Derek Law to lead committee with Mark Melancon sidelined

May 9, 2017

San Francisco Giants – Mark Melancon is headed to the 10-day disabled list with a right pronator strain in his forearm. After Tuesday’s game, manager Bruce Bochy said that he prefers Derek Law to head a committee and not Hunter Strickland, though it sounds like Strickland will get some looks given the committee tag. The two started out sharing duties when Santiago Casilla lost the job last fall and while Strickland has the better numbers as a whole, Law has been hot of late, not allowing a run in 6.2 IP. Josh Osich should get some more late-inning work also.

Updated hierarchy: *Law | Strickland | Osich.
* = closer-by-committee

For one day, Miguel Socolovich was everything

May 9, 2017

St. Louis Cardinals – Usually we have something to say about somebody, somewhere, in one of MLB’s 30 bullpens. But the only thing that happened Monday that struck us as out of the ordinary was a save for journeyman Miguel Socolovich, whose baseball career spans the minor league systems of six different MLB teams, as well as the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of NPB. Socolovich, a native of Venezuela, pitched the final three innings of the Cardinals blowout victory to earn his first career save. If you had Socolovich active in your lineup yesterday, send us a screenshot. The first person who does wins Closer Monkey Premium for a year; any subsequent winners will win a free day of email sponsorship.

Hierarchy remains: Oh | Rosenthal | Bowman.

Detroit Tigers – In case you missed it yesterday, the Tigers may announce a closer change today. We will send an instant update if and when it happens; for now, pick up Justin Wilson if he’s available in your leagues.

Hierarchy remains: Rodriguez | J.Wilson | A.Wilson.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Darren O’Day – Brad Brach has pitched in back to back games and four of five.
2. Jason Grilli – Roberto Osuna and Joe Smith have both pitched back to back games and three of four.
3. Ryan Madson – Santiago Casilla has pitched in back to back games and has yet to go three straight this year.

Tomorrow
1/2/3. See above – If any of the three listed closers above do go today, they’ll surely be unavailable tomorrow.