May 2, 2019
Texas Rangers — As we alerted you Wednesday afternoon, Jose Leclerc is getting a breather from the closer role, and either Chris Martin or Shawn Kelley should see the next chance. Martin has been pitching after Kelley all year, while Kelley has better numbers and some closing experience. Whichever direction the Rangers go, Leclerc’s recent contract extension gives the team a few million reasons to put him back in the ninth before long.
Updated hierarchy: *Martin | Kelley | Leclerc.
* = closer-by-committee
New York Mets — A recurrent bone spur in Jeurys Familia’s shoulder has sent him to the injured list. Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman will split setup duties in his absence, with Luis Avilan and Drew Gagnon backing them up when necessary.
Updated hierarchy: Diaz | Lugo | Gsellman.
Cincinnati Reds — Raisel Iglesias got an expected night off, but Jared Hughes was used in the seventh and eighth, which left Michael Lorenzen to pick up his second save with a clean ninth. Lorenzen is now third on the Reds’ depth chart at both relief pitcher and center field.
Updated hierarchy: Iglesias | Hughes | Lorenzen.
Los Angeles Angels — Ty Buttrey kept the committee alive in LA, grabbing a two-inning save, his first of the year.
Hierarchy remains: *Robles | Buttrey | Garcia.
* = closer-by-committee
Miami Marlins — Miami’s closer committee, like so many, has gone out with a whimper. Sergio Romo has converted all four save chances in the last 12 days.
Updated hierarchy: Romo | Steckenrider | Conley.
Baltimore Orioles — Mychal Givens pitched well in Wednesday’s opener and picked up his second save of the year. Unfortunately for the Orioles, the rest of the bullpen is a revolving door of Quad-A arms and Miguel Castro, who at least loves his mom. Givens got the nightcap off and Evan Phillips — who pitched a perfect eighth — put two runners on to start the ninth. After one out from Paul Fry, in came Castro, followed quickly by a loss. At second in line, we’ll slot Phillips (12.3 K/9) over Branden Kline, Castro, and Shawn Armstrong (recently claimed on waivers), but this is strictly bookkeeping. None of these guys are rosterable.
Updated hierarchy: Givens | Fry | Phillips.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Seth Lugo/Robert Gsellman — Edwin Diaz has pitched in four of five. Although Lugo was used on Wednesday, he threw only four pitches, and is probably slightly better rested than Gsellman, who threw 30 pitches on Tuesday.
Friday:
1. Luke Jackson — A.J. Minter is on thin ice, and an appearance on Thursday will be two straight and four in six days.
2. Jared Hughes — If Raisel Iglesias pitches, he’ll have gone in three of four.