Addison Reed getting important work for the surging Mets

September 12, 2015

New York Mets — With Hansel Robles in the Dominican Republic for his grandfather’s funeral, the Mets turned to former Diamondbacks closer Addison Reed in the seventh inning of a one-run game. Reed, who has a 0.00 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in seven appearances as a Met, struck out the side. Robles has been excellent, but Reed has experience that the team might value even more down the stretch.

Updated hierarchy: Familia | Clippard | Reed.

Kansas City Royals — Kelvin Herrera is pitching again, and he got a key strikeout to close out the seventh inning with a one-run lead on Friday. Although he later got touched for three earned runs in a ten-run eighth, it was due to an error and an infield single that set up a grand slam — and when Franklin Morales relieved Herrera, Morales pitched even worse. We think Herrera keeps the seventh inning role going forward.

Updated hierarchy: Holland | Davis | Herrera.

Colorado Rockies — Justin Miller, who spent July and much of August getting high-leverage work for Colorado, has been moved back into that role since returning from Albuquerque. Miller pitched the seventh after Scott Oberg on Thursday, and entered a tight eighth on Friday night to strike out Nelson Cruz.

Updated hierarchy: Axford | Diaz | Miller.

Los Angeles Dodgers — Jim Johnson pitched the fourth down 10, which is enough to elevate Chris Hatcher past him in the Dodger pecking order.

Updated hierarchy: Jansen | Hatcher | Johnson.

Toronto Blue Jays — Brett Cecil set a Blue Jays record with his 26th consecutive scoreless appearance on Friday night.

Hierarchy remains: Osuna | Sanchez | Cecil.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Mike Dunn, Miami Marlins — A.J. Ramos has pitched in three of four (50 pitches).
2. Antonio Bastardo, Pittsburgh Pirates — Stay with us here. Mark Melancon has gone in three of four (57 pitches). Joakim Soria has pitched in three straight and Tony Watson has thrown 60 pitches in three days. Arquimedes Caminero has been used in four of five, and he gave up two hits in his brief Friday appearance. Bastardo got a vulture save back in July, so don’t be surprised to see him ring up another.
3. Tyler Clippard/Addison Reed, New York Mets — Terry Collins is riding Jeurys Familia hard in the playoff push, using him on four of five days (55 pitches). If Hansel Robles is back, he might get this chance, since both Clippard and Reed have been used a lot too.
4. Jairo Diaz, Colorado Rockies — John Axford has gone in two straight and threw 27 pitches yesterday.

Glen Perkins loves him some cortisone

September 11, 2015

Minnesota Twins — Glen Perkins received a cortisone shot earlier this week, and tweeted yesterday morning that he “felt great” after doing “40 back bridges, 10 min on elliptical, 30 wall squats, 30 calf raises.” Perkins added that he intends to play catch on Saturday, which could lead to a return during your fantasy playoffs. Of course, he won’t be the closer immediately when he does return.

Hierarchy remains: Jepsen | May | Fien.

Milwaukee Brewers — Kyle Lohse has been in the league for 15 years, and through 400+ career appearances before this year, he never converted a save opportunity. He’s now 2-for-2 this year after protecting a one-run lead in the 13th inning last night. K-Rod had his own chance in the 12th, but allowed a run for a blown save (but also the win). Lohse does not and should never figure into the regular late-inning plans for the Brewers.

Hierarchy remains: Rodriguez | Smith | Jeffress.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Zach McAllister/Jeff Manship, Cleveland Indians 
— Cody Allen (65 pitches) and Bryan Shaw (64) have each pitched four of the last five days, and we could get a chance to see if McAllister or Manship is next up in this pen. We’re also rooting for this vulture save to give us an excuse to update the Indians for the first time in eight weeks.
2. Drew Pomeranz, Oakland A’s
— Don’t get us wrong: Sean Doolittle is likely taking over the closer’s role for the rest of the season after recording his first save earlier this week. (He was so happy with the accomplishment that he was seen staying late to sign autographs for fans. Nice touch!) But until we see Doolittle convert a second straight save, or get any further confirmation from the A’s, keep an eye on Pomeranz too.
3. Jean Machi/Junichi Tazawa, Boston Red Sox — The Red Sox have actually played pretty well for about a month, so the save chances could keep on coming. But who will convert them? Leading a hodgepodge of options is Robbie Ross Jr., it seems. Look for Junichi Tazawa or maybe even Jean Machi to compete for interim manager Torey Lovullo’s trust, too. 

Kevin Jepsen to remain Twins closer

September 10, 2015

Minnesota Twins — Kevin Jepsen has been excellent since taking over the closer role, including a perfect 12th inning last night to pick up his 12th save. The only run he has given up in his time as the closer was in a game on Sept. 5, and he still earned the save. Manager Paul Molitor has taken notice as well and has said that Glen Perkins will not immediately be the closer if/when he comes back. The injured reliever is currently considering a cortisone injection in his lower back.

Hierarchy remains: Jepsen | May | Fien.

Arizona Diamondbacks – David Hernandez has made four straight appearances with the Diamondbacks trailing and seems to have lost responsibility for the 7th inning. Randall Delgado has been the beneficiary, as he took the 7th for the second straight time last night. That’s enough to slide into our hierarchy, but, barring injury, Ziegler and Hudson have a lock on any save opportunities.

Updated hierarchy: Ziegler | Hudson | Delgado.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joakim Soria, Pittsburgh Pirates – Mark Melancon has thrown 47 pitches over the last two games.
2. Tyler Clippard, New York Mets – Jeurys Familia has pitched in three straight games.

Robbie Ross rising in Boston; Bruce Rondon stinks again

September 9, 2015

Boston Red Sox — Jean Machi actually pitched well for the Sox on Tuesday, but it happened to be in the sixth inning of a 1-1 game. He induced a double play to get out of a jam, and in a bullpen in which, save for Junichi Tazawa in the 8th, there are “no set roles,” it seems logical that you would use any pitcher in any important spot, no matter the inning. Manager Torey Lovullo reiterated that he will “mix and match,” but Robbie Ross Jr pitched a clean ninth at home to keep the game tied, and he may be the best pitcher right now in the Sox bullpen. We’ll put Ross at the top of the committee, with Machi right behind him. Next save chance is up for grabs.

Updated hierarchy: *Ross | Machi | Tazawa.
* = closer-by-committee

Detroit Tigers – So much for dropping that asterisk. Bruce Rondon struggled again, and this time was unable to protect a one-run lead and convert the save. After the 13-inning affair, manager Brad Ausmus admitted that Rondon has struggled over his last couple of outings, but didn’t want to “pontificate on the rest of the year.” The asterisk will stay off for now, but Rondon needs to turn it around in a hurry if he wants to keep seeing save chances.

Hierarchy remains: Rondon | Wilson | Hardy.

Texas Rangers – Keone Kela made his first appearance since feeling discomfort in his elbow last week, and he struck out two in a perfect eighth inning to keep Texas ahead by two. Manager Jeff Banister said after the game that they will see how Kela is on Wednesday, but if he continues to pitch like that, it will be hard to keep him out very much as the Rangers battle for a playoff spot.

Updated hierarchy: Tolleson | Kela | Dyson.

Chicago Cubs — Fernando Rodney has allowed just two hits and one run in five appearances since being traded to the Cubs, including a 1-2-3 eighth inning on Tuesday to preserve an 8-5 lead. Joe Maddon appears to have the magic touch that has turned Rodney into a reliable reliever for a likely playoff team.

Updated hierarchy: Rondon | Strop | Rodney.

San Diego Padres — The Padres bullpen has battled injuries of late, with both Shawn Kelley and Joaquin Benoit dealing with problems. Benoit (back spasms) and Kelley (forearm) were both unavailable on Tuesday, which led to Kevin Quackenbush picking up an eighth-inning hold. Quackenbush isn’t supposed to be part of the late-inning plans, but may get more looks if Benoit and Kelley are still nursing their respective injuries. Benoit is day-to-day and the Padres hope to know more about Kelley on Wednesday after he played catch before Tuesday’s game.

Updated hierarchy: Kimbrel | Benoit | Quackenbush.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jim Johnson, Los Angeles Dodgers – Kenley Jansen has pitched in four out of five games and will most likely be unavailable Wednesday.
2. Jean Machi, Boston Red Sox – Even though Robbie Ross is at the top of the committee, the ninth inning in Boston is up for grabs.
3. Alex Wilson, Detroit Tigers – Bruce Rondon has thrown 50 pitches over back-to-back rough outings.
4. Sergio Romo, San Francisco Giants – Santiago Casilla has appeared in three of the last four games.

Sean Doolittle gets his first save; Bruce Rondon still inconsistent

September 8, 2015

Detroit Tigers – Even when he converts a save, Bruce Rondon does little to assure the Tigers that they’re making the right move in handing him the closer role. Yesterday, he was asked to get the final two outs of a 1-run game, and responded by walking the first hitter, allowing a flyout and single, walking another hitter, and then finally inducing a game-ending force play that was so tight that the Rays challenged the call at 2nd base, which would have meant a tie game if overturned. Still, Rondon did get the job done, and no one else has gotten a save chance in a while. We’ll remove his asterisk under the pretense that he’s still maybe the shakiest “full-time” closer in baseball right now.

Updated hierarchy: Rondon | Wilson | Hardy.

Colorado Rockies – The only bright spot in the Rockies’ car wreck of a bullpen lately has been Jairo Diaz, a 24-year-old righty who has allowed only 1 run in 8 innings of work this season. His peripherals aren’t great, but any form of production means that Walt Weiss gives you a shot, and yesterday, Weiss combined Diaz with lefty specialist Boone Logan to get through the 8th inning. Good enough for us.

Updated hierarchy: Axford | Diaz | Oberg.

Oakland A’s – We speculated yesterday morning that Sean Doolittle would get the first save chance the next time the A’s were in a tight game, and sure enough, that opportunity came that very afternoon. Doolittle needed only five pitches — two pop outs and a three-pitch strikeout — to convert, and with his velocity continuing to climb, he looks to be in the driver’s seat for saves in Oakland the rest of the season.

Hierarchy remains: *Doolittle | Pomeranz | Venditte.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. J.J. Hoover, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in back to back games; he hasn’t yet gone three in a row since shoulder fatigue sidelined him last month.
2. Drew Pomeranz, Oakland A’s – Sean Doolittle has pitched in back to back games and three of four, and is only a few weeks removed from the DL.