Miami Marlins – Steve Cishek struggled coming in with a man on 2nd and nobody out in the 9th inning against the Diamondbacks. He got 2 outs, but was lifted for set-up man Mike Dunn after a single and a walk. Dunn, who came in sporting a 1.77 ERA on the year, walked his first batter before closing the game out and leaving the bases loaded. Dunn is most likely to get save chances if Cishek is pulled from the closer role, though that seems unlikely at this point. No hierarchy change
Jansen used in 8th, Axford picks up win.
May 19, 2013
Los Angeles Dodgers – With 1 out in the 8th and the Dodgers up 1, Don Mattingly went to Kenley Jansen. Jansen immediately gave up a 2 run homer to Evan Gattis and ended up taking the loss. Mattingly will continue to use his best reliever Jansen in high pressure situations. For Kenley owners, hopefully these high-pressure situations will occur in the 9th inning more often than otherwise. However, it appears Brandon League will still see save opportunities on nights when Jansen is used prior to the 9th. Kenley Jansen to Hot Seat.
| . | Closer | . | Set-Up | . | 2nd in line | . | 2014 Closer | . | Updated | |
| LAD | Kenley Jansen | Brandon League | Paco Rodriguez | Kenley Jansen | 5/19/13 |
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Milwaukee Brewers – John Axford got the final out of the 8th inning and stayed on to pitch a scoreless 9th with the game tied. He ended up getting the win after the Brewers scored two runs in the 10th inning, and if he continues to pitch well, he should work his way back towards the back end of the Brewers bullpen. Hierarchy change: John Axford to 2nd in line, replacing Burke Badenhop.
| . | Closer | . | Set-Up | . | 2nd in line | . | 2014 Closer | . | Updated | |
| MIL | Jim Henderson | Brandon Kintzler | John Axford | Jim Henderson | 5/19/13 | |||||
| Tom Gorzelanny (DL) |
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Atlanta Braves – Another day, another injury for the Braves bullpen. This time it was Eric O’Flaherty landing on the DL and he will visit Dr. James Andrews later this week so it doesn’t sound good. Cory Gearrin pitched the 8th yesterday and Freddi Gonzalez said after the game that he will use Gearrin and lefty Luis Avilan based on matchups. Hierarchy change: Cory Gearrin to set-up, Eric O’Flaherty to DL.
| . | Closer | . | Set-Up | . | 2nd in line | . | 2014 Closer | . | Updated | |
| ATL | Craig Kimbrel | Cory Gearrin | Luis Avilan | Craig Kimbrel | 5/19/13 | |||||
| Eric O’Flaherty (DL) | Jordan Walden (DL) |
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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Brandon League, Los Angeles Dodgers – Brandon League could get a save on any night if Jansen is needed before the 9th
2. Luke Gregerson, San Diego Padres – Huston Street has pitched in back to back nights and four of the last five.
3. Carlos Martinez, St. Louis Cardinals – Edward Mujica and Trevor Rosenthal have both pitched two nights in a row and three of the last four.
Storen, Peralta, Uehara pick up saves
May 18, 2013
Tampa Bay Rays – As predicted in yesterday’s vulture save watch, Joel Peralta recorded the save last night. Fernando Rodney was warming up in the 9th but Joe Madden did not need to bring him in as Peralta pitched a perfect 9th. No hierarchy change.
| . | Closer | . | Set-Up | . | 2nd in line | . | 2014 Closer | . | Updated | |
| TB | Fernando Rodney | Joel Peralta | Jake McGee | Fernando Rodney | 5/18/13 |
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Boston Red Sox — Koji Uehara picked up the save on Friday night. Junichi Tazawa pitched 2 innings while getting the win on Thursday night so it appears John Farrell wanted to give him a day off last night. Andrew Bailey is expected to come back on Monday and Farrell has already said that he will return to the close role. No hierarchy change.
| . | Closer | . | Set-Up | . | 2nd in line | . | 2014 Closer | . | Updated | |
| BOS | Junichi Tazawa | Koji Uehara | Craig Breslow | Andrew Bailey | 5/18/13 | |||||
| Andrew Bailey (DL) |
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Washington Nationals – Drew Storen picked up an extra-inning save last night. Rafael Soriano gave up 2 unearned runs in the 9th for the blown save and Tyler Clippard had already appeared in the game. No hierarchy change.
| . | Closer | . | Set-Up | . | 2nd in line | . | 2014 Closer | . | Updated | |
| WAS | Rafael Soriano | Tyler Clippard | Drew Storen | Rafael Soriano | 5/18/13 |
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Atlanta Braves – Jordan Walden was placed on the DL Friday due to right shoulder inflammation. Luis Avilan pitched the 7th inning ahead of O’Flaherty and Kimbrel and picked up his 5th hold of the season. Hierarchy change: Luis Avilan to 2nd in line, Jordan Walden to DL.
| . | Closer | . | Set-Up | . | 2nd in line | . | 2014 Closer | . | Updated | |
| ATL | Craig Kimbrel | Eric O’Flaherty | Luis Avilan | Craig Kimbrel | 5/18/13 | |||||
| Jordan Walden (DL) |
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Cleveland Indians – Vinnie Pestano returned from the DL last night and picked up the win in extra innings. He should immediately take over the set-up role. Hierarchy change: Vinnie Pestano to Set-up, Joe Smith to 2nd in line.
| . | Closer | . | Set-Up | . | 2nd in line | . | 2014 Closer | . | Updated | |
| CLE | Chris Perez | Vinnie Pestano | Joe Smith | Chris Perez | 5/18/13 |
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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Tyler Clippard, Washington Nationals – Rafael Soriano has pitched in two straight games and hasn’t pitched in three straight yet this season.
2. Matt Thornton, Chicago White Sox – Addison Reed and Jesse Crain have both pitched two nights in a row and three of the last four.
3. Luke Gregerson, San Diego Padres – Huston Street took the loss in extra innings last night and has pitched in three of the last four games
Brandon Lyon re-establishing himself; Fernando Rodney struggling
May 17, 2013
Detroit Tigers – After taking the loss on Wednesday, Al Alburquerque was sent to the minors to work on his control. With 26 Ks in 14.1 innings, Alburquerque has electric stuff, but he’d walked 13 batters and thrown six wild pitches, good to lead the majors (which is hard to do as a reliever). Drew Smyly has a 1.88 ERA on the season and might see more holds in Alburquerque’s absence. Hierarchy change: Drew Smyly to 2nd in line, replacing Al Alburquerque.
| . | Closer | . | Set-Up | . | 2nd in line | . | 2014 Closer | . | Updated | |
| DET | Jose Valverde | Joaquin Benoit | Drew Smyly | Bruce Rondon | 5/17/13 |
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New York Mets – With five straight scoreless outings — the fifth of which came last night in the 8th inning — Brandon Lyon has worked his way back into relevancy in the beleaguered Mets bullpen. LaTroy Hawkins is headed in the other direction, having given up runs in his last three appearances. Hierarchy change: Brandon Lyon to Set-up, LaTroy Hawkins to 2nd in line.
| . | Closer | . | Set-Up | . | 2nd in line | . | 2014 Closer | . | Updated | |
| NYM | Bobby Parnell | Brandon Lyon | LaTroy Hawkins | Bobby Parnell | 5/17/13 | |||||
| Frank Francisco (DL) |
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Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman took a tough blown save last night, taking over for Mat Latos in the 9th with a 1-run lead and a runner on 3rd with 1 out. Chapman allowed the runner to score, and after the Reds retook the lead in the 10th, it was J.J. Hoover who closed the game out. Hoover was warming when the game was still 2-2, so this isn’t an indication that he’s passed Jonathan Broxton on the depth chart. But, due to various game circumstances, he’s now picked up 3 saves in May and deserves a place on the Reds depth chart. Hierarchy change: J.J. Hoover to 2nd in line, replacing Sean Marshall.
| . | Closer | . | Set-Up | . | 2nd in line | . | 2014 Closer | . | Updated | |
| CIN | Aroldis Chapman | Jonathan Broxton | J.J. Hoover | Jonathan Broxton | 5/17/13 |
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Tampa Bay Rays – After another dreadful outing, Fernando Rodney now has a 5.28 ERA and 3 blown saves in 10 tries this year. Joe Madden gave him a vote of confidence after the game, saying: “I’m not really concerned yet. I’m not running away from Fernando. We’ll get him right.” We are, though, especially with reliable set-up man Joel Peralta (1.96 ERA) having another solid season. Fernando Rodney to Hot Seat.
| . | Closer | . | Set-Up | . | 2nd in line | . | 2014 Closer | . | Updated | |
| TB | Fernando Rodney | Joel Peralta | Jake McGee | Fernando Rodney | 5/17/13 |
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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jonathan Broxton, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has pitched on back-to-back nights, including a 26-pitch outing on Wednesday and a blown save last night. He might get the night off.
2. Carter Capps, Seattle Mariners – Tom Wilhelmsen has pitched on back-to-back nights and has yet to go three straight this season.
3. Joel Peralta, Tampa Bay Rays – Fernando Rodney threw 35 pitches last night in blowing his third save of the season and could get a breather tonight.
Brandon League still fighting for his job; Oliver Perez brilliant so far
May 16, 2013
Milwaukee Brewers – Burke Badenhop pitched in the 7th inning last night in a game the Brewers were losing and has been surpassed on the Brewers’ threadbare depth chart by Brandon Kintzler. Kintzler has put together a stretch of five straight scoreless outings, a span that includes two 8th-inning holds ahead of Jim Henderson. Hierarchy change: Brandon Kintzler to Set-up, Burke Badenhop to 2nd in line.
| . | Closer | . | Set-Up | . | 2nd in line | . | 2014 Closer | . | Updated | |
| MIL | Jim Henderson | Brandon Kintzler | Burke Badenhop | Jim Henderson | 5/16/13 | |||||
| Tom Gorzelanny (DL) |
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Seattle Mariners – Oliver Perez pitched the 8th inning ahead of Tom Wilhelmsen last night, marking the second time in the past week he’s been used in that spot. Perez, who has a 1.17 ERA, has been the most reliable lefty in the Seattle bullpen all year and has surpassed the erratic Charlie Furbush on the depth chart. Hierarchy change: Oliver Perez to 2nd in line, replacing Charlie Furbush.
| . | Closer | . | Set-Up | . | 2nd in line | . | 2014 Closer | . | Updated | |
| SEA | Tom Wilhelmsen | Carter Capps | Oliver Perez | Tom Wilhelmsen | 5/16/13 | |||||
| Stephen Pryor (DL) |
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Los Angeles Dodgers – Don Mattingly said yesterday afternoon that he wasn’t ready to anoint Kenley Jansen as the new closer yet, and a few hours later, it was Jansen who emerged from the bullpen for a four-out hold in the 7th and 8th innings. Brandon League got the save in the 9th. There’s no hints yet as to whether this is a platoon — in which Jansen will have a serious edge — or whether League still has a good chance to hold the job. League’s next outing will likely be key, as another good inning might give him a chance to fully reclaim the role for the time being. No hierarchy change.
| . | Closer | . | Set-Up | . | 2nd in line | . | 2014 Closer | . | Updated | |
| LAD | Kenley Jansen | Brandon League | Paco Rodriguez | Kenley Jansen | 5/16/13 |
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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Mark Melancon, Pittsburgh Pirates – Jason Grilli has seen a pretty high workload this week, having pitched in back to back games and five of the last seven. Mark Melancon is slightly well rested and could get the save opp if the Pirates give Grilli the night off.
