Vinnie Pestano moved out of setup role; Matt Thornton facing extra pressure?

July 9, 2013

Cleveland Indians — Vinnie Pestano’s failure to thrive after returning from an elbow injury has finally resulted in his demotion from the 8th inning role. Terry Francona says that Joe Smith will take over setup duties, with Cody Allen filling in when necessary — although the goal is to rehabilitate Pestano to his 2012 form. Hierarchy change: Joe Smith to Set-up, Cody Allen to 2nd in line.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
CLEChris PerezJoe SmithCody AllenChris Perez7/9/13

.

Colorado Rockies — Matt Belisle pitched a perfect eighth in a close game on Monday, and Walt Weiss seems to again prefer him to Wilton Lopez in higher-leverage situations. Hierarchy change: Matt Belisle to 2nd in line, replacing Wilton Lopez.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
COLRafael BetancourtRex BrothersMatt BelisleRafael Betancourt7/9/13

.

Chicago White Sox — Matt Thornton, the subject of several recent trade rumors, was ineffective in a tied eighth inning on Monday night and caught the loss. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
CHWAddison ReedMatt ThorntonMatt LindstromAddison Reed7/9/13
Jesse Crain (DL)

.

Texas Rangers — Joakim Soria returned on Sunday after almost two years of recovery from Tommy John surgery; in his first two games back, he has picked up holds in the sixth and eighth innings. We’re not ready to move Soria into Texas’s hierarchy just yet, but don’t count him out. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
TEXJoe NathanTanner ScheppersNeal CottsJoe Nathan7/9/13

.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Antonio Bastardo, Philadelphia Phillies — Jonathan Papelbon struggled on Monday night; he has pitched on two straight days and four of the last five.
2. Jeremy Affeldt, San Francisco Giants — Sergio Romo has pitched in three straight games.
3. Joe Smith, Cleveland Indians — Although Chris Perez threw only seven pitches on Monday, it was his third straight day of work.

Scott Downs hasn’t allowed a run since May 1; Neal Cotts dominating

July 8, 2013

Texas Rangers – With Tanner Scheppers coming off a rough outing on Saturday, the Rangers went to lefty Neal Cotts for the 8th inning hold on Sunday.  Cotts, called up in May, has been nothing short of spectacular since joining the big league club.  He’s got a 1.09 ERA and a 31-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 24.2 innings, and with Robbie Ross’s recent struggles, Cotts has become the go-to lefty in the Texas bullpen.  Hierarchy change: Neal Cotts to 2nd in line, replacing Robbie Ross.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
TEXJoe NathanTanner ScheppersNeal CottsJoe Nathan7/8/13

.
Los Angeles Angels – Scott Downs had become an out-and-out LOOGY for the better part of two months, but he’s been pitching so well that the Angels have returned him to a full-time set-up role.  He hasn’t allowed an earned run in 24 straight appearances dating back to May 1, a stretch which has lowered his ERA to 1.42, and he got the call in the 8th last night, where he pitched a clean inning against the top of the Red Sox lineup.  Hierarchy change: Scott Downs to Set-up, Kevin Jepsen to 2nd in line.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
LAAErnesto FrieriScott DownsKevin JepsenErnesto Frieri7/8/13
Ryan Madson (DL)

.
Oakland A’s – Jesse Chavez picked up a 4-inning save last night.  He does not factor in to the A’s usual late-inning plans.  No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
OAKGrant BalfourRyan CookSean DoolittleGrant Balfour7/8/13

.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Oliver Perez, Seattle Mariners – Last night, Tom Wilhelmsen picked up his 2nd save since being sorta-kinda-renamed closer, but Eric Wedge previously indicated that he’ll sometimes be playing matchups in the 9th inning.

Andrew Bailey pitching well, Matt Guerrier is a boost for Cubs bullpen

July 7, 2013

Boston Red Sox –  Andrew Bailey got the last 2 outs of the 7th inning last night and then stayed on to pitch a scoreless 8th.  Bailey has back to back scoreless outings, recording 2 strikeouts in each appearance.  Hierarchy change: Andrew Bailey to 2nd in line, replacing Andrew Miller.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
BOSKoji UeharaJunichi TazawaAndrew BaileyJunichi Tazawa7/7/13

.

Chicago Cubs — Recently acquired Matt Guerrier pitched two perfect innings last night ahead of Kevin Gregg to pick up his first hold since being traded to the Cubs. Hierarchy change: Matt Guerrier to 2nd in line, replacing James Russell.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
CHCKevin GreggBlake ParkerMatt GuerrierKevin Gregg7/7/13

.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Junichi Tazawa, Boston Red Sox – Koji Uehara has pitched in two straight and four of the last five.
2. Tyler Clippard/Drew Storen, Washington Nationals – Rafael Soriano has pitched in three straight.  Clippard has been pitching better but Storen pitched the 8th last night and got the save last time Soriano was unavailable.
3. Trevor Rosenthal, St. Louis Cardinals – Edward Mujica has pitched in three straight and four of the last five.

Jim Johnson blows another save, Oliver Perez picks up save

July 6, 2013

Seattle Mariners — Oliver Perez struck out the side to pick up the save on Friday night.  Tom Wilhelmsen is still the closer as he was warming in the bullpen to come in if there was any trouble.  However, Oliver Perez has pitched extremely well this year and could see some more save opportunities based on match-ups.  Hierarchy change: Oliver Perez to Set-up, Yoervis Medina to 2nd in line.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
SEATom WilhelmsenOliver PerezYoervis MedinaTom Wilhelmsen7/6/13
Stephen Pryor (DL)

.

Baltimore Orioles — Jim Johnson blew his sixth save of the season last night.  Johnson saw his ERA climb over 4 and, with the way Tommy Hunter has been pitching, he could be in danger of losing his job if he continues to pitch poorly. Jim Johnson to Hot Seat.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
BALJim JohnsonTommy HunterDarren O’DayJim Johnson7/6/13

.

New York Mets – Josh Edgin picked up the save last night.  He got the last out in the 8th inning and then stayed on to finish the game after the Mets added three runs in the top of the 9th.  No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
NYMBobby ParnellLaTroy HawkinsDavid AardsmaBobby Parnell7/6/13

.

Atlanta Braves – The Braves have optioned Cory Gearrin to Triple-A.  Luis Avilan, and his 1.51 ERA, should take over for Gearrin in the late innings.  Hierarchy change: Luis Avilan to 2nd in line, replacing Cory Gearrin.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
ATLCraig KimbrelJordan WaldenLuis AvilanCraig Kimbrel7/6/13
Eric O’Flaherty (DL)

.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Junichi Tazawa, Boston Red Sox – Koji Uehara has pitched in three of the last four
2. Ryan Cook, Oakland Athletics – Grant Balfour has pitched in two straight and three of the last four.
3. Antonio Bastardo, Philadelphia Phillies – Jonathan Papelbon has appeared in two straight games and three of the last four
4. Trevor Rosenthal, St. Louis Cardinals – Edward Mujica has pitched in two straight and three of the last four.

Drew Storen struggling; Heath Bell may not have Arizona job for long

July 5, 2013

Washington Nationals – Last week, on a night when Rafael Soriano was unavailable, Drew Storen got the save chance over Tyler Clippard, which surprised us, since Storen has generally been the 7th-inning guy for Washington this year, and he hasn’t been particularly good at it.  On Thursday, Storen continued being not particularly good at pitching the 7th, giving up three runs on two home runs, which raised his ERA to 5.40.  A string of good outings might cause Washington to return to their gameplan from last week, whereby Storen jumps ahead of Clippard on nights when Soriano is unavailable, but after last night, we don’t see Storen getting save chances until he straightens himself out.  Hierarchy change: Tyler Clippard to Set-up, Drew Storen to 2nd in line. 

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
WASRafael SorianoTyler ClippardDrew StorenRafael Soriano7/5/13

.
Arizona Diamondbacks – Brad Ziegler picked up a 15th-inning save on Thursday afternoon; he’s not in the picture for saves in Arizona.  However, his save came two innings after Heath Bell blew a 13th-inning opportunity, and with J.J. Putz getting stronger (he’s now appeared three times; two of those appearances were scoreless), Bell could be yanked from the closer role very soon.  Heath Bell to Hot Seat.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
ARIHeath BellDavid HernandezJ.J. PutzJ.J. Putz7/5/13

.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jose Cisnero, Houston Astros – Jose Veras had to pulled from a game last night with a bruised right pinky.  If he can’t go today, Cisnero is the best bet for the save chance.
2. Mike Dunn, Miami Marlins – Steve Cishek has pitched in back to back games and four of the last five.
3. LaTroy Hawkins, New York Mets – Bobby Parnell has pitched in back to back games and three of four, throwing 3.2 innings in that span.