Mauricio Cabrera catching on in Atlanta

July 8, 2016

Atlanta Braves – Closer Arodys Vizcaino was unavailable Thursday after a rough outing Wednesday (1 IP, 2 ER, blown save, 21 pitches). In his place during an 11-inning affair against the Cubs? It was the recently called up Mauricio Cabrera, who pitched a clean 11th inning for his second save. With Vizcaino on the trade block, Cabrera could be the closer of the future in Atlanta.

Updated hierarchy: Vizcaino | Johnson | Cabrera.

San Francisco Giants – Giants setup man Cory Gearrin has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right shoulder… or if we’re being honest, it appears to be an extended of period of rest for Gearrin through the All-Star break. Manager Bruce Bochy admitted as much, saying, “It was going to be a few days (off) so we placed him on the DL to get this cleared up.” Bochy added that Gearrin should be back when eligible to come off of the DL.

Updated hierarchy: Casilla | Romo | Strickland.

Detroit Tigers – Bruce Rondon wasn’t available to pitch Thursday due to an illness. There was no word on whether he’ll be available Friday. Meantime, the Tigers surely needed him, as the bullpen yielded three runs in a loss to the Blue Jays.

Hierarchy remains: Rodriguez | J.Wilson | Rondon.

Kansas City Royals – Would-be closer Joakim Soria pitched the eighth inning with a 2-0 deficit and allowed a Nelson Cruz homer. This certainly did not lend any clarity on the Royals closing situation, especially after Kelvin Herrera’s recent rough outings.

Hierarchy remains: *Soria | Herrera | Hochevar.
* = closer-by-committee

St. Louis Cardinals – Trevor Rosenthal pitched in the eighth inning of a 5-1 win over the Pirates, recording two outs in a clean outing. It’s a good sign for the demoted closer, but we’ll wait to slide him up in our hierarchy until we see more evidence that Mike Matheny is trusting him again.

Hierarchy remains: Oh | Broxton | Rosenthal.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Addison Reed, New York Mets — Jeurys Familia has pitched in two straight and three of the last four.
2. Kelvin Herrera, Kansas City Royals — Who will get the first call for a save chance? Will it be Herrera or Joakim Soria?

Kelvin Herrera struggles, likely behind Joakim Soria in Royals’ closer race

July 7, 2016

Kansas City Royals — There wasn’t a save chance for KC on Wednesday, but it’s noteworthy that Kelvin Herrera came out for the eighth in a tie game. Herrera struck out the side, but also allowed two runs on three hits to take the loss. This only strengthens our belief that Ned Yost will give Joakim Soria the first shot to close.

Hierarchy remains: *Soria | Herrera | Hochevar.
* = closer-by-committee

Philadelphia Phillies — Edubray Ramos has pitched in three straight close seventh innings, including a Wednesday appearance with a tied score. As Philly’s closer of the future, his role could continue to grow in the second half of the season — especially if the team trades Jeanmar Gomez before he hits arbitration. For his part, David Hernandez has allowed 13 earned runs over his last nine appearances (9.2 IP).

Updated hierarchy: Gomez | Neris | Ramos.

Cleveland Indians — It’s been seven weeks since we talked to you about the Cleveland bullpen, but Zach McAllister has forced our hand. The righty started on Saturday after a 19-inning affair and got shelled by Toronto; on Wednesday, he came in for the seventh down six runs and gave up four more. Jeff Mansihp Manship (2.13 ERA, five holds) and Dan Otero (1.36 ERA, 8.45 K/9) are each pitching better than McAllister — and adding Otero gives the Indians the most anagrammable hierarchy in the league.

Updated hierarchy: Lonely Cad | Brash Yawn | Neat Odor.

Houston Astros — It wasn’t pretty for Luke Gregerson (1 ER, 3 BB), but he managed to grab the vulture save we foretold for him.

Hierarchy remains: Harris | Gregerson | Giles.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Neftali Feliz/Arquimedes Caminero, Pittsburgh Pirates — Mark Melancon has pitched in two straight and five of the last six. Feliz and Tony Watson have each gone in four of five, so maybe Clint Hurdle will give Arquimedes a place to stand.
2. Pedro Baez, Los Angeles Dodgers — Baez’s usage has been weird lately, but he was the only reliever the Dodgers didn’t use in their 14-inning game on Wednesday. Kenley Jansen and Joe Blanton have each been used in three of four.
3. Shawn Kelley, Washington Nationals — Ordinarily this would be a stretch, but Jonathan Papelbon just came back from the DL and has pitched in two of the last three.

Wade Davis hits DL; Alex Colome returns

July 6, 2016

Kansas City Royals — Wade Davis hit the DL on Tuesday with a right forearm strain. Manager Ned Yost refused to commit to a replacement, saying he will “mix and match” depending on who is available. Kelvin Herrera is the best choice to take over Davis’ role, but Joakim Soria has closer experience and Yost’s trust, so we’ll put Soria at the top of the committee for now.

Updated hierarchy: *Soria | Herrera | Hochevar.
* = closer-by-committee

Tampa Bay Rays — Alex Colome was activated from the DL Tuesday and pitched in a losing effort, his first work since June 18. The All-Star will resume his role as the Rays’ closer going forward.

Updated hierarchy: Colome | Cedeno | Ramirez.

Milwaukee Brewers — The mystery of Tyler Thornburg’s absence was solved Tuesday, as it was revealed that the 10-day period of rest was merely circumstantial. Thornburg appeared on Tuesday, allowing just one hit in the eighth inning of a 5-2 win. Will Smith pitched in the biggest spot of the game, however, striking out Bryce Harper with the bases loaded to end the seventh. We’ll switch Thornburg back to his spot behind Jeremy Jeffress, but don’t be surprised if Smith sees some of the eighth as well, especially if a lefty comes to the plate.

Updated hierarchy: Jeffress | Thornburg | Smith.

Colorado Rockies — Adam Ottavino officially made his return from Tommy John surgery on Tuesday in his first appearance since April 25, 2015. He struck out the only batter he faced in a 7-3 victory. Ottavino is expected to ease back into game action, but manager Walt Weiss said it won’t be long before the righty is pitching in high-leverage situations.

Updated hierarchy: Estevez | McGee | Ottavino.

Minnesota Twins — Trevor May returned from the DL Tuesday and pitched the seventh in a blowout win. Manager Paul Molitor said he will ease May back into things, which means Ryan Pressly shouldn’t lose his seventh-inning role right away. We’ll keep an eye on May’s progress as he eventually works his way back into the hierarchy, though the Twins are still open to May becoming a starter.

Hierarchy remains: *Kintzler | Abad | Pressly.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Luke Gregerson, Houston Astros – Will Harris has pitched in three straight games.
2. Tyler Thornburg/Will Smith, Milwaukee Brewers – Jeremy Jeffress has appeared in each of the last three games, and Craig Counsell could play matchups in the ninth given Smith’s success against lefties.

Ryan Dull setting records; Luke Gregerson pitching well

July 5, 2016

Milwaukee Brewers – Tyler Thornburg has not pitched in a week and it is not entirely clear why. Last night Will Smith set-up Jeremy Jeffress, but there is little to suggest that Thornburg is injured or otherwise in Craig Counsell’s doghouse. Considering the fact that the Brewers batted out of order last night, pure incompetence cannot be ruled out. We’ll switch Thornburg and Smith for now.

Updated hierarchy: Jeffress | Smith | Thornburg.

Tampa Bay Rays – Ryan Garton snagged a sneaky vulture save last night with Xavier Cedeno getting the night off. The Rays have used a number of pitchers in the late innings recently, but Kevin Cash has shown confidence in Garton in the last few weeks. We expect him to continue to get late inning work going forward.

Updated hierarchy: Cedeno | Ramirez | Garton.

Houston Astros – In the last week, the Astros have used Luke Gregerson as Will Harris’s set-up man over Ken Giles. Giles has had a tough year following high expectations, and now seems to be second in line in Houston with Gregerson re-establishing his footing.

Updated hierarchy: Harris | Gregerson | Giles.

San Francisco Giants – Sergio Romo, the longtime Giants set-up man, has been activated from the disabled list and will be available to pitch tonight. However, Bruce Bochy told the press that Romo will not be getting his old job back right away. For now, Cory Gearrin will continue to get the 8th inning. We do not expect Bochy to be shy in deploying Romo in the late innings, however.

Updated hierarchy: Casilla | Gearrin | Romo.

Pittsburgh Pirates – The Pirates have used Tony Watson as the primary set-up man recently, but they still went with Neftali Feliz for the vulture save chance last night. Serves us right for not trusting our own hierarchy.

Hierarchy remains: Melancon | Feliz | Watson.

Oakland A’s – Ryan Dull set a record last night for stranding inherited runners. His reward is the first in line spot on the Closer Monkey hierarchy, as his appearance last night was the second time in a row that he’s been used to set-up Ryan Madson.

Updated hierarchy: Madson | Dull | Axford.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Cory Gearrin, San Francisco Giants – Santiago Casilla has pitched in back to back games and three of four.