for the Rangers on Monday, tossing a scoreless inning with 2 Ks to bridge the gap to Ian Kennedy. With the rest of this bullpen in shambles, that’s enough to move him into the handcuff position.

Updated hierarchy: Kennedy | Rodriguez | King.

San Francisco Giants – With Jake McGee still recovering from his COVID shot and Tyler Rogers getting the night off after going two straight, Wandy Peralta picked up the save. Another name to watch here is rookie Camilo Doval, who pitched a clean 8th inning ahead of Peralta. The 23-year-old righty struck out 80 hitters in 56.1 innings in the minors in 2019.

Hierarchy remains: McGee | Rogers | Peralta.

Philadelphia Phillies – Jose Alvarado will miss at least a game or two after coming in close contact with a positive COVID case. If Alvarado has to miss time, Connor Brogdon and Brandon Kintzler could see more late inning work.

Hierarchy remains: Neris | Alvarado | Coonrod.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Joely Rodriguez/John King – Ian Kennedy has gone back to back.
2. Devin Williams – Josh Hader has gone back to back.
3. Tyler Rogers – Jake McGee might need one more day til he can return.

Today/Tomorrow
1. Taylor Rogers/Jake Diekman – The Twins and A’s play a doubleheader today, which, depending on usage, could mean save chances for non-closers today or tomorrow.

Rays gonna Rays, part the infinity

April 19, 2021

Tampa Bay Rays – To be fair, we told you this would happen: Yesterday morning, we pulled the asterisk from Diego Castillo, marking the first time since 2019 that the Rays had a non-committee. And then, yesterday afternoon, Castillo went out to finish off the 7th, pitched the 8th, and then gave way to Jeffrey Springs and his zero career saves who closed out the 2-run victory. Castillo is still the guy here, but for the first time this season, we’ve seen that “Rays gonna Rays” could still very much be in play here in the late innings.

Updated hierarchy: Castillo | Reed | Springs.

San Francisco Giants – Jake McGee was placed on the IL yesterday after receiving his second COVID vaccine shot. That allowed Tyler Rogers to pick up his first save of the season. McGee could be back as soon as today but Rogers is the clear handcuff if he is out longer.

Hierarchy remains: McGee | Rogers | Peralta.

San Diego Padres – Mark Melancon got his sixth save on Sunday and seems locked in to the ninth inning role. Emilio Pagan and Drew Pomeranz are still good relievers to own, but they’ll likely only get chances when Melancon is unavailable. We’re removing the asterisk.

Updated hierarchy: Melancon | Pagan | Pomeranz.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Cody Reed – Diego Castillo has gone back to back and three of four.
2. Emilio Pagan – Mark Melancon has 3 IP over the last three days and may get today off.
3. Tyler Rogers – If Jake McGee is out again today, Rogers could get the call again.

Tomorrow
1. John King – If Ian Kennedy goes today, it’ll be two straight.
2. Devin Williams – If Josh Hader goes today, it’ll be two straight.

Diego Castillo ends the Rays’ committee and Mookie Betts probably deserved the save for the Dodgers

April 18, 2021

Tampa Bay Rays — For the first time since 2019, the monkey has removed the asterisk for the Tampa Bay Rays.  Diego Castillo struck out a pair in a 6-3 Rays victory yesterday to pick up his 4th save of the season.  Castillo is the only Rays’ reliever to record a save so far this season and that is enough to remove the committee tag (which probably means the next 4 saves will go to some other random relievers we have never heard of). 

Hierarchy remains: Castillo | Reed | Thompson.

Los Angeles Dodgers — Kenley Jansen got the day off yesterday as the Vulture Save Watch predicted, but it was lefty Victor Gonzalez who ended up recording the last two outs of the game to pick up the save.  However, let’s be clear, the save really should have gone to Mookie Betts for this ridiculous game-saving catch for the last out of the game.  Gonzalez became the fourth Dodger to record a save so far this season, and manager Dave Roberts previously mentioned he felt comfortable using Knebel, Treinen, or Gonzalez when Jansen is rested.  The Dodgers are going to win a lot of games this year and they will likely rest Jansen a lot throughout the season so there could be a decent number of save chances for the other guys in their bullpen as we have already seen so far this season. 

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Knebel | Treinen.

Atlanta Braves — The Braves have placed Sean Newcomb on the injured list due to potential COVID exposure.  Newcomb could be back soon if he passes protocols, but while he is out, Tyler Matzek should see more time in the later innings.  In other non-bullpen-related Braves news, Sean Kazmar Jr. played in his first major league game since 2008.

Updated hierarchy: Smith | Minter | Matzek. 

Chicago Cubs – Brandon Workman has been activated from the COVID related IL, and should slide back into his spot behind closer Craig Kimbrel and set-up man Andrew Chafin.

Updated hierarchy: Kimbrel | Chafin | Workman.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Joe Smith (HOU) – Ryan Pressly has pitched in two straight and three of four.
2. Richard Bleier/Anthony Bass (MIA) – Yimi Garcia has also pitched in two straight and three of four.

Monday
1. Adam Ottavino (BOS) – Matt Barnes threw 28 pitches yesterday so if he goes again today, he will likely get Monday off.
2. Tyler Rogers (SF) – Jake McGee threw 35 pitches in a blown save yesterday and will get Monday off if he pitches again today
3. Cody Reed (TB) – If Diego Castillo pitches today, it will be two straight and three of four.

Cesar Valdez and Lou Trivino establishing themselves in their respective bullpens

April 17, 2021

Baltimore Orioles — with a 3 run lead in the 9th the Orioles went with Cesar Valdez to close out the game. He pitched a clean inning for his third save of the year. The only other reliever to record a save for Baltimore was Paul Fry in extra innings. While the Orioles announced that their closer’s role would be a committee with Hunter Harvey out, Valdez seems ready to kick the asterisk, and one more clean save will be enough to do it.

Hierarchy remains: *Valdez | Scott | Armstrong.
* = closer-by-committee

Oakland A’s — With everyone rested, the Athletics went Petit in the 7th, Diekman in the 8th, and Trivino in the 9th. Since Bob Melvin tapped Trivino as a closing option, he has two saves, which is two more than anyone else on the team. He was also warming up for a potential save situation recently, only to see the A’s score enough runs to prevent a save opportunity. While Diekman hasn’t been bad in the early going, it’s clear that Melvin sees Trivino as his top option in the 9th inning, and that’s enough to remove the asterisk.

Hierarchy remains: Trivino | Diekman | Petit.

Miami Marlins – Since falling out of the closer’s role, Anthony Bass has been excellent.  He picked up the win last night with a scoreless 8th inning of a tie game and is now holding a modest 4 game scoreless streak. While Bass may not resume closing as long as Yimi Garcia stays hot, he’s at least seeing higher leverage innings.

Updated hierarchy: Garcia | Bleier | Bass.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Tanner Rainey/Daniel Hudson (WAS) – Brad Hand has pitched back to back, and the Nationals may watch his workload early in the season. Hudson has also gone back to back, while Rainey is well-rested.
2. Sean Newcomb/ AJ Minter (ATL) – Today would be back to back and 3 of 4 for Will Smith (who threw 34 pitches yesterday). However, nobody in the Atlanta bullpen is very well-rested. Newcomb also threw 29 pitches yesterday and AJ minter has already pitched back to back, so this save may fall to Tyler Matzek.
3. Blake Treinen/Corey Knebel (LAD)– The Dodgers have already shown that they will manage Kenly Jansen’s workload, so after a 26 pitch outing last night, expect someone else to get the call today. Like Atlanta, this bullpen needs rest so keep an eye on Scott Alexander, who has a couple of days rest.

Tomorrow:
1. Tanner Scott (BAL) – Cesar Valdez threw 20 pitches yesterday so another long outing could earn him a rest day on Sunday.
2. Joe Smith (HOU) – Today would be back to back and 3 of 4 for Ryan Pressly.
3. Emilio Pagan/Drew Pomeranz (SD) – Mark Melancon threw 2 innings yesterday, so another outing today would likely keep him out Sunday.