Hector Rondon returns to bolster Cubs bullpen

September 7, 2016

Chicago Cubs — Hector Rondon was activated Tuesday and subsequently made his first appearance since August 16. Manager Joe Maddon said that Rondon won’t slide back into a specific eighth-inning role, but we think that if both Aroldis Chapman and C.J. Edwards were unavailable, Rondon would get the call in the ninth.

Updated hierarchy: Chapman | Edwards | Rondon.

Los Angeles Dodgers — Pedro Baez returned from extended rest at Double-A and picked up an immediate seventh-inning hold. It appears as if Baez has bumped lefty Adam Liberatore back out of the hierarchy, while Liberatore attempts to recapture his form from earlier this year.

Updated hierarchy: Jansen | Blanton | Baez.

New York Yankees — Dellin Betances struggled in a wild evening at Yankee Stadium and was unable to convert a save chance. With Adam Warren having already pitched, and Tyler Clippard resting following three straight days of work, the Yankees turned to Blake Parker to close the door in the ninth, grabbing his second career save and first since 2013 with the Cubs.

Hierarchy remains: Betances | Clippard | Warren.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Tyler Clippard, New York Yankees — Dellin Betances’ 40-pitch outing on Tuesday was his third straight appearance.
2. Dan Jennings, Chicago White Sox — David Robertson (62 pitches) and Nate Jones (46) have each pitched in three straight games. Jennings also has, but has thrown just 29 pitches.

Andrew Bailey records back to back saves

September 6, 2016

Los Angeles Angels – Andrew Bailey recorded his second save of the season last night, pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning. The Angels’ bullpen was stretched early in the game, with starter Jered Weaver only lasting 4 innings. While we expect Mike Scioscia to mix and match going forward, we are comfortable moving Bailey to the top of the committee. Add him if you need saves.

Updated hierarchy: *Bailey | Ramirez | Guerra.
* = closer-by-committee

San Diego Padres – Over the past few weeks, the Padres have quietly stopped using Kevin Quackenbush in late inning situations. At the same time, Ryan Buchter returned to San Diego and has pitched well. Last night Brad Hand was tapped to hold the lead in the eighth innings. With Hand and Buchter’s stock rising and Quack’s falling, we will adjust our hierarchy accordingly.

Updated hierarchy: Maurer | Buchter | Hand.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Adam Warren, New York Yankees – Dellin Betances and Tyler Clippard have both pitched two in a row; Joe Girardi is notoriously skittish about pitching relievers in three straight.

Andrew Bailey could be a source for saves down the stretch. Yes, really.

September 5, 2016

Los Angeles Angels – After Matt Shoemaker took a line drive to the head in the second inning on Sunday, the first Angel out of the bullpen was Deolis Guerra, who is ostensibly competing for the closer job with J.C. Ramirez. Though this seemingly would have solidified Ramirez as the Angels’ new closer, he was actually summoned in the 7th inning, and he subsequently bridged the last two innings to newcomer Andrew Bailey, who they signed to a minor league deal in August. Bailey responded by converting his first save since 2013, which immediately puts him in the conversation with Ramirez for future opportunities. In other Angels news, Cam Bedrosian is officially done for the year.

Updated hierarchy: *Ramirez | Bailey | Guerra.
* = closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox – The Red Sox will bring Koji Uehara off the disabled list today, and given the team’s bullpen struggles, the righty could return to high-leverage work sooner rather than later. He won’t pitch until Tuesday, but we’ll swap him for Clay Buchholz, that day’s starter, now.

Updated hierarchy: Kimbrel | Ziegler | Uehara.

Chicago White Sox – After almost every other arm in the White Sox bullpen had been used, Tommy Kahnle came on for the save in the 12th inning, and converted. He does not factor in to the White Sox usual late inning plans.

Hierarchy remains: Robertson | Jones | Jennings.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Fernando Salas, New York Mets – Jeurys Familia and Addison Reed have both pitched in back to back games, and the Mets have a short turnaround after a night game last night.

Wade Davis and Mauricio Cabrera record saves

September 4, 2016

Kansas City Royals — Ned Yost originally said he wanted to stay away from Wade Davis on Saturday, but Davis ended up coming on to get the last two outs of the 9th for the save, striking out both batters he faced.  Davis wanted to pitch on Saturday after blowing the save in his return on Friday.  The Royals will likely be cautious with Davis and try to avoid overworking him.  However they are in the middle of a playoff push so he should still see plenty of save chances, and for Royals fans and fantasy owners, hopefully lots of “Salvy Splashes.”

Hierarchy remains: Davis | Herrera | Soria.

Atlanta Braves – As predicted, Jim Johnson got the day off on Saturday, and Mauricio Cabrera pitched a perfect inning for his fourth save of the season.  The young flamethrower Cabrera could be the closer of the future for the Braves, but for the rest of this season he will likely only see save chances with Johnson is unavailable.

Hierarchy remains: Johnson | Cabrera | Simmons.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Kelvin Herrera, Kansas City Royals – Wade Davis has gone in back-to-back games in his return from the disabled list.
2. Hector Neris, Philadelphia Phillies – Jeanmar Gomez has pitched in two straight, and three of the past four.
3. Corey Knebel, Milwaukee Brewers – Tyler Thornburg, Corey Knebel, and Carlos Torres have all pitched in two straight.  However, Thornburg has pitched in five of the past six as well so Knebel could get the call if the Brewers want to avoid sending Thornburg out there again.

Wade Davis returns from the DL

September 3, 2016

Kansas City Royals — Wade Davis was activated from the DL on Friday, and Ned Yost immediately threw him into the fire. After the Royals took a one-run lead, Davis got a save opportunity in his first action since July. He promptly hit the first batter he faced, and after a double and a two-run single, Davis was on the hook for the loss. It seems as though Yost trusts Davis to return to the closer role immediately, but there is reason to believe that Herrera may split the save opportunities down the stretch. When Davis entered the game last night the Royals bullpen was coming off two straight extra-inning games. Kelvin Herrera was also perfect in save opportunities while Davis was out, and Yost said after the game that he would avoid using Davis in back-to-back games for now. With as good as Davis has been, and given the clear save opportunity yesterday, he goes to the top spot in the hierarchy. However, don’t drop Herrera just yet. In a tight playoff race, he will certainly get chances down the stretch.

Updated hierarchy: Davis | Herrera | Soria.

Washington Nationals — Mark Rezepczynski got the first two outs of the seventh inning Friday before he walked and hit a batter. Dusty Baker then turned to 23-year-old Koda Glover to protect the one-run lead. Glover struck out Jose Reyes to end the frame, then stayed on in the 8th to face the heart of the Mets order and pick up his second hold of the year. He has had a solid first 10 games and Baker was quick to praise him after the win. Rzepczynski has been excellent for years, but he is still mostly a left-handed specialist.

Updated hierarchy: Melancon | Kelley | Glover.

Oakland A’s — Sean Doolittle is back from the disabled list and some extra rehab. He should see some late-inning work if the A’s get a lead over the final month of the season.

Updated hierarchy: Madson | Axford | Doolittle.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Kelvin Herrera, Kansas City Royals — Ned Yost has said that he won’t use Wade Davis on back to back days.
2. Mauricio Cabrera, Atlanta Braves — Jim Johnson has pitched in three straight games.
3. Corey Knebel, Milwaukee Brewers — Tyler Thornburg has appeared in four of the last five contests, including a 17-pitch outing last night.