Rafael Soriano signs with Cubs; another save for Carson Smith

June 10, 2015

Miami Marlins — Mike Dunn pitched the 8th inning ahead of AJ Ramos in a one-run game. Ramos couldn’t hold on to the lead, giving up a two-run walkoff bomb. Ramos has pitched well enough since taking over the closer’s role, but Dunn seems to have worked his way back into the late-inning mix, as this is his second straight 8th inning appearance.

Updated hierarchy: Ramos | Dyson | Dunn.

Seattle Mariners — Carson Smith continues to look like the lead arm in the Seattle committee; he was handed the 9th inning in a two-run game on Tuesday, his second straight save opportunity. This time it didn’t go quite as smoothly for him, with a leadoff home run and a single preceding the final out. The young righthander’s phenomenal season continues, and a couple more clean save opportunities could see him kick the asterisk.

Hierarchy remains: *Smith | Lowe | Furbush.

Boston Red Sox — Manager John Farrell reportedly had a long closed-door meeting with closer Koji Uehara before Tuesday’s game. Afterward, Farrell insisted that it was only a checkup after Uehara pitched in three straight games, but the timing is curious since the pitcher is a couple days removed from the heavy workload. Uehara has been as effective as ever this year, and even after his disaster outing on June 4, Koji got the ball for two straight save opportunities. This was probably nothing, but it may be worth keeping an eye on Junichi Tazawa, who has quietly put up six straight scoreless appearances, and has a 1.40 ERA on the season.

Hierarchy remains: Uehara | Tazawa | Barnes.

Chicago Cubs — The Cubs sought some bullpen help by signing former major league closer Rafael Soriano to a minor-league deal on Tuesday. Normally a minor-league signing isn’t newsworthy, but Soriano earned 32 saves in 2014 and will walk into one of the most unsettled bullpens in the league. Once he makes it to the show, expect him to be handed high-leverage situations, especially given his pro-rated $4 million salary (with $4 million more in incentives).

Hierarchy remains: *Rondon | Strop | Motte.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Darren O’Day, Baltimore Orioles — Zach Britton threw 28 pitches in a five-out save yesterday, and may need a night off.
2. Jonathan Broxton, Milwaukee Brewers — Francisco Rodriguez has pitched in two straight and three of the last four.
3. Kelvin Herrera, Kansas City Royals — Both Greg Holland and Wade Davis have pitched in three straight games.
4. Jim Johnson, Atlanta Braves — Jason Grilli has pitched in two straight, throwing 50 pitches over that span.
5. Pedro Strop/Jason Motte, Chicago Cubs — The Cubs are running a committee until Rondon figures himself out.

J.J. Hoover takes over 8th inning for Reds; Betancourt to the DL

June 9, 2015

Cincinnati Reds – J.J. Hoover has been anointed as the Reds’ new 8th-inning man. The flame-throwing righty now has a 1.93 ERA and a sub-1.00 WHIP. He picked up his second hold of the season last night setting up Aroldis Chapman. Expect Hoover to continue to get the 8th inning as long as he is pitching lights-out.

Updated hierarchy: Chapman | Hoover | Cingrani.

Colorado Rockies – Having battled a sinus infection and vertigo symptoms for weeks, Rafael Betancourt will spend some time on the disabled list. Throughout his three-week-long illness, Betancourt has struggled mightily, culminating with an on-field tantrum on Saturday. While Betancourt takes time to recover, 29-year-old Brooks Brown should slide in to take his place, but he may not be there for long as LaTroy Hawkins is close to returning to the roster.

Updated hierarchy: Axford | Oberg | Brown.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Tony Cingrani, Cincinnati Reds – Even though he is no longer the set-up man in Cincy, Cingrani may get a save opportunity tonight with both Chapman and Hoover having pitched in back to back games.

Jason Motte picks up save; Brad Boxberger dealing with soreness

June 8, 2015

Texas Rangers – Ross Ohlendorf was placed on the disabled list on Sunday with a strained groin. Tanner Scheppers has been receiving some high leverage opportunities since his return from the minors and will likely continue to get holds in Texas.

Updated hierarchy: Tolleson | Kela | Scheppers.

Cincinnati Reds – The Reds continued to use Jumbo Diaz in big spots all the way until his end, which came after Saturday’s loss when he surrendered two runs and took the loss, pushing his ERA to 6.65. Diaz will work on his stuff in the minors and has a chance to reclaim a spot later in the season, but for now, the go-to righty in Cincinnati’s pen is J.J. Hoover, who pitched the 8th inning ahead of Aroldis Chapman on Sunday.

Updated hierarchy: Chapman | Cingrani | Hoover.

Houston Astros – Luke Gregerson suffered a bad blown save on Sunday, allowing three earned runs and raising his ERA to 4.50. It was only his second blown save, so his job is probably safe for now, but what we’re focused on is the man who would likely replace him if he missed time. An inning earlier, Pat Neshek got his third consecutive 8th inning hold; Chad Qualls, meanwhile, has only pitched twice since May 26 and his results are one loss and one blown save. Until we see reason to believe otherwise, it seems Neshek is now the handcuff in Houston.

Updated hierarchy: Gregerson | Neshek | Qualls.

Pittsburgh Pirates – Arquimedes Caminero got the 8th inning ahead of Mark Melancon on Sunday, and has gotten more high-leverage chances in recent weeks. He’s surpassed Jared Hughes on the Pirates hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Melancon | Watson | Caminero.

Chicago Cubs – With Pedro Strop unavailable, Jason Motte picked up his first save since 2012. Hector Rondon pitched the 8th and faced the middle of the Nats’ lineup, so you could argue that this was the ideal deployment of Chicago’s best reliever. Regardless, a full committee is in effect here, with Strop or Rondon the most likely to get the next save.

Hierarchy remains: *Rondon | Strop | Motte.

Tampa Bay Rays – After a 32-pitch outing on Wednesday, Brad Boxberger has been dealing with some triceps soreness. The Rays don’t expect it to be serious, and Boxberger believes he’ll be back on Tuesday. In the meantime, Kevin Jepsen picked up another save.

Hierarchy remains: Boxberger | Jepsen | McGee.

Colorado Rockies – A week after Scott Oberg picked up his first career save, he pitched the 8th inning in a tie game (John Axford would pitch the 9th). In the near-term, Oberg seems like the most likely option to get saves when Axford is unavailable, especially with Rafael Betancourt struggling with fatigue.

Updated hierarchy: Axford | Oberg | Betancourt.

New York Mets – In a 2-run game, rookie Hansel Robles got the 8th inning for the Mets. Terry Collins had Jeurys Familia warming up for a long save if Robles got in any trouble, but the righty posted a perfect inning and picked up his third hold. Robles’s numbers aren’t great so far (4.97 ERA), but the advanced metrics think he’s been pretty solid and Collins has been giving him lots of high-leverage chances lately.

Updated hierarchy: Familia | C.Torres | Robles.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Ken Giles, Philadelphia Phillies – Jonathan Papelbon has pitched in back to back games, including a 24-pitch outing Sunday.
2. Pat Neshek, Houston Astros – After a rough outing on Sunday, Luke Gregerson might get a night off to clear his head.

Mariners finally replace Rodney, Pedro Strop picks up save

June 7, 2015

Seattle Mariners — Carson Smith, who received a standing ovation as he entered the game,  pitched a perfect 9th on Saturday night to record his first career save.  Manager Lloyd McClendon finally admitted that Rodney would get some time off from closing to clean up some things.  It looks like it will be a closer-by-committee with Mark Lowe and Charlie Furbush also getting chances situationally.  Carson Smith should get the majority of the save opportunities, but he has only pitched three days in a row once this season, and the Mariners will likely be cautious with his innings.

Updated hierarchy: Smith | Lowe | Furbush.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago Cubs – After Jason Hammel gave up a homer to Bryce Harper to start the 9th, the Cubs brought on Hector Rondon.  He walked the first batter he faced and was immediately pulled by Joe Maddon.  Pedro Strop came on and picked up his second save of the season.  Madden said after the game that he was not naming a new closer.  However, he did admit that he might try to get Rondon work in some non-save situations.  It sounds like it could be a committee for the near future if Rondon is getting in some work in lower-leverage situations so Strop and Motte could see some save chances while that happens.

Hierarchy remains: *Rondon | Strop | Motte.
* = closer-by-committee

Arizona Diamondbacks – Brad Ziegler pitched a scoreless 9th for his 6th save of the season yesterday.  For the second straight time, it was Addison Reed who pitched the 8th inning ahead of Ziegler.  Reed has been pitching better, and it looked like he might start getting some save chances again, but Ziegler has gotten the call on the last three traditional save opportunities and converted each one.  Ziegler appears to have the job all to himself for now but this could return to a committee if he slips up at all.

Hierarchy remains: Ziegler | Reed | Hudson.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Junichi Tazawa, Boston Red Sox – Koji Uehara has pitched in three straight.
2. Mark Lowe/Charlie Furbush, Seattle Mariners – Carson Smith has pitched in two straight and only gone three in a row once this season so this could be a good day to use Lowe or Furbush.
3. Pedro Strop/Jason Motte, Chicago Cubs – If Joe Maddon decides to use Hector Rondon in a lower-leverage situation, Strop or Motte should see the save opportunity.

Rodney out as closer for Mariners, Carson Smith records save

June 7, 2015

Seattle Mariners — Carson Smith pitched a perfect 9th on Saturday night to record his first career save.  Manager Lloyd McClendon said recently that he didn’t have any alternatives to Rodney, but finally admitted that Rodney would get some time off from closing to clean up some things.  It looks like it will be a closer-by-committee with Mark Lowe and Charlie Furbush also getting chances situationally.  Carson Smith should get the majority of chances, but he has only pitched three days in a row once this season, and the Mariners will likely be cautious with his innings.

Updated hierarchy: Smith | Lowe | Furbush.
* = closer-by-committee