Jim Johnson hits the DL

May 11, 2016

Atlanta Braves – Jim Johnson and his 7.90 ERA hit the DL on Tuesday. Ian Krol was recalled from Triple-A, but another lefty, Hunter Cervenka, has been terrific for the Braves since his debut on April 12, throwing 14 straight scoreless innings. Holds are rare from the Braves bullpen, but Cervenka may be a source while Johnson is on the mend.

Updated hierarchy: Vizcaino | Grilli | Cervenka.

Minnesota Twins — Kevin Jepsen’s struggles continued on Tuesday when he entered the ninth inning with the score tied and exited with his team trailing by two. Paul Molitor was silent on the issue after the game, but Trevor May’s 1.89 ERA and eight straight scoreless appearances continue to lurk. The ice has to be extremely thin for Jepsen.

Hierarchy remains: Jepsen | May | Pressly.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Trevor May, Minnesota Twins – Kevin Jepsen threw 30 pitches on Tuesday and may get the night off after his rough ninth inning.
2. Andrew Miller, New York Yankees – Aroldis Chapman earned his first save as a Yankee on Tuesday, but he has thrown on back-to-back days.
3. Joel Peralta, Seattle Mariners – Steve Cishek got a four-out save on Tuesday and has tossed 79 pitches in three appearances over the last four days.
4. Sam Dyson, Texas Rangers – Shawn Tolleson has thrown 39 pitches over the last two games.
5. Drew Storen, Toronto Blue Jays – Roberto Osuna has appeared in three straight games, throwing 50 pitches in that span.

Two saves in a row for Tony Cingrani

May 10, 2016

Detroit Tigers – Tigers skipper Brad Ausmus has refused to deploy his bullpen arms with any consistency, preferring to mix and match based on usage and match-ups. That said, right-hander Mark Lowe has struggled regardless of what inning he has pitched in lately, culminating in a loss last night which sent his ERA close to 8. Justin Wilson has pitched more effectively of late.

Updated hierarchy: Rodriguez | J. Wilson | Lowe.

Cincinnati Reds – Another day, another Reds update. Tony Cingrani picked up his second save of the season last night — and second consecutive for the Reds — in a classic, one-run save situation. He would be our choice to close out games, and we expect that he will lead the committee going forward.

Updated hierarchy: *Cingrani | Ohlendorf | Wood.
* = closer-by-committee

Miami Marlins – AJ Ramos had a rough night last night, walking three straight Brewers while trying to maintain a four-run lead. He gave up one run before getting bailed out by Bryan Morris, who nabbed his first save of the season. Despite his poor outing, Ramos is still the guy in South Florida.

Hierarchy remains: Ramos | Phelps | Barraclough.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Addison Reed, New York Mets – Jeurys Familia has pitched in three straight.
2. Zach Duke, Chicago White Sox – This bullpen has been abused in recent days, with both David Robertson and Nate Jones getting a lot of work. If they both get a night off, Duke got grab a save chance.

Aroldis Chapman is back and ready to fire away

May 9, 2016

New York Yankees – Aroldis Chapman was reinstated from his 30-game suspension this morning and will close immediately for the Yankees. Andrew Miller has done a stellar job in his place and becomes perhaps one of the best middle relievers in the game — he’s worth holding on to, especially if the Yankees continue to sputter and look to (gasp!) rebuild.

Updated hierarchy: Chapman | Miller | Betances.

Cincinnati Reds – After Blake Wood gave up the tying run in the 7th inning, Ross Ohlendorf was summoned to keep the game tied in the 8th and immediately surrendered a go-ahead home run to Jonathan Lucroy. Ohlendorf and Tony Cingrani continue to be the most likely options to close for Cincinnati, with this outing perhaps giving the edge to the lefty.

Hierarchy remains: *Ohlendorf | Cingrani | Wood.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Daniel Hudson, Arizona Diamondbacks – Brad Ziegler has pitched in three straight.
2. Xavier Cedeno, Tampa Bay Rays – Alex Colome has pitched in three straight.
3. Pedro Strop, Chicago Cubs – Hector Rondon pitched in four straight from Wednesday to Saturday, and could potentially need a second day off to recover.
4. Pedro Baez, Los Angeles Dodgers – Kenley Jansen has pitched in back to back games, including an outing that spanned parts of two innings on Sunday.

Shawn Kelley keeps throwing up zeroes

May 8, 2016

Washington Nationals — For the second night in a row, Blake Treinen came on in the sixth inning. Shawn Kelley has a 0.00 ERA and has been pitching later in games than Treinen. Kelley was signed this off-season to be the primary set-up man for Jonathan Papelbon, and it looks like he is finally starting to pitch like he deserves to be in that role.

Updated hierarchy: Papelbon | Kelley | Rivero.

Cincinnati Reds — A day after the Reds’ bullpen ended their streak of consecutive games allowing a run, they decided to start a new streak. Caleb Cotham gave up five runs while recording no outs in the tenth inning.  Cotham has really struggled recently, giving up ten runs in his past five appearances. Blake Wood hasn’t allowed a run in his four May outings, and replaces Cotham on our hierarchy for now. The Reds also optioned J.J. Hoover to the minors.

Updated hierarchy: *Ohlendorf | Cingrani | Wood.
* = closer-by-committee

Minnesota Twins — Casey Fien was claimed off waivers by the Dodgers yesterday. Ryan Pressly, who has 19 strikeouts in 17 innings, should see time in the later innings.

Updated hierarchy: Jepsen | May | Pressly.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Pedro Strop, Chicago Cubs  – Hector Rondon has pitched in four straight.
2. Will Harris, Houston Astros – Luke Gregerson has pitched in three straight and four of the past five.
3. Joel Peralta, Seattle Mariners – Steve Cishek threw 35 pitches over two innings yesterday and has pitched in three of the past four.
4. Xavier Cedeno, Tampa Bay Rays – Alex Colome has appeared on two straight and three of the past four.

Jesse Chavez and Cory Gearrin are moving up

May 7, 2016

Toronto Blue Jays — After the Jays called on a shaky Drew Storen to finish off a 5-2 win over the Dodgers, John Gibbons explained that Roberto Osuna was unavailable with a mild groin strain. Osuna, speaking through a translator (to the bafflement of Blue Jay Twitter), said he’d be fine for Saturday, but Gibbons wasn’t ready to commit. Meanwhile, Brett Cecil continues to be used primarily as a lefty specialist, while Jesse Chavez has impressed (16 K in 10.2 IP). As long as Chavez stays in the bullpen, he has a chance at high-leverage work.

Updated hierarchy: Osuna | Storen | Chavez.

San Francisco Giants — Cory Gearrin isn’t striking guys out, but he’s retiring them nonetheless, and Bruce Bochy appreciates his calm demeanor in the late innings. He finished the eighth last night in a tight win over the Rockies. Gearrin, whose last save came three years ago (but was still predicted by the Vulture Save Watch), is definitely in the mix to pick up another if Santiago Casilla needs a rest.

Updated hierarchy: Casilla | Osich | Gearrin.

Cincinnati Reds — The Reds finally grabbed their second save of the year, after only 30 games. Tony Cingrani earned it by escaping an eighth-inning jam, then finishing things up in the ninth while Ross Ohlendorf warmed. With four scoreless innings, the bullpen’s record streak of consecutive games allowing a run ended at 23. After the game, Bryan Price praised Cingrani, but confirmed that he is not the team’s sole closer.

Hierarchy remains: *Ohlendorf | Cingrani | Cotham.
* = closer-by-committee

Miami Marlins — As we predicted, A.J. Ramos got a break on Friday, and David Phelps nailed down his second vulture save for the red-hot Fish.

Hierarchy remains: Ramos | Phelps | Barraclough.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Drew Storen, Toronto Blue Jays — If Osuna’s groin stays balky, Storen could get another save chance.
2. Brandon Maurer, San Diego Padres — Fernando Rodney has fired arrows in four of five (and five of seven) and might get Saturday off to replenish his quiver.
3. Dellin Betances/Chasen Shreve, New York Yankees — Andrew Miller needed 36 pitches and a Big Papi hissyfit to escape the ninth on Friday (by the way, that ugly 3-1 pitch was somehow a strike). The Yankees haven’t needed a closer too often lately, but Betances or Shreve could get the call Saturday. Remember: on Monday, Aroldis Chapman comes back.
4. Pedro Strop, Chicago Cubs — Hector Rondon hasn’t thrown many pitches, but he’s been used on three straight days.