Rafael Soriano and Tony Watson pick up saves

September 22, 2014

Washington Nationals – With their focus on the postseason, the Nationals left Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard — both of whom had pitched in back to back games — in the bullpen on Sunday and handed the save chance to embattled former closer Rafael Soriano. Soriano converted, but didn’t do much to make a case for himself to return to his old role, allowing a run to score.

Hierarchy remains: Storen | Clippard | Soriano.

Pittsburgh Pirates – Mark Melancon got the day off Sunday after pitching in three straight and four of five, allowing Tony Watson picked up his first save of the season. Chalk another one up for the Vulture Save Watch.

Hierarchy remains: Melancon | Watson | Holdzkom.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joe Smith, Los Angeles Angels – Huston Street has pitched in back to back games, and the Angels may want to get him some rest before the postseason.
2. Bryan Shaw, Cleveland Indians – The Indians are resuming a suspended game on Monday, wherein Cody Allen will likely pitch the bottom of the 10th inning. They will then play the Royals a second time, and if Allen can’t go in the nightcap, Bryan Shaw will get the save chance.
3. Kevin Quackenbush, San Diego Padres – Joaquin Benoit is back but might not be closing yet.

Ken Giles picks up first career save in Papelbon’s absence

September 21, 2014

Cleveland Indians – Marc Rzepczynski picked up a four out save last night.  Rzepczynski came on with two men on base in the 8th inning and the Indians up four runs.  He struck out the only batter he faced in the 8th and then pitched a 1-2-3 9th to record his first save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Allen | Shaw | Atchison.

San Diego Padres — Kevin Quackenbush recorded his 5th save of the season on Saturday night.  The Padres have said that Joaquin Benoit is available out of their bullpen, but they would prefer to use him in a lower leverage situation since he hasn’t pitched in over three weeks.

Hierarchy remains: Benoit | Quackenbush | Thayer.

Arizona Diamondbacks — Oliver Perez struck out four batters in one inning last night. Justin Morneau reached on a wild pitch after he struck out to lead off the inning, and Perez then struck out the next three batters he faced. Perez became the first pitcher in Diamondbacks history to achieve this rare feat.

Hierarchy remains: Reed | Marshall | Harris.

Philadelphia Phillies — Ken Giles pitched a perfect 9th inning last night for his first career save.  Giles will continue to see save chances while closer Jonathan Papelbon is suspended.

Hierarchy remains: Giles | Diekman | De Fratus.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Tony Watson, Pittsburgh Pirates – Mark Melancon has pitched in three straight and four of five.
2. Kevin Quackenbush, San Diego Padres – With Joaquin Benoit being used in lower-leverage situations, Kevin Quackenbush extends his record-long stay on the VSW for another day.

Jared Burton to close, Joaquin Benoit returns

September 20, 2014

Minnesota Twins – The Twins will indeed shut down Glen Perkins for the remainder of the season — the lefty has nerve inflammation in his elbow. Expect Jared Burton will likely get the bulk of the save opps the rest of the way, with Casey Fien also potentially getting a chance here or there.

Updated hierarchy: Burton | Fien | Duensing.

San Diego Padres — Joaquin Benoit is available again for the Padres but may not be used in save opportunities immediately.  Manager Bud Black reiterated that Benoit is their closer, but since he hasn’t pitched since August 26th, they might ease him back into the role.  Kevin Quackenbush should continue to see some save chances until Benoit is ready to take over full time.

Hierarchy remains: Benoit | Quackenbush | Thayer.

St. Louis Cardinals — Trevor Rosenthal started the 9th inning last night with the Cardinals protecting a one run lead but after a walk and a hit, he was replaced by veteran Randy Choate.  Choate got a big strikeout of Jay Bruce and then Seth Maness came on for the last out to pick up his third save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Rosenthal | Neshek | Martinez.

Chicago White Sox — The White Sox brought Jake Petricka on to get the last two outs in the 8th.  Lefty Eric Surkamp got the first out of the 9th, and then Zach Putnam recorded the last two outs to pick up the save.

Hierarchy remains: Petricka | Putnam | Guerra.

New York Yankees — Adam Warren recorded his third save of the season last night.  David Robertson and Dellin Betances were both given the night after pitching back-to-back games.

Update hierarchy: Robertson | Betances | Warren.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Pat Neshek, St. Louis Cardinals – Trevor Rosenthal has pitched in two straight and three of the last four.
2. Tony Watson, Pittsburgh Pirates – Mark Melancon has appeared in back-to-back games and three of the last four.
3. Kevin Quackenbush, San Diego Padres – Joaquin Benoit is back but might not close immediately.

Glen Perkins’s injury is minor, but he still may be shut down

September 19, 2014

Minnesota Twins – Glen Perkins has some nerve irritation, but the injury isn’t particularly serious. No word yet on if he’s going to be shut down for the season, but if so, Jared Burton is the best bet for saves in the season’s final week.

Hierarchy remains: Perkins | Burton | Fien.

Arizona Diamondbacks — Brad Ziegler underwent microfracture knee surgery on Tuesday and is 50/50 to make it back by April 2015. The end of the season can’t come soon enough for the Arizona bullpen, which suffered through yet another brutal outing by Addison Reed on Thursday night. In his last five outings, Reed has a 15.75 ERA and a 3.75 WHIP. He’d go to the Hot Seat, but at this point, Arizona might be jockeying for the first overall pick in the draft.

Updated hierarchy: Reed | Marshall | Harris.

Milwaukee Brewers – The Brewers, now 8-19 in their last 27 games, should be fighting with their every last breath for a shot to remain in the playoff race. Instead, they lost a 13-inning game yesterday in which their best reliever, Francisco Rodriguez, did not pitch, as he was presumably waiting for a save chance that never came. Yes, this is a site designed to help fantasy baseball owners, and those with K-Rod are probably fine with RRR’s decision to leave him in the wings while the Brewers lost yet again. But the “never pitch your closer without a lead on the road” is probably the single worst still-accepted old-school baseball stratagem out their right now, and we feel the need to rant about it at least once a season. SMH, RRR. SMH.

Hierarchy remains: Rodriguez | Broxton | Smith.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Kevin Quackenbush, San Diego Padres – Joaquin Benoit continues his valiant fight to maybe return on the last day of the season.
2. Evan Marshall, Arizona Diamondbacks — Addison Reed has had a rough time over the past two days.