August 21, 2015
Tampa Bay Rays — Sometimes-closer Jake McGee has a torn meniscus and will miss the rest of the season after knee surgery. Xavier Cedeno and Steve Geltz will be Tampa’s next line of defense behind a shaky but secure Brad Boxberger (four blown saves, nine losses).
Updated hierarchy: Boxberger | Cedeno | Geltz.
Minnesota Twins – Glen Perkins received a cortisone shot on Wednesday and hopes to play catch before the weekend. If all goes well, Perkins could be back by next Tuesday; until then, Minnesota will split save opportunities between Kevin Jepsen and Trevor May.
Updated hierarchy: Perkins | Jepsen | May.
Boston Red Sox — Junichi Tazawa earned his second save in as many days on Thursday night and appears to be interim manager Torey Lovullo’s first choice in the ninth inning. Taz hasn’t had a great month (5 ER in 7 IP), but he’s definitely Boston’s best remaining bullpen arm, if only by default. Ryan Cook has been pitching like Taylor Swift, and has the 19.89 ERA to prove it. John Farrell may have considered him an alternate closer option, but it doesn’t seem like Lovullo does.
Updated hierarchy: *Tazawa | Machi | Ogando.
Colorado Rockies — The resurgent John Axford earned his first save since July 10 after shutting down the Nationals Thursday night. What’s more remarkable is that Axford had four blown saves (and three wins) in between his two most recent converted attempts. Scott Oberg pitched the eighth inning ahead of the Ax Man, and has two holds over the last week.
Updated hierarchy: Axford | Kahnle | Oberg.
Cincinnati Reds — Aroldis Chapman has a stiff left shoulder that has left him unavailable since Tuesday. JJ Hoover, Jumbo Diaz, and Burke Badenhop (in that order) will become more relevant in the late innings as long as Aroldis is ailing.
Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Hoover | Diaz.
Houston Astros — Reliever Josh Fields (0.95 WHIP, 2.20 ERA) was sent down to Double-A for the crime of having options. The Astros needed “a jolt of freshness” in their bullpen after playing three extra-inning games out of five and using six relievers on Wednesday, so they called up rookie Vince Velasquez. Fields cannot return to the team for the next 10 days, unless someone gets hurt, which takes him to September 1 roster expansion anyway. For now, we’ll move Will Harris to second in line. He has six holds and a fine K rate, and nailed down a save earlier this month.
Updated hierarchy: Gregerson | Neshek | Harris.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Kevin Jepsen/Trevor May, Minnesota Twins – Jepsen or May will get the next save chance for the Twins.
2. Mike Dunn, Miami Marlins — A.J. Ramos is young, but he’s also pitched in 4 of the last 5 days, and his arm isn’t made of rubber. Look for Mike Dunn to pitch in a pinch if needed in the 9th on Friday.
3. Jean Machi, Boston Red Sox — Junichi Tazawa has pitched in two straight games (25 pitches), and if the Red Sox still consider this a committee, Jean Machi may get the next save chance.
4. Alex Wilson, Detroit Tigers — Gone are Joe Nathan and Joakim Soria. In their place is a lot of uncertainty. Will it be Bruce Rondon in a save chance Friday night? We think so, but keep an eye on Alex Wilson (1.80 ERA, 2 saves).
5. Edward Mujica, Oakland A’s — Until Sean Doolittle returns early next week, Drew Pomeranz is currently the man at the front of the Oakland committee. Keep an eye on Edward Mujica, who holds that “valuable closer experience” card.
