May 26, 2017
San Diego Padres — For the second straight night, Padres manager Andy Green gave a save opportunity to Brad Hand Thursday, electing to use the lefty in the ninth and previously established closer Brandon Maurer in the eighth. Both pitchers allowed one run, but Maurer was able to preserve the lead and Hand was able to save it. There was no indication after the game that Green offered clarity on the situation, though one beat writer mused that Hand — who has interested several other teams and may be the first Padre dealt this season — is the “Padres closer-but-not-really-but-
Updated hierarchy: *Hand | Maurer | Buchter.
* = closer-by-committee
Seattle Mariners — Edwin Diaz picked up a save Thursday, his first since May 9. He told reporters after the game that manager Scott Servais told him he would have been called upon earlier had Anthony Rendon come to the plate in the eighth inning. That situation would have been critical, because Bryce Harper was already on base and it would have meant that Ryan Zimmerman and/or Daniel Murphy would have reached as well. Servais said after the game that he likes Diaz in the ninth inning. It’s his job to lose at this point.
Updated hierarchy: *Diaz | Vincent | Pazos.
* = closer-by-committee
Washington Nationals – Dusty Baker made it official late Wednesday night, naming Koda Glover his full-time closer. We’ll remove the asterisk to make it officially official.
Updated hierarchy: Glover | Kelley | Albers.
Colorado Rockies — The Rockies lost Thursday, but the team got a chance to put on display its stable of solid relievers in a tight game. Lately, lefty Mike Dunn (5.79 ERA, 1.57 WHIP) is not one of those pitchers, despite his 10 holds this season. In fact, in his last outing on Wednesday, Dunn allowed two earned runs on a walk and two hits while facing just four batters. We like Chris Rusin, who after another scoreless outing Thursday, has a 2.00 ERA and a 0.85 WHIP. He has recorded a few holds lately, too.
Updated hierarchy: Holland | Ottavino | Rusin.
Philadelphia Phillies – In his first season with the Phillies, Pat Neshek has impressed. After another scoreless outing Thursday, he’s got a 1.04 ERA and 0.87 WHIP with five holds. He has seemed to occupy the seventh inning pretty often lately, unlike Edubray Ramos (3.66 ERA, 1.63 WHIP), who, before Thursday’s extra-inning win, hadn’t pitched in a win since May 1. He also doesn’t have a hold since April 3.
Updated hierarchy: *Neris | Benoit | Neshek.
* = closer-by-committee
Chicago Cubs — In one of the vulturiest vulture saves you’ll see, Mike Montgomery tossed the final four innings and allowed just one hit Thursday for his first career (regular-season) save. We’re offering free Closer Monkey Premium for the first person to prove they started Montgomery Thursday (EDIT: SO MANY OF YOU STARTED MONTGOMERY, CONGRATULATIONS, NOW PLEASE STOP EMAILING US).
Hierarchy remains: Davis | Edwards | Rondon.
Los Angeles Dodgers — In his first major-league relief appearance, Hyun-Jin Ryu tossed the final four innings of the Dodgers’ 7-4 win to pick up a sneaky vulture save. It’s his first save since he was a 19-year-old playing rookie ball in South Korea. There’s no room for Ryu in the rotation, so he may get more opportunities like this in the near future, especially when starter Kenta Maeda pitches, manager Dave Roberts said. Oh, and we bet it’s likely some of you had Ryu left over on your roster from his days as a starter. If so, be the first to snap a photo of him starting for you on Thursday and you’ll get a year of Closer Monkey Premium (EDIT: We’ve got this winner too. Not as many emails as Montgomery, but dang, you people own a lot of weird pitchers).
Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Baez | Fields.
Los Angeles Angels — Former closer Huston Street pitched a perfect inning in Triple-A this week and may be back with the big club as soon as next week.
Hierarchy remains: Norris | Hernandez | Parker.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Brandon Maurer — Brad Hand has pitched in three straight games.
Saturday:
1. Nick Vincent –Edwin Diaz has pitched in two straight games and a Friday appearance would make three in a row.
2. Joaquin Benoit/Pat Neshek — If Hector Neris pitches Friday, that’s three out of four for him. Joaquin Benoit, meanwhile, has already pitched in two straight, so a chance for him Saturday is contingent on a day off for him Friday. If both are unavailable, we’ll get a clearer look if Pat Neshek really is second-in-line.