Category: Philadelphia Phillies

  • Jose Alvarado is about to be the Phillies’ closer

    June 24, 2021 Philadelphia Phillies — Hector Neris is about to lose his job, and Jose Alvarado will be the one taking it. A third blown save in five outings for Neris led Joe Girardi to say he’ll take Thursday’s off day to “think about” making a change. It’s all but official, though, and with…

  • James Karinchak grabs a save for Cleveland

    May 19, 2021 Cleveland Indians — James Karinchak pitched for the first time in six days on Tuesday, picking up his fourth save of the year. There was no indication postgame from Terry Francona that Karinchak is now his closer, and it’s likely Emmanuel Clase, who threw 26 pitches on Sunday, was getting an extra…

  • Jeffrey Springs grabs a Tampa save with Diego Castillo out

    May 6, 2021 Tampa Bay Rays — Tampa had an immediate save chance in the wake of Diego Castillo’s groin injury, and it went to Jeffrey Springs. Springs got the first shot, but the next one could easily go to Ryan Thompson or Peter Fairbanks. Until Castillo comes back, the committee asterisk is a certainty.…

  • Two NL relievers return from the IL while another one returns to the IL

    May 5, 2021 Arizona Diamondbacks — The Diamondbacks reinstated Joakim Soria from the IL on Tuesday. Soria only made it through 0.2 IP of his 2021 debut, so it truly remains to be seen what we can expect from him this year. One thing that is certain, though, is that the Arizona bullpen has struggled…

  • Jose Alvarado acts like the Mets don’t know how to hit

    May 1, 2021 Philadelphia Phillies — Vulture Save Watch readers knew Hector Neris needed a night off and, sure enough, the Phillies went to Jose Alvarado against the top of the Mets’ order in the eighth inning — an eventful choice given Alvarado’s fiery celebrations and recent history. Sam Coonrod wound up with the vulture…