Closer Monkey

Category: closer change

  • Strop hamstring injury leaves Cubs bullpen in disarray

    September 14, 2018 Chicago Cubs — Pedro Strop injured his left hamstring while trying to beat out a throw to first base in the 10th inning of Thursday’s game. Strop was batting with one out and the bases loaded, puzzling Cubs fans, but Joe Maddon explained that he planned to send Strop back out to pitch if…

  • Yoshihisa Hirano impresses en route to his first MLB save

    September 12, 2018 Arizona Diamondbacks — Heading into Tuesday’s game, we liked Jake Diekman to see the first post-Boxberger save chance, and sure enough Diekman was first out of the ‘pen for the final inning. However, he allowed a double and a bunt single to the only two batters (both lefties) he faced before Yoshihisa…

  • Brad Boxberger replaced as Arizona closer by committee approach

    September 10, 2018 Arizona Diamondbacks — As we told you this morning, Brad Boxberger is out as the Diamondbacks closer and Torey Lovullo is planning to play matchups. We like Jake Diekman, Brad Ziegler, and Yoshihisa Hirano in that order to get the first shot, but it’s anyone’s guess at this point, and it may…

  • Carlos Martinez will close full time for St. Louis; Brad Boxberger should be out

    September 10, 2018 St. Louis Cardinals — As we speculated a few days ago, Mike Shildt has elected to leave Jordan Hicks in the eighth inning and use opening-day starter Carlos Martinez as the Cardinals’ new closer. Martinez pitched a perfect ninth on Sunday for his second save of the season. Bud Norris’s role has been…

  • Tommy Hunter, Ty Buttrey record saves

    September 8, 2018 Washington Nationals — Although their game was rained out yesterday, the Nationals did activate Sean Doolittle from the DL. He hasn’t pitched since July 6, so he may not resume closing immediately, but we expect him to be back in that role sooner rather than later since the Nationals’ committee has been shaky…