Ryan Helsley leaves game after hurting finger

October 5, 2022

St. Louis Cardinals – Ryan Helsley left Tuesday’s ninth inning after throwing just five pitches, as the team removed him as a precaution after he jammed his right middle finger. With the Cardinals preparing for the postseason, don’t expect Helsley to be available today.

Hierarchy remains: Helsley | Gallegos | Pallante.

New York Yankees – Jonathan Loaisiga picked up his second save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning in game one of the Yankees’ doubleheader with the Rangers, just as the Vulture Save Watch predicted.

Hierarchy remains: *Effross | Loaisiga | Trivino.
* = closer-by-committee

Texas Rangers – Matt Moore earned the save in game two of that doubleheader. Jonathan Hernandez had already pitched in the first game, with Jose Leclerc interestingly absent from the day’s action.

Hierarchy remains: Leclerc | Hernandez | Moore.

Seattle Mariners — Diego Castillo collected the save in game two of Tuesday’s doubleheader with the Tigers after Andres Muñoz and Erik Swanson appeared in game one. Paul Sewald hasn’t pitched in a few days, but it’s likely he gets at least a little work today as the Mariners prepare for the postseason.

Hierarchy remains: Sewald | Muñoz | Swanson.

Milwaukee Brewers – Peter Strzelecki earned his first MLB save of his career on Tuesday thanks to a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

Updated hierarchy: Williams | Rogers | Boxberger.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today

1. Giovanny Gallegos (STL) – Ryan Helsley won’t pitch today after injuring his finger last night.
2. Tyler Matzek (ATL) – The Braves clinched the NL East last night, with their entire hierarchy pitching, so it makes sense that it’ll be a rested, non-hierarchy arm charged with closing out today’s finale.
3. Trevor Stephan (CLE) – Emmanuel Clase pitched last night and it’s unlikely he gets a second straight day of work with the playoffs beginning on Friday.
4. Seth Lugo (NYM) – The same is true of both Edwin Diaz and Adam Ottavino.
5. Richard Bleier (MIA) – The Marlins have no postseason to worry about, but still worth noting that both Dylan Floro and Tanner Scott pitched yesterday, which was a second appearance in three days for each of them.
6. Robert Stephenson (PIT) – David Bednar is unlikely to go back-to-back, and Stephenson is the most well-rested out of the Pirates’ top late-inning arms.
7. Joel Kuhnel (CIN) – Alexis Diaz has thrown 20 pitches in two straight days while Buck Farmer has also pitched two in a row and Ian Gibaut threw 24 pitches yesterday.
8. Dylan Coleman (KC) – Scott Barlow may get a second day off after throwing 43 pitches over a two-day stretch.
9. Kendall Graveman (CHW) – The same is true of Liam Hendriks, who tossed 51 pitches across Sunday and Monday.
10. Jose Cisnero (DET) – Cisnero wasn’t used in yesterday’s doubleheader, so he may get a chance to pitch today, perhaps with a lead. Gregory Soto threw 11 pitches yesterday and has gone in three of four.
11. Yimi Garcia (TOR) – The Blue Jays have a doubleheader…
12. Cionel Perez (BAL) – …with the Orioles.

Dillon Tate to close in season’s final series

October 4, 2022

Kansas City Royals – Taylor Clarke got a 10th inning save on Monday, after the rest of the Kansas City hierarchy had already pitched. It was his third of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Barlow | Coleman | Garrett.

Toronto Blue Jays – Tim Mayza pitched the 7th inning with the Blue Jays up by three runs, and then ended up being credited with the save when the game was rained out in the 8th.

Hierarchy remains: Romano | Garcia | Bass.

New York Yankees – Committee leader Scott Effross picked up his fourth save of the season on Monday with a 1-2-3 inning. Miguel Castro got the 8th inning and might also be a late-inning option when matchups are right.

Hierarchy remains: *Effross | Loaisiga | Trivino.
* = closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox – Matt Barnes got the 9th inning on Monday, following John Schreiber and Ryan Brasier, who pitched the 7th and 8th, respectively. Barnes and Schreiber remain the likely committee leaders as the year winds down.

Hierarchy remains: *Schreiber | Barnes | Strahm.
* = closer-by-committee

Philadelphia Phillies – Converted starter Zach Eflin got his first save of the season, pitching a scoreless 9th in the Phillies 3-run, playoff-clinching victory. It doesn’t seem likely that Eflin will get another save chance, but he has been quite good as a reliever so far, with 1 ER allowed in 7.2 innings.

Hierarchy remains: *Robertson | Dominguez | Alvarado.
* = closer-by-committee

Detroit Tigers – Andrew Chafin got his 2nd save of the season, with Gregory Soto getting the night off. It might be the tail end of the season, but the VSW has still got it!

Hierarchy remains: Soto | Chafin | Lange.

Colorado Rockies – Justin Lawrence got his first save of the season, locking down a 1-run victory. Daniel Bard had pitched two innings on Sunday and got the day off.

Updated hierarchy: Bard | Lamet | Lawrence.

Baltimore Orioles – Felix Bautista is being shut down for the season with knee discomfort. It’s not serious and won’t affect his offseason, but the Orioles, who had a spirited season but ultimately fell short of the playoffs, are being cautious. Look for Dillon Tate to grab any remaining saves.

Updated hierarchy: Tate | Perez | Baker.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today

1. Dylan Coleman – Scott Barlow has pitched two straight.
2. Kendall Graveman – Liam Hendriks has gone back to back and four of five.
3. Adam Ottavino – The Mets have a doubleheader…
4. Carl Edwards Jr. – …with the Nationals.
5. Jonathan Loaisiga – The Yankees have one…
6. Jonathan Hernandez -…with the Rangers.
7. Andrew Chafin – And the Tigers have one…
8. Andres Munoz – …with the Mariners.

Tomorrow
1. Nick Martinez – If Josh Hader goes today, it’s back to back and three of four.

Felix Bautista done for the year

October 3, 2022

Baltimore Orioles – Felix Bautista is being shut down for the season with knee discomfort. It’s not serious and won’t affect his offseason, but the Orioles, who had a spirited season but ultimately fell short of the playoffs, are being cautious. Look for Dillon Tate to grab any remaining saves.

Updated hierarchy: Tate | Perez | Baker.

Felix Bautista is day to day with knee soreness

October 3, 2022

Baltimore Orioles – Felix Bautista is still day to day with some knee soreness, so the Orioles gave Sunday’s save chance to Dillon Tate, who converted for his 5th save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: *Bautista | Tate | Perez.
* = closer-by-committee

Miami Marlins – The fifth man out of the bullpen for the Marlins in Sunday’s 12-inning affair was Tanner Scott, and the lefty managed to strand the automatic runner and pick up his 20th save of the season. Dylan Floro remains the best bet for saves in the season’s final series.

Hierarchy remains: Floro | Scott | Bleier.

Houston Astros – Ryan Pressly got Sunday off after throwing 27 pitches on Saturday, allowing Rafael Montero to pick up his 14th save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Pressly | Montero | Neris.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today

1. Yimi Garcia – Jordan Romano has gone back to back and the Jays are unlikely to use him for three straight having recently clinched a playoff spot.
2. AJ Minter – Kenley Jansen and Raisel Iglesias have gone three straight.
3. Andrew Chafin – Gregory Soto has gone back to back.
4. Dillon Tate – If Felix Bautista still can’t go, Tate could get another save chance.

Tomorrow
1. Taylor Rogers – If Devin Williams goes today, it’s three of four.
2. James Karinchak – If Emmanuel Clase goes today, it’s back to back and three of four.
3. Adam Ottavino – If Edwin Diaz goes today, it’s back to back, and it seems unlikely he’d go three straight unless the Mets’ Tuesday game actually matters.
4. Wil Crowe – If David Bednar goes today, it’s back to back.
5. Kendall Graveman – If Liam Hendriks goes today, it’s back to back and four of five.

Brandon Hughes and Ryan Tepera record saves

October 2, 2022

Chicago Cubs — Manuel Rodriguez got the first two outs of the 9th inning but after walking Jake Fraley, Brandon Hughes came on to record the final out and pick up his eighth save of the season.  The Cubs have won ten of their last eleven games and have recorded eight saves during that time, but they continue to play matchups so it’s hard to trust any one guy.

Hierarchy remains: *Hughes | Rodriguez | Leiter Jr.
* = closer-by-committee

Detroit Tigers – The Tigers called on Gregory Soto in the 8th inning with a runner on third and one out trying to protect a one run lead.  He made it very interesting but was able to escape without allowing a run.  That left Andrew Chafin for the 9th inning and he struck out a pair in a scoreless inning to record his second save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Soto | Chafin | Lange.

Los Angeles AngelsAs predicted in the Vulture Save Watch, Jimmy Herget got the day off yesterday and Ryan Tepera picked up his sixth save of the season.
 
Hierarchy remains: *Herget | Tepera | Quijada.
* = closer-by-committee

Miami Marlins — Dylan Floro got a second day off after pitching in three straight.  The Marlins trailed heading into the 9th inning but after rallying in the top of the 9th to take a one run lead, Richard Bleier pitched a scoreless inning for his first save of the season.  

Hierarchy remains: Floro | Scott | Bleier

Philadelphia Phillies — Christopher Sanchez pitched the final three innings of a 8-2 Phillies lead to pick up his first save.

Hierarchy remains: *Robertson | Dominguez | Alvarado.
* = closer-by-committee

Los Angeles Dodgers — Brusdar Graterol pitched a perfect 9th inning for his fourth save of the season.   Graterol served as an opener in his previous outing so that just shows how wide open this bullpen is.

Hierarchy remains: *Phillips | Vesia | Kahnle.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. A.J. Minter (ATL) – Kenley Jansen and Raisel Iglesias have both pitched in two straight and three of four.
2. Taylor Rogers (MIL) – Devin Williams has pitched in two straight and three of four.

Monday
1. James Karinchak (CLE) – If Emmanuel Clase pitches on Sunday, it will be two of three and four of six.
2. Rafael Montero (HOU) – Ryan Pressly threw 27 pitches yesterday so if he pitches again on Sunday, he will likely get Monday off.