August 22, 2022
Milwaukee Brewers – Devin Williams wasn’t available Sunday after a heavy workload leading up, so Taylor Rogers got the 9th inning in a 3-run game, converting for his 29th save of the season — and his first since July 23.
Hierarchy remains: Williams | Rogers | Bush.
Cincinnati Reds – With a four-run lead, it wasn’t a save chance, but another dominant outing from Alexis Diaz means we’re removing the asterisk. Diaz has been as dominant as any reliever in baseball since the start of July, having allowed just 1 run in his last 17.2 innings — including a 16:1 K:BB ratio in August.
Updated hierarchy: Diaz | Kuhnel | Sanmartin.
Tampa Bay Rays – Pete Fairbanks got his second save in as many days, and he’s now collected all four of saves since July 27. Colin Poche only has one save in that span, so Fairbanks climbs up to first in line.
Updated hierarchy: *Adam | Fairbanks | Poche.
* = closer-by-committee
Texas Rangers – Taylor Hearn picked up a three-inning save in a Rangers blowout on Sunday. He doesn’t factor in to the usual late inning plans for Texas.
Hierarchy remains: Hernandez | Moore | Leclerc.
San Diego Padres – With Luis Garcia having pitched in two straight, Nick Martinez got the 9th inning opportunity for San Diego on Sunday, and converted for his 5th save of the season.
Hierarchy remains: Garcia | Martinez | Hader.
San Francisco Giants – The seventh man out of the San Francisco bullpen on Sunday was the one who ended up with the save, as Zack Littell got the job done in the 11th inning, thanks in part to a baseunning faux pas by Sam Hilliard, who made the game’s final out trying to advance to third on a fly ball.
Hierarchy remains: Doval | Leone | Brebbia.
Oakland A’s – The A’s used six relievers to navigate the final four innings on Sunday, leaving the final two outs of a 2-run game to veteran Austin Pruitt, who converted for his first save since 2018. The rest of the Oakland hierarchy appeared earlier in the game, though as Pruitt’s usage might suggest, none of them had a particularly impressive outing.
Hierarchy remains: *Jimenez | Jackson | Puk.
* = closer-by-committee
St. Louis Cardinals – With Ryan Helsley still on paternity leave, Giovanny Gallegos got his 12th save of the season, pitching a clean 9th inning. Helsley should return today, so we’ll slot him back atop this hierarchy.
Updated hierarchy: Helsley | Gallegos | Cabrera.
Philadelphia Phillies – As mentioned yesterday, Seranthony Dominguez is headed to the IL with a triceps injury; David Robertson will take over as closer while Dominguez is out. The Phillies also got news later in the day that Corey Knebel’s season is over due to a tear in his shoulder capsule.
Updated hierarchy: Robertson | Alvarado | Hand.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Zach Jackson/AJ Puk – Dany Jimenez, Zach Jackson, and AJ Puk have all gone back to back with a similar number of pitches. Whoever wakes up feeling good this morning gets the save chance.
2. Brandon Hughes – Rowan Wick has gone back to back.
3. Jose Alvarado – This whole bullpen is gassed, so even though Alvarado has gone two straight, we figure he’s got the best shot to get a save tonight.
Tomorrow
1. Adam Ottavino – Edwin Diaz threw 21 pitches Sunday; another long outing today and he’ll be off Tuesday.
2. Joel Kuhnel – If Alexis Diaz goes tonight, it’s back to back and three of four.