August 13, 2020
Pittsburgh Pirates — The Pirates haven’t lost in three days. Haven’t won either, but we’ll look on the bright side! Adding to this recent turn of good fortune, Keone Kela returns today. Kela hasn’t pitched yet this year due to his bout with COVID-19, but he’ll be active for this weekend’s series against the Reds. Kela has asked to be used in whatever situation the team needs, but he immediately jumps to the top of our hierarchy.
Updated hierarchy: *Kela | Rodriguez | Stratton.
* = closer-by-committee
Kansas City Royals — Trevor Rosenthal got the call in a one-run game, and while he made it interesting with three walks, a key double play got him out of the jam for save #4. Rosenthal has been the top save option in Kansas City for the past 10 days (with one vulture chance going to Scott Barlow), so it’s time to kick his asterisk and see if Rosenthal can keep his career resurgence going.
Hierarchy remains: Rosenthal | Barlow | Holland.
Philadelphia Phillies — The Phillies bullpen is still searching for an identity after a string of early postponements, but Adam Morgan has had a particularly tough run to start the year. He entered on Wednesday down one in the seventh and gave up a leadoff home run. After putting two more on base (and contributing a throwing error), he was pulled for Blake Parker. Morgan has a 10.13 ERA and hasn’t pitched with a lead in some time. We’ll ease Morgan out of the hierarchy until he starts getting higher-leverage work.
Updated hierarchy: Neris | Alvarez | Parker.
Miami Marlins — When the Marlins scored three runs in the top of the tenth, they turned to Josh Smith to close the game out. He pitched a clean inning to earn his first save. Smith has been a solid option for Miami in the early going, but his career numbers are nothing special, and as the entire Marlins hierarchy had pitched earlier in the game, we don’t see this as a sign of any change.
Hierarchy remains: Kintzler | Boxberger | Vincent.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Mychal Givens/Miguel Castro — Cole Sulser has pitched in back-to-back games and will probably get today off. Both Givens and Castro have also pitched in two straight, but Givens has had slightly shorter outings.
2. Jose Alvarado/Andrew Kittridge — Nick Anderson has pitched twice in a row, and while Alvarado rested last night, he also threw 42 pitches over the previous two days.
Friday:
1. Blake Treinen — An outing today would be two straight for Kenley Jansen.