Kenley Jansen can’t convert save chance with nine run lead

May 7, 2017

Los Angeles Dodgers — Kenley Jansen got the last out of the eighth inning on Saturday night after he entered with the bases loaded and the Dodgers up four runs.  The Dodgers added five more runs in the top of the ninth, but Jansen still came back out for the bottom of the ninth to attempt the save in a 10-1 game.  Unfortunately for fantasy owners, Jansen was not able to get the job done and instead earned his first hold of the season after Chris Hatcher got the last out of the game.  Jansen was still in a playful mood post game as he jokingly told reporters, “I’m not getting sent down” after a closed door meeting between manager Dave Roberts and general manager Farhan Zaidi.

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Baez | Fields.

Baltimore Orioles — Brad Brach got the day off yesterday and Darren O’Day recorded his second save of the season.  Hopefully you were paying attention to the Vulture Save Watch and stole a save in your fantasy leagues.

Hierarchy remains: Brach | O’Day | Givens.

Cincinnati Reds — Robert Stephenson pitched three scoreless innings to finish off a Reds’ blowout win, and he recorded his first career save in the process.  We don’t know if it’s more surprising that Stephenson got the save or that he didn’t give up a run (he had given up at least one run in six of his first seven appearances this season), but needless to say, he won’t factor into the Reds’ normal late inning plans.

Hierarchy remains: Iglesias | Storen | Lorenzen.

Colorado Rockies — Chris Rusin picked up a three inning save on Saturday.

Hierarchy remains: Holland | Ottavino | Dunn.

Toronto Blue Jays — Joe Biagini will make his first Major League start today.  Joe Smith struck out the side in a perfect eighth inning on Friday night and should slide into the set-up role.  Jason Grilli might get a chance to reclaim a late inning role with Biagini in the rotation.

Updated hierarchy: Osuna |  Smith | Grilli.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Pedro Baez/Josh Fields – Kenley Jansen will likely be unavailable after throwing 33 pitches last night.  Baez might also rest since he has appeared in two straight and three of four.
2. Joakim Soria – Kelvin Herrera has pitched in three straight

Monday
1. Blake Parker – If Bud Norris pitches on Sunday, that will make it three straight.
2. Pedro Baez/Josh Fields – If Jansen does come back on Sunday after his 33 pitch effort yesterday, he will definitely get Monday off.

It’s Brad Brach time again in Baltimore

May 6, 2017

Baltimore Orioles — A source tells Baltimore Baseball that Zach Britton is returning to the disabled list with his strained left forearm. Brad Brach will resume the closer role while Britton heals.

Updated hierarchy: Brach | O’Day | Givens.

Arizona Diamondbacks — If the D-Backs are serious about keeping Archie Bradley in the bullpen this season, he has to be considered Fernando Rodney’s strongest competition for the closer role. Last night, Bradley pitched a clean eighth up four, then loaded the bases to start the ninth. He got one strikeout before handing the ball over to Rodney, who escaped with only one inherited run allowed. This round goes to Fernando.

Updated hierarchy: Rodney | Bradley | Hoover.

Washington Nationals — Ryan Webb’s record string of 105 games finished without a save just got a lot more secure. Matt Albers — whose own streak had reached 102 — finally has career save #1. Koda Glover is expected back soon, and we still think he will take over the ninth inning (at least until reinforcements come via trade), but Albers is the leader in the meantime.

Updated hierarchy: *Albers | Romero | Treinen.
* = closer-by-committee

Houston Astros – Luke Gregerson has really been struggling lately, and it was Chris Devenski who got Friday’s call for a tenth-inning save after Ken Giles blew a chance in the ninth.

Updated hierarchy: Giles | Devenski | Gregerson.

Miami Marlins — Brad Ziegler entered with a four-run lead and left behind one, after giving up six consecutive hits. Kyle Barraclough was called on to clean up Ziegler’s mess, and should have moved ahead of him in the Marlins’ pecking order.

Updated hierarchy: Ramos | Barraclough | Ziegler.

Los Angeles Dodgers — Josh Fields earned a four-out save in a game the Dodgers broke open in the top of the ninth. He doesn’t figure to get many more chances, but he does appear to have an advantage over lefty Luis Avilan, who entered in the sixth last night.

Updated hierarchy: Jansen | Baez | Fields.

Texas Rangers — Lefty Alex Claudio was the last man standing in the Rangers’ bullpen in the thirteenth inning, and he picked up a save for his trouble. Keone Kela and Jeremy Jeffress were unavailable after heavy workloads on Thursday.

Hierarchy remains: Bush | Jeffress | Kela.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Darren O’Day — Brad Brach has gone in two straight (42 pitches).
2. Jeremy Jeffress — Matt Bush has also (47).

Sunday
1. Dellin Betances — It’s rare for a Yankee reliever to go in three straight games.
2. Hector Rondon/Koji Uehara — Wade Davis will have gone in four of five if he pitches Saturday, and Rondon threw 40 last night.
3. Matt Belisle — Brandon Kintzler has gone in two of three, and thrown 53 pitches.
4. Joakim Soria — Kelvin Herrera has gone in two straight.
5. Nick Vincent — Edwin Diaz has gone in three of four.

Matt Albers could fill in as Nationals closer until Koda Glover returns

May 5, 2017

Washington Nationals — After a battle with illness, Shawn Kelley is headed to the disabled list with a back strain. With Koda Glover’s return apparently still a few days off, the Nationals will be forced to choose from among Matt Albers, Joe Blanton, Enny Romero, and Blake Treinen. The guy who’ll finish with the most saves for this team probably isn’t on the roster yet, but if you have to own one Washington reliever, we’d still recommend Glover.

Updated hierarchy: *Albers | Treinen | Romero.
* = closer-by-committee

Enny Romero becomes fourth National to earn a save this season

May 5, 2017

Washington Nationals — With current closer Shawn Kelley still sick (and no guarantee he’ll be ready today), the Nationals opted to play the matchups to get through the ninth after Matt Albers pitched a scoreless eighth. They first turned to Joe Blanton, who coughed up a home run, throwing only two pitches before he was yanked. Enny Romero came on to close the door for his first save. He’s actually the fourth National with a save already this season. One writer called Albers (0.00 ERA) the team’s new setup man over Blake Treinen, and we agree, at least until Koda Glover returns from injury. Glover’s return could be as early as this weekend.

Updated hierarchy: Kelley | Albers | Treinen.

Chicago White Sox – The White Sox got some tough news Thursday, as righty Nate Jones was placed on the 10-day disabled list (retroactive to May 1) with elbow neuritis. Expect Anthony Swarzak (0.00 ERA, two holds, just three hits and one walk allowed in 14 innings with 16 Ks) to get more looks in the late innings.

Updated hierarchy: Robertson | Kahnle | Swarzak.

Cincinnati Reds — Raisel Iglesias garnered his fifth save in as many tries Thursday, and may be emerging as the clear leader of the Reds bullpen. He has for more saves than anyone else on the team (Michael Lorenzen had a save three weeks ago and Drew Storen picked one up in the third game of the year) and his numbers are impressive: 1.10 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 19 Ks in 16.1 IP.  We’ll remove the asterisk for the time being, but be prepared for Bryan Price to potentially use Iglesias for multiple innings and in the highest-leverage spot no matter the inning.

Updated hierarchy: Iglesias | Storen | Lorenzen.

Toronto Blue Jays — Toronto’s bullpen has been shameful to start the year, so the team claimed righty Neil Ramirez off waivers from the Giants. Ramirez, too, has had a rough start (13.06 ERA, 1.94 WHIP), but the peripheral numbers suggest he may have been a victim of some bad luck — 18 Ks and 4 BBs in 10.1 IP. His FIP is solid, too, at 3.53. Keep an eye on him – he could start picking up holds by the end of the month.

Hierarchy remains: Osuna | Biagini | Smith.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Matt Albers/Blake Treinen — If Shawn Kelley is still sick Friday, Albers or a well-rested Treinen could get a try in the ninth, unless Dusty Baker opts to “play the matchups” again.
2. Hector Rondon — Wade Davis has appeared in three straight games.

Saturday
1. Drew Storen — A Friday appearance for Raisel Iglesias would be his third straight day of work. If that happens, Storen would likely get the call Saturday.
2. Brad Brach — Zach Britton has pitched in two of the last three days and is coming back from injury. If he goes Friday, Brach may get another shot at a save.
3. Danny Farquhar –Alex Colome has pitched in three of the last four days, but threw only five pitches Thursday to get the save. The monkey suspects he’d be available on Friday. If he goes Friday, though, look for Farquhar to get a shot if the Rays have a lead Saturday.

Sean Doolittle is back on the DL

May 4, 2017

Oakland A’s — Tough news for the A’s, who announced that Sean Doolittle has yet another shoulder strain, his third in three years. The early speculation is that Doolittle could be out for a while. As a result, Ryan Dull moves into the hierarchy, Santiago Casilla kicks his asterisk, and potential future closer Bobby Wahl joins the big club — although Wahl’s first major league appearance on Wednesday was shaky, with two hits and a hit batsman.

Updated hierarchy: Casilla | Madson | Dull.

Washington Nationals — Shawn Kelley has been unavailable the last two games with an illness, so the Nationals let Jacob Turner finish a 2-1 win with his fourth strong inning in relief. Kelley has made only one appearance since Koda Glover went on the DL last week, and with Glover returning this weekend, we foresee a return of the committee asterisk.

Hierarchy remains: Kelley | Treinen | Albers.

Colorado Rockies — Mike Dunn is back with the Rockies and should return to his seventh-inning role.

Updated hierarchy: Holland | Ottavino | Dunn.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Heath Hembree/Joe Kelly — Craig Kimbrel has gone in two straight and three of four, and Matt Barnes threw 35 pitches last night.

Friday
1. Matt Barnes — Kimbrel hasn’t thrown that many pitches, so he might go again Thursday; if he does, he’ll likely be off on Friday.
2. Hector Rondon — Wade Davis has gone in two straight.
3. Nick Vincent — So has Edwin Diaz.
4. Matt Belisle — Brandon Kintzler threw 29 pitches on Wednesday and probably wouldn’t be able to go in three straight.