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.