July 8, 2013
Texas Rangers – With Tanner Scheppers coming off a rough outing on Saturday, the Rangers went to lefty Neal Cotts for the 8th inning hold on Sunday. Cotts, called up in May, has been nothing short of spectacular since joining the big league club. He’s got a 1.09 ERA and a 31-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 24.2 innings, and with Robbie Ross’s recent struggles, Cotts has become the go-to lefty in the Texas bullpen. Hierarchy change: Neal Cotts to 2nd in line, replacing Robbie Ross.
| . | Closer | . | Set-Up | . | 2nd in line | . | 2014 Closer | . | Updated | |
| TEX | Joe Nathan | Tanner Scheppers | Neal Cotts | Joe Nathan | 7/8/13 |
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Los Angeles Angels – Scott Downs had become an out-and-out LOOGY for the better part of two months, but he’s been pitching so well that the Angels have returned him to a full-time set-up role. He hasn’t allowed an earned run in 24 straight appearances dating back to May 1, a stretch which has lowered his ERA to 1.42, and he got the call in the 8th last night, where he pitched a clean inning against the top of the Red Sox lineup. Hierarchy change: Scott Downs to Set-up, Kevin Jepsen to 2nd in line.
| . | Closer | . | Set-Up | . | 2nd in line | . | 2014 Closer | . | Updated | |
| LAA | Ernesto Frieri | Scott Downs | Kevin Jepsen | Ernesto Frieri | 7/8/13 | |||||
| Ryan Madson (DL) |
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Oakland A’s – Jesse Chavez picked up a 4-inning save last night. He does not factor in to the A’s usual late-inning plans. No hierarchy change.
| . | Closer | . | Set-Up | . | 2nd in line | . | 2014 Closer | . | Updated | |
| OAK | Grant Balfour | Ryan Cook | Sean Doolittle | Grant Balfour | 7/8/13 |
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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Oliver Perez, Seattle Mariners – Last night, Tom Wilhelmsen picked up his 2nd save since being sorta-kinda-renamed closer, but Eric Wedge previously indicated that he’ll sometimes be playing matchups in the 9th inning.