June 20, 2023
Detroit Tigers – After a brutal outing on Sunday, Alex Lange turned in a perfect 9th inning, needing just 12 pitches to dispatch the Royals for his 11th save. The Tigers have been mixing and matching more with Lange and Jason Foley, so the committee tag stays for the time being, but Lange owners can breathe a sigh of relief.
Hierarchy remains: *Lange | Foley | Cisnero.
* = closer-by-committee
St. Louis Cardinals – That’s three saves in three days for Jordan Hicks, who is on the verge of seizing the closer role in St. Louis. Due to both his injury history and the Cardinals’ organizational penchant to avoid using relievers in three straight, this probably wouldn’t have happened had Hicks not insisted on it, but we’re not complaining about getting to watch a guy throw 104 mph every night.
Hierarchy remains: *Hicks | Gallegos | VerHagen.
* = closer-by-committee
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Giovanny Gallegos – Jordan Hicks has gone in three straight.
2. Jason Foley – Alex Lange has gone back to back.
3. Tyler Rogers – Same for Camilo Doval.
Tomorrow
1. Joe Kelly/Reynaldo Lopez – If Kendall Graveman and/or Joe Kelly go today, it’s back to back.
2. Josh Sborz/Grant Anderson – Same for Will Smith and Josh Sborz…
3. Lucas Sims – …and Alexis Diaz…
4. Daniel Bard – …and Justin Lawrence.