August 21, 2022
Philadelphia Phillies – The Vulture Save Watch predicted that David Robertson might get a save yesterday but it certainly didn’t play out as we planned. Seranthony Dominguez was unavailable because of tightness in his right tricep. Dominguez will likely have an MRI today and we will send an alert if it comes back with bad news.
Hierarchy remains: *Dominguez | Robertson | Alvarado.
* = closer-by-committee
San Diego Padres – After announcing that Josh Hader would get a break from closing, the Padres sent Luis Garcia out for the 9th inning to try and protect a one-run lead. Garcia responded with a scoreless inning for his 3rd save of the season. Garcia should continue to see save chances until Hader can get back to his old self.
Updated hierarchy: Garcia | Martinez | Hader.
Oakland A’s — Zach Jackson got the call in the 8th inning with the A’s up by one but he couldn’t hold the lead. Dany Jimenez pitched a scoreless 9th inning with the game tied and then after the A’s took the lead in the top of the 10th, he came back out with a scoreless 10th inning to finish off the win. It wasn’t a save but it was certainly the kind of usage you would expect from a closer. The A’s haven’t recorded a save in over two weeks so it’s hard to have a great idea of what they want to do, but we will move Jimenez to the top of the committee based on yesterday’s usage and his success earlier this season.
Updated hierarchy: *Jimenez | Jackson | Puk.
* = closer-by-committee
Toronto Blue Jays — Jordan Romano got the day off after pitching two in a row. Yimi Garcia, who has been great the past couple months, pitched a scoreless 9th inning for his first save of the season. Anthony Bass pitched a scoreless 7th inning. We will swap these two behind closer Jordan Romano as it appears Garcia is the preferred handcuff at this time.
Updated hierarchy: Romano | Garcia | Bass.
Tampa Bay Rays – Jason Adam pitched a perfect 8th inning and Pete Fairbanks pitched a perfect 9th for his 3rd save of the season. The Rays are at least sticking to our hierarchy, as their last eight saves have come from Adam, Fairbanks, or Colin Poche, but it’s hard to know which one they will go with on any given night.
Hierarchy remains: *Adam | Poche | Fairbanks.
* = closer-by-committee
Boston Red Sox – Garrett Whitlock pitched the final two innings of the Red Sox victory yesterday to pick up his 5th save of the season. Whitlock made his first appearance since last Sunday and should continue to be the first choice for saves when he is available.
Updated hierarchy: *Whitlock | Schreiber | Barnes.
* = closer-by-committee
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. John Schreiber (BOS) – Garrett Whitlock pitched two innings yesterday and the Red Sox might be cautious with him after he missed some time last week.
2. David Robertson/Jose Alvarado (PHI) – Seranthony Dominguez is dealing with a tricep injury and David Robertson threw 36 pitches across two innings yesterday so it could be Jose Alvarado today if both are unavailable.
3. Matt Bush (MIL) – Devin Williams has pitched in two of three, including a 37 pitch outing yesterday.
4. Robert Stephenson (COL) – Daniel Bard, Carlos Estevez, and Lucas Gilbreath have all pitched in two straight.
5. Nick Martinez (SD) – Luis Garcia has pitched in two straight.
Monday
1. Jhoan Duran (MIN) – If Jorge Lopez pitches today, it will be three in a row.
2. Matt Moore/Jose Leclerc (TEX) – Jonathan Hernandez threw 25 pitches yesterday so if he goes again today, he will likely get Monday off. Matt Moore threw 30 pitches yesterday so the same is true for him.