Instant emails for every closer change. Closer depth charts to keep you ahead.
July 31, 2012
Kansas City Royals – The Royals have traded closer Jonathan Broxton to the Cincinnati Reds, where he will serve as a set-up man. Greg Holland will inherit the closer job in Kansas City, with Aaron Crow nipping at his heels if he struggles. Hierarchy change: Greg Holland to Closer, Aaron Crow to Set-up, Kelvin Herrera to 2nd in line.
|Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedKC |Holland |Crow |Herrera |Holland |7/31/12 |Soria(DL) | July 31, 2012
Los Angeles Angels – Jerome Williams pitched the last 4 innings of a blowout on Monday, earning his first save. Williams’s outing was pretty hideous (8 hits, 5 ERs), and he doesn’t factor in the the Angels usual late-inning plans. No hierarchy change.
|Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Frieri |Downs |Jepsen |Walden |7/31/12
Seattle Mariners – The Mariners traded set-up man Brandon League to the Dodgers early Tuesday morning. Lucas Luetge and Josh Kinney will now share 8th inning duties. With Tom Wilhelmsen getting a night off last night (his wife was expecting a child), Kinney and Luetge combined to get through the 9th inning, with Luetge picking up the one-out save. Hierarchy change: Lucas Luetge to Set-up, Josh Kinney to 2nd in line.
|Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSEA |Wilhelmsen |Luetge |Kinney |Wilhelmsen |7/31/12 |Furbush(DL) |
New York Mets – In a game with lots of bullpen ineptitude on both sides, Manny Acosta picked up a shaky save for the Mets in the 10th inning. Acosta does not fit in to the Mets usual late-inning plans; they’d already used all their top arms when they summoned him last night. No hierarchy change.
|Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYM |Parnell |Rauch |Edgin |Francisco |7/31/12 |Francisc(DL)|
Houston Astros – Some speculated that Francisco Cordero’s decent outing on Sunday may have saved his job, but tonight, he was the first man out of the bullpen for the Astros. Coming on in the 7th inning, Cordero allowed an inherited runner to score, then gave up the tying run. He also pitched to one batter in the 8th, allowing a leadoff double, before being lifted and eventually taking the loss. Based on Cordero’s usage tonight, and his general awfulness in his return to the National League thus far, Wilton Lopez looks like he will finally get his shot to finish games. Hierarchy change: Wilton Lopez to Closer, Wesley Wright to Set-up, Francisco Cordero to 2nd in line.
|Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedHOU |Lopez |Wright |Cordero |Lopez |7/30/12
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Lucas Luetge/Josh Kinney, Seattle Mariners – Tom Wilhelmsen’s wife just gave birth, so the Seattle closer may still be unavailable today.
2. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever the Twins are facing a righty-heavy lineup.
July 30, 2012
Houston Astros – Some speculated that Francisco Cordero’s decent outing on Sunday may have saved his job, but tonight, he was the first man out of the bullpen for the Astros. Coming on in the 7th inning, Cordero allowed an inherited runner to score, then gave up the tying run. He also pitched to one batter in the 8th, allowing a leadoff double, before being lifted. Based on his usage tonight, and his general awfulness in his return to the National League thus far, Wilton Lopez looks like he will finally get his shot to finish games. Hierarchy change: Wilton Lopez to Closer, Wesley Wright to Set-up, Francisco Cordero to 2nd in line.
|Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedHOU |Lopez |Wright |Cordero |Lopez |7/30/12 July 30, 2012
Milwaukee Brewers – The Brewers bullpen had another meltdown on Sunday, and all of their top relievers were to blame; John Axford, Francisco Rodriguez, and Jose Veras all gave up multiple runs. Earlier this week, Ron Roenicke declared a closer-by-committee, with several Brewers beat writers thought Axford would quickly win his job back. He’s still likely to do so before the end of the season, but the Brewers may look elsewhere for saves in the near future. No hierarchy change.
|Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIL |Axford |Rodriguez |Veras |Axford |7/30/12
Atlanta Braves – With Jonny Venters’ inconsistency and the team’s desire to stretch Kris Medlen out, the Braves have been searching for a steady 7th inning man all season. They may have found one in Chad Durbin, who after a rough start has allowed only 4 ERs in his last 28 innings, a span of 35 appearances. On Sunday, he bailed Venters out in the 6th inning and then stayed on for the 7th, recording his 10th hold of the year. Hierarchy change: Chad Durbin to 2nd in line, replacing Jonny Venters.
|Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedATL |Kimbrel |O'Flaherty |Durbin |Kimbrel |7/30/12
Minnesota Twins – Alex Burnett pitched the 7th inning on Sunday ahead of Jared Burton and Glen Perkins, earning his 7th hold of the season. Tyler Robertson has struggled as of late, giving up runs in his last three appearances. Hierarchy change: Alex Burnett to 2nd in line, replacing Tyler Robertson.
|Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIN |Perkins |Burton |Burnett |Perkins |7/30/12 |Capps(DL) |
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Vicente Padilla, Boston Red Sox – Alfredo Aceves pitched 2.1 innings last night, his second night of work in a row.
2. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever the Twins are facing a righty-heavy lineup.
July 29, 2012
Chicago White Sox – Matt Thornton pitched the 9th inning in a four-run game yesterday, and has picked up two 7th-inning-or-later holds this week. Meanwhile, Jesse Crain has been a little shaky since returning from the DL, allowing 5 baserunners over 2.1 innings. Hierarchy change: Matt Thornton to 2nd in line, replacing Jesse Crain.
|Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHW |Reed |Myers |Thornton |Reed |7/29/12
Pittsburgh Pirates – Jason Grilli picked up the save on Saturday. As noted in yesterday’s Vulture Save Watch, Joel Hanrahan had pitched three days in a row. No hierarchy change.
|Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedPIT |Hanrahan |Grilli |Hughes |Hanrahan |7/29/12
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Sean Marshall, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in back to back games, and four of the last five.
2. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever the Twins are facing a righty-heavy lineup.
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