Closer Monkey

Closer Monkey | 2026

  • Say hello to Beau [insert nickname here] Brieske

    August 11, 2023 Pittsburgh Pirates – After throwing 54 pitches in a four-day span, David Bednar got a second consecutive day off, which allowed Colin Holderman to get his second save of the season. Hierarchy remains: Bednar | Holderman | Mlodzinski. Detroit Tigers – After AJ Hinch’s weekend comments, we figured the Tigers would start…

  • Let the Phil Bickford era begin

    August 10, 2023 New York Mets — Wednesday night, the save opportunity was all Adam Ottavino’s. But the veteran just didn’t have it, yielding a homer, a single, and a walk to put the go-ahead run on base. Naturally, the Mets turned to journeyman Phil Bickford, he of the 5.96 ERA, most famous for earning…

  • Dominic Leone earns a save

    August 9, 2023 Los Angeles Angels – All three members of the Angels’ hierarchy were unavailable on Tuesday, which left the save chance to deadline acquisition Dominic Leone. He converted for his first save as an Angel. Hierarchy remains: Estevez | Lopez | Moore. Miami Marlins – Andrew Nardi pitched a perfect seventh inning and…

  • Will Smith becoming clear leader in Texas; Tigers’ roles getting murkier

    August 8, 2023 Detroit Tigers – Alex Lange pitched the 8th inning last night in a game that the Tigers were losing by 8 runs, which feels like as good a time as any to highlight this AJ Hinch quote from the weekend, whereupon he gave Lange whatever the opposite of a vote of confidence…

  • Ryan Pressly experiencing some soreness

    August 7, 2023 Houston Astros – Ryan Pressly, who last pitched Friday, was unavailable for Sunday’s game on account of some soreness. With a day off today, it seems possible or even likely that he’ll be available again on Tuesday. But if not, then Bryan Abreu — who capably converted the save on Sunday —…

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