April 25, 2019
Los Angeles Angels — Each of the Angels’ three fill-in closer options saw work in last night’s game against the Yankees. Luis Garcia fared the worst, giving up three walks and a single while retiring no one. Ty Buttrey allowed two of those runners (sac fly; fielder’s choice), then made it through a clean eighth before yielding the go-ahead run in a two-out rally in the ninth. Hansel Robles retired the last Yankee hitter. Buttrey’s swing-and-miss stuff and his shot at a three-inning fireman save seem to confirm that he’ll be the first choice going forward. Another possibility is that Buttrey gets the highest-leverage work each game, leaving Hansel Robles to handle the ninth more often than not.
Hierarchy remains: *Buttrey | Robles | Garcia.
* = closer-by-committee
Washington Nationals — Trevor Rosenthal gave up three runs in an inning of work on Wednesday and still lowered his ERA. Rosenthal is hitting 99 on the radar gun, but his control is nonexistent. It’s not fun to watch.
Hierarchy remains: Doolittle | Barraclough | Grace.
Oakland A’s — Lou Trivino is day-to-day with a bruised thumb on his pitching hand, but Bob Melvin expects him to avoid the injured list.
Hierarchy remains: Treinen | Soria | Trivino.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Zack Britton/Adam Ottavino — Aroldis Chapman has gone in three of four.
2. Hansel Robles — Buttrey will get Thursday off.
Friday:
1. Seunghwan Oh — Even accounting for Thursday’s off day, Wade Davis and Scott Oberg will have pitched in three of five and five of eight.