Matt Bush could make a difference in the Texas bullpen

May 14, 2016

Texas Rangers — Matt Bush was the first overall pick as a shortstop in the 2004 draft, but his once-promising career was derailed by a series of alcohol-related arrests, culminating in a 39-month prison sentence for critically injuring a 72-year-old motorcyclist in a drunken hit-and-run accident. After his release, Bush was working as a baker at Golden Corral when the Rangers — very familiar with the work needed to support a recovering addict — offered him one final chance at baseball. Friday night, Bush made his major league debut, striking out reigning AL MVP Josh Donaldson and hitting 99 on the radar gun. He could be relevant right away in the late innings for Texas.

Hierarchy remains: Tolleson | Dyson | Diekman.

San Francisco Giants — Santiago Casilla apologized to Bruce Bochy for his outburst Thursday night, and the closer handled it much better Friday night when a lefty was called on to face Jake Lamb. Of course, it probably helped that Josh Osich came in to start the ninth, allowing Casilla to finish things off and earn his eighth save.

Hierarchy remains: Casilla | Osich | Gearrin.

Oakland A’s — Ryan Madson has now loaded the bases in an astonishing four straight appearances, escaping each time without a run allowed. With Sean Doolittle rounding into form, a five-game streak could see Madson’s Houdini act moved to an earlier showing.

Hierarchy remains: Madson | Doolittle | Axford.

Seattle Mariners — Joel Peralta and Steve Cishek each allowed two runs for a rare 2016 Seattle blown save.

Hierarchy remains: Cishek | Peralta | Vincent.

Los Angeles Angels — After Seattle blew the save, Fernando Salas came in for the ninth and picked up a save.

Hierarchy remains: Smith | Salas | Alvarez.

Washington Nationals — Dusty Baker used lefty Felipe Rivero to start the ninth to maximize the platoon advantage, then went to Jonathan Papelbon for the last two outs and the save. Nothing to see here.

Hierarchy remains: Papelbon | Kelley | Rivero.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Cory Gearrin/Hunter Strickland, San Francisco Giants — Casilla has now pitched in three straight, as has Osich.
2. Bryan Shaw/Zach McAllister, Cleveland Indians — Cody Allen has pitched in three of four (72 pitches). So has Shaw (51 pitches), so we’re not sure which set-up guy will get the call if Allen needs a rest.

Santiago Casilla is a man on the mound; here comes Big Will again

May 13, 2016

San Francisco Giants — For the second straight night, Santiago Casilla ran into trouble. He faced five batters, and while he did strike out two, he allowed the others to reach base via a walk and two hits. Bruce Bochy then summoned lefty specialist Javier Lopez to face Jake Lamb, enraging Casilla. “It shows the manager didn’t have faith in me,” Casilla told reporters after the game. “Don’t just take the ball and say nothing. It is not a kid. It is a man on the mound.” Bochy’s decision was likely based on Lamb’s complete inability to hit against lefties, not to mention his two career home runs in six at-bats against Casilla. Bochy vowed to talk to Casilla, and it’s unlikely that their spat will impact the closer role going forward.

Hierarchy remains: Casilla | Osich | Gearrin.

St. Louis Cardinals — With the Cardinals up five in the ninth on Thursday, the Angels didn’t give up, getting three runs off Seth Maness to make things interesting. In came Trevor Rosenthal, who walked the bases loaded (14 pitches; only 2 strikes!) before getting pulled for Kevin Siegrist, who finished the game for his first save. Over his last three appearances, Rosenthal has walked as many men as he’s retired. It’s unusual to see a closer with an identical ERA and WHIP (1.64); if Rosenthal’s control issues linger, manager Mike Matheny may have to start mixing in Siegrist more often.

Hierarchy remains: Rosenthal | Siegrist | Oh.

San Diego Padres — The Vulture Save Watch correctly projected a night off for Fernando Rodney, but it was Ryan Buchter — not Brandon Maurer — who earned his first career save Thursday (seemingly surprising Padres beat writers in the process). Buchter has been lights-out this season (0.54 ERA, 23 Ks in 16.2 IP, 0.96 WHIP), and should be considered the favorite to get a save when Rodney is unavailable.

Updated hierarchy: Rodney | Buchter | Maurer.

Milwaukee Brewers — Will Smith’s absence from this year’s Independence Day reboot is starting to make more sense now that we know he’s been cleared to throw off a mound for the first time since tearing his LCL in March. Before the injury, Smith projected as Milwaukee’s closer. Watch your back, y’all.

Hierarchy remains: Jeffress | Thornburg | Blazek.

Los Angeles Angels — Injured closer Huston Street is getting closer to returning; he played catch for the third straight day on Thursday and hopes to have a bullpen session next week.

Hierarchy remains: Smith | Salas | Alvarez.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Kevin Siegrist, St. Louis Cardinals — Trevor Rosenthal is battling control issues and has pitched in two straight games, throwing 36 pitches. Siegrist has also pitched in two straight, but he hasn’t had to work as hard (just 23 pitches).
2. Josh Osich, San Francisco Giants — Santiago Casilla has pitched in two straight, struggling a bit in both games. He threw 38 pitches and may need the night off. Osich and Cory Gearrin have also pitched in two straight, but they’ve worked lower-leverage situations, and Osich has thrown only 10 pitches.

Gavin Floyd is rising in the Toronto bullpen

May 12, 2016

Toronto Blue Jays — The Blue Jays emptied their bullpen in a 13-inning game last night, and among the pitchers used was Gavin Floyd. Floyd is a converted starter who has been seeing some high-leverage use for the Blue Jays this past week. His ERA sits at a tidy 1.65, and we think his recent performance has moved him slightly ahead of Jesse Chavez. We’re also watching Joe Biagini, a 25-year-old with only one run allowed in eight appearances so far.

Updated hierarchy: Osuna | Storen | Floyd.

Seattle Mariners — The Vulture Save Watch knew that Steve Cishek would need a night off, but it turns out Joel Peralta needed one too — which left a save opportunity for Nick Vincent. He blew the tough save, but has pitched well enough that he may keep seeing high-leverage work even after Joaquin Benoit returns from the DL, which may happen as soon as next week.

Hierarchy remains: Cishek | Peralta | Vincent.

Texas Rangers — As predicted by the Vulture Save Watch, Shawn Tolleson was unavailable last night, allowing Sam Dyson to pick up his first save of the year. Tolleson, who has a 2.19 ERA since his five-run debacle in early April, should be ready for the next save opportunity.

Hierarchy remains: Tolleson | Dyson | Diekman.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Brandon Maurer, San Diego Padres — Fernando Rodney threw 33 pitches to earn saves in both games of a doubleheader on Wednesday.
2. Addison Reed, New York Mets — Jeurys Familia has pitched on four of the last five days.

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.