April 19, 2023
Philadelphia Phillies – Saves have been few and far between for the Phillies this year with Craig Kimbrel getting one on April 7 and Jose Alvarado delivering the team’s second save on Tuesday. Kimbrel faced the top of the order in the seventh inning while Seranthony Dominguez pitched the eighth. What’s most impressive about Alvarado this season is that 18 of the 22 outs he has recorded his season have been strikeouts. We’ll move him to the top of this committee and see if he can get a few more save opportunities.
Updated hierarchy: *Alvarado | Kimbrel | Dominguez.
* = closer-by-committee
Los Angeles Angels – Carlos Estevez got the night off after a 26-pitch save on Monday, which allowed Jose Quijada to pick up his third save of the season with a 1-2-3 inning. Not only has Quijada not allowed a run yet this season, but he has only given up two hits in 7.0 IP.
Hierarchy remains: *Estevez | Quijada | Herget.
* = closer-by-committee
Detroit Tigers — Alex Lange pitched in game one of Tuesday’s doubleheader, which left the save chance in game two to Jason Foley. Foley tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his first career save and extend his scoreless streak to 6.2 IP.. He has allowed just one hit over that scoreless stretch.
Updated hierarchy: Lange | Foley | Cisnero.
Miami Marlins – AJ Puk recorded his third save of the season (and second in as many days) on Tuesday with a scoreless ninth inning. Once again it was Dylan Floro who pitched the eighth, though it should be noted that Floro faced the 2-3-4 hitters in the Giants’ lineup, retiring them in order to extend his scoreless streak to 8.2 IP to start the season. Floro, who has given up just one hit all season, looks like he’ll get the toughest matchup regardless of inning in this committee.
Hierarchy remains: *Puk | Floro | Scott.
* = closer-by-committee
Arizona Diamondbacks – The same day we removed the asterisk from this committee, Andrew Chafin had a rough outing. Facing the top of the order, he allowed a walk, double, RBI ground out and home run to turn an 8-4 lead into just an 8-7 advantage. Miguel Castro came on in relief and retired the next three hitters to earn the save. One bad outing isn’t enough to put the asterisk back, but we’ll see if Chafin can rebound in his next outing. In other news, Joe Mantiply returned from the IL and immediately got thrown into a high-leverage spot, entering the sixth inning with two on and one out in a 7-3 game. Mantiply got out of that jam by retiring the top two hitters in the St. Louis lineup, though he did allow a solo homer in the seventh before being pulled after 1.1 IP. Castro has been solid this season, so we’ll keep him in the hierarchy for now, but Mantiply should see more high-leverage work.
Hierarchy remains: Chafin | McGough | Castro.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Scott McGough (ARI) – Andrew Chafin has gone in two straight.
2. Dylan Floro/Tanner Scott (MIA) – Both AJ Puk and Floro have pitched back-to-back nights, but Floro only threw nine pitches in each outing.
Tomorrow
1. Ryan Brasier (BOS) – If Kenley Jansen pitches today that’s two in a row.
2. Colin Holderman (PIT) – Same for David Bednar.
3. Brad Hand (COL) – And for Pierce Johnson.