September 16, 2021
Oakland A’s — Oakland tried its best to blow a seven-run lead over the last three innings Wednesday night, but Andrew Chafin ultimately put the Royals away with a four-out save. Sergio Romo has struggled in his last two outings, and we expect Chafin to be Oakland’s top save option over the last few weeks of the season.
Updated hierarchy: *Chafin | Romo | Diekman.
* = closer-by-committee
New York Yankees — Aroldis Chapman had a dominant outing on Wednesday and, just as importantly, Chad Green keeps blowing leads. The Yankees will ride with Chapman the rest of the way, for good or ill.
Updated hierarchy: Chapman | Green | Peralta.
Colorado Rockies – Robert Stephenson’s first outing in eight days was a tenth-inning save, the second of his career (you know we covered the first). Stephenson’s save also gives us the opportunity to recognize that Daniel Bard has fallen out of the hierarchy, with Jhoulys Chacin locking down the eighth and Tyler Kinley owning the seventh.
Updated hierarchy: Estevez | Chacin | Kinley.
Detroit Tigers — Michael Fulmer earned the vulture save that the Vulture Save Watch predicted he would. We hope he earned it for your team.
Hierarchy remains: Soto | Fulmer | Funkhouser.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Jhoulys Chacin (COL) — Carlos Estevez has pitched in two straight and three of four.
2. Chasen Shreve/Chad Kuhl (PIT) — Chris Stratton has pitched in two straight; Shreve pitched two innings on Tuesday.
3. Wandy Peralta/Albert Abreu (NYY) — Aroldis Chapman has gone in four of five, and Chad Green blew a lead in the eighth last night (25 pitches).
4. Sergio Romo (OAK) — Andrew Chafin is at the top of the committee, but he threw 26 pitches in a high-stress outing on Wednesday.
Friday:
1. Emilio Pagan (SD) — Mark Melancon has gone in two straight.
