Jeanmar Gomez and the Phillies’ ninth are going to see other people

September 24, 2016

Philadelphia Phillies — The Phillies made the confusing announcement that although Jeanmar Gomez will be the closer for the rest of the season, he will get a “break” for the next few save chances — in favor of Hector Neris, Edubray Ramos, or even lefthander Joely Rodriguez. For now, we’ll call this a committee with Gomez as the head, but Neris is a strong candidate for what few saves remain for Philadelphia.

Updated hierarchy: *Gomez | Neris | Ramos.
* = closer-by-committee

Houston Astros — Ken Giles had a disastrous outing, blowing a save and dealing a blow to the Astros playoff hopes in the process. He entered with a two-run lead, but gave up a tying home run before loading the bases and getting yanked. After Michael Feliz gave up a three-run double, Giles was charged with six earned runs and the loss. Giles will hold onto his job, but with the Astros needing every win they can get, his leash will be shorter going forward.

Hierarchy remains: Giles | Gregerson | Harris.

Chicago Cubs — Pedro Strop was activated from the DL on Friday, and pitched a scoreless eighth with the Cubs up five. Joe Maddon indicated that he wants Strop, Rondon, and Chapman to man the late innings heading into the playoffs and, given his solid work last night, Strop will immediately crack the Cubs hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Chapman | Rondon | Strop.

Boston Red Sox — Brad Ziegler got a save opportunity for the surging Red Sox yesterday with both Craig Kimbrel and Koji Uehara unavailable. Uehara has not given up a run since returning from the DL, but hasn’t pitched on back-to-back days over that time either. With the Red Sox solidifying a playoff spot, we don’t expect to see anyone overworked in the season’s last week, so Ziegler may get another sneaky save opp.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Uehara | Ziegler. 

New York Mets — Hansel Robles came in with two on and one out in the seventh, up two runs. He induced a double play, the Mets scored three more runs, and Robles finished out the last two innings to earn his first career save.

Hierarchy remains: Familia | Reed | Salas.

Washington Nationals — Koda Glover has struggled over the last two weeks, posting a 10.13 ERA and 1.88 WHIP. Meanwhile, Blake Treinen has put up 12 straight scoreless outings (six holds, one blown save) since his five-run debacle on August 24.

Updated hierarchy: Melancon | Kelley | Treinen.

Milwaukee Brewers — After struggling for two weeks, Corey Knebel has six straight scoreless appearances, including two consecutive eighth-inning holds.

Updated hierarchy: Thornburg | Knebel | Torres.

Atlanta Braves — Mauricio Cabrera got another save yesterday with Jim Johnson taking a second day off after pitching in three straight. Cabrera has been excellent in the save opportunities he has seen, but Brian Snitker has stuck with the veteran Johnson, who should be available to close today.

Hierarchy remains: Johnson | Cabrera | Simmons.

Pittsburgh Pirates — The Pirates used newly-acquired lefty Phil Coke in the seventh inning of a one-run game yesterday. The 34-year-old journeyman was acquired for cash considerations on Thursday, and this was his first action since the deal. Coke won’t crack Pittsurgh’s hierarchy, but could be a sneaky add for the playoffs in holds leagues, as he will probably be used both as a LOOGY, and to spell Felipe Rivero with the Pirates nearly out of contention.

Hierarchy remains: Watson | Rivero | Bastardo.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Hector Neris, Philadelphia Phillies — Jeanmar Gomez is getting a break from closing.
2. Luke Gregerson, Houston Astros — Ken Giles threw 30 pitches in Friday night’s meltdown.
3. Shawn Kelley, Washington Nationals — Mark Melancon has pitched in two of three (44 pitches).

Jeanmar Gomez likely to lose closer’s role Friday

September 23, 2016

Philadelphia Phillies — While the Phillies are out of it and there’s not much time left in the season, manager Pete Mackanin is about to make a change that will impact the fantasy baseball playoffs. Mackanin is expected to announce Friday that he’s removing Jeanmar Gomez from the closer’s role, handing the job over to Hector Neris. Gomez has a 16.20 ERA in September, but the numbers have been even worse over the last four games: 1.2 IP, 8 ER (including 2 ER to blow the save Thursday). His ERA was under 3.00 at the end of August and now sits at 4.28 just three weeks later. Good riddance.

Hierarchy remains (for now): Gomez | Neris | Ramos.

San Francisco Giants – It seemed like forever in between Sergio Romo saves when he got his first one of the year on Tuesday. Romo’s second save this season (Thursday) came just two days later, though. He appears to be firmly entrenched at the top of the Giants closing committee.

Hierarchy remains: *Romo | Law | Smith.
* = closer-by-committee

Atlanta Braves – As predicted by the Vulture Save Watch, Mauricio Cabrera picked up the save Thursday as regular closer Jim Johnson needed some rest.

Hierarchy remains: Johnson | Cabrera | Simmons.

Texas Rangers — Reports are suggesting that reliever Jeremy Jeffress is expected to rejoin the Rangers on Friday. He has been away from the team since an Aug. 26 arrest for alleged drunken driving. He entered into a rehab facility days later. Jeffress could be back to prepare for the playoffs, if he makes the postseason roster. We’ll see how he’s used once he’s back before jumping to conclusions.

Hierarchy remains: Dyson | Bush | Diekman.

Tampa Bay Rays — Chase Whitley now has three holds in three appearances, with each appearance lasting at least two innings. On Thursday, he bridged the gap from the sixth inning through two outs in the eighth inning ahead of closer Alex Colome. It may seem like a stretch, but he could be sneaking into the Rays late-inning plans as the season’s end draws near. Plus, Brad Boxberger has been terrible lately. He has allowed six runs over his last two outings, raising his season ERA to 5.31.

Updated hierarchy: Colome | Cedeno | Whitley.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Koji Uehara, Boston Red Sox –Craig Kimbrel has pitched in three straight games.
2. Hector Neris, Philadelphia Phillies — This is pretty obvious. Even if Jeanmar Gomez isn’t dropped as the team’s closer, it would still be tough to expect him to pitch Friday after disastrous outings Tuesday and Thursday.
3. J.C. Ramirez, Los Angeles Angels — Andrew Bailey has pitched in two straight games, and has not played in three straight days since April 20-22, 2013. J.C. Ramirez has also gone in two straight games (34 pitches), but he did pitch in three straight for the Angels earlier this year and could do it again.

Luke Gregerson earns vulture save

September 22, 2016

Houston Astros — As we predicted, Luke Gregerson picked up a save on Wednesday with Ken Giles resting.

Hierarchy remains: Giles | Gregerson | Harris.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Mauricio Cabrera, Atlanta Braves — Jim Johnson has now pitched in three straight (four of five).

Jeanmar Gomez may not finish season as closer

September 21, 2016

Philadelphia Phillies — It’s been a while since we’ve updated you on the Phillies’ bullpen, but the final days of the season have become more interesting. Jeanmar Gomez entered Tuesday’s ninth inning with a 7-3 lead and retired two of the first three batters. However, an infield single, walk, wild pitch and double made it 7-6 and paved the way for Michael Mariot to earn his first career save. After the game, manager Pete Mackanin hinted that he is considering a change in closer. With the season long out of reach and Gomez struggling mightily of late, don’t be surprised if “potential closer” Hector Neris gets the first crack at saves soon, with Edubray Ramos also likely to get at least one chance before the season ends.

Hierarchy remains: Gomez | Neris | Ramos.

San Francisco Giants – Well well well, look who finally got a chance to get a save. For the first time since July 27, 2015, Sergio Romo closed out a game, pitching a clean ninth to secure a 2-0 win over the Dodgers. It was a stellar night for a struggling bullpen, as lefties Steven Okert and Will Smith bridged the gap to Romo beautifully. Smith has thrown 14 scoreless innings and has a hold in six straight appearances. Smith should at least get the eighth inning today against the Dodgers, a team that is hitting .210 against lefties. As for Romo, Bochy refused to define his role, but we’ll move him to the top of a lackluster committee. He has closing experience and actually got a save, which the Giants haven’t earned since Sept. 11. We’ll see how long he stays there.

Updated hierarchy: *Romo | Law | Smith.
* = closer-by-committee

Miami Marlins – With A.J. Ramos requiring a night off, it was David Phelps, and not Fernando Rodney, who faced the heart of the Washington order in the ninth inning. Phelps did the job, preserving a 1-0 lead and moving past Rodney in the Miami hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Ramos | Phelps | Rodney.

Chicago Cubs — The Cubs plan to activate Pedro Strop on Friday and he is expected to pitch that afternoon against the Cardinals. He is not expected, however, to see a ton of time on the mound prior to the postseason, as the Cubs anticipate Strop needing just four more innings of work upon his return.

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Rondon | Edwards.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Hector Neris, Philadelphia Phillies – If he doesn’t get the job outright on Wednesday, he may still vulture a chance from Jeanmar Gomez, who threw 22 pitches in an awful outing on Tuesday.
2. Mauricio Cabrera, Atlanta Braves – Jim Johnson has pitched in two straight and three of four.
3. Luke Gregerson, Houston Astros – Ken Giles has also pitched in two straight and three of four, including a 26-pitch outing on Tuesday.

All the Bay Area closers stink

September 20, 2016

Oakland A’s – Ryan Madson continued his free fall last night, getting touched up for two runs on three hits and taking the loss. He has struggled mightily in September, going 1-3 with a 7.71 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. While this is terrible news for Madson owners during fantasy playoffs, it is an opportunity for those owners desperate for saves. Both Ryan Dull and Sean Doolittle are good speculative options should Bob Melvin demote Madson.

Hierarchy remains: Madson | Dull | Doolittle.

San Francisco Giants – Another day, another Giants bullpen meltdown. Following a sterling performance by Madison Bumgarner, where he surrendered only one hit in seven innings, the bullpen gave up five hits and two runs while only recording three outs before Hunter Strickland gave up the walk-off double to Adrian Gonzalez to end the game. We have no answers here, and neither do the Giants.

Hierarchy remains: * Law | Strickland | Romo.
* = closer-by-committee

St. Louis Cardinals — Reminder: vulture saves win fantasy championships! As we predicted yesterday, Kevin Siegrist snagged his third save of the season, filling in for an unavailable Seung Hwan Oh.

Hierarchy remains: Oh | Siegrist | Bowman.

Miami Marlins – A.J. Ramos locked down the save after giving up a lead-off double to Wilson Ramos, and the Marlins are still in the wild card chase, albeit four games back. With Miami engaged in a race for the playoffs, we expect Ramos to be the clear number one option for saves for the rest of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Ramos | Rodney | Phelps.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Ryan Dull/Sean Doolittle, Oakland A’s – In addition to his recent struggles, Ryan Madson has went 1.1 innings last night. Seems like a good time for some rest.