Pedro Strop looking to get back on track; Mitchell Boggs continues to implode

April 22, 2013

Baltimore Orioles – Nearly all season, Darren O’Day has served as the 8th inning man for the Orioles.  Pedro Strop was the go-to set-up man for Baltimore last year, but has struggled out of the box this year, having posted a 9.45 ERA through the season’s first three weeks.  He pitched yesterday in the 7th inning of a game the Orioles were losing, and will need to get back on track before he’s used in high-leverage situations again.  Hierarchy change: Darren O’Day to Set-up, Pedro Strop to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedBAL |Johnson |O'Day |Strop |Johnson |4/22/13

 
Miami Marlins – Jon Rauch faced six batters on Sunday and five of them reached base, and when the dust cleared, the Reds had plated eight runs in the inning and Rauch’s ERA had ballooned to 9.45.  Until he figures it out, the Marlins are unlikely to go to Rauch in high-leverage spots.  That duty will likely fall to AJ Ramos or Chad Qualls, the former of which has 16 Ks in 11.2 innings pitched thus far.  Hierarchy change: AJ Ramos to 2nd in line, replacing Jon Rauch.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedMIA |Cishek |Dunn |Ramos |Cishek |4/22/13

 
Texas Rangers – Michael Kirkman picked up a 3-inning save in a blowout on Sunday.  He does not figure in to the normal late-inning hierarchy in Texas.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedTEX |Nathan |Ross |Scheppers |Nathan |4/22/13

 
St. Louis Cardinals – Mitchell Boggs’s nightmare season continued on Sunday, as he was summoned in a tie game in the 8th inning, and allowed four runs while only recording one out.  With an ERA that now stands at 12.46, he’s got a long way to go before he returns to any kind of substantial role in the Cardinals bullpen.  Trevor Rosenthal will be the guy to set up Edward Mujica for the time being.  Hierarchy change: Trevor Rosenthal to Set-up, Mitchell Boggs to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedSTL |Mujica |Rosenthal |Boggs |Motte |4/22/13 |Motte(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Koji Uehara, Boston Red Sox – Andrew Bailey has pitched on two straight days and on four of the last five.
2. Carlos Marmol, Chicago Cubs – James Russell pitched in the 7th inning of a game the Cubs were losing Sunday. As we’ve stated before, he is the best reliever in the Cubs bullpen, and it isn’t even close; however, it might be Carlos Marmol who is summoned in an upcoming save situation.

Tommy Hunter picks up three inning save

April 21, 2013

Baltimore Orioles – Tommy Hunter picked up a three inning save in the second game of the double header yesterday.  Hunter has pitched relatively well this season out of the bullpen, but he still does not currently factor into the Orioles late inning options. No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedBAL |Johnson |Strop |O'Day |Johnson |4/21/13

 
Houston Astros – Rhiner Cruz pitched last night with the Astros getting blown out.  He only allowed one run but he allowed six base runners in 1.2 innings and has given up at least one run in his last four appearances.  Hector Ambriz pitched a scoreless eighth inning on Friday night with the Astros up one and seems to have taken over the set-up role again.   Hierarchy change: Hector Ambriz to Set-up, Rhiner Cruz to 2nd in line

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedHOU |Veras |Ambriz |Cruz |Veras |4/21/13

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Mike Dunn/Jon Rauch, Miami Marlins – Steve Cishek has pitched in 2 straight games including a 30 pitch outing last night.
2. Carlos Marmol, Chicago Cubs – With the Cubs bullpen completely unsettled, Marmol could return to the role.

Scott Rice pitching well for Mets

April 20, 2013

New York Mets – The Mets went to Scott Rice in the eighth inning last night up 3 runs, and he responded by pitching a 1-2-3 inning.  Rice has made 6 straight scoreless appearances and should continue to be used late in games for the Mets.  Hierarchy change:  Scott Rice to 2nd in line, replacing Scott Atchison.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedNYM |Parnell |Lyon |Rice |Parnell |4/20/13 |Francis(INJ)|

 
San Francisco Giants – George Kontos pitched 1.1 scoreless innings in a tie game last night.  He has settled into a nice role at the back end of the Giants bullpen, while Javier Lopez has been used very sparingly and often to get only one.    Hierarchy change: George Kontos to 2nd in line, replacing Javier Lopez.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedSF |Romo |Casilla |Kontos |Romo |4/20/13

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Tom Gorzelanny, Milwaukee Brewers – Jim Henderson has pitched in 3 of the past 4 days.
2. Carlos Marmol, Chicago Cubs – With the Cubs bullpen completely unsettled, Marmol could return to the role.

Carlos Marmol surprising everyone by pitching well; Edward Mujica gets first save

April 19, 2013

Chicago Cubs – James Russell is, overwhelmingly, the best reliever in the Cubs bullpen, but the young lefty, who hasn’t given up a run all season, still hasn’t appealed to Dale Sveum as a 9th inning reliever.  Last night, with the Cubs up four runs, it was Carlos Marmol who pitched the 9th, after Russell had mowed down three lefties in the 8th.  This all might be elementary at this point, since Kyuji Fujikawa will probably return to the role when he comes off the DL.  But for the next week or so, Marmol could be the preferred closer for the time being.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Russell |Marmol |Camp |Fujikawa |4/19/13 |Fujikawa(DL)|

 
Atlanta Braves – Jordan Walden’s usage has been sporadic thus far this season, which perhaps stems from the coaching staff’s reluctance to overwork him after he missed time during the spring.  With his electric stuff, we expect him to take over the 8th inning role at some point, but so far this season, Eric O’Flaherty has been the man bridging the gap to Craig Kimbrel.  O’Flaherty pitched again last night, and despite underwhelming peripherals (4/3 K/BB ratio), he picked up his 5th hold of the season.  Hierarchy change: Eric O’Flaherty to Set-up, Jordan Walden to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedATL |Kimbrel |O'Flaherty |Walden |Kimbrel |4/19/13

 
Seattle Mariners – Stephen Pryor hit the disabled list earlier this week, so last night, it was Carter Capps who bridged the gap to Tom Wilhelmsen.  Capps threw 2 scoreless innings and picked up the win, and could share 8th inning duties with Charlie Furbush until Pryor’s return.  Hierarchy change: Charlie Furbush to Set-up, Carter Capps to 2nd in line, Stephen Pryor to DL.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedSEA |Wilhelmsen |Furbush |Capps |Wilhelmsen |4/19/13 |Pryor(DL) |

 
St. Louis Cardinals — As predicted, Edward Mujica got his chance to close tonight, and although he made things interesting with a couple singles to lead off the ninth, he managed to escape with the save. He should be the man in St. Louis going forward. Hierarchy change: Edward Mujica to Closer, Mitchell Boggs to Set-Up.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedSTL |Mujica |Boggs |Rosenthal |Motte |4/18/13 |Motte(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Charlie Furbush, Seattle Mariners – Tom Wilhelmsen has pitched 3 innings over the past two days.
2. Carlos Marmol, Chicago Cubs – With the Cubs bullpen completely unsettled, Marmol could return to the role.

Mujica gets his first save for the Cardinals

April 18, 2013

St. Louis Cardinals — As predicted, Edward Mujica got his chance to close tonight, and although he made things interesting with a couple singles to lead off the ninth, he managed to escape with the save. He should be the man in St. Louis going forward. Hierarchy change: Edward Mujica to Closer, Mitchell Boggs to Set-Up.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedSTL |Mujica |Boggs |Rosenthal |Motte |4/18/13 |Motte(DL) |