Derek Law to lead committee with Mark Melancon sidelined

May 9, 2017

San Francisco Giants – Mark Melancon is headed to the 10-day disabled list with a right pronator strain in his forearm. After Tuesday’s game, manager Bruce Bochy said that he prefers Derek Law to head a committee and not Hunter Strickland, though it sounds like Strickland will get some looks given the committee tag. The two started out sharing duties when Santiago Casilla lost the job last fall and while Strickland has the better numbers as a whole, Law has been hot of late, not allowing a run in 6.2 IP. Josh Osich should get some more late-inning work also.

Updated hierarchy: *Law | Strickland | Osich.
* = closer-by-committee

For one day, Miguel Socolovich was everything

May 9, 2017

St. Louis Cardinals – Usually we have something to say about somebody, somewhere, in one of MLB’s 30 bullpens. But the only thing that happened Monday that struck us as out of the ordinary was a save for journeyman Miguel Socolovich, whose baseball career spans the minor league systems of six different MLB teams, as well as the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of NPB. Socolovich, a native of Venezuela, pitched the final three innings of the Cardinals blowout victory to earn his first career save. If you had Socolovich active in your lineup yesterday, send us a screenshot. The first person who does wins Closer Monkey Premium for a year; any subsequent winners will win a free day of email sponsorship.

Hierarchy remains: Oh | Rosenthal | Bowman.

Detroit Tigers – In case you missed it yesterday, the Tigers may announce a closer change today. We will send an instant update if and when it happens; for now, pick up Justin Wilson if he’s available in your leagues.

Hierarchy remains: Rodriguez | J.Wilson | A.Wilson.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Darren O’Day – Brad Brach has pitched in back to back games and four of five.
2. Jason Grilli – Roberto Osuna and Joe Smith have both pitched back to back games and three of four.
3. Ryan Madson – Santiago Casilla has pitched in back to back games and has yet to go three straight this year.

Tomorrow
1/2/3. See above – If any of the three listed closers above do go today, they’ll surely be unavailable tomorrow.

Tigers could use their offday to demote Francisco Rodriguez

May 8, 2017

Detroit Tigers – After Francisco Rodriguez’s blown save on Sunday — his fourth blown save of the year — Brad Ausmus told reporters that he was going to have an internal discussion about the closer role before he announces any decisions. We don’t know anything more yet, but it feels like Ausmus may have already made up his mind about a closer change, and just wants to tell his clubhouse before he shares the news with media. Justin Wilson is the clear top choice to replace K-Rod; Alex Wilson is the darkhorse, and could get the surprise appointment if Ausmus wants to keep Justin Wilson in a more flexible role.

Hierarchy remains: Rodriguez | J.Wilson | A.Wilson.

Minnesota Twins – The Minnesota bullpen got all kinds of beat up on Sunday, with set-up man Matt Belisle taking the worst of it — he allowed 6 ERs in just 0.2 IP, which ballooned his ERA to 9.00. That makes two terrible outings for Belisle in his last six appearances, and while we won’t remove him from the first in line spot yet, keep an eye on Tyler Duffey, who has the best stats of any Twins reliever across the board and could be tapped for higher-leverage spots any day now.

Updated hierarchy: Kintzler | Belisle | Duffey.

St. Louis Cardinals – Kevin Siegrist picked up the save in the 14th inning on Sunday. Almost every other Cardinals reliever had already pitched to that point, but it was still a nice outing for the embattled lefty, who has now gone seven straight appearances without allowing a run. Perhaps even more significant is that he has walked only one hitter in that span, after opening the year with 10 BBs in 6.1 IPs. Siegrist was an elite set-up man last year, and if he’s worked out his issues, he could return to that status in short order.

Hierarchy remains: Oh | Rosenthal | Bowman.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Dellin Betances – Aroldis Chapman threw 36 pitches last night.
2. Andrew Miller/Bryan Shaw – Cody Allen has gone back to back games, throwing 20 pitches each night.

Tomorrow
1. Trevor Rosenthal – If Seung-Hwan Oh goes today, it’ll be three straight.
2. Joe Smith – If Roberto Osuna goes today, it’ll be back to back and three of four.
3. Andrew Miller/Bryan Shaw – Allen, Miller, or Shaw could all be used Tuesday depending on how the game shakes out today.

Kenley Jansen can’t convert save chance with nine run lead

May 7, 2017

Los Angeles Dodgers — Kenley Jansen got the last out of the eighth inning on Saturday night after he entered with the bases loaded and the Dodgers up four runs.  The Dodgers added five more runs in the top of the ninth, but Jansen still came back out for the bottom of the ninth to attempt the save in a 10-1 game.  Unfortunately for fantasy owners, Jansen was not able to get the job done and instead earned his first hold of the season after Chris Hatcher got the last out of the game.  Jansen was still in a playful mood post game as he jokingly told reporters, “I’m not getting sent down” after a closed door meeting between manager Dave Roberts and general manager Farhan Zaidi.

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Baez | Fields.

Baltimore Orioles — Brad Brach got the day off yesterday and Darren O’Day recorded his second save of the season.  Hopefully you were paying attention to the Vulture Save Watch and stole a save in your fantasy leagues.

Hierarchy remains: Brach | O’Day | Givens.

Cincinnati Reds — Robert Stephenson pitched three scoreless innings to finish off a Reds’ blowout win, and he recorded his first career save in the process.  We don’t know if it’s more surprising that Stephenson got the save or that he didn’t give up a run (he had given up at least one run in six of his first seven appearances this season), but needless to say, he won’t factor into the Reds’ normal late inning plans.

Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Storen | Lorenzen.

Colorado Rockies — Chris Rusin picked up a three inning save on Saturday.

Hierarchy remains: Holland | Ottavino | Dunn.

Toronto Blue Jays — Joe Biagini will make his first Major League start today.  Joe Smith struck out the side in a perfect eighth inning on Friday night and should slide into the set-up role.  Jason Grilli might get a chance to reclaim a late inning role with Biagini in the rotation.

Updated hierarchy: Osuna |  Smith | Grilli.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Pedro Baez/Josh Fields – Kenley Jansen will likely be unavailable after throwing 33 pitches last night.  Baez might also rest since he has appeared in two straight and three of four.
2. Joakim Soria – Kelvin Herrera has pitched in three straight

Monday
1. Blake Parker – If Bud Norris pitches on Sunday, that will make it three straight.
2. Pedro Baez/Josh Fields – If Jansen does come back on Sunday after his 33 pitch effort yesterday, he will definitely get Monday off.