July 24, 2015
Toronto Blue Jays — As predicted in our Vulture Save Watch, Roberto Osuna didn’t get the save opportunity on Thursday. Instead, that honor went to Bo Schultz, who got the final two outs for his first career save after R.A. Dickey tossed the first 8 1/3 innings for the win. Schultz has pitched well of late (1.75 ERA in 25.2 IP), and belongs ahead of Steve Delabar (7 ER in last 4.1 IP) in the hierarchy. After a second rehab outing Thursday at Syracuse, Aaron Sanchez will slide into second in line when he rejoins the team this weekend.
Updated hierarchy: Osuna | Schultz | Delabar.
Boston Red Sox — Losers of seven straight since the All-Star Break after Thursday’s 5-4 defeat at the hands of the Astros, the last-place Red Sox would appear to be in sell mode. The selling could start this coming week, and could even include closer Koji Uehara. The Boston Globe is reporting teams have inquired about Uehara, and the Red Sox could receive a significant haul if they’re willing to deal him. Signed to a relatively reasonable 2-year, $18 million deal that expires after 2016, Uehara, 40, has been one of the lone bright spots for Boston, with 22 saves, a 2.67 ERA and a nasty 0.89 WHIP. Junichi Tazawa would likely get the first crack at closing if Uehara is dealt.
Hierarchy remains: Uehara | Tazawa | Ogando.
Seattle Mariners — Extra-inning games tend to stretch out a bullpen, and that was the case Thursday, when all of the Mariners relievers in the late-innings hierarchy got a crack. All pitched well, with Mark Lowe tossing a scoreless eighth and ninth, Carson Smith getting all three outs in the tenth, and Fernando Rodney managing to throw a scoreless eleventh. Rodney earned the win when Tigers reliever Ian Krol gave up the go-ahead run in the top half of the twelfth, and old friend Tom Wilhelmsen pitched a clean bottom half for his first save of the year. The team’s former closer, Wilhelmsen will not factor into the team’s ninth-inning plans moving forward.
Hierarchy remains: *Smith | Rodney | Lowe.
* = closer-by-committee
Oakland A’s — Sean Doolittle, who was pitched in just one game this year, said this week he is working extremely hard to pitch again this season. “It looks like there’s a really good chance I’ll be pitching this year,” Doolittle said. We don’t envision Doolittle getting a save opportunity this year, but him getting in a few games this August or September could go a long way in helping you keeper-leaguers decide if he’s worth holding onto.
Hierarchy remains: Clippard | Mujica | Pomeranz.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Bruce Rondon, Detroit Tigers — Joakim Soria threw 30 pitches in Wednesday’s game and another 16 pitches Thursday, so he could get a breather Friday night.
2. Kevin Siegrist, St. Louis Cardinals — Closer Trevor Rosenthal has pitched in three straight games, so look for Kevin Siegrist to get the call if needed on Friday.