June 9, 2014
Tampa Bay Rays – Grant Balfour gave up five more runs on Sunday and now has a 6.46 ERA. Joe Maddon wouldn’t say if Balfour had finally lost the job that he should’ve lost a long time ago, but it seems silly to keep running him out there. Until we see evidence that Balfour has lost the job, all we can do is speculate, but the three candidates to take over the job right now are Joel Peralta, Jake McGee, and Juan Carlos Oviedo. Oviedo (the former Leo Nunez) had a better chance at the job before allowing a run in three consecutive outings last week. McGee clearly has the best stuff, averaging more than a strikeout per inning and currently rocking a 1.59 ERA, but just three days ago, he was pitching in the 6th inning. That leaves the veteran Peralta, who despite a rough start to the season, has continued to pitch the 8th inning and has managed to hold the opposition scoreless in 13 of his last 14 outings. Stressing that we don’t have any hints from inside the clubhouse about what happens next, we still think Peralta has a narrow lead in the race to replace Balfour.
Hierarchy remains: Balfour | Peralta | McGee.
Arizona Diamondbacks – With Addison Reed battling a tired arm, Brad Ziegler picked up a shaky save in his place. Ziegler might make for a speculative add, as tired arms are occasionally the sign of something worse.
Hierarchy remains: Reed | Ziegler | Perez.
Baltimore Orioles – Tommy Hunter returned from the DL on Sunday. He’s got a ways to go before he reclaims the closer role, as both Zach Britton and Darren O’Day are sporting sub-1.00 ERAs. But Hunter’s past experience does slot him in 3rd place behind his two otherworldly colleagues. If they both struggle, he could get the job back.
Updated hierarchy: Britton | O’Day | Hunter.
Philadelphia Phillies – Mike Adams was placed on the DL with a sore rotator cuff. Justin De Fratus, who is working on a 9-inning scoreless streak, moves up to take his place, but keep an eye on Ken Giles, who was just brought up to take Adams’s place. Giles has electric stuff, and could one day be the Philadelphia closer. With their season in the tank, the Phillies might give him a lengthy audition in the bigs.
Updated hierarchy: Papelbon | Bastardo | De Fratus.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joe Smith, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri has pitched in three straight.
2. Oliver Perez/Evan Marshall, Arizona Diamondbacks – Addison Reed is battling a tired arm and may need another day off, while Brad Ziegler has pitched in five of the last six games.
3. Jonathan Broxton, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in back to back games and three of four.
