Mike Morin grabs a save; Jonathan Papelbon grabs Bryce Harper’s neck

September 28, 2015

Washington Nationals – Putting up ho-hum closer numbers since coming over via trade, Jonathan Papelbon hasn’t exactly endeared himself to Nationals fans just yet, so he decided the best way to win them over was to go all Homer Simpson on their best and most popular player. The scrum developed after Harper didn’t run hard on a pop fly, and Papelbon — always a poster child for giving it his all, even when the playoffs are out of the picture — took exception. With the Nats now eliminated from playoff contention — and Papelbon probably not especially welcome in the clubhouse right now anyway — expect him to drop his appeal and serve his suspension any day now. As mentioned previously, we figure on a committee for save chances in his absence.

Hierarchy remains: Papelbon | Treinen | Rivero.

Los Angeles Angels – Mike Morin picked up the first save in the Angels committee, pitching a clean ninth inning. Trevor Gott had pitched in four of the previous five and was held out of action, and we still think he’s probably the best bet for saves in the season’s final week. But Morin does leapfrog Fernando Salas, and one more save could put him firmly in the driver’s seat for the final few opportunities of the year.

Updated hierarchy: *Gott | Morin | Salas.
* = closer-by-committee 

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Blake Treinen, Washington Nationals – Even if he doesn’t drop his appeal, Jonathan Papelbon threw 32 pitches yesterday in a terrible outing, and has gone two days in a row.

Street injures groin, Harris records save

September 27, 2015

Los Angeles Angels — Huston Street had to be helped off the field last night after he injured his groin.  With Joe Smith also injured, the Angels will use a committee to close out games.  Trevor Gott pitched the eighth inning and we think he will be the head of the committee.  Righties Fernando Salas and Mike Morin could also be in the mix, while lefty Jose Alvarez might be used if the match-ups dictate it.

Updated hierarchy: *Gott | Salas | Morin.
* = closer-by-committee

Houston Astros — The Astros brought in closer Luke Gregerson to protect a five run lead yesterday.  He struck out the first two batters but then gave up four straight hits and hit a batter and was pulled.  Will Harris came on to get the last out and record his second save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Gregerson | Neshek | Harris.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Mike Morin/Fernando Salas, Los Angeles Angels – With Street and Smith out for the Angels, they will use a committee that could include Morin and Salas.
2. Pat Neshek, Houston Astros – Luke Gregerson threw 28 pitches in a rough outing yesterday
3. Aaron Sanchez/Brett Cecil, Toronto Blue Jays – Roberto Osuna has pitched in two straight and three of the last four.

Huston Street leaves with injury

September 27, 2015

Los Angeles Angels — Huston Street left Saturday’s game with an apparent groin injury.  The injury appeared to be serious, as Street needed to be helped off the field.  With Joe Smith also injured, Trevor Gott pitched the eighth inning and could see saves if Street and Smith are both out with injury.  Righties Fernando Salas and Mike Morin could also be in the mix, while lefty Jose Alvarez might be used if the match-ups dictate it.

Updated hierarchy: Gott | Salas | Morin.

Phillies will keep Jonathan Papelbon out of the playoffs again

September 26, 2015

Washington Nationals — Jonathan Papelbon was handed a three-game suspension for throwing at Manny Machado’s head on Wednesday night. Papelbon’s pending appeal will allow him to be on the bench — or maybe even the mound! — when his old team eliminates Washington from the playoffs, as early as Saturday. When Papelbon finally does sit out, the Nats have a vast array of mediocre options to take his spot. Matt Thornton has been seeing more LOOGYish usage lately, so we’d put him a hair behind Blake Treinen, Felipe Rivero, and Casey Janssen at this point. You’ll probably be better off avoiding the whole lot.

Updated hierarchy: Papelbon | Treinen | Rivero.

Detroit Tigers — With Bruce Rondon out of the picture, it looks like the Tigers are riding with Neftali Feliz, Proven Closer™, regardless of his 6.00+ ERA. Alex Wilson might get the next save chance to give Feliz a rest, but with the Tigers out of the playoffs, Brad Ausmus plans to go easy on him and Blaine Hardy.

Updated hierarchy: Feliz | Wilson | Hardy.

Oakland A’s — Pitching for the first time in nine days, Sean Doolittle entered in the eighth inning with a man on first. He let the first three men reach (single, single, walk), got a foul popout, then labored through the ninth for a grueling 38-pitch save. Ryan Dull got the seventh and eighth before him and (although he was touched for his first earned runs) seems to have moved ahead of Drew Pomeranz.

Updated hierarchy: *Doolittle | Dull | Pomeranz.
* = closer-by-committee

Miami Marlins — Guess we spoke too soon on that whole Carter Capps return. The simulated game went fine, but he woke up the next day with “discomfort,” and decided to shut it down for the year. If Bill James and Rob Neyer have their way, Capps’s funky delivery could be outlawed in the offseason. The Marlins are suffering without him, giving back five runs from a six-run lead in the seventh and eighth on Friday night. Bryan Morris and Mike Dunn pitched to three batters and put each one on base.

Hierarchy remains: Ramos | Dunn | Morris.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jairo Diaz, Colorado Rockies — With a three-run lead in the ninth, Walt Weiss used John Axford in his third straight game, because the most important thing is chalking up that save. If Diaz has recovered from going in three straight from Tuesday to Thursday, he might get a shot on Saturday.
2. Ryan Dull/Drew Pomeranz, Oakland A’s — Sean Doolittle threw a ton of pitches on Friday.
3. Joakim Soria, Pittsburgh Pirates — Mark Melancon has pitched in three of four (and five of seven).
4. Alex Wilson, Detroit Tigers — Neftali Feliz has pitched in three of four also.
5. Kyle Barraclough, Miami Marlins — A.J. Ramos has gone in three straight, although he’s only needed a total of 31 pitches. Mike Dunn and Bryan Morris have also pitched in three straight, poorly. Barraclough (pronounced like the pastry) got the Marlins out of Friday’s jam, and he’s looked impressive in his two months with the team.

Greg Holland is likely to need Tommy John surgery

September 25, 2015

Kansas City Royals — Former All-Star closer Greg Holland is out for the year with what’s being called a “significant” tear in his right UCL, meaning Tommy John surgery is the likely option. Manager Ned Yost believes that Holland suffered the tear last August, meaning that he pitched through the World Series and most of this year with it. The Royals reportedly asked him to get his elbow checked repeatedly, but he refused until recently. Holland will be out for a good chunk of 2016, too, so Wade Davis is your man for now if you’re in a dynasty league.

Hierarchy remains: Davis | Herrera | Madson.

Tampa Bay Rays — Jake McGee, who had arthroscopic knee surgery in August, will be available to pitch Friday night. After throwing a 30-pitch simulated inning Wednesday, he arrived at the ballpark “feeling good” on Thursday. Meanwhile, Brad Boxberger picked up the save Thursday and has pitched in three straight. Could McGee get thrown into the fire right away?

Updated hierarchy: Boxberger | Cedeno | McGee.

Pittsburgh Pirates — Congratulations are due for Mark Melancon, who converted his major-league-leading 50th save in 52 chances Thursday. Those are a bunch of saves for a guy everyone had concerns about in mid-April. Melancon managed to pitch well all season (1.86 ERA, 0.91 WHIP) despite dips in his K/9 ratio (down to 6.81/9) and pitch velocities.

Hierarchy remains: Melancon | Soria | Watson.

Miami Marlins — Carter Capps — one of the five toughest pitchers David Ortiz has ever faced — threw a successful simulated game on Thursday and could return as early as this weekend.

Hierarchy remains: Ramos | Dunn | Morris.

Baltimore Orioles — Somehow, the Orioles are still in wild card contention, just three games back in the loss column with 10 to go. They’ve played extremely well of late and could find themselves in a bunch of save situations down the stretch. Who would get those chances, however, is less clear. For the third straight day, Darren O’Day did the honors Thursday, converting his sixth save of the season. Regular closer Zach Britton had an MRI on his injured lat earlier this week that revealed no serious damage. He’s still day-to-day with the injury.

Hierarchy remains: Britton | O’Day | Brach.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Brad Brach, Baltimore Orioles — Darren O’Day has pitched in three straight days, so if Zach Britton isn’t ready to go, Brach could get the opportunity.
2. Xavier Cedeno/Jake McGee, Tampa Bay Rays — McGee is scheduled to return Friday night, but would manager Kevin Cash give him the ball in the ninth right away? Either Cedeno or Alex Colome could also pick up the save chance Friday if Brad Boxberger, who has pitched in three straight days, isn’t available.
3. Kelvin Herrera, Kansas City Royals — On Thursday, the Royals clinched the division for the first time in 30 years, but also learned that they will be without Greg Holland for the forseeable future. Holland’s replacement, Wade Davis, has pitched in two straight days, so with KC clinching, he could be held out of action on Friday night. Look for Herrera to possibly get the chance.
4. Justin Miller, Colorado Rockies — OK, hear us out here. John Axford pitched Thursday, and has now thrown 41 pitches over back-to-back games. Jairo Diaz, who took the loss Thursday, has now pitched in three straight days. So let’s turn to Miller, who picked up a vulture save earlier this month.
5. Joaquin Benoit, San Diego Padres — Craig Kimbrel grabbed his second win in as many nights, and has thrown 40 pitches over that span. If he’s not able to go on Friday night, Benoit could get the chance.