June 11, 2013
Los Angeles Dodgers — After an effective eighth from Kenley Jansen, Brandon League was a comprehensive disaster, allowing four runs to earn the Dodgers their league-leading 13th blown save of the year. League has a 6.00 ERA and four blown saves; Jansen has 44 strikeouts in 32 innings and a WHIP of 1.00. Don Mattingly suggested that he was playing matchups by using League to close, but the best type of matchup for the Dodgers right now is the one that leaves him in the bullpen. Brandon League to Hot Seat.
| . | Closer | . | Set-Up | . | 2nd in line | . | 2014 Closer | . | Updated | |
| LAD | Brandon League | Kenley Jansen | Paco Rodriguez | Kenley Jansen | 6/11/13 |
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San Diego Padres — After Tim Stauffer gave up a three-run homer to let the Braves back into the game in the ninth inning, it was Dale Thayer (as predicted in yesterday’s VSW) who nailed down the ensuing (chancy) save. No hierarchy change.
| . | Closer | . | Set-Up | . | 2nd in line | . | 2014 Closer | . | Updated | |
| SD | Luke Gregerson | Dale Thayer | Joe Thatcher | Huston Street | 6/11/13 | |||||
| Huston Street (DL) |
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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Ramon Troncoso, Chicago White Sox — If Robin Ventura sends Addison Reed out for a fourth consecutive game, less than a week after keeping him in for three innings and 55 pitches, someone ought to put him in another headlock. Most other Sox relievers have also pitched a lot lately, so it could be Troncoso time on Tuesday.
2. Francisco Rodriguez, Milwaukee Brewers — Although Jim Henderson is Milwaukee’s closer, Ron Roenicke has promised, in a surfeit of benevolence, to help K-Rod get to 300 saves. He needs two more.
3. Kelvin Herrera, Kansas City Royals — Greg Holland pitched in his second straight game on Monday; notably, it was his fifth appearance in six days, over which he has thrown a whopping 86 pitches. Holland has been very effective, but some rest should be in order.
4. Junichi Tazawa, Boston Red Sox — Andrew Bailey needed 32 pitches to blow a save in the tenth last night, just one day after he threw 24. Tazawa went for 20 pitches on Monday, but he had Sunday off.
5. Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers — Don Mattingly claims (however disingenuously) that he would have used Jansen in the ninth depending on matchups, so he might get another shot at a save going forward.
6. Joel Peralta, Tampa Bay Rays — Fernando Rodney threw 33 pitches last night in a 1.2-inning appearance.