September 5, 2020
Los Angeles Angels — Ty Buttrey came on in the easiest kind of save opportunity — a three-run lead in the ninth — but he put three of the four batters he faced on base, and all eventually scored. Back-to-back outings allowing three earned runs have inflated his ERA to 5.68, and should put Felix Pena squarely on your radar as his potential replacement.
Hierarchy remains: Buttrey | Pena | Bedrosian.
Arizona Diamondbacks — In a close game Friday night, Arizona used former saves leader Junior Guerra in the sixth, followed by Hector Rondon, Stefan Crichton, and Kevin Ginkel, who picked up his first save of the year. Ginkel isn’t exactly 2003-era Eric Gagne, with a 6.91 ERA and a WHIP over 2, but it looks like he has the edge in this bullpen down the stretch.
Updated hierarchy: *Ginkel | Crichton | Guerra.
* = closer-by-committee
Tampa Bay Rays — Nick Anderson was activated from the injured list on Friday and immediately found himself pitching the ninth with a one-run lead. A leadoff walk and a throwing error increased the difficulty level, but Anderson escaped with the save. It wasn’t all good news for the Rays, however, with Jose Alvarado moving to the 45-day IL; he’ll be out the rest of the season.
Updated hierarchy: *Anderson | Castillo | Fairbanks.
* = closer-by-committee
Minnesota Twins — The Twins won two games on Friday, with a save apiece for Taylor Rogers and Trevor May.
Hierarchy remains: *Rogers | Romo | May.
* = closer-by-committee
Baltimore Orioles — Long reliever Cesar Valdez helped the Orioles break their 19-game losing streak to the Yankees with two scoreless innings that earned him his first career save.
Hierarchy remains: *Harvey | Scott | Phillips.
* = closer-by-committee
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Archie Bradley/Nate Jones — Raisel Iglesias got a save Friday and has pitched on three of the last four days.
2. Luis Cessa — Aroldis Chapman won’t pitch in three straight and may well choose to start his three-game suspension. Cessa grabbed a save last Sunday, and with the Yankees’ top arms in need of a break, he could do it again.
3. Felix Pena/Cam Bedrosian — Ty Buttrey won’t sniff a save in today’s doubleheader, and may have lost the job permanently.
4. Ryan Brasier/Austin Brice — Matt Barnes has pitched in three straight games.
5. Blake Taylor — Ryan Pressly has pitched in three of four, and the Astros have a doubleheader.
6. Sean Doolittle — Daniel Hudson has thrown 44 pitches over the last two days, and both Tanner Rainey and Will Harris have pitched in three straight. Doolittle has done this a few times; he’ll be fine.
7. Kyle Crick — Richard Rodriguez has pitched in two straight, three of four, and five of seven.
8. Jimmy Cordero — Alex Colome needed 40 pitches to earn a four-out save on Friday night. Evan Marshall has pitched in two straight and three of four.
9. Yohan Ramirez — Yoshihisa Hirano threw 30 pitches last night.
10. Rowan Wick/Craig Kimbrel — Jeremy Jeffress got the save last night and the Cubs have a doubleheader Saturday.
11. Blake Treinen — Kenley Jansen has pitched in three of four.
Sunday:
1. Zack Britton/Adam Ottavino — Chapman could get the whole weekend off.
2. Hector Neris — Brandon Workman had an efficient outing in the Friday nightcap, but if he pitches Saturday, he’ll be off Sunday.
3. Rafael Dolis — If Anthony Bass pitches on Saturday, that’ll be three out of four days and five out of seven.
4. Evan Marshall — Colome might get two days off.