Kirby Yates records save, Melancon to begin rehab

July 30, 2017

San Diego Padres — With Brad Hand unavailable yesterday after pitching three games in a row, Kirby Yates recorded his first save of the season.  Phil Maton pitched the eighth inning, so it would appear that Yates is the first choice to close if Hand is dealt.

Updated hierarchy: *Hand | Yates | Maton.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago White Sox — The White Sox used Tyler Clippard in the seventh inning yesterday with the game tied.  That would typically be enough to remove a guy as the head of a committee, but Clippard threw a scoreless inning, so we will leave him there for now.  Jake Petricka started the eighth inning, and got a couple quick outs before giving up a walk and a hit.  Recently called up lefty Aaron Bummer got the last out of the eighth and the first two outs of the ninth, but left with a couple men on and ended up with the loss.  Gregory Infante relieved Bummer and promptly hit the first two batters he faced to load the bases and and force in the go-ahead run. Basically the White Sox used a lot of relievers and none of them stood out, so we figured we would list the details and hope that one of our loyal followers knew what the heck is going to happen in the White Sox bullpen moving forward.  Any thoughts?

Hierarchy remains: *Clippard | Minaya | Petricka.
* = closer-by-committee

Atlanta Braves — Jim Johnson blew his eighth save of the season on Saturday.  Johnson has been bad for a while now, but manager Brian Snitker is not ready to make a change.  Snitker mentioned Arodys Vizcaino and Rex Brothers as other options to close if he did make a change.  Brothers has not been great since coming back at the end of June, but we will move him to 2nd in line based on Snitker’s comments.  Vizcaino still seems to be the guy to own if/when the Braves finally decide to make a change.

Updated hierarchy: Johnson | Vizcaino | Brothers.

San Francisco Giants — Mark Melancon will begin a rehab assignment today in Sacramento.  Melancon will need a few rehab appearances, but when he is ready to return to the majors, it will be as closer.

Hierarchy remains: Dyson | Strickland | Kontos.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Pedro Baez – Kenley Jansen has pitched in two straight, three of four, and five of seven.
2. Joe Smith – Roberto Osuna has pitched in two of three, including a 27 pitch blown save yesterday.

Monday
1. Andrew Miller/Brian Shaw – Cody Allen has pitched in two of three.  Miller threw 30 pitches yesterday so if he and Allen both pitch today, that could leave Shaw for Monday.
2. Delin Betances – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in two of three, including a two inning effort on Thursday.

2017 Closer Monkey Donation Drive

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Brad Ziegler may be ready to return from the DL and close for Miami

July 29, 2017

Miami Marlins — We told you last night that A.J. Ramos had been traded to Miami, that Junichi Tazawa was next in line for saves, and that Brad Ziegler would also be an option when he returned from the disabled list. In the wee hours of the morning, Marlins executive Michael Hill said that the 37-year-old Ziegler would be activated prior to Saturday’s game, making him the #1 option for saves going forward. Behind him are Tazawa and Drew Steckenrider, who has five saves at AAA this season. Kyle Barraclough is probably the best long-term bet once he returns from a shoulder injury.

Updated hierarchy:  Ziegler | Tazawa | Steckenrider.

New York Mets — Addison Reed’s days as a Met are numbered; the latest sign was the team’s acquisition of A.J. Ramos on Friday. Reed is a free agent at the end of the season, while Ramos is under team control through 2019 and could be a solid setup man for Jeurys Familia next season. Reed, who picked up his 19th save last night, will likely continue to close for the next few days. Familia recently began a throwing program, and manager Terry Collins said that he will be back this season. Expect another day or two of Reed, then a month or so of Ramos closing, before Familia finishes the year.

Updated hierarchy: Reed | Ramos | Blevins. 

Detroit Tigers — Bruce Rondon took the loss last night after giving up three runs in one-third of an inning. This was his third straight multi-run appearance, inflating his ERA to 12.41. Rondon still sports elite stuff, but his struggles can’t be ignored. With Justin Wilson likely to leave town, Shane Greene may be most likely to take over the closer’s role.

Updted hierarchy: J. Wilson | Greene | Rondon.

San Diego Padres — Brad Hand picked up his fourth save of the year and ordinarily would kick the committee asterisk. We’re going to keep it just a little longer, though, to account for the uncertainty that could follow if he’s traded. Both Phil Maton and Kirby Yates have been pitching very well and getting late-inning holds ahead of Hand. Maton is younger and could be the team’s closer of the future, while Yates has a better strikeout rate, but could be traded himself. Saturday’s game could be a useful signal, as Hand has gone in three straight. Note that Carter Capps will also be an option when he returns from AAA. If there’s a clear successor anointed, we’ll let you know, but for now, it looks like a continuing committee — unless Hand stays a Padre.

Hierarchy remains: *Hand | Maton | Yates.
* = closer-by-committee

Oakland A’s — Bob Melvin seems to be committed to the committee approach, indicating before Friday’s game that Santiago Casilla would likely get the ninth inning with a lead. He also mentioned Ryan Dull and Frankie Montas — who gave up four walks in a two-inning outing last night — as contenders for the late innings. This competition seems to be wide open, so the next week could be crucial. We still like Treinen as the best arm, but there’s not a lot of clarity in the Bay Area right now.

Hierarchy remains: *Treinen | Casilla | Dull.
* = closer-by-committee

Tampa Bay Rays — The Rays acquired Steve Cishek in a trade that sent Erasmo Ramirez to Seattle. Cishek has been okay for the Mariners this year (3.15 ERA, 15:7 K/BB ratio), but we’re not ready to slot him above Tommy Hunter (1.93 ERA, 10.5 K/9) or Dan Jennings just yet.

Hierarchy remains: Colome | Boxberger | Hunter.

Kansas City Royals — Joakim Soria pitched the eighth inning ahead of Kelvin Herrera last night. This was his fourth straight eighth-inning appearance and his sixth straight scoreless appearance. While Brandon Maurer is still in the late-inning mix, it appears that Soria remains the primary setup man in KC.

Updated hierarchy: Herrera | Soria | Maurer.

Minnesota Twins — Matt Belisle grabbed a four-out hold on Friday ahead of Brandon Kintzler, and has been used more often in high-leverage spots of late.

Updated hierarchy: Kintzler | Rogers | Belisle.

Philadelphia Phillies — Up 8-3 in the eighth inning, the Phillies called on Joaquin Benoit with two outs and the bases loaded. After Benoit induced a flyout, he stayed on for the ninth to earn his second save of the season.

Hierarchy remains: Neris | Garcia | Benoit. 

Houston Astros – Will Harris has come back from the disabled list and should return to high-leverage work.

Updated hierarchy: Giles | Devenski | Harris.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Phil Maton/Kirby Yates — As noted, Hand has appeared in three straight games.
2. Taylor Rogers — Brandon Kintzler has gone in two of three (59 pitches).

Sunday:
1. Pedro Baez — Kenley Jansen has pitched in two of three.

Blake Treinen in the mix for saves in Oakland

July 28, 2017

Oakland A’s – A’s beat reporter Susan Slusser suggested before Thursday’s game that manager Bob Melvin could be thinking about a change at closer, given Santiago Casilla’s recent troubles. Sure enough, after he got the last out of the eighth inning, Blake Treinen got the save chance in the ninth. Treinen allowed a game-tying home run, but after the game Melvin hinted that a change could still be coming soon, saying, “You either stick with a guy or give a guy a break.” While John Axford won’t be among the late-inning options, Ryan Dull will be, after he returned from the DL yesterday and recorded the first two outs of the eighth inning.

Updated hierarchy: *Treinen | Casilla | Dull.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago White Sox — The White Sox continued to hemorrhage their bullpen Thursday, trading Dan Jennings to the Tampa Bay Rays. What’s left? The newly activated Jake Petricka, the only reliever on the opening day roster still with the team, may be in the mix for saves soon.

Updated hierarchy: *Clippard | Minaya | Petricka.
* = closer-by-committee

Tampa Bay Rays — The newly acquired Jennings entered Thursday’s game in the seventh inning, but allowed two hits and was charged with a run on just eight pitches before getting pulled. He’ll hang around the late-innings for Tampa Bay, but we’ll monitor his usage to see where exactly he slots in.

Hierarchy remains: Colome | Boxberger | Hunter.

Texas Rangers – The Rangers are actively shopping Jeremy Jeffress around, but may be inclined to deal Keone Kela in the right deal, too.

Hierarchy remains: Claudio | Kela | Leclerc. 

St. Louis Cardinals – Trevor Rosenthal is drawing interest from multiple teams, including the Washington Nationals. Rosenthal would slide into Washington’s reworked bullpen and could be in line for save chances there if he’s moved.

Hierarchy remains: *Rosenthal | Cecil | Oh.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. David Robertson — Aroldis Chapman has gone in three of the last five, including 2 innings (19 pitches) on Thursday.
2. Andrew Miller — Cody Allen has gone in three of four and four of six.
3. Joe Smith — Roberto Osuna has pitched in three of the last four days.

Saturday:
1. Brad Boxberger/Tommy Hunter — Alex Colome has pitched in two of three. Boxberger, meanwhile, has gone in two straight, so if both men pitch Friday, Hunter may get a shot on Saturday.
2. Juan Minaya — Tyler Clippard has pitched in three of five, and the White Sox bullpen is a mess.
3. Santiago Casilla — Blake Treinen has pitched in two straight heading into Friday.
4. Phil Maton — Brad Hand has pitched in two straight and might not even be a Padre by Saturday.