June 16, 2016
Washington Nationals — Dusty Baker celebrated his 67th birthday by playing matchups in the ninth, calling on the newly healthy Matt Belisle, followed by lefthander Oliver Perez. The two combined to blow the save with a double and a home run, and it was good ol’ Shawn Kelley who wound up finishing the ninth. Combine the plethora of above-average relievers in the Nationals’ pen with Kelley’s injury history, and you have a recipe to tempt Dusty into full-on committee mode. But we’re keeping the faith that Kelley can earn the job.
Hierarchy remains: *Kelley | Rivero | Treinen.
* = closer-by-committee
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joaquin Benoit, Seattle Mariners — Steve Cishek threw 35 pitches and walked three during a four-out appearance on Wednesday.
2. Jake Diekman, Texas Rangers — Sam Dyson has pitched in two straight and four of five.