Santiago Casilla is still the closer in San Francisco…for now

September 9, 2016

San Francisco Giants – The Giants were off Thursday, but that didn’t stop some beat writers from writing off closer Santiago Casilla, who has struggled recently. While he’s certainly on the hot seat, there’s still no word on whether he’s off the job. Sergio Romo or even Joe Nathan would be candidates to lead what would likely be a closer-by-committee should Casilla get the ax.

Hierarchy remains: Casilla | Romo | Nathan.

Pittsburgh Pirates — Setup man Neftali Feliz will be unavailable through the weekend due to a muscular issue in his right arm. He hasn’t pitched since last Saturday. In the meantime, expect Felipe Rivero, Juan Nicasio and Antonio Bastardo to fill up the back end of the bullpen behind Tony Watson.

Hierarchy remains: Watson | Feliz | Rivero.

Colorado Rockies – The Rockies activated Jason Motte from the 15-day disabled list. He had been on the DL since late July with a rotator cuff strain. We’ll monitor how Walt Weiss uses Motte (5.66 ERA) in the coming days.

Hierarchy remains: Ottavino | Logan | Estevez.

St. Louis Cardinals — Former closer Trevor Rosenthal (forearm) and injured starter Michael Wacha are expected to rejoin the Cardinals bullpen next week for the playoff push. Rosenthal has thrown two bullpen sessions recently, while Wacha threw one Wednesday and felt no pain. It was the first time Wacha threw on the side since being shut down with a shoulder injury Aug. 9.

Hierarchy remains: Oh | Siegrist | Bowman.

New York Mets — The Mets signed veteran quarterback Tim Tebow to a minor league deal Thursday. The former Heisman Trophy winner joins a number of Mets cash cows after inking a deal that nets him a $100,000 signing bonus.

Updated hierarchy: Bonilla | Madoff | Tebow.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. David Hernandez, Philadelphia Phillies – OK, hear us out. The Phils’ top three relievers, Jeanmar Gomez, Hector Neris and Edubray Ramos, have all pitched in three of four and four of six. If Philadelphia has a ninth-inning lead Friday and Gomez needs a rest, Hernandez could get a chance.
2. Santiago Casilla, San Francisco Giants – Will Santiago Casilla get the next save chance? If so, will he have a short leash? Lots of questions. No answers yet.

Santiago Casilla’s job is in serious jeopardy

September 8, 2016

San Francisco Giants – Santiago Casilla blew his seventh save of the season last night, and while #GiantsTwitter had a lot to say on the matter, Bruce Bochy was silent after the game about the closer role. With the Giants holding on to a playoff spot by the slimmest of margins, it’s possible that Casilla will soon cede the 9th inning to Sergio Romo or maybe even recent call-up Joe Nathan, who unsuccessfully tried to bail him out last night. We will monitor the situation closely.

Updated hierarchy: Casilla | Romo | Nathan.

New York Yankees – The Vulture Save Watch struck again, as Tyler Clippard picked up the save for the resurgent Yankees with Dellin Betances getting the night off. Clippard remains Betances’s handcuff.

Hierarchy remains: Betances | Clippard | Warren.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Tyler Clippard/Adam Warren, New York Yankees – After a 40-pitch outing on Tuesday (which was also his third straight appearance), it’s possible that Dellin Betances gets another night off. Tyler Clippard didn’t pitch on Tuesday, but he’s gone in four of the last five, so it’s possible that the job falls to Adam Warren tonight.
2. Felipe Rivero, Pittsburgh Pirates – Tony Watson has pitched in three straight and Neftali Feliz is still dealing with an injury.

Hector Rondon returns to bolster Cubs bullpen

September 7, 2016

Chicago Cubs — Hector Rondon was activated Tuesday and subsequently made his first appearance since August 16. Manager Joe Maddon said that Rondon won’t slide back into a specific eighth-inning role, but we think that if both Aroldis Chapman and C.J. Edwards were unavailable, Rondon would get the call in the ninth.

Updated hierarchy: Chapman | Edwards | Rondon.

Los Angeles Dodgers — Pedro Baez returned from extended rest at Double-A and picked up an immediate seventh-inning hold. It appears as if Baez has bumped lefty Adam Liberatore back out of the hierarchy, while Liberatore attempts to recapture his form from earlier this year.

Updated hierarchy: Jansen | Blanton | Baez.

New York Yankees — Dellin Betances struggled in a wild evening at Yankee Stadium and was unable to convert a save chance. With Adam Warren having already pitched, and Tyler Clippard resting following three straight days of work, the Yankees turned to Blake Parker to close the door in the ninth, grabbing his second career save and first since 2013 with the Cubs.

Hierarchy remains: Betances | Clippard | Warren.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Tyler Clippard, New York Yankees — Dellin Betances’ 40-pitch outing on Tuesday was his third straight appearance.
2. Dan Jennings, Chicago White Sox — David Robertson (62 pitches) and Nate Jones (46) have each pitched in three straight games. Jennings also has, but has thrown just 29 pitches.

Andrew Bailey records back to back saves

September 6, 2016

Los Angeles Angels – Andrew Bailey recorded his second save of the season last night, pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning. The Angels’ bullpen was stretched early in the game, with starter Jered Weaver only lasting 4 innings. While we expect Mike Scioscia to mix and match going forward, we are comfortable moving Bailey to the top of the committee. Add him if you need saves.

Updated hierarchy: *Bailey | Ramirez | Guerra.
* = closer-by-committee

San Diego Padres – Over the past few weeks, the Padres have quietly stopped using Kevin Quackenbush in late inning situations. At the same time, Ryan Buchter returned to San Diego and has pitched well. Last night Brad Hand was tapped to hold the lead in the eighth innings. With Hand and Buchter’s stock rising and Quack’s falling, we will adjust our hierarchy accordingly.

Updated hierarchy: Maurer | Buchter | Hand.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Adam Warren, New York Yankees – Dellin Betances and Tyler Clippard have both pitched two in a row; Joe Girardi is notoriously skittish about pitching relievers in three straight.

Andrew Bailey could be a source for saves down the stretch. Yes, really.

September 5, 2016

Los Angeles Angels – After Matt Shoemaker took a line drive to the head in the second inning on Sunday, the first Angel out of the bullpen was Deolis Guerra, who is ostensibly competing for the closer job with J.C. Ramirez. Though this seemingly would have solidified Ramirez as the Angels’ new closer, he was actually summoned in the 7th inning, and he subsequently bridged the last two innings to newcomer Andrew Bailey, who they signed to a minor league deal in August. Bailey responded by converting his first save since 2013, which immediately puts him in the conversation with Ramirez for future opportunities. In other Angels news, Cam Bedrosian is officially done for the year.

Updated hierarchy: *Ramirez | Bailey | Guerra.
* = closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox – The Red Sox will bring Koji Uehara off the disabled list today, and given the team’s bullpen struggles, the righty could return to high-leverage work sooner rather than later. He won’t pitch until Tuesday, but we’ll swap him for Clay Buchholz, that day’s starter, now.

Updated hierarchy: Kimbrel | Ziegler | Uehara.

Chicago White Sox – After almost every other arm in the White Sox bullpen had been used, Tommy Kahnle came on for the save in the 12th inning, and converted. He does not factor in to the White Sox usual late inning plans.

Hierarchy remains: Robertson | Jones | Jennings.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Fernando Salas, New York Mets – Jeurys Familia and Addison Reed have both pitched in back to back games, and the Mets have a short turnaround after a night game last night.