May 29, 2022
Tampa Bay Rays — Colin Poche pitched a perfect ninth yesterday for his second save of the season. Poche has now recorded the last two Rays’ saves while Brooks Raley hasn’t recorded a save in over two weeks. That’s enough to move Poche to the head of the committee but we are all too familiar with this game. A Rays’ reliever gets a couple of saves, Closer Monkey moves that reliever to the head of the committee, and then the Rays inevitably use somebody not on our hierarchy for the next couple of save chances. Jason Adam is a good candidate to fill that role so if you believe in the curse of the Monkey, we won’t blame you for looking at somebody like him instead of Poche. Rays gonna Rays!
Updated hierarchy: *Poche | Raley | Feyereisen.
* = closer-by-committee
Boston Red Sox – We got a Red Sox doubleheader yesterday to try and see what they will do with their bullpen after Hansel Robles was placed on the IL. The Red Sox won the first game 5-3 and showed how they would probably prefer to use their bullpen at this point, which is not at all. Nathan Eovaldi pitched a complete game for what he thought was the first time in his life. It turns out he did it twice in High-A but that doesn’t change the fact that the Red Sox preferred to let a guy who had never pitched a complete game in 210 starts finish out the win rather than send somebody from their bullpen out there. In a game two loss, the Red Sox used Jake Diekman and Matt Barnes while John Schreiber and Matt Strahm did not pitch. It’s hard to read too much into one game, but Alex Cora had good things to say about Schreiber the other day so we will slide him up to the head of the committee for now.
Updated hierarchy: *Schreiber | Strahm | Diekman.
* = closer-by-committee
Baltimore Orioles – Jorge Lopez got the last four outs of a 4-2 Orioles victory yesterday to pick up his 6th save of the season. Lopez has recorded both Orioles’ saves since returning from the IL and that’s enough to kick the asterisk. Lefty Cionel Perez got the hold ahead of Lopez and lowered his ERA to 0.60 (although his 1.40 WHIP suggests that might not be sustainable).
Updated hierarchy: Lopez | Bautista | Perez.
Cincinnati Reds – Tony Santillan recorded his 3rd save of the season yesterday while Alexis Diaz picked up a 7th inning hold. Art Warren got the day off after recording the save on Friday. We will move Tony Santillan up one spot in the hierarchy but this is still very much a committee
Updated hierarchy: *Warren | Santillan | Diaz.
* = closer-by-committee
Miami Marlins — Cole Sulser struck out a pair in a scoreless 9th inning for his second save of the season. Sulser has a chance to establish himself as the primary closer for the Marlins if he can string together a few saves.
Hierarchy remains: *Sulser | Bass | Scott.
* = closer-by-committee
Los Angeles Dodgers — Craig Kimbrel wasn’t feeling well last night so the Dodgers went with Daniel Hudson to close out their 3-2 win. Kimbrel should be fine moving forward.
Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Hudson | Graterol.
Toronto Blue Jays – The Blue Jays used Jordan Romano for the third straight day for the first time all season and it did not go well. Romano loaded the bases with two outs after already allowing a run to score to cut the Blue Jays lead to 1. Ross Stripling replaced Romano and he was able to get Andrew Velazquez to ground out to end the game and pick up his first save of the season.
Hierarchy remains: Romano | Cimber | Garcia.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Felix Bautista (BAL) – Jorge Lopez has pitched in two straight, including a four-out save yesterday.
2. Adam Cimber/Yimi Garcia (TOR) – Jordan Romano has pitched in three straight while Adam Cimber has pitched in two of three.
3. Luis Garcia (SD) – Taylor Rogers has pitched in two straight, including a 25-pitch blown save yesterday.
Monday
1. Trevor Stephan (CLE) – Emmanual Clase threw 20 pitches yesterday so if he pitches again today he could get Monday off.
2. Anthony Bass (MIA) – Cole Sulser threw 23 pitches yesterday so if he pitches again today he could get Monday off.