September 19, 2012
Miami Marlins – Steve Cishek got knocked around on Tuesday night, eventually getting yanked after allowing three runs and only recording one out. Cishek’s ERA is now 9.95 for the month of August, pushing his season-long ERA up to nearly 3, which is probably where it should’ve been anyway, given his crummy WHIP (1.34). After Tuesday’s outing, he’ll be looking over his shoulder at Heath Bell, who the Marlins would probably like to see win the job back going into next season. Steve Cishek to Hot Seat.
|Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIA |Cishek |Bell |Dunn |Bell |9/19/12
Cincinnati Reds – Jonathan Broxton picked up his third NL save in Aroldis Chapman’s absence on Tuesday. Chapman is throwing a bullpen session today and could resume closing shortly, but Broxton is worth holding on to in case the Reds shut the hard-throwing lefty down until the playoffs. No hierarchy change.
|Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Chapman |Broxton |Marshall |Madson |9/19/12
Chicago White Sox – Matt Thornton pitched a clean 8th inning, then stayed on to face the first hitter of the 9th before giving way to Addison Reed, who recorded the final two outs. Thornton and Brett Myers are jockeying for the 8th inning role, but as a lefty, Thornton is probably more likely to pick up a random save here and there, given Robin Ventura’s recent tendency to play match-ups all the way through the 9th. Hierarchy change: Matt Thornton to Set-up, Brett Myers to 2nd in line.
|Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHW |Reed |Thornton |Myers |Reed |9/19/12
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Heath Bell, Miami Marlins – Steve Cishek got knocked around last night, and has pitched in four of the last five. He might get the day off today.
2. Jonathan Broxton, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman’s fatigued arm means Jonathan Broxton should see the majority of Cincinnati save chances over the next week or so.
3. Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – Javier Lopez and Sergio Romo continue to share the 9th inning role for the Giants.
