Derek Law leads Giants committee; Justin Wilson to close in Detroit

May 10, 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. As for Melancon, he is confident that his first DL stint will be a short one.

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

Detroit Tigers – Brad Ausmus announced before Tuesday’s game that Justin Wilson will take over the closer role for the Tigers going forward. Wilson, replacing a struggling Francisco Rodriguez, pitched a clean ninth after the Tigers offense erased a potential save situation in their half of the frame. Righty Alex Wilson should get the majority of 8th inning opportunities, which included last night’s victory. Shane Greene projects be the right-handed option ahead of the Wilsons and got two big outs Tuesday, while Blaine Hardy will mostly face lefties in the late innings.

Updated hierarchy: J.Wilson | A.Wilson | Greene.

Washington Nationals — With the Nationals leading by two, Dusty Baker opted to use Enny Romero in the ninth instead of Matt Albers, saying after the game that he thought the Orioles due up hit righties better than lefties. That theory was debunked, as Romero blew the save in a game the Nationals lost in extra innings. Koda Glover is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment today and could come off the DL this weekend. Until then, expect Albers to get the bulk of the save chances.

Hierarchy remains: *Albers | Romero | Treinen.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Joaquin Benoit – Hector Neris struggled through a 23-pitch outing on Tuesday.

Tomorrow
1. Felipe Rivero/Juan Nicasio – If Tony Watson labors on Wednesday, he may not pitch a third straight day.

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.