April 27, 2015
Oakland A’s — Oakland’s bullpen has been struggling lately, turning Evan Scribner into an eighth-inning fixture, and leading Bob Melvin to give Ryan Cook the seventh-inning role in his season debut. Cook pitched well, but Tyler Clippard blew the save. Clippard has enough good will built up, though, that he’s not on the Hot Seat yet. Sean Doolittle is throwing from flat ground, but he still isn’t expected back until June.
Updated hierarchy: Clippard | Scribner | Cook.
Texas Rangers — While Tanner Scheppers sorts things out in the earlier innings, Keone Kela will be counted on in higher-leverage spots. He pitched a scoreless ninth in a tie game on Sunday. Kela’s performance has been a source of inspiration at a difficult time for the scout who signed him.
Updated hierarchy: Feliz | Tolleson | Kela.
New York Yankees — David Carpenter has been absent from close games lately; maybe he’s not tall enough for Joe Girardi’s liking. In a bullpen full of literal giants, 6-foot-8 Chris Martin stands as tall as any — and the five straight outs he recorded during last night’s two-run win over NY (NL) gets him into a hierarchy that’s now only an inch short of 20 feet tall.
Updated hierarchy: Miller | Betances | Martin.
Chicago White Sox — After making some mechanical adjustments recently, Jake Petricka was used in a tight seventh, and should continue to get important innings for the Sox.
Updated hierarchy: Robertson | Duke | Petricka.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Keone Kela/Roman Mendez, Texas Rangers — Neftali Feliz threw 38 pitches on Sunday and Shawn Tolleson was heavily used as well. Kela and Mendez are next in line.
2. Zach Duke, Chicago White Sox — David Robertson picked up a win and a save on Sunday, and needed 37 total pitches to do it. If he can’t go on Monday, Duke should get the nod.
3. Roberto Osuna/Brett Cecil, Toronto Blue Jays — The Jays’ relievers are being used situationally.
